RTHK: Russia completes 10,000-troop drills near Ukraine Russia announced on Saturday that more than 10,000 troops had finished month-long drills near Ukraine, amid Western accusations that Moscow was plotting an invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour. The defence ministry said in a statement that the drills for Southern Military District forces had taken place in a host of southern regions including Rostov, Krasnodar and Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. But the drills also took place further afield, including in Stavropol, Astrakhan, North Caucasus republics and even in Russia's Caucasus ally Armenia. The defence ministry said the troops were returning to their permanent bases and that stand-by units would be readied for the New Year's holidays. Western countries have accused Russia of massing upwards of 100,000 troops near Ukraine ahead of a possible winter invasion. According to Kiev's estimates, the number of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders has increased from around 93,000 troops in October to 104,000 now. Russia says it is free to move its forces on its territory how it sees fit and denies that it is planning a large-scale attack. It has presented the West with sweeping security demands, saying Nato must not admit new members and seeking to bar the United States from establishing new bases in former Soviet republics. Tensions reached a boiling point on Wednesday when President Vladimir Putin said Russia would take "appropriate retaliatory" military steps in response to what he called the West's "aggressive stance". But he lowered the volume the next day, saying he had seen a "positive" reaction from the United States to Russia's security proposals and said talks would take place next month. A senior US official has said Washington was "ready to engage in diplomacy as soon as early January", both bilaterally and through "multiple channels". On Saturday, a German government official said Moscow and Berlin had agreed to a meeting in "early January". (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-12-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: US airlines cancel almost 1,000 Christmas Day flights US airlines scrapped nearly 1,000 flights on Christmas Day, the second consecutive day of massive cancellations as surging Covid-19 infections sidelined some pilots and other crew members, upending plans for tens of thousands of holiday travellers over the Christmas weekend. A total of 957 Christmas Day flights, including domestic flights and those into or out of the country, were canceled, up from 690 on Christmas Eve, according to a running tally on flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Nearly 2,000 flights were delayed. At least one airline said that it expects hundreds more cancellations on Sunday. The Christmas holidays are typically a peak time for air travel, but the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has led to a sharp increase in Covid-19 infections, forcing airlines to cancel flights as pilots and crew need to be quarantined. United Airlines canceled 230 flights while American Airlines called off 90 flights, representatives for the companies said in separate statements. "The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United spokesperson Maddie King said. She said the cancellations made up a small portion of United's 4,000 average daily flights during the holiday season. "We are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays," she said. Winter weather and Omicron forced Delta Air Lines to scrub 344 flights on Saturday, of approximately 3,000 scheduled flights, "after exhausting all options and resources to prevent those cancellations," a spokesperson for the company said, adding that the impact was likely to persist on Sunday. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: 9 imported COVID-19 cases reported The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating nine additional imported COVID-19 cases involving three men and six women. Five of the patients arrived from high-risk places with enhanced surveillance and the other four flew in from high-risk places. Six cases involve mutant strains while the mutation test results of the remaining three cases are pending. One of the patients is a local air crew member who lives at Tower 3, the Visionary inTung Chung. He tested negative for the virus on December 19 and 20. He left Hong Kong on December 22 for the US and returned to the city on December 25 by flight CX845. His specimen collected upon arrival at the airport tested positive for the N501Y mutant strain. He had received three doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong. As a prudent measure, the places where the patient resided and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice and people who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods must undergo testing on a specified date. The centre reminded people linked to On Hei House, Siu Hei Court in Tuen Mun to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow. A total of 97 cases have been reported in the past 14 days. One of them is an import-related case and the rest are imported cases. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Governments dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Tributes for Archbishop Tutu The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation has described Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the embodiment of faith in action and as someone who spoke out against injustices. Tutu was a living embodiment of faith in action, speaking boldly against racism, injustice, corruption, and oppression, not just in apartheid South Africa but wherever in the world he saw wrongdoing, especially when it impacted the most vulnerable and voiceless in society, the foundation said. This as South Africans woke up to news of Tutus passing on Sunday. The anti-Apartheid icon passed away in Cape Town on Sunday. In a statement, the foundation described Tutu as a moral giant of our age. Wemourn his passing and extend deep sympathy to Mrs Nomalizo Leah Tutu, siblings Trevor Thamsanqa Tutu, Naomi Nontombi Tutu, Theresa Thandeka Tutu, Mpho Tutu van Furth and their families. We commit ourselves to continue telling the story and emulating the example of this son of Africa who became an inspiring sign of peace, hope and justice across the world, it said. The foundation highlighted that although Tutu helped in the fight against Apartheid, he was unafraid of also speaking out against any injustices in South Africas new democratic dispensation. While Tutu helped shepherd the democratic dispensation into being, he was unafraid of reminding the new governing party of both its moral responsibilities toward all South Africans and its growing failings. He was realistic about the weaknesses of politicians but expressed both sadness and anger as corruption took hold in the ANC. The wider world showered him with honours, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, and after retirement his primary international responsibility was with a group of fellow Nobel Peace Laureates and statespersons known as The Elders, committed to international problem-solving and peace-making. Meanwhile, the Nelson Mandela Foundation described the passing of Tutu as an immeasurable loss for the country. He was larger than life, and for so many in South Africa and around the world his life has been a blessing. His contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies. He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this most difficult time. Mandela and Tutu were both founding members of The Elders, an international grouping of inspirational leaders which has done human rights work in countries around the world. Mandela and the Archbishop Emeritus first met at a debating competition in the early 1950s. It would be four decades later before they met again, on the day that Mandela was released from prison. His first night as a free man was spent at the home of the Tutus in Bishopscourt, Cape Town. On that occasion before everyone retired for the night, Tutu offered a prayer of thanksgiving and led a singing of Reverend Tiyo Sogas famous hymn in isiXhosa, Lizalisidinga lakho Let your will be done. The apartheid state had frustrated attempts by both Mandela and Tutu for the two of them to meet before the prison release on 11 February 1990. From then until Mandela passed away in 2013 they were in regular contact and their friendship deepened over time, said the Nelson Mandela Foundation. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Condolences for Archbishop Tutu President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed profound sadness at the death of anti-Apartheid struggle icon and social justice champion Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Tutu, who was the countrys last surviving laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as an anti-Apartheid activist, passed away at the age of 90, in Cape Town, on Sunday. The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead, President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Sunday. The President said Tutus commitment to the attainment of liberation despite illness and the brutality of the Apartheid security forces was never shaken and he praised Tutus contribution to South Africa s painful Truth and Reconciliation Commission. From the pavements of resistance in South Africa to the pulpits of the worlds great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a non-sectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights. As Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission he articulated the universal outrage at the ravages of apartheid and touchingly and profoundly demonstrated the depth of meaning of ubuntu, reconciliation and forgiveness, President Ramaphosa said. The President highlighted that even upon the attainment of the countrys democracy, Tutu continued to show compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world. He remained true to his convictions during our democratic dispensation and maintained his vigour and vigilance as he held leadership and the burgeoning institutions of our democracy to account in his inimitable, inescapable and always fortifying way, he said. The President expressed his condolences to the Tutu family. We share this moment of deep loss with Mam Leah Tutu, the Archbishops soulmate and source of strength and insight, who has made a monumental contribution in her own right to our freedom and to the development of our democracy. We pray that Archbishop Tutus soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation, the President said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: International community reacts to Archbishop Tutu's passing The international community has expressed their condolences following the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Tutu who celebrated his 90th birthday on 7 October, passed away on Sunday. In a tweet, the United States of America Embassy in South Africa conveyed its condolences On behalf of the U.S. Mission to South Africa, we extend our deepest condolences to Mrs Nomalizo Leah Tutu and the family of Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his passing. We join South Africa and the global community in honoring a man who spent his life fearlessly speaking truth to power. From his work against apartheid in South Africa, to his championing of democracy, freedom and human rights, and advocacy for those still living under the scourge of homophobia, racism or xenophobia, Archbishop Tutu was the conscience of his generation. He will be greatly missed, said the embassy. The Embassy of France in South Africa said it learnt with deep sadness of the Archbishops passing. It described the countrys last surviving laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize as a a man of peace who led the way for modern South Africa. Meanwhile, the Elders --an international grouping of inspirational leaders which has done human rights work in countries around the world-- described Tutu as a dear friend and colleague. Arch, as he liked to be called, was the first Chair of The Elders from 2007-2013. He played a vital role in shaping the organisation, its values and its work. Like The Elders founder, Nelson Mandela, Arch was an implacable and tenacious opponent of apartheid. His years of struggle in South Africa made him a fierce defender of equality and human rights worldwide, it said in a statement. Chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson, said the group is devastated by the news. The Elders would not be who they are today without his passion, commitment and keen moral compass. He inspired me to be a prisoner of hope, in his inimitable phrase. Arch was respected around the world for his dedication to justice, equality and freedom. Today we mourn his death but affirm our determination to keep his beliefs alive. Former President of the Republic of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said the African continent has lost an icon with the passing of Tutu. Africa has lost an icon, a father to us all who fought injustice and oppression in all its forms and inspired a generation to strive for a more equal society. May he rest in everlasting peace, she said. In a tweet, Indias President Shri Ram Nath Kovind expressed his condolences. Deeply saddened by Archbishop Desmond Tutus demise. Influenced by Gandhiji, he brought spiritual values to the anti-apartheid struggle and upheld noblest ideals of humanity. His life will inspire generations. Condolences to his followers in South Africa and across the globe, he said. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson described Tutu as a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa. He said Tutu will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour. In his condolences earlier, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tutu was a patriot. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Israel approves plan to double settlers in Golan Israel's government on Sunday approved a US$317 million plan to double the Jewish settler population in the Golan Heights, 40 years after it annexed the territory captured from Syria. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's cabinet voted in favour of the plan that aims to build 7,300 settler homes in the region over a five-year period, during a meeting held at the Mevo Hama community in the Golan. It calls for 1 billion Israeli shekels to be spent on housing, infrastructure and other projects with the goal of attracting roughly 23,000 new Jewish settlers to the area, seized during the 1967 Six Day War. "Our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights," the right-wing Bennett said ahead of the meeting. He was forced to leave the meeting after his 14-year-old daughter tested positive for the coronavirus, putting him into isolation, but a vote on the programme went ahead after a delay. Around 25,000 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights, along with about 23,000 Druze, who remained on the land after Israel seized it. Israel annexed the territory on December 14, 1981, in a move not recognised by most of the international community. Former US president Donald Trump, widely viewed as pro-Israeli, granted US recognition to Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in 2019. "The Golan Heights are Israeli. This is self-evident," Bennett said. "The fact that the Trump administration recognised this, and the fact that the (President Joe) Biden administration has made it clear that there has been no change in this policy, are also important." Shortly after Biden took office in January, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested there were legal questions surrounding Trump's move, which Syria condemned as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty. But Blinken indicated there was no thought of reversing course, especially with the Syrian civil war continuing. Bennett claimed that after a decade of conflict in Syria, international calls to restore Syrian control of the Golan were muted. "Every knowledgeable person in the world understands that it is preferable to have Israeli heights that are quiet, flourishing and green as opposed to the alternative," he said. Bennett leads an ideologically disparate eight-party coalition that counts on support from left-wingers. Some in his cabinet, notably from the dovish Meretz party, have vocally opposed plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory also occupied by Israel since 1967. Roughly 475,000 settlers now live in the West Bank in communities widely regarded as illegal under international law. Bennett is a the former head of a settler lobbying council who opposes Palestinian statehood. But he argued that unity on the Golan plan demonstrated that Israeli control of the area was a matter of "national consensus." "The Golan Heights, the need to strengthen, cultivate and live in it, is certainly a principle that unites everyone here," he said. Israel and Syria, which are still technically at war, are separated by a de facto border at the Golan Heights. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-12-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. First Russian tourists visit Khanh Hoa after two years A group of 226 Russian visitors landed in the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on December 26 after two years since Vietnam closed to international tourists for Covid-19 prevention. First Russian tourists with vaccine passports are welcomed in Khanh Hoa Province on December 26 The visitors, who went on an Azur Air plane from Vnukovo Airport will stay at some hotels and resorts in Bai Dai Beach including Selectum Noa Resort Cam Ranh, Cam Ranh Riviera beach resort & spa, and Vinpearl Nha Trang. According to director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, the welcome of Russian tourists holding 'vaccine passports' for the first time after two years serves as a driving force for the provinces tourism sector, helping affirm Khanh Hoa and Nha Trang beach city in particular as a safe, quality and attractive destination. Local authorities present gifts to the tourists Another group of more than 200 Russian holidaymakers is set to arrive in Khanh Hoa later this month in a similar method, she added. After more than one-month implementation of the pilot programme to receive vaccine passport holders in the first phase, Khanh Hoa has welcomed nearly 3,000 tourists from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Malaysia. Khanh Hoa tourism has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic for the second consecutive year. In 2021, the province served about 643,000 visitors, including nearly 23,000 foreigners, posting a year-on-year plunge of 48.55 percent and 94.81 percent. The province earned 2.43 trillion VND (106.35 million USD) from tourism in the year. A tael of gold in Vietnam worth $500 more than world prices Gold prices in Vietnam are much higher than international prices, driven by a supply-demand imbalance and price manipulation. A tael (37.5g) of gold in Vietnam is about US$500 more than in the rest of the world. The Saigon Gold and Jewelry Company rated each tael of SJC gold at VN61.55 million (US$2,676), and VN60.8million for sell-buy. Photo baogiaothong.vn While the price of local SJC gold has increased by nearly 10 per cent, or VN 5 million, the price of world gold decreased by about this amount in the same period. The Saigon Gold and Jewelry Company rated each tael of SJC gold at VN61.55 million (US$2,676), and VN60.8million for sell-buy. Compared to the prices listed on the global gold exchange, which rated gold at $1,810 per ounce, or $2,175, each tael of gold in Vietnam was $500 higher than the world prices. Gold buyer Kim Oanh, in Tan Binh District, HCM City, said that she used to buy gold to keep as an asset and only sold when she needed money. Oanh now does not dare to buy gold for that reason as the big gap in prices between domestic and world market. She said: " Now if I buy a tael of SJC gold, I immediately lose more than VN11 million for it, compared with the world prices." Nguyen Thi Thanh, the owner of a gold shop in District 9 in the city, told local media: Since earlier this year, many of my customers tell me they would patiently wait for the domestic gold price to close with the world prices for buying. But the longer they wait the bigger gap. In the past, the domestic gold price was usually only VN1 million or VN2 million higher than the worlds prices; now it was much higher. Thanh said at the beginning of this year, the gap was about VN7 million, but now the difference was up to VN11 million to VN12 million per tael. Thanh added: "It is because domestic gold is too expensive, so purchasing power is meagre and the market is quiet." Explaining the unusual gap between the domestic and international gold prices, To Thanh Hiep, General Director of SBJ, said: The scarcity of SJC gold supply is the main reason leading to the difference between gold prices around the world." Hiep said that the price of SJC gold was higher than the worlds prices because there was an unbalanced supply and demand in the market, adding: "Whenever the buying volume exceeds the selling volume, the SJC gold price increases sharply compared to the world and vice versa." Huynh Trung Khanh, senior advisor of the World Gold Council in Vietnam, and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Gold Traders Association, said: The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is the only place authorised to import gold, including raw gold. In the past ten years, SBV has not imported more raw gold to produce SJC gold bars while people's demand to buy SJC gold still exists. Khanh said: When the supply of SJC gold bars to the market is low when demand increases, it is unlikely that the SJC gold price will be close to the world gold price. Only when the supply and demand for SJC gold bars are in balance, will the gold bar price return to its true value, which is equal to the world gold price." According to Decree 24/2012 on the management of gold trading activities, gold bars are produced exclusively by the State and SBV is assigned to organise and manage gold bar production activities. As a financial expert, Duong Anh Vu said inexperienced gold investors who "surf gold were almost certain to lose money in this context when the gap between domestic and world gold prices was so obvious. Therefore, Vu said: It is not the right time for investors and people to choose gold as an investment channel in large quantities. In other words, he said if investors bought gold at this time, it would be difficult to make a profit. He advised: If there is an urgent need to buy gold, people should only buy a small amount. Investors, especially ones with low capital, should only hold gold in the medium and long term and spend about 20 per cent of their savings to buy gold. As a professional gold investor, Tuan Minh said that there was a phenomenon of speculation in the gold market as some businesses had pushed the price of gold up very high when they saw that the supply was not enough. Minh told local media: Some businesses keep the gold price high or push the difference between the buying and selling prices to increase the risk to consumers. Therefore, Minh said the authorities needed to find solutions to limit speculation and price manipulation and suggested that SBV should create policies for the local gold market integrating with the world to reduce disadvantages for local gold buyers. China's Shenzhou-13 astronauts to conduct 2nd extravehicular activities Sunday Xinhua) 08:47, December 26, 2021 Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Nov. 8, 2021 shows Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping (R) completing extravehicular activities.(Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-13 astronauts will conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs) for the second time on Sunday, announced the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). As planned, astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu will conduct EVAs, with astronaut Wang Yaping staying inside to support her crewmates to complete the operations. The three Chinese astronauts have been working and living in orbit since they were sent into space onboard the Shenzhou-13 spaceship and entered the combination of the country's space station on Oct. 16. They are currently in good condition, and the combination is operating stably. All conditions for the crew's second EVAs are in place, the CMSA said. Since the crew conducted the first EVAs on Nov. 7, they have performed their daily work, including in-orbit medical checks, space experiments and space station inspections. They also carried out in-orbit training programs such as emergency evacuation and medical rescue drills, and successfully gave the first live class from the country's space station on Dec. 9. The first EVAs by the Shenzhou-13 crew lasted for 6.5 hours, and was a complete success, which further tested the functions of the China-developed new-generation extravehicular spacesuits, and the reliability and safety of supporting equipment related to the EVAs, the CMSA noted. Starting from Oct. 16, the three astronauts embarked on the country's longest-ever crewed mission lasting for six months for space station construction. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) U.S. signing of Xinjiang-related act "wrong, unpopular, dangerous": spokesperson Xinhua) 10:09, December 26, 2021 A cotton picker works in the fields of Erken Reyimu in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States' signing of the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law is a manifestation of its bullying mindset, an extention of gangster logic, and a revival of the Cold War mentality, said a spokesperson with the people's government of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday. Such a move blatantly interferes in China's internal affairs, and is totally wrong, unpopular and dangerous, said Xu Guixiang at a press conference in Beijing held by the Xinjiang regional government. The so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" seriously distorts the actual labor situation in Xinjiang, violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, and tramples on the common values of human society, said Xu. Legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are fully protected, and the region's employment policies and practices are in line with international labor and human rights standards, Xu noted. "The so-called 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' will in no way affect Xinjiang's development and progress," said Xu. "On the contrary, it has exposed the United States' fake human rights, real hegemony, and the intention to sabotage in the name of concern." The United States itself has, in fact, faced a series of domestic labor issues such as forced labor in private prisons, child labor abuse, and gender discrimination in employment, said Xu. "It is the United States that should actually look into its own forced labor issues and sign into law a 'Native Americans Forced Labor Prevention Act'," the spokesperson added. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Cancelled flights put damper on U.S. holiday travel: media Xinhua) 10:15, December 26, 2021 Passengers wearing face masks are seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Dec. 4, 2021. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) While airline travel was starting to pick back up before the Omicron variant emerged, the massive spike in positive COVID-19 cases seen in recent weeks has become a cause for concern to airlines in keeping airline staff and passengers safe. NEW YORK, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The holiday season travel stress has only escalated amid the surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, with several airlines reporting staff shortages from the spread of the coronavirus, leaving passengers with delayed or cancelled flights. According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking site, 880 flights within, into or out of the United States were cancelled on Dec. 25. That's among the approximately 2,521 flights that have been cancelled so far this day worldwide, reported National Public Radio (NPR). "U.S.-based airlines such as Delta, United and JetBlue are also seeing high cancellation numbers," the report said. Delta alone has cancelled 290, or 14 percent, of its Christmas Day flights, and American Airlines (AAL) cancelled 88 flights on Saturday. Their operations have been "running smoothly" but that COVID-related sick calls led them to pre-cancel some of their scheduled flights for the day, and affected customers were notified the previous day, AAL was quoted as saying in a statement. International tourists arrive at San Francisco International Airport, the United States, Nov. 8, 2021. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) "While airline travel was starting to pick back up before the Omicron variant emerged, the massive spike in positive COVID-19 cases seen in recent weeks has become a cause for concern to airlines in keeping airline staff and passengers safe," reported NPR. Lawmakers are calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make a major change and require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to travel on all domestic flights, it added. "Ensuring the health and safety of air travelers and their destination communities is critical to mitigating the ongoing COVID-19 surge, especially as the virus continues to evolve," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the CDC and FAA on Monday. Vaccination protocols for international travelers coming into the United States are already in place, according to the CDC. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) China's Xi'an beefs up anti-epidemic forces to contain coronavirus Xinhua) 10:43, December 26, 2021 A medical worker is on duty amid snow in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 25, 2021. Xi'an imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence. More than 3,000 nucleic acid testing sites in Xi'an are working simultaneously to provide services for residents in communities and on roadsides. Tens of thousands of frontline workers and volunteers are working against the clock to contain the virus. To swiftly contain the spread of the virus, local authorities have rolled out urgent measures while ensuring the city's residents have access to daily necessities. (Xinhua/Tao Ming) XI'AN, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has sent tens of thousands of government workers to join the frontline staff working in residential quarters across the city to stamp out coronavirus. The megacity, with a population of 13 million, imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday, in an effort to contain the latest COVID-19 resurgence. Residents have also been asked not to leave the city unless absolutely necessary. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has urged swift virus containment measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Xi'an during a recent inspection in the city. On Friday, the province reported 78 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 75 cases in Xi'an. In the resurgence since Dec. 9, the province had reported 342 local cases, with 330 cases in Xi'an, according to the provincial health commission. All the cases in Shaanxi, with four severe cases, 134 moderate cases and 204 mild cases, are undergoing treatment in the Xi'an Chest Hospital, Liu Na, an official with the provincial health commission told a press briefing Saturday. The patients, aged between one year old and 90 years old, are all in stable condition. To aid the fight against COVID-19, the Xi'an municipal committee of the Communist Party of China has sent more than 33,000 government workers to the frontline to help address staffing shortages. They have joined in the closed-off management of communities, nucleic acid testing and environmental disinfection. Niu Jingqi, a judge with the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court, was woken up by an urgent phone call at 5 a.m. on Thursday, asking him to get to a residential quarter more than 20 km away before 7 a.m. After a brief training upon arrival, Niu put on protective clothing and began helping community officials maintain order at a nucleic acid testing site until 10 p.m. "More than half of the 18,000 residents in this community are over 60 years old and do not know how to use the health code," Niu said. "Therefore we have set up a queue for people to register for the test with ID cards and arranged early testing for the elderly who are physically weak." "My wife is a police officer and is also on the frontline these days. We are doing ordinary work, but we want to contribute to the fight against the virus." Niu's 192 colleagues from the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court also work on the frontline. Fan Pengsheng, an official with the densely-populated Beilin District, has joined community officials to check nucleic acid testing and help tackle difficulties for eight residential communities since Dec. 18. "Many old residential communities do not offer property management services and we need to go door-to-door to tell residents to join the mass nucleic acid testing," Fan said. "As grassroots Party members and cadres, we should race against the time while the city suddenly came to a standstill," Fan said, adding that they often work till very late at night. Authorities in Xi'an also made all-out efforts to ensure the national postgraduate entrance examination for about 135,000 examinees in the city starting Saturday go smoothly amid grave epidemic situations. Authorities dispatched staff workers to send exam papers to examinees who are in quarantine in designated places. Chang'an University offered masks and hand sanitizers for all examinees and ensured that examinees can take nucleic acid testing every day. Those hit with sudden fever can take the exam in isolated rooms. The municipal transport department has organized 5,000 taxies and cars on ride-hailing platforms to provide one-on-one rides for examinees. Railway crew go to work amid snow in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 25, 2021. Xi'an imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence. More than 3,000 nucleic acid testing sites in Xi'an are working simultaneously to provide services for residents in communities and on roadsides. Tens of thousands of frontline workers and volunteers are working against the clock to contain the virus. To swiftly contain the spread of the virus, local authorities have rolled out urgent measures while ensuring the city's residents have access to daily necessities. (Xinhua/Tao Ming) A vegetable market is set up at the entrance of a residential area under quarantine in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 25, 2021. Xi'an imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence. More than 3,000 nucleic acid testing sites in Xi'an are working simultaneously to provide services for residents in communities and on roadsides. Tens of thousands of frontline workers and volunteers are working against the clock to contain the virus. To swiftly contain the spread of the virus, local authorities have rolled out urgent measures while ensuring the city's residents have access to daily necessities. (Xinhua/Tao Ming) Staff members disinfect packed vegetables at a residential area under quarantine in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 25, 2021. Xi'an imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence. More than 3,000 nucleic acid testing sites in Xi'an are working simultaneously to provide services for residents in communities and on roadsides. Tens of thousands of frontline workers and volunteers are working against the clock to contain the virus. To swiftly contain the spread of the virus, local authorities have rolled out urgent measures while ensuring the city's residents have access to daily necessities. (Xinhua/Tao Ming) (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) State councilor urges state-owned companies to deepen reform, innovation Xinhua) 10:56, December 26, 2021 SHANGHAI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Wang Yong has called on state-funded companies and state-owned enterprises to deepen reform and innovation, while striving to contribute more to stabilizing economic fundamentals. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour to Jiangxi Province and Shanghai on the reform and development of the centrally-administered and local state-owned enterprises. From Wednesday to Friday, Wang went to companies in industrial sectors to visit their research and development centers and smart workshops as well as to learn about their reform and innovation progresses. Wang stressed the importance of ensuring stable development while pursuing progress as well as guaranteeing safe production and defusing risks. Efforts should be made to advance the breakthroughs of core technologies, promote the digital and green transformation, and foster new growth drivers, Wang said. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) China association opposes U.S. suppression on Chinese cotton industry Xinhua) 10:59, December 26, 2021 A cotton picker works in one of farmer Erkin Rehim's fields in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The China Cotton Association on Saturday voiced its resolute opposition to the United States' suppression of China's cotton textile industry in the name of human rights. The U.S. side has recently signed the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law, which classifies all products produced in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as "forced labor" products and bans imports of products related to Xinjiang. This move will continue to have an adverse impact on the Chinese cotton textile industry, and severely disrupt the cotton textile production and trade order in China and the whole world, the association said in a statement. The U.S. side is completely ignorant that its abrupt interference will affect the legitimate rights and interests of related companies, as well as their employees, from all over the world, according to the statement. As the second-largest cotton producer and the largest cotton importer and textile producer in the world, China has seen great progress in its cotton textile industry and has become a crucial part of the global textile industry chain, the statement said. China's cotton and textile industry has been committed to protecting the rights and interests of its labors, improving labors' living conditions and offering stable, reliable supply-chain services to global clothing brands and retailers, the statement said, stressing that the industry should be treated fairly. The industry will open up wider to the world and continue cooperation with its overseas counterparts, said the statement. External suppression and discredits cannot, and will not, hinder the industry's high-quality and sustainable development, it added. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Report: Biz operations will stay strong 11:21, December 26, 2021 By Jiang Xueqing ( China Daily Many factors support fundamentals despite concerns about slowdown Operations of China's businesses will remain fundamentally strong next year in spite of a possible moderate slowdown in economic growth, experts said. Lujiazui, the financial center in Shanghai, forms a perfect backdrop to the Bund area. [Wang Gang/For China Daily] Factors supporting business fundamentals include effective control of COVID-19 in China, constant improvement of the nation's dual-circulation growth structure, and continuous advancement of its policies promoting common prosperity and "dual carbon" goals, which refer to the aim of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, said a report recently published by S&P Global, a leading provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets. The credit status of a majority of financial institutions and industrial and commercial enterprises will remain stable, it said. In particular, the credit status of leading companies in different sectors will remain good as long as the companies continuously maintain their advantages in technology, capital, profitability and the refinancing channel, S&P Global said. The firm also forecast that China's monetary policy will remain neutral, based on the tone set by the central authorities for cross-cyclical adjustments of macro policies. It added such a policy will help companies maintain stable financing costs. Cross-cyclical measures focus more on long-term and sustainable growth with long-term solutions to tackle the root cause while a countercyclical policy focuses more on short term remedies such as adding stimulus when the economy slows down. "As difficulties to maintain stable economic operations are increasing and policymakers endeavor to achieve the goal of stabilizing growth, we estimate that the central bank will ensure reasonable growth of broad monetary supply and total social financing, and the nation's monetary policy will remain prudent," S&P Global said in the report. "At the same time, the banking sector will improve its capabilities of serving the real economy while preventing and mitigating financial risks by issuing capital replenishment instruments, as well as receiving funds through the issuance of special-purpose local government bonds or the capital increase of shareholders." As China's latest macroeconomic policies emphasize the real economy, greater support in terms of direct and indirect financing is likely for enterprises and projects involved in green development related to the "dual carbon" goals, rural revitalization and technological innovation, the report stated. The annual Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing from Dec 8 to 10 highlighted that stabilizing growth will be the main theme of China's economic work next year. The country's fiscal policy is expected to become more proactive and its monetary policy will focus on giving strong support to the real economy, especially in the areas of small and micro enterprises, technological innovation and green lending, said Xiong Yi, China chief economist at Deutsche Bank. Xiong said policies favoring industries make him optimistic about the prospects of the renewable energy, innovative high-end manufacturing and internet sectors. The conference said China's monetary policy should guide financial institutions to step up support for the real economy. In recent years, the People's Bank of China, the nation's central bank, has strengthened financial support for small and micro enterprises. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) U.S. must revoke all sanctions on Xinjiang textiles: commerce chamber Xinhua) 11:38, December 26, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles on Saturday urged the United States to revoke all its sanctions and suppressions on Xinjiang-made textiles. The U.S. side has recently signed the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law, which bans imports of textile-related products from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The move completely violated market principles and the rules of the World Trade Organization, disrupted international trade order, and severely damaged the interests of textile and apparel manufacturers and consumers in China and the United States, the chamber said in a statement. The U.S. accusation of so-called "forced labor" issue is purely fabricated out of thin air and has no factual basis, the statement said. It stressed that China's textile and apparel industry has been committed to safeguarding workers' rights and interests, and has provided stable and efficient supply chain services for the global market. For the common interests of both sides, the chamber is willing to strengthen communication with related organizations and sectors from the United States, and strive to maintain the stability of bilateral economic and trade relations in the textile and apparel industry, according to the statement. Meanwhile, the chamber said it hoped that global textile and apparel firms and consumers, including those in the United States, can see through the U.S. long-lasting attempts at smearing China's image and curbing China's development in the name of "human rights," and make their own judgement based on facts and truth. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Mind your own forced labor problem: Xinjiang regional govt refutes US Uygur bill Global Times) 11:44, December 26, 2021 A domestically-developed automatic cotton-picking machine fleet at work in Shaya county, Aksu Region, Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Photo: Lin Luwen/GT China's Xinjiang regional government on Saturday called the US signing of the so-called Uygur forced labor prevention act as an open interference in China's internal affairs with a purpose to contain China. The regional government also said it shows the US bullying logic and revival of a Cold War mentality. Xu Guixiang, the Xinjiang regional government spokesperson, made the remarks at a press conference held on Saturday in Beijing, which came closely after US President Joe Biden signed a legislation which bans products made in China's Xinjiang, citing "oppression" of the Uygurs and other minorities. On Friday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress also said that China will take firm and strong countermeasures if the US insists on acting arbitrarily. Xu told the media that the US bill seriously distorted the actual situation in Xinjiang. The region has been earnestly implementing relevant laws in the region and strictly forbid any forced labor. Xinjiang upholds the concept of enabling the people to lead a better life, and earnestly respects and protects the legitimate rights and interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Xinjiang firmly opposes any form of ethnic discrimination and strictly prohibits any form of forced labor, ensuring that people of all ethnic groups work decently, the spokesperson said. Farmers pick megranates in Pishan County of Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 8, 2020. Photo: Xinhua The so-called Uygur forced labor prevention act seriously violated the international laws and norms of international relations. Based on Forced Labour Convention, Xinjiang does not have the "forced labor" problem. This is a typical "long-arm jurisdiction". Their devil's claws stretched too long and has gone beyond the scope of the law to become a kind of political manipulation and a parody, Xu added. According to Xu, since the end of 2018, the region has received visits by official delegation from the UN, envoys from Africa, Latin America and Arab States as well as foreign religious organizations, scholars and internet influencers from more than 100 countries and regions. They have seen the labor situation in Xinjiang with their own eyes, and they spoke highly of the regional labor policy. The US is pointing fingers at Xinjiang labor affairs based on false information, rumor and lies, using holding ideological bias, which is unjust and irresponsible, Xu criticized. In fact, the US itself has the centuries of histories of trafficking, abusing and discrimination against slaves, the Xinjiang official pointed out. Xu listed at the Saturday event that from receiving the first batch of slaves in 1619 to 1865, the southern plantations of the American continent became the main place where blacks and other minorities became forced labor. In order to ensure a sufficient labor force, even during the prohibition of the international slave trade from 1783 to 1808, American traders still used various means to transport about 170,000 slaves to the US. This figure was one third of the total number of slaves imported to North America since 1619. "It can be said that forced labor is a stain that will never be erased from the American history. The US, which started from the bloody slave trade, is still a country of modern slavery, and the issue of forced labor in the US cannot be denied, " Xu said. Xu concluded that the so-called US Uygur bill will not affect the development of Xinjiang, but it just exposes the US' malicious intent of using fake human rights to secure true hegemony. The US might as well mind its domestic forced labor problems and formulate a Native American forced labor prevention act, as the American history is filled with the expulsion, slaughtering and forced assimilation of the Native American people, who have become a "disappearing ethnicity," Xu noted, while urging the US to reflect on its own problems. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) China's 2022 national entrance exams for postgraduate studies kick off Xinhua) 13:11, December 26, 2021 A staff member (R) uses the facial recognition system to check the information of an examinee for postgraduate entrance exams in Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2021. China's 2022 national entrance exams for postgraduate studies kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2021 shows the exam site for postgraduate entrance exams in Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, capital of China. China's 2022 national entrance exams for postgraduate studies kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2021 shows the exam site for postgraduate entrance exams in Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, capital of China. China's 2022 national entrance exams for postgraduate studies kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope to see first galaxies, distant worlds Xinhua) 13:13, December 26, 2021 WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on Saturday, in a revolutionary mission to seek the light from the first galaxies in the early universe and to explore the solar system, as well as planets orbiting other stars. Launched onboard Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket at 7:20 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (1220 GMT), Webb will travel to an orbit about 1.6 million km away from Earth and undergo six months of commissioning in space -- unfolding its mirrors, sunshield, and other smaller systems; cooling down; aligning; and calibrating, according to NASA. Ground teams began receiving telemetry data from Webb about five minutes after launch. The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket performed as expected, separating from the observatory 27 minutes into the flight. Approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb unfolded its solar array, and mission managers confirmed that the solar array was providing power to the observatory. After solar array deployment, mission operators will establish a communications link with the observatory via the Malindi ground station in Kenya, and ground control at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore will send the first commands to the spacecraft. Engineers and ground controllers will conduct the first of three mid-course correction burns about 12 hours and 30 minutes after launch, firing Webb's thrusters to maneuver the spacecraft on an optimal trajectory toward its destination in orbit about 1 million miles from Earth, according to NASA. Webb is NASA's largest and most powerful space science telescope ever constructed. With a 6.5-meter primary mirror, the large infrared telescope will study every phase of cosmic history -- from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, said NASA. Webb will directly observe a part of space and time never seen before. It will gaze into the epoch when the very first stars and galaxies formed over 13.5 billion years ago, according to NASA. The space telescope will also be a powerful tool for studying the nearby universe, said NASA. Scientists will use Webb to study planets and other bodies in the solar system to determine their origin and evolution and compare them with exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. "The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us forward into the future," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The promise of Webb is not what we know we will discover; it's what we don't yet understand or can't yet fathom about our universe," he said. "Now we will watch Webb's highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge. When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space. Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination," said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA headquarters. Webb is an international program led by NASA with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Belt and Road rail services, construction booming despite COVID-19 Xinhua) 13:20, December 26, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Nov. 21, 2021 shows a section of the China-Laos Railway on the outskirts of Vientiane, Laos.(Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Though the world remains haunted by the still ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen a boom in promoting world connectivity. Under the BRI framework, railway construction is expanding across the global landscape. The iconic China-Europe Railway Express, the China-Laos railway and the railway line in Tanzania have all recorded milestone achievements over the past year. These important railway projects provide important pillars for the BRI, and also contribute their due share to improving the global supply chain and the COVID-19 fight. LINE OF HEALTH AND GIFTS During days just before Christmas, when people in Western countries are worrying that they may not be able to receive their Christmas gifts on time due to clogged shipping lanes, China-Europe trains from different regions were sending products to Europe without delay. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China-Europe freight trains. By the end of October, the China-Europe freight trains plying along 73 routes have reached 175 cities in 23 European countries with more than 50,000 kinds of goods. Amid the pandemic, the number of China-Europe express trains as well as the volume of freight have continued to break new records. Data from China's National Development and Reform Commission shows that during the January-November period, the railway service linking the two sides operated 13,817 trains, carrying 1.332 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 23 percent and 30 percent respectively compared with the year 2020. At the end of November, the cumulative number of anti-epidemic equipment transported by the China-Europe freight trains reached 13.43 million pieces and 103,000 tons. "China is very important for the global supply chain. And in most cases it's faster (than the ocean shipping). Therefore, it's a useful alternative to use the train, and it's reliable," said Axel Mattern, joint chief executive officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing. According to global logistics company MEDILINK, the initial freight rate of the China-Europe rail network is often two-thirds higher than that of sea freight, but the current price is very competitive. The current freight rates of the China-Europe freight trains are basically the same as those of sea freight, but it only takes nearly half the time, said Logistics industry insiders. KEY FOR TRANS-ASIAN CONNECTIVITY On Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway officially started operation. It marks a crucial step for the trans-Asian railway network, which has been brewing for more than half a century. Since then, the journey from Vientiane to the border with China has been reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and the journey to Kunming, capital of China's Yunnan Province, can be made in a day. "The China-Laos railway is conducive to promoting the development of areas that are located along the line. Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Thailand, Laos and China, will benefit from trade, agricultural products, consumer products, investment and tourism," said Pichet Kunadhamraks, deputy director-general of the Department of Rail Transport under the Thai Ministry of Transport, in an interview with Xinhua. The railway is expected to reduce transport costs between Vientiane and Kunming by 40 to 50 percent, said a World Bank report, noting transport costs from Thailand's Laem Chabang port to Kunming are expected to fall by at least 32 percent. It is estimated that by 2030, the annual volume of commercial goods in transit through the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway will reach 3.9 million tons, it added. This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and the two sides are advancing the BRI and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will officially enter into force. Experts believe that the BRI will lead to the construction of the trans-Asian rail network and promote regional connectivity. ROAD OF DEVELOPMENT In mid-June this year, a ceremony was held to launch the Ithaca-Mwanza section of the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the construction of which is undertaken by a Chinese company. After the completion of this project, it will become an important route connecting Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries, providing a pathway to the Indian Ocean. It is of great importance for promoting the economic development of the countries in the region and improving the living conditions of the people. From the Tanzania-Zambia railway built in the 1970s, to the Djibouti-Ethiopia and Mombasa-Nairobi railways, and the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the joint efforts of China and Africa have created jobs, trade opportunities and a better investment environment, thereby contributing to local prosperity as well as to the improvement of the living conditions of the local residents. As of Dec. 16, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road with 145 countries and 32 international organizations, and financial institutions such as China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund have expanded financing channels for infrastructure construction. According to Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, for many countries, a major obstacle to escape poverty is the weakness of transport infrastructure, and in this regard, China's success can set an example. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Full text of research report on U.S. responsibility for global spread of COVID-19 Xinhua) 13:27, December 26, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A research report titled "U.S. Responsible for Global Spread of COVID-19" was jointly released by the Intelligence & Alliance Think Tank and the Taihe Institute on Friday. According to the report, data from multiple sources have shown that the United States is most likely the country where COVID-19 originated, and the country most responsible for the fast global spread of the virus. Its political manipulation of the disease has made the global anti-pandemic efforts particularly difficult and challenging. The following is the full text of the English version of the report, which was published on Saturday: Research Report: U.S. Responsible for Global Spread of COVID-19 by Intelligence & Alliance Think Tank (IATT), the Taihe Institute Introduction Against the backdrop of a still dire global pandemic situation, some U.S. politicians have kept scapegoating China on COVID-19 origins tracing in an attempt to muddle the truth, cover up their responsibility for the pandemic fiasco, and undermine global anti-pandemic cooperation. Their moves and remarks have been widely questioned and criticized by the international community. Data from multiple sources have shown that the United States is most likely the country where COVID-19 originated, and the country most responsible for the fast global spread of the virus. Its political manipulation of the disease has made the global anti-pandemic efforts particularly difficult and challenging. The United States is to blame for the current messy pandemic situation. If it does not correct its mistakes, and start to work with others in the world's pandemic fight immediately, humanity is going to face even greater disasters. I: Evidence indicating COVID-19 originated from the United States keeps showing up The United States has attempted to cover up its misdeeds by shifting the blame to others even to this day. It has been busy politicizing origins tracing and smearing China, and has turned a deaf ear to questions from around the world. The country has become even more dubious as it has refused to release information on America's early cases and to undertake domestic investigation on COVID-19 origins. The probe and analysis into the COVID-19 origins by authoritative agencies around the world, including those from the United States, have become increasingly clear along with the development of the pandemic. Evidence is also piling up, indicating that the United States, a country with the longest history of coronavirus research and the most advanced research capacity, could be the origin of the pandemic. 1. The timeline of the outbreak in the United States has been continuously backdated. According to media reports, the first COVID-19 case in the United States was confirmed on Jan. 19, 2020 in a man who returned home in the U.S. state of Washington from travel. But through deeper investigations, local governments in the United States have identified earlier infections and deaths from the disease. Starting from March 2020, the Department of Health website of the U.S. state of Florida published records showing 171 patients had coronavirus symptoms or positive test results in January and February that year. The entire dataset disappeared from the website on May 4, 2020, only to return later in the evening without the column showing the date when those patients developed symptoms. In an antibody testing study published on June 15, 2020, researchers with the U.S. National Institutes of Health analyzed more than 24,000 stored blood samples that were collected between Jan. 2 and March 18 that year. According to the serology test theory, antibodies can be found about two weeks after a person being infected. In this study, the first positive sample came as early as Jan. 7, 2020 from a volunteer in the U.S. state of Illinois, suggesting the virus was present in the United States before mid-December in 2019, a month earlier than the first case officially reported in the country. Besides, research published on March 30, 2020 on the New England Journal of Medicine probed into 24 critically-ill patients in the U.S. city of Seattle. Those infected were identified by nine hospital intensive care units in the city between Feb. 24 and March 9 that year. "None of the patients had recently traveled to a country with known transmission, such as China, South Korea, Iran, or Italy," said the case series. "Genomic and epidemiologic analyses of sequenced virus RNA recovered in the western Washington region have shown that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been the result of local community transmission -- meaning that the source of infection cannot be traced back to a known exposure," it added. The above findings coincide with a diachronic study of the private think tank, IATT, on the "patient zero" of COVID-19. IATT's report, titled Who is "Patient Zero," cited an article with the title of "Deadly Germ Research is Shut Down at Army Lab Over Safety Concerns," which was published in the New York Times on Aug. 5, 2019, and a study on COVID-19 origins based on big data modeling, which was published on Sept. 22 this year on ChinaXiv, an online pre-print platform operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The studies indicated that for 12 northeastern U.S. states, the possible dates of the first infection, with a probability of 50 percent, fall mostly between August and October 2019, while the earliest is April 26, 2019 on Rhode Island, and the latest is Nov. 30, 2019 in Delaware. All of the dates indicated by the data are earlier than Jan. 20, 2020, the officially announced date of the first confirmed case in the United States. Researches have revealed that the spread of a virus is a complicated issue in a globalized world, and therefore, the global tracing of COVID-19 origins requires persistent efforts. Liu Lili, IATT's secretary-general, said that the first place that reported a large-scale outbreak is not necessarily the origin of the epidemic, adding that Washington's plot of politicizing an academic issue is falling apart. 2. The role of U.S. military is implicated in the origin and spread of COVID-19. The United States was the first to start research in recombinant virus and possesses unrivalled strength in this area. It has also funded and conducted more research in coronaviruses than any other country. Before 2015 the team of Dr. Ralph Baric with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had developed the most advanced technology on recombinant coronaviruses, and acquired genetic sequences of coronaviruses from their studies in collaboration with a military biolab at Fort Detrick. The lab was abruptly shut down by the U.S. military over suspected leakages in July 2019. The closure of the lab was followed by reports of outbreaks of pneumonia of unknown cause with similar symptoms as COVID-19 in the surroundings of Fort Detrick. The possibility that Fort Detrick is the origin of the pandemic cannot be ruled out. On March 10, 2020, a petition was launched on the White House's website, demanding that Washington unveil information about Fort Detrick, the country's prominent lab on biological weapons, as well as the real reason for its closure, and clarify whether there was a virus leak. However, Washington has so far refused to tell the public the truth on the pretext of "national security concerns." On July 12, 2019, the ABC News reported a deadly "respiratory outbreak," in which 54 people had developed fever, cough and general weakness and two died, at a retirement community in northern Virginia, just an hour's drive from Fort Detrick. 3. Early cases in many countries are linked to the United States. COVID-19 outbreaks in many countries have been traced to the United States. Official information from 12 countries, including Costa Rica, Bhutan, Guyana and Kenya, indicated that "patient zero" in those countries were from the United States. According to a report released by Japan's Keio University School of Medicine in February 2021, a research team performed SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing of specimens from 198 patients with COVID-19 at 13 collaborating hospitals located in the Kanto region. The viral lineages were differentiated and classified. The team found that one sample from a COVID-19 patient admitted to a hospital in the Kanto region in November 2020 belonged to the B.1.346 lineage of Clade 20C, which has been prevalent in the western United States since November 2020. According to research of Tel Aviv University, most of the infections in Israel were caused by a SARS-CoV-2 strain imported from the United States. The researchers compared the genomic sequences of over 200 patients at hospitals across Israel to some 4,700 genomic sequences taken from patients around the world. They found that about 70 percent of the patients had been infected by a coronavirus strain that originated in the United States. Canada said on April 30, 2020 that the country's early COVID-19 cases mainly came from the United States. Data from Canada's four major provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia), also the four hardest-hit ones, have shown that it was American travelers who brought the virus to the country. II. The United States is the main force of global COVID-19 spread As the country with the highest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world, the United States has yet walked out of the abyss of the pandemic. The Delta variant is spreading in a faster speed, leading to sharp daily increases of confirmed cases in the United States. So far, the country's confirmed cases has exceeded 48 million, and the death toll has surpassed 790,000. In an editorial published by the U.S.-based New England Journal of Medicine, it said the United States has "failed at almost every step" in handling the pandemic. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Washington's various error-ridden internal and foreign policies have not only caused the collapse of its own pandemic control, but also accelerated the spread of the global pandemic. The United States has repatriated illegal migrants, opened for travel, rotated its troops in foreign countries, and conducted military exercises. These unconventional moves have introduced U.S. domestic COVID-19 infections into other countries and regions, and made the country became the major force that prompted the large scale spread of the global pandemic. 1. Missing the best time to control the pandemic at early stage The United States once misjudged the COVID-19 as flu, making it more difficult to detect the pandemic in early times. From June 28 to October 3, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received over 1,000 cases of vaping-related pneumonia, with 18 deaths and a mortality rate of nearly 2 percent. The CDC officials admitted that they have some "early cases of COVID-19 that were misdiagnosed as flu or other illness," but so far it has not released details of those cases. According to the New York Times, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services has warned the potential severity of the pandemic as early as January 18, 2020, but the White House ignored it. From late January to the end of March, the White House turned a deaf ear to warnings from the WHO, American experts and data models and still acted slowly, resulting in the rapid spread of the pandemic across the country. With the most developed medical system in the world, the United States failed to prevent and control the coronavirus in its early stage, and paid less attention to it, damaging the health of the American people. Meanwhile, the world has been not able to share the country's advanced experience in prevention, control and medical treatment, and the global capacity of pandemic prevention and control has been greatly undermined. 2. Open-door policy exacerbated global spread Affected by many factors such as the strong concept of so-called "human rights and freedom," the weak quality of natural science knowledge of the people at the bottom, federalism and the presidential election, the United States has not implemented science-based pandemic prevention measures, with frequent flow of people in the country and lax policies on outbound travel. The irresponsible and lax outbound travel measures taken by the United States, which is at the epicenter of the pandemic, have directly caused the global outbreak of the pandemic. While most countries are imposing strict prevention and control measures during the pandemic, the United States adopted a laissez-faire policy. Some basic measures, including wearing masks, social distancing and practicing stay-at-home order, have not yet become a consensus in the U.S. society. The lack of timely lockdown measures has accelerated the spread of pandemic across the United States. Mutated viruses are circulating wantonly, and the infection and death rates are remaining high, even setting a global record of over 400,000 newly confirmed cases in a single day. Untimely "reopening" cumbered not only the epidemic prevention and control of the United States itself, but also added a burden to the world. In early August of 2020, the total confirmed cases worldwide were close to 20 million, of which nearly 5 million came from the United States. The U.S. State Department, however, announced at that time a lift of a Level 4 travel advisory that had instructed citizens to avoid all international travels, claiming that the pandemic had been under control and that there is a need to reopen for economic recovery. This reckless move took a heavy toll on the world. According to data released by the National Tourism Office of the United States, from April 2020 to March 2021, a total of 23.195 million U.S. citizens traveled abroad via air and land. From November 2020 to January 2021, the United States witnessed a peak in the pandemic, with an average of daily confirmed cases reaching 186,000, while the number of citizens traveling abroad also reaching a high point of 87,000 per day. The overlapping peaks resulted in a rapid global spread of the pandemic from the United States. According to reports, 30 percent of the 7,000 imported cases in South Korea and 14 percent of the 6,000 confirmed cases in Australia were from the United States. 3. Irresponsibly repatriated immigrants, exporting cases worldwide The United States has continued to deport undocumented immigrants during the pandemic and pushed up imported caseloads worldwide, which is an extreme disrespect for life. On May 13, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a halt to repatriation of immigrants so as to curb the outbreak of the pandemic globally. However, the United States, with the world's most COVID-19 cases, failed to suspend deportations in a timely manner. Instead, the country continued to send thousands of immigrants to vulnerable countries lacking equipment and capabilities to address the pandemic. Data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed that from March to mid-June 2020 alone, the number of deportations of similar immigrants from U.S. customs detention centers was nearly 40,000. In 2020, the ICE expelled about 186,000 people, up by 160 percent compared to 2019. In addition, the repatriation covered 61 destinations, including Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Mexico, and Jamaica. The Guatemalan government said in late April 2020 that nearly one-fifth of the country's COVID-19 cases were related to those deported by the United States. 4. U.S. troops overseas repeatedly violated epidemic prevention protocols, speeding up transmission U.S. military personnel broke protocols when visiting Vietnam, leading to a large-scale outbreak in the Southeast Asian country. In March 2020, U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt docked at the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang. Many Vietnamese paid a visit to the vessel where there were no precautionary measures at all, while around 5,000 U.S. officers and sailors disembarked to tour the city. A massive outbreak of COVID-19 cases began in Vietnam after the aircraft carrier left. U.S. troops in Japan and South Korea gathered for Independence Day celebrations, leading to local outbreaks. In July 2020, U.S. soldiers quarantined at a Hilton Hotel in Okinawa, Japan went downtown for a U.S. Independence Day celebration party, violating local quarantine protocols. They did not wear masks, nor maintain social distancing. The prefecture, which had previously reported no cases, saw a surge of infections after the event. In July 2020, U.S. soldiers in South Korea's Osan and Daegu went to Busan and gathered for Independence Day celebrations, setting off firecrackers while maskless, leading to a spike of daily cases locally. 5. U.S. failure to control COVID-19 in int'l events leads to "superspreading" A biotech conference in Boston in February 2020, which was flagged as a COVID-19 superspreading event, led to at least 245,000 other cases across the U.S. and Europe, according to a CNN report on Dec. 11, 2020, citing a genetic fingerprinting study led by the team at the Broad Institute in Massachusetts. Their study, published in Science, found two particular genetic fingerprints of viruses associated with the conference and then tracks those lineages across the United States. One was spread from Boston to 29 U.S. states as well as to other countries, including Australia, Sweden, and Slovakia. The study also found that a subset of the viral strain with a mutation ended up infecting 88,000 people. This means this conference, attended by about 200 people from across the world and without any protective measures, seeded thousands of infections. 6. Unilateral sanctions lead to humanitarian crisis Whether the global pandemic could be controlled depends not on the countries who've handled the virus the best, but the weakest ones. As the pandemic continues to rage across the world, the United States refused to lift sanctions on some countries out of its geo-political considerations. This made it hard for those countries to get access to medical supplies and humanitarian assistance, crippling their abilities in containing the virus. Take Iran as an example. The U.S. not only turn a deaf ear to the request from the international community to ease sanctions on Iran, but introduced more in the COVID-19 era. This resulted in a burst of infections during the early stages of the pandemic. Iran once ranked No. 9 in global confirmed cases. Due to U.S.-imposed sanctions, Middle East, Latin-American and African countries with weak public health systems, suffered a huge loss and severe humanitarian crisis. III. Political manipulation makes global fight against epidemic more difficult U.S. political manoeuvring has taken the world further and further away from overcoming the epidemic. From the very beginning of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. politicians have placed geopolitics above science. The United States has given the pandemic a "Cold War" narrative, "Cold War" language and political overtones of "Cold War" attacks, smearing and vilifying China and seriously disrupting international origins-tracing and global anti-pandemic cooperation. The United States is politically polarised and mired in partisanship, unable to heal social rifts. It is difficult for the government to focus its efforts on effectively combating the pandemic. This has not only aggravated the pandemic in the country, but also affected the global anti-pandemic fight. 1. Shirking responsibility for pandemic prevention and undermining international anti-pandemic efforts In order to get rid of the dilemma of ineffective anti-pandemic efforts, U.S. politicians have taken the initiative to direct the "dirty water" to the international arena, shifting the responsibility to China, making unreasonable accusations against China's anti-pandemic policy, discrediting China's transparency in combating the pandemic, trying to make the Chinese government responsible for the U.S. anti-pandemic failure, and even demanding the Chinese government to "pay for it." Trump himself once used the term "Chinese virus" to refer to the coronavirus, undermining China-U.S. cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also been the subject of blame shifting by the United States. The Trump administration claimed that the WHO failed to play its due role and was also responsible for the U.S. fight against the pandemic. Not only did the U.S. government announce the suspension of funding to the WHO at a critical moment in the global fight against the pandemic, but also investigated whether WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has properly responded to the pandemic. To tackle the pandemic in the shortest possible time, all countries need to work together and join forces in prevention and control. U.S. politicians' blame-shifting subterfuge has increased the cost of global anti-pandemic fight, created differences between countries, and severely hindered the global fight against the pandemic, which in turn has worsened the situation in the United States and prolonged its own fight against the COVID-19. 2. Obsession with political self-interest and refusal to take up responsibility Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has exposed to the fullest its obsession with political self-interest featuring unilateralism, "America First", "American supremacy" and its mentality of hegemony. Tracing the origins of COVID-19 within the U.S. arguably helps detect problems at an early date and prevents future outbreaks. But the U.S. has employed double standards on the issue of origins-tracing. On one hand, it has hyped the "lab leak theory" and actively promoted the WHO's investigation in China. On the other, it has disregarded questions and calls from the international community, refusing to investigate Fort Detrick and a biological laboratory at the University of North Carolina, both of which are suspicious. It is therefore evident that the U.S. has incessantly hyped COVID-19 origins tracing not to be responsible for the people of the world, but to fabricate lies, distort truth, attrite China's diplomatic resources and gain bargaining chips against China. The United States, as the world's number one superpower, has absolutely insufficient responsibility and accountability to match. While it always boasts humanitarianism and human rights, the country practices "America First" and adheres to "vaccine nationalism" on the matter of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The U.S. hasn't cooperated in the global planning of vaccine distribution and has made accusations against China's vaccine aid; it has implemented export controls over raw materials for vaccine production and has hoarded a large number of COVID-19 vaccines far beyond the needs of its people; it has been reluctant and slow to provide aid to the developing countries afflicted by the pandemic. It in doing so has worsened the global vaccine inequality and left the vaccine gap to be continuously widened. The U.S. politicians who champion unilateralism appear to have defended U.S. interests, but their behavior is backfiring. It is becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. government is the biggest troublemaker. 3. Political polarization causes harm to America itself and world at large The United State's COVID-19 response has fallen victim to the country's partisan battles since the very beginning. The Democrats and the Republicans fight not for effectively controlling the epidemic and saving lives, but for using the pandemic as an opportunity to gain support from the voters. When the pandemic was at its worst in the U.S., which coincided with the 2020 presidential election, many politicians were more concerned about their own prospect in the government transition than how to handle the pandemic. This has cost the U.S. precious time for controlling the disease. At that time, the epidemic data of many U.S. states were delayed for several weeks before being reported to the federal government, which seriously affected the country's epidemic decision-making. The situation has remained unchanged after the Biden administration came to power. Despite recurrences of COVID-19 cases, Biden has not taken tough measures against some Republican governors' resistance to wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, nor has he acted strictly on swing voters due to the outbreaks. The uncontrollable pandemic, the constantly mutating virus, and the ingrained ideological differences have made Americans confused and furious. The U.S. political system can hardly manage and control an extremely divided society, nor can it protect the country from a new round of man-made disasters, to which the American people and the people of the world are all victims. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, especially with the emergence of mutant strains, which has increased uncertainties over future global pandemic response, the U.S. should abandon its obsession with political self-interest, reflect on its major mistakes in epidemic prevention and control, stop politicizing the coronavirus, stop undermining international anti-epidemic cooperation, actively share its vaccines with the world, carry out origins tracing research in a scientific manner and facilitate global economic recovery, so as to finally defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Chinese textile associations oppose U.S. ban on Xinjiang products Xinhua) 13:48, December 26, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The China National Textile and Apparel Council and 12 industry associations issued a statement on Saturday to firmly oppose the U.S. act of preventing products made in Xinjiang from entering the international supply chain. The U.S. side has recently signed the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law, which classifies all products produced in Xinjiang as "forced labor" products and bans imports of products related to Xinjiang. Xinjiang cotton is globally recognized as a high-quality natural raw material for fiber, and is vital to the sound and sustainable development of the Chinese and global textile industry, the statement said. The U.S. suppression of Xinjiang cotton and related products is bound to severely endanger the security of the global textile supply chain, the statement added. It urged the U.S. side to face the solemn position of the Chinese government, textile industry and consumers, and rectify the mistakes as soon as possible. All international brands should respect the legitimate rights and interests of Xinjiang and the Chinese textile industry, and respect global consumers' freedom to make choices, said the statement, calling for joint efforts to resist trade bullying and avoid politicizing commercial issues. China's textile and apparel industry and retail market are the largest and most comprehensive globally, the statement said, adding that the industry has forged mutually beneficial partnerships with numerous international brands and buyers. The industry is confident and capable of safeguarding the security and interests of China's textile industrial chain, and the Chinese textile associations will continue to offer full support to Xinjiang's cotton plantation and production, as well as the trade and consumption of Xinjiang cotton at home and abroad, the statement noted. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Roads reopened in southern Tripoli following military mobilization Xinhua) 15:47, December 26, 2021 Military personnel are seen in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. Following the reopening of the roads, Ahmed Nooh, a local security official, expressed the hope that stability and security were established in the country. A few days ago, a large number of military vehicles and heavy weapons were deployed, and schools were closed in the area for fear of possible military action. The UN Support Mission in Libya expressed concern about the military mobilization, calling on all Libyan actors to "exercise restraint at this delicate moment and to work together to create a secure political atmosphere that preserves Libya's progress and enables peaceful elections and a successful transition." Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. An excavator is seen working in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) An excavator is seen working in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) A cotton picker works in the fields of Erken Reyimu in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States' signing of the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law is a manifestation of its bullying mindset, an extention of gangster logic, and a revival of the Cold War mentality, said a spokesperson with the people's government of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday. Such a move blatantly interferes in China's internal affairs, and is totally wrong, unpopular and dangerous, said Xu Guixiang at a press conference in Beijing held by the Xinjiang regional government. The so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" seriously distorts the actual labor situation in Xinjiang, violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, and tramples on the common values of human society, said Xu. Legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are fully protected, and the region's employment policies and practices are in line with international labor and human rights standards, Xu noted. "The so-called 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' will in no way affect Xinjiang's development and progress," said Xu. "On the contrary, it has exposed the United States' fake human rights, real hegemony, and the intention to sabotage in the name of concern." The United States itself has, in fact, faced a series of domestic labor issues such as forced labor in private prisons, child labor abuse, and gender discrimination in employment, said Xu. "It is the United States that should actually look into its own forced labor issues and sign into law a 'Native Americans Forced Labor Prevention Act'," the spokesperson added. ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has strongly condemned a missile attack on the Saudi Arabian city of Samtah that resulted in casualties. "Such attacks not only violate international law but also threaten peace and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued Saturday night. Calling for immediate cessation of these attacks, Pakistan reaffirmed its full support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity, the statement added. The Houthi missile attack on Friday night hit a car maintenance workshop in Samtah, killing a Saudi citizen and a Yemeni migrant worker, and injuring seven others, including a Yemeni migrant worker, according to the Saudi state media. Fumio Kishida Photo:AFP Japanese Prime Minster Fumio Kishida protested and expressed his anger toward US military personnel having conducted no coronavirus tests before coming to Japan, according to Japan-based TBS News on Friday. All the US forces in Japan had exempted their personnel from testing for novel coronavirus infections upon departure from the US from September 3 in line with US policy, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday. The practice wasn't exposed until a group infection was reported at US Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in Okinawa Prefecture earlier this month. Is it possible that the Japanese government was ignorant of this move by the US military since September? Had the group infection at Camp Hansen not been exposed, would the Japanese government continue to pretend to be ignorant even when the Omicron variant is raging across the world? This incident once again demonstrates the inequalities of the US-Japan alliance, in which Japan lies in a much weaker position. Under an agreement between Japan and the US, quarantine measures for US military personnel on arrival are carried out by the US side, which means they are not subject to Japanese quarantine rules at airports. In other words, Japan's quarantine measures do not apply to the US military. When the Japanese government implemented strict border controls in a bid to prevent the Omicron variant from entering by banning the entry of non-resident foreign nationals, US military personnel can even come to Japan without coronavirus tests. This highlights the inequality between Japan and the US in terms of legal jurisdiction. US troops stationed in Japan should abide by Japanese laws, rules and regulations, and those who violate them should be punished accordingly. This is what an equal relationship should be. But the one between Japan and the US, as we see it, apparently does not work like that. In terms of Kishida's response, "his anger and protest are primarily a show put up to the domestic public, in an attempt to appease their discontent and anxiety," Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times, "But Kishida should be clearly aware that such protest cannot fundamentally change the inequalities between Tokyo and Washington." The US will not revise the agreement regarding the status of United States Armed Forces in Japan even though it has undermined Japan's public health security. As a result, any protest will be futile. Although Hayashi said that the US' practice of not carrying out coronavirus tests on military personnel before arriving in Japan "has now been changed at Japan's request," US troops stationed in Japan are not likely to fully comply with Japanese standards when it comes to epidemic control and prevention, and the US troops in Japan cannot be regulated by Japan. Tokyo is incapable of changing its weak stance in its alliance with Washington. It can be anticipated that in order to maintain US-Japan alliance and seek the US' protection in security, similar scenes will repeat time and again in the future. In the context of the US' lax quarantine measures, and the inequalities of US-Japan alliance, the US troops stationed in Japan will become a glaring loophole in Japan's efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. While the Omicron variant is wreaking havoc, US military personnel will pose a huge challenge to Japan. It turns out the Japanese public, in particular residents living nearby US bases such as those in Okinawa Prefecture, will finally bear the risks. This is a modern tragedy of Japan. 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 Your browser does not support the video tag. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu have discussed the situation in the South Caucasus. The discussion took place during the telephone conversation on December 25, the Turkish ministry has reported. During the conversation, the parties also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. Azerbaijan and Turkey cooperate in various fields of economy and have jointly completed giant energy and infrastructure projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, and TANAP. On June 15, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations, which focuses on defence cooperation, promoting regional stability and prosperity, and establishing new transportation routes. In the first ten months of 2021, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey amounted to $3.4 billion. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.1 billion in 2020. The two countries set up a goal to bring the mutual trade turnover to $15 billion in 2023. It should be noted that so far, Turkey is Azerbaijans second-largest investor followed by the UK. Additionally, Turkey was one of the first countries that expressed its interest and readiness to participate in the restoration of Azerbaijans liberated territories. Director General of the Russian TASS news agency Sergey Mikhailov sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday, Trend reports. Will be updated The Association of Azerbaijans Friends in France condemned the provocative visit of the head of the Ile-de-France region, the Republican Party candidate in the upcoming presidential election Valerie Pecresse, made on December 22 to the Azerbaijani Khankandi city, Trend has reported with the reference to the associations statement. The Association underlined that Khankandi city is recognized by international organizations as part of Azerbaijan's territory, stressing that visits to these lands without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities are unacceptable. They stressed that by the visit to Karabakh, Pecresse violated Azerbaijan's sovereignty, committed a provocation and deprived herself of the right to participate in peacekeeping activities. "Azerbaijan is a secular country, like France. Therefore, its not clear why Pecresse's campaign statements are aimed at exaggerating the so-called religious threat against Eastern Christians?! In Azerbaijan, which has been visited by the Pope several times in recent years, Christians live in peace and tranquillity," the statement reads. The Association recalled that the Karabakh conflict between the two states was of an exclusively territorial nature. "Over the course of 30 years, Armenia, contrary to the condemnation of the UN Security Council, has occupied almost 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory by the military way," the association underlined. The statement noted that the legal liberation of the occupied territories after the restoration of the ceasefire in 2020 should be assessed as a victory of international law, just as in the case of France's liberation of Alsace-Lorraine from German occupation in 1918. "France and its representatives must demonstrate impartiality, respecting elementary norms of international law, in order to strive for a sustainable peace," the association stated. Earlier, Baku has sent a protest note to Paris over a French presidential candidate's illegal visit to Azerbaijan's Karabakh region. The UAEs Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has called on tax registrants to benefit from the redetermination of administrative penalties to be equal to 30 percent of the total unpaid penalties. The FTA noted that few days are left to benefit from the redetermination before December 31, 2021, in accordance with Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021, Amending Provisions of Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 on the Administrative Penalties for Violation of Tax Laws in the UAE, which came into effect on June 28, 2021, reported state news agency WAM. In a press release issued today, the FTA clarifies that the Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021 outlined three conditions that need to be met in order to benefit from the redetermination of administrative penalties imposed before 28th June, 2021. First, the administrative penalty must have been imposed under Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 before 28th June, 2021, and that the administrative penalty due was not settled in full before 28th June, 2021. Second, the tax registrant should settle all payable tax by 31st December, 2021, i.e. not have any due taxes by the end of 2021. Third, the tax registrant should settle 30 percent of the total unsettled administrative penalties due until 28th June, 2021, no later than 31st December, 2021. The FTA indicated that, should the registrant meet these conditions, the administrative penalties will be redetermined to equal 30 percent of the total unpaid penalties, and that will appear on the eServices account of the registrant after 31st December, 2021. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director-General of the FTA, said, "Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021 aims to support tax registrants to fulfil their tax obligations, boosting the UAEs competitiveness in doing business." Al Bustani renewed the call to benefit from Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021, which offers many facilities, including a mechanism to redetermine administrative penalties to be equal to 30 percent of total unpaid penalties if all conditions set in the Decision are met. "As part of the FTAs commitment to ensuring the smooth and accurate implementation and to benefit from the redetermination of the administrative penalties, in addition to highlighting the other facilities included in the Decision, the FTA issued two public clarifications about the Decision on its official website several months ago," Al Bustani explained. The public clarifications offered a detailed explanation along with practical examples to explain the mechanism of redetermination of administrative penalties imposed before 28th June, 2021, as well as the amendments made to administrative penalties and violations related to the application of Federal Law No. 7 of 2017 on Tax Procedures." The FTA clarified that when completing the process for redetermination of administrative penalties, registrants can use the "Payment Adjustment Type" feature. The feature allows registrants to allocate the amounts based on their payment preferences. The options available are either to pay tax first, or pay administrative penalties first, or pay oldest liability. To benefit from the redetermination of penalties, registrants should choose their preferred option in order to achieve the intended payment allocation results. The FTA highlighted the importance of ensuring that the tax returns or the voluntary disclosure is submitted before making the payment. If the registrant made the payment before filing the tax return or submitting the voluntary disclosure, and had outstanding administrative penalties in their account, the system will settle the payable administrative penalties, since there is no outstanding payable tax in the registrants account at the time of making the payment. The FTA also clarified that it is essential for tax registrants to pay their payable tax before the due date to avoid any late payment penalties. The FTA further clarified that bank transfers can take two or three working days to process the payment. Hence, the period must be taken into consideration to ensure that the FTA receives the payment before the due date. Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader, has secured a major order for the first-of-its-kind sub-sea power transmission network in the Mena region advancing a sustainable energy future for Abu Dhabi. The contract for Hitachi Energy was awarded by Samsung C&T Corporation, one of the worlds largest engineering and construction companies, to connect Adnocs offshore operations to the UAE-owned onshore power grid operated by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa). According to Hitachi Energy, the group's HVDC Light technology and Mach digital control platform will enable the transfer of cleaner and more efficient power from the mainland to power Adnocs offshore production operations, enabling a carbon footprint reduction of its offshore operations by more than 30 per cent. This innovative solution reinforces Hitachi Energys commitment to helping customers and countries to transition towards a carbon-neutral future and help enable the 2050 Net-Zero Initiative of the UAE, it added. With a capacity of 3,200 megawatts (MW), the two HVDC links will be by far the most powerful power-from-shore solution in the Middle East and North America (Mena) region to date. It is also the first HVDC power-from-shore solution outside Norwegian waters. HVDC Light is a voltage source converter technology that was pioneered by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting national power grids, integrating offshore wind parks with mainland transmission systems, feeding more power into congested city centers, interconnecting asynchronous networks that operate at different frequencies, and power from shore. This innovative solution reflects how Hitachi Energy continues to pioneer technology to address the growing interest from national and independent oil and gas companies to power their offshore production facilities with carbon-free energy from onshore power grids. "We are proud to be enabling Abu Dhabi and Adnoc to make significant progress on their pathway toward achieving the United Arab Emirates ambition to be carbon-neutral by 2050," remarked Claudio Facchin, the CEO of Hitachi Energy. "At Hitachi Energy we are championing the urgency of the clean energy transition, and this major order is further evidence that we are a go to partner for developing and deploying technologies and solutions that are advancing the worlds energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure," he added. SH Kim, Procurement Manager at Samsung C&T Corporation, said: "In Hitachi Energy, we have selected a trusted partner who brings deep global competence and a strong mindset of collaboration and innovation." "Together, we will serve ADNOC with pioneering technologies that are proven to deliver for such a large HVDC project," he added. The entire power-from-shore project will comprise two HVDC power links, which will connect two clusters of offshore oil and gas production facilities to the mainland power grid, a distance of up to 140 kilometers for each cluster. Hitachi Energy said it is supplying four converter stations, which convert AC power to DC for transmission in the subsea cables, then reconvert it to AC from DC for use in the offshore power systems. The HVDC technology will be supplied from Hitachi Energys global competence centers. Also included in the order are system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning. Hitachi Energy will support the customers with a long-term life-cycle service agreement leveraging digital technologies to ensure system availability and reliability over the HVDC links long operating life, it stated. Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the worlds HVDC Classic projects and more than 70 percent of the worlds voltage source conversion HVDC projects.-TradeArabia News Service Medallion Associates, a real estate and investment advisory firm with global networks, has announced its business expansion plans and targets for 2022 in the UAE market. To entice more foreign direct investments (FDIs) in real estate technologies, the company has allocated funds worth $200 million. This comes as part of Medallion Associates strategy to support the property industry and attract new investors and start-ups. This move comes amid increasing deployment of next-generation technologies in commercial real estate, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, it stated. Through its sizeable fund allocation, Medallion seeks to unlock the potentials of these technological advancements as the benchmark for the industrys sustainable and innovative future. This complements the firms goal of attracting at least $7 billion in FDIs to the UAE, it added. CEO Masood Al Awar said: "We are very enthusiastic about the upcoming year and have established goals to increase sales and asset portfolio. As we have seen in this entire year, the market has thrived, and we are eager to contribute to the countrys real estate sector with our new offers and strategies." "One of the main aspects that we are looking forward to is the investment in real estate technology," stated Al Awar. The announcement reflects the Dubai groups aim to boost its assets in the UAE to $4 billion, taking advantage of the investors sustained interest in the local market. "We are witnessing growing interests from international investors through our offices in London, Malaysia, and Pakistan. With Dubai expected to positively demonstrate sustained economic progress in 2022, foreign direct investments (FDIs) will grow further," noted Al Awar. "In the coming year, we will continue to innovate real estate products and solutions to bring in more capital to the country. We are confident we can help strengthen the growth of the real estate market in the emirates through our expansion plan next year," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Bahrain's leading telecom services operator Batelco has launched its eCommerce platform 'Batelco eSuite' to help merchants create online stores. Batelco eSuite enables merchants to create online stores within minutes through few easy steps; signing up, listing items with photos, prices, and quantities, and their ready to sell, without any paperwork or set-up fees. Theres no doubt that owning a physical retail shop is not enough to grow your business and reach all your potential customers. Breaking the physical barriers and establishing an online store is essential for todays businesses, said a statement from Batelco. Merchants dont need to hire developers to set-up the store, the platform is user-friendly and provides clear instructions. The online store is mobile optimized, meaning customers will have a consistent shopping experience whether theyre using a browser on their laptop or their mobiles, it stated. To mark the launch of eSuite, Batelco is offering a full-featured, three-month free trial period. Following that, they will be charged BD9.9 ($26) per month. Batelcos A/General Manager Enterprise Abdulla Danish said: "We at Batelco pay great attention to the SME segment as it is an important pillar in Bahrains economy. We proactively deliver solutions that support SME growth, helping them to operate more efficiently." "Earlier this year, we launched Business in a Box, a package that offers a full set of technology tools for SMEs, and now to complement our growing portfolio, were offering a solution that allows merchants to sell online. "Batelco eSuite" provides a fully customizable solution, with localized payment methods," noted Danish. "Merchants can manage their account through a user-friendly dashboard with bi-lingual store administration. Other interesting features include managing inventory for each product, setting up your own domain name, a built-in tax tool to make compliance simple, and much more. Shoppers browsing products on the online store will find local payment methods from Bahrain based providers, such as Tap payments, allowing a seamless payment and delivery experience for users," he added. Hoodly's Co-founder Sebastian Wussler said: "We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Batelco. Hoodly will be fully integrated in Batelcos digital business services and be distributed exclusively through Batelco in Bahrain." "Together we enable entrepreneurs and SMEs to get their business online easily and in less than five minutes," added Wussler.-TradeArabia News Service Pretium, a specialized US investment management firm with $30 billion in assets, has announced that George Lane, an Abu Dhabi industry veteran, has been appointed the firm's new managing director and portfolio manager, on the real estate team. Lane is based in New York, where he will be focused on the performance and expansion of Pretium's single-family rental (SFR) vehicles. He joins Pretium after nearly ten years at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), most recently as Deputy Head of Americas, Real Estate. In that role, Lane was responsible for acquisitions and asset management across property types and geographies throughout the United States, and oversaw certain key operating partner and fund manager relationships. "We are excited to welcome George, an experienced industry leader with a diversified background in real estate investment," said Don Mullen, founder and CEO of Pretium. "As we continue to grow our platform and expand accessibility of quality, affordable housing to help solve for our nation's housing shortage, we are focused on assembling the most sophisticated and experienced team possible to support our stakeholders," he noted. Prior to ADIA, Lane served as Vice President in the global opportunity funds group at Deutsche Bank. He began his career at Deloitte in the audit group before moving to the real estate consulting group. On his new role, Lane said: "I look forward to working with the exceptional team at Pretium, leveraging my global institutional expertise to create value, identify new opportunities and support our diversified and growing investor base and clients around the world." Lane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College, a Master of Science in Accountancy from DePaul University, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.-TradeArabia News Service 2021 has been a year of learning and adapting for tourism. It has proven that only by working together can the sector overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. Gathering the global tourism community and developing concrete actions, UN World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) has led tourisms response with the vision of not only restarting, but doing so in a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable way. As global tourism faced up to a second year of unprecedented crisis, UNWTO began 2021 by counting the cost so far. At the same time, however, the emergence of vaccines brought hope. The Global Tourism Crisis Committee met to explore what this meant for safe travel and the restart of tourism, while the announcement of the winners of the UNWTO Global Start-up Competition recognized the role culture and creativity will play in tourisms restart and recovery. Collaboration and innovation were the focus at the start of the second quarter. UNWTO partnered with IATA on a new Destination Tracker to give both tourists and destinations clear, impartial and trusted advice. And a new Start-up Competition was launched to find the best ideas for accelerating rural development through tourism. In May, the launch of the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO generated significant interest from Members in every global region. As destinations in Europe welcomed tourists back for the peak summer season, UNWTO highlighted the role of digital solutions for the safe restart of the sector. But UNWTO also looked ahead, to a more sustainable future, working with key partners to reduce plastic waste and consumption across every part of the sector. Together, we celebrated World Tourism Day around the theme of Tourism for Inclusive Growth, a message of solidarity and determination that was echoed on a global scale. The final quarter of 2021 began with cautious optimism as UNWTOs Barometer showed signs of improvement in tourist arrival numbers during the summer season in the northern hemisphere. A new partnership with Netflix will bring the message of tourism as a driver of opportunity to a massive global audience, while in November, UNWTO was tourisms voice at COP26 and signatories to the landmark Glasgow Declaration keep growing. Finally, against the backdrop of the UNWTO General Assembly, the programme of work for the coming biennium was approved and 77% of Members voted to secure a second mandate for the Secretary-General from 2022-2025. UNWTO brings together political leaders from across the globe to deliver a strong, coordinated response. Governments, destinations, fellow UN agencies and international organizations met at key international events joining efforts to rethink tourism. Institutional coordination has proven crucial to find the solutions that build a smarter, greener and safer tourism. The pledge to leave nobody behind means nobody should miss out: Not now as we support the sector in the face of crisis, and not in the future as tourism starts again. Tourism is a proven driver of equality and opportunity. And thats why we turn words into actions, delivering guidelines and action plans, to ensure everyone can enjoy the opportunities tourism brings. Advancing the transformation of the tourism sector, partnerships are the only way forward. In 2021, UNWTO signed agreements with international organizations and the private sector to step our vision for the future of tourism: innovation, education, sustainability, green investment, rural development. Wego, the leading online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is collaborating with the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) to promote tourism recovery. The campaign will position Georgia as a safe and visitor friendly destination across all Wego's marketing channels for all types of travellers. It is still applying stringent measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, PRNewswire reported. Nature lovers and adventurers get to enjoy Georgia's green and breathtaking landscapes with lots of outdoor activities. Wego Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Mamoun Hmedan said: "Georgia ranks among the top five leisure destinations for MENA travellers. As international travel gradually resumes, we are confident that this partnership will drive more awareness of the country's offerings and help with the tourism recovery. Around 100,000 searches were performed on our platform in November 2021." GCC travellers can enjoy weekend getaways in Georgia given its proximity, especially in two of its cities: Batumi and Tbilisi, which offer a vibrant lifestyle, mesmerising views, and hidden gems to explore. GNTA Acting Head Medea Janiashvili said: "GCC countries are one of our main target markets. Travellers from these countries tend to have longer stays, repeat visits as well as higher expenditures. Regardless of the pandemic, this year we have recovered various direct flights from these countries. "We have reached 50 per cent of international visits and income in 2021 in comparison to 2019, as we opened the borders and started welcoming guests. We hope that the partnership with GCC's leading travel platform Wego will gain Georgia more popularity in this region." The types of travellers leading the searches to Georgia are solos 63%, couples 22% and families 15%. The duration of stay for GCC residents searching for a holiday in the country ranges between 4-7 days. The country is also famous for its eco-tourism, thanks to its cultural heritage as well as subtropical rainforests, mountain steppes and alpine ecosystems. Travellers can enjoy the national parks, wildlife as well as experience horseback riding. With the winter season approaching, travellers get to choose from an array of winter activities and festivities. Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia offer varying experiences at their ski resorts. Etihad Rail, Emirates Nature-WWF, Fujairah Municipality, the Fujairah Environment Authority and Fujairah Adventures Centre, backed by Fujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority, have inaugurated the historic Al Bithnah Nature and Heritage Trail in Fujairah. The emirates 50th nature trail, which marks the UAEs 50th anniversary, is the countrys very first community-built tourism trail and represents a pioneering model of inclusive development. The nature path, located in Wadi Ham, has been created as part of a wider Al Bithnah Conservation Project. The trails inauguration took place with a number of VIPs including Mohamed Saif Al Afkham, Director-General of Fujairah Municipality; Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail; Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF; Aseela Al Moalla, Director General of Fujairah Environment Authority; Saeed Al Memari, General Manager of Fujairah Adventures, as well as members of the local community. During the inauguration, the delegation visited the first section of the trail and the surrounding areas, which are rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage. The trail is set to be completed by the first quarter of2022 and will open as an eco-tourism destination for tourists. The project is part of Etihad Rails sustainability vision and commitment to being a Good Neighbour to the local communities through which the UAEs National Rail network passes. Etihad Rail continues to take a lead on projects which minimise the environmental impacts of rail construction and enhance sustainable development by opening up new opportunities for economic growth and increased ecotourism. Mohamed Saif Al Afkham, Director-General of Fujairah Municipality, said: Etihad Rail plays an essential role in consolidating the position of the UAE as a global and regional centre for transport and logistics services. The UAE National Rail Network is one the biggest infrastructure projects in the country and serves as a major contributor to the national economy, which will play a pivotal role in enhancing the economic development in the UAE and the Emirate of Fujairah. I would like thank all the parties who contributed to the completion of the Al Bithnah Nature and Heritage Trail, as well as the residents of the Emirate of Fujairah for their cooperation. Mohamed Almarzooqi, Executive Director of Rail Relations at Etihad Rail, said: "As a Good Neighbour, Etihad Rail is committed to safeguarding the livelihood of local communities surrounding the Etihad Rail project. This will provide unique opportunities for sustainable economic and social development and will play a strategic role in continuing the UAE's journey towards excellence and success for the next fifty years. We are truly glad to partner with the residents of Al Bithnah area in the development of this trail and are looking forward to its seeing its impact on enhancing tourist attraction, supporting biodiversity, and protecting the environment." The joint environmental conservation and habitat rehabilitation project is part of a series of projects Etihad Rail is undertaking in collaboration with government, private stakeholders and NGOs. Following the completion of the nature trail, a comprehensive biodiversity study of the wider Al Bithnah region will be conducted to determine water quality, identify environmentally significant habitats, alongside seeking to enable preservation of local biodiversity. This will be accompanied by a socio-economic survey to identify areas, which can further empower the local community and foster sustainable economic growth. Emirates Nature-WWF Director General Laila Mostafa Abdullatif said of the occasion: We launched this project together with our esteemed partners just a few months ago, and have seen tremendous enthusiasm from the residents of Al Bithnah village, as well as the wider-UAE community who have participated in inclusive conservation efforts, by volunteering and doing hands-on field work to create this trail, a model which we hope will contribute towards building a green economy for the UAE. There is still an opportunity for the community to get involved with building the rest of the nature trail, and they can participate by joining our Leaders of Change programme. This is the beginning of us creating a strong foundation to activate civil society to create a greener, more sustainable nation for our next 50. The Al Bithnah Conservation Project, launched in March 2021, aims to assist the community in adapting to rapid changes in the socio-economic world. The agreement signed between the project partners involves three key pillars, which are supporting the growth of the local community, protecting the environment and biodiversity and preserving the UAEs natural heritage. The objectives of the project are as follows: Build a Nature & Heritage trail to promote the eco-tourism potential of the area. Renovate an abandoned ancestral falaj, and in turn sustainably manage and rehabilitate the natural habitat. Involve the UAE community in taking a hands-on approach to support with implementing various elements of the project. Engage with local communities and civil society to participate in and drive the shift towards establishing a green economy. TradeArabia News Service Help India! The political parties under the banner of People Alliance for Gupkar declaration (PAGD) expressed their dismay over the draft report of the commission and alleged that the exercise seems to be carried out to serve BJPs political agenda in the region. Auqib Javeed | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles SRINAGAR The recently released draft report by the Delimitation Commission of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been met with disdain and anger in the restive region, with pro-India politicians in Kashmir expressing resentment against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government at the Center. The political parties under the banner of People Alliance for Gupkar declaration (PAGD) expressed their dismay over the draft report of the commission and alleged that the exercise seems to be carried out to serve BJPs political agenda in the region. PAGD is an electoral alliance between several regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and was formed after the abrogation of article 370. The alliance seeks restoration of Article 370. The BJP led government set up a commission in February 2020 after the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill in parliament in August 2019. The commission was tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in the union territory. The Commission was headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and includes the Chief Election Commissioner and state election commissioners. The commission in its draft report to the government suggested six new legislative seats for Jammua Hindu dominated region and only one for Kashmira Muslim majority region. Earlier, Jammu had 37 seats, Kashmir 46 seats and Ladakh 4 seats. As per the proposal, Kashmir will have 47 seats and Jammu 43. However, the move is being viewed in Kashmir as an attempt to create a wedge between regional and community lines in the region. The PAGD has termed the report as a slur and something that was unacceptable and has called for a protest on January 1, 2022, against what it termed biased and divisive proposal of delimitation panel. However, the BJP unit of J&K maintained that the delimitation commission worked with dedication and transparency and that it was for the first time that Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories have got their due rights. Addressing a press conference in Jammu party headquarters, BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are aware of the political motives of PAGD now and no one is going to support them. Asked why there was only one seat to Kashmir and six to Jammu, Raina said that J&K was one and there was no Kashmir and Jammu as it was about J&K. However political pundits and analysts in Kashmir see the report as a long time agenda of BJP and RSS of turning the Muslim majority state into a Hindu majority. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst from Kashmir told TwoCircles.net that the whole exercise which started in 2019 was aimed at disempowering Kashmir and Kashmiris. The delimitation exercise was a step towards that, he said. He said the delimitation was to be done in the year 2026 but the BJP preponed it to make sure that Kashmir and the Muslim belt of J&K are somehow disempowered. It may be noted that BJP has made several statements where they claim that the J&K will have a Hindu Chief Minister in the coming elections. So the exercise is aimed at that, Showkat noted. National Conferences rebel leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi argues that the BJP is polarising the region and the delimitation commissions report is the proof. Whatever is happening is being done on communal lines. They (BJP) are pitching one community with another, Mehdi told TwoCircles.net. Interestingly, Mehdi is the only politician who has been repeatedly calling out to his party men and other politicians not to succumb before New Delhi. While slamming his party National Conference for participating in the delimitation process, Mehdi said their participation meant to legitimize the decision that was taken on 5 August 2019. On December 20, National Conference President and MP Farooq Abdullah attended the meeting and confirmed the draft proposal. The meeting was attended by two BJP MPs Jugal Kishore and Dr Jitendra Singh and three MPs from the National Conference Farooq Abdullah, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Mohammad Akbar Lone. The meeting was held at Ashok Hotel in Delhi. A picture of two MPs meeting the BJP leaders at Ashok Hotel went viral on social media prompting the other political parties to corner the National Conference. However, NCs vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said it is deeply disappointing that the commission appears to have allowed the political agenda of the BJP. The draft recommendation of the J&K delimitation commission is unacceptable. The distribution of newly created assembly constituencies with 6 going to Jammu & only 1 to Kashmir is not justified by the data of the 2011 census, Omar said in a series of tweets. It is deeply disappointing that the commission appears to have allowed the political agenda of the BJP to dictate its recommendations rather than the data which should have been its only consideration. Contrary to the promised scientific approach its a political approach, he added. Another former chief minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said the real game plan is to install a government in J&K which will legitimize the illegal & unconstitutional decisions of August 2019. My apprehensions about the Delimitation Commission were not misplaced. They want to pitch people against each other by ignoring the population census & proposing 6 seats for one region & only one for Kashmir, she said in a tweet. This commission has been created simply to serve BJPs political interests by dividing people along religious & regional lines. The real game plan is to install a government in J&K which will legitimize the illegal & unconstitutional decisions of August 2019, she added. Soon after the report, the PAGD under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah met and discussed the current situation. M. Y. Tarigami, the spokesman of PAGD, said that abrogation of Article 35-A and 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was unconstitutional and a step was taken without taking into confidence the stakeholders from Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. PAGD further claimed that Dr Farooq Abdullah of NC and other members of the commission reiterated in the meeting of the commission that the proposal is not as per the wishes and interests of people and is just a step to create a wedge on a regional and community basis. This is part of agenda of BJP to divide people, PAGD leaders said, saying that the draft if implemented is set to create a further wedge between JK and New Delhi. Meanwhile, the PAGD members said that the conglomerate will hold a peaceful protest on January 1, 2022, in Kashmir against the proposal. However, Mehdi maintains that the political parties should think of a long term solution rather than short term. Our fight should have for the restoration of our special status not short term benefits like elections, delimitation etc, Mehdi said, adding that the only way to get our rights back is to follow the path of the farmerswho managed to withdraw the three farm bills. Mehdi said the delimitation was done to benefit BJP in elections. The divide will be dangerous for the region which has a history of upholding communal harmony for decades, he added. Auqib Javeed is a journalist based in Kashmir. He tweets at @AuqibJaveed. A green energy project leaves a Mississippi town gasping for air The Huffington Post quoted Holly Jean Buck about how a Mississippi town is having air quality problems caused by a wood mill that was established to help with green energy. Limited biomass energy could be useful, such as in California, where dead trees in drought-stricken forests need to be cleared anyway to reduce the harmful effects of wildfires, said Buck. The best case for biomass is waste biomass, Buck said. 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. "I don't think I've ever taken it to the extreme before," he told Baumbach. "You're so hungry and so tired at some points that there's nothing you can do -- you're not adding anything on top of what you're doing. You only have enough energy to convey what you're doing, so it's great. There are other times where a scene's not working and you don't have the energy to figure out why it's not working." Pike started playing guitar when he was 8 years old, immersing himself in metal and hardcore punk as a sort of escape from his difficult upbringing. His father "took off on me," he says, and his mother, a fraud investigator, raised him in Golden, Colo. He has said Hell's Angels were often around, as well as other manly types who taught him strange lessons. "She was really into mountain men," he says. "I grew up camping in the Rocky Mountains with (men) she'd go out with. They made me go and kill animals and camp in the freezing cold and dig holes in the snow and try to teach me survival skills." You are here: Business China ranked second globally with a total of 301 unicorn companies, or startups valued at more than 1 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, according to a new report released by a Shanghai-based research institute. Compared with a year ago, 74 new Chinese unicorn companies were added to the list, said the Global Unicorn Index 2021 compiled by the Hurun Research Institute. Globally, a total of 1,058 unicorn companies were on the list, up 80 percent year on year, the data showed. The United States topped the list with 487 unicorn companies in total, while India has surpassed Britain to grab the third spot with 54 startups. Chinese tech giant Bytedance, the parent company of video platform TikTok and its Chinese sister app Douyin, came in as the most valuable unicorn worldwide, with its valuation surging to 2.3 trillion yuan (about 350 billion U.S. dollars) this year. Beijing hosted 91 unicorn companies in 2021, second largest in terms of the number of unicorns globally, while Shanghai ranked fourth with 71. Shenzhen maintained its fifth place with 32 unicorn companies. You are here: Business State Councilor Wang Yong has called on state-funded companies and state-owned enterprises to deepen reform and innovation, while striving to contribute more to stabilizing economic fundamentals. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour to Jiangxi Province and Shanghai on the reform and development of the centrally-administered and local state-owned enterprises. From Wednesday to Friday, Wang went to companies in industrial sectors to visit their research and development centers and smart workshops as well as to learn about their reform and innovation progresses. Wang stressed the importance of ensuring stable development while pursuing progress as well as guaranteeing safe production and defusing risks. Efforts should be made to advance the breakthroughs of core technologies, promote the digital and green transformation, and foster new growth drivers, Wang said. Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has sent tens of thousands of government workers to join the frontline staff working in residential quarters across the city to stamp out coronavirus. The megacity, with a population of 13 million, imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday, in an effort to contain the latest COVID-19 resurgence. Residents have also been asked not to leave the city unless absolutely necessary. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has urged swift virus containment measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Xi'an during a recent inspection in the city. On Friday, the province reported 78 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 75 cases in Xi'an. In the resurgence since Dec. 9, the province had reported 342 local cases, with 330 cases in Xi'an, according to the provincial health commission. All the cases in Shaanxi, with four severe cases, 134 moderate cases and 204 mild cases, are undergoing treatment in the Xi'an Chest Hospital, Liu Na, an official with the provincial health commission told a press briefing Saturday. The patients, aged between one year old and 90 years old, are all in stable condition. To aid the fight against COVID-19, the Xi'an municipal committee of the Communist Party of China has sent more than 33,000 government workers to the frontline to help address staffing shortages. They have joined in the closed-off management of communities, nucleic acid testing and environmental disinfection. Niu Jingqi, a judge with the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court, was woken up by an urgent phone call at 5 a.m. on Thursday, asking him to get to a residential quarter more than 20 km away before 7 a.m. After a brief training upon arrival, Niu put on protective clothing and began helping community officials maintain order at a nucleic acid testing site until 10 p.m. "More than half of the 18,000 residents in this community are over 60 years old and do not know how to use the health code," Niu said. "Therefore we have set up a queue for people to register for the test with ID cards and arranged early testing for the elderly who are physically weak." "My wife is a police officer and is also on the frontline these days. We are doing ordinary work, but we want to contribute to the fight against the virus." Niu's 192 colleagues from the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court also work on the frontline. Fan Pengsheng, an official with the densely-populated Beilin District, has joined community officials to check nucleic acid testing and help tackle difficulties for eight residential communities since Dec. 18. "Many old residential communities do not offer property management services and we need to go door-to-door to tell residents to join the mass nucleic acid testing," Fan said. "As grassroots Party members and cadres, we should race against the time while the city suddenly came to a standstill," Fan said, adding that they often work till very late at night. Authorities in Xi'an also made all-out efforts to ensure the national postgraduate entrance examination for about 135,000 examinees in the city starting Saturday go smoothly amid grave epidemic situations. Authorities dispatched staff workers to send exam papers to examinees who are in quarantine in designated places. Chang'an University offered masks and hand sanitizers for all examinees and ensured that examinees can take nucleic acid testing every day. Those hit with sudden fever can take the exam in isolated rooms. The municipal transport department has organized 5,000 taxies and cars on ride-hailing platforms to provide one-on-one rides for examinees. You are here: World Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic discussed the deliveries of Russian natural gas to Serbia during a phone conversation on Saturday. The presidents noted that the two sides have organized work to ensure stable supplies of heat and energy to Serbian households and industries, the Kremlin said in a statement. The promise of sufficient gas supplies was made amid a natural gas shortage and rising energy prices in Europe, the statement said. During the phone call, Putin and Vucic agreed to maintain contacts and continue coordination at different levels. Enditem You are here: World Flash Pakistan has strongly condemned a missile attack on the Saudi Arabian city of Samtah that resulted in casualties. "Such attacks not only violate international law but also threaten peace and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued Saturday night. Calling for immediate cessation of these attacks, Pakistan reaffirmed its full support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity, the statement added. The Houthi missile attack on Friday night hit a car maintenance workshop in Samtah, killing a Saudi citizen and a Yemeni migrant worker, and injuring seven others, including a Yemeni migrant worker, according to the Saudi state media. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to distribute the China-aided humanitarian supplies on Friday to the country's 34 provinces. Acting Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Mawlawi Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani said at a ceremony held for the distribution that his country had received several batches of humanitarian supplies donated by China, and that his ministry was sending the material aid to needy people in the country's 34 provinces. "We are thankful to China for the assistance," Haqqani told Xinhua after the ceremony. "China is our good neighbor and the assistance for us is very important." China has announced it will provide humanitarian aid as well as COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan, and more supplies are being delivered to the Central Asian country. Produced by Xinhua Global Service XI'AN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, reported 155 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases to 485 in the latest resurgence since Dec. 9, authorities said Sunday. Many infections previously unfound in communities were detected in three rounds of large-scale nucleic acid testings in the city since Dec. 21, He Wenquan, a senior official with the Xi'an municipal government, told a press conference. A large number of infections may further emerge in the coming days after the large-scale testings, he said. A new round of testing started in Xi'an Saturday noon. As of Sunday noon, more than 11 million people had been tested, said He. The city has set up over 4,400 sample collecting venues, with more than 31,000 sample collectors. Xi'an imposed closed-off management for communities and villages on Thursday to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence. Residents are asked not to leave the city unless necessary. Enditem BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iraqi government official and head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Iraq discussed on Sunday NATO's support for Iraqi forces and ways to enhance stability in the region. Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and head of NATO's Mission in Iraq Michael Anker Lollesgaard "discussed ways to enhance security and stability in the region, as well as NATO's support to Iraq in the field of advice and training for Iraqi forces," according to a statement from al-Araji's media office. During the meeting, al-Araji said the Iraqi government is responsible for protecting Iraq and keeping it away from any regional conflict, and reiterated "Iraq's refusal to use its lands, airspace and waters as a launching pad for any aggression against any country." The meeting came as the coalition forces led by the United States are withdrawing from Iraq, and the task of the remaining foreign soldiers' mission is shifting to giving advice, help, and empowerment to Iraqi security forces. On Jan. 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country. In July this year, the United States and Iraq held a session of strategic dialogue, during which the two countries agreed on withdrawing all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Dec. 31. Enditem CAIRO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed Saturday the importance of intensifying joint efforts to settle the Libyan crisis. During a phone conversation, both presidents reviewed the current situation in Libya, where Sisi highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts to bring the views of the Libyan parties closer so that Libya can cross the current transitional phase and activate the free will of the Libyan people in choosing their leaders and representatives, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. According to the statement, Sisi and Putin also stressed the importance of intensifying joint efforts and mutual coordination between their countries to settle the Libyan crisis and achieve the desired aspirations of the Libyan people for a better future, as well as combating and undermining armed militias and terrorist organizations and putting an end to illegal foreign interference in Libyan affairs. The talks between Sisi and Putin came after the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) of Libya, in coordination with the House of Representatives, proposed on Wednesday to postpone the first round of voting in the presidential election to Jan. 24, 2022, provided that the House of Representatives takes the necessary measures to lift the state of force majeure that obstructs the electoral process. More than 2.5 million Libyan voters have received their voter cards from the HNEC, and are expecting to cast their votes to choose a president. The Libyan parliamentary elections, originally planned to be held on the same day as the presidential poll, have been postponed to January 2022. The elections are part of a roadmap adopted by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in February, with the aim to bring stability to Libya. Enditem BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States' signing of the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law which bans imports from China's Xinjiang region is economic bullying and another attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs, analysts told Xinhua. This law, based on ill-informed information and prejudicial to China, is "sheer interference in Chinese internal affairs and a severe violation of international law," said Muhammad Asif Noor, director of the Islamabad-based think tank Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies. U.S. foreign policy has been tilted towards interfering in the internal affairs of countries, yet the world is no longer blind, Noor pointed out. Abdul-Raziq Ziyada, a Sudanese political analyst, sees the American decision as "a clear violation of the international law governing the relations among countries." The signing of the so-called act is a "continuation of U.S. longstanding disinformation about Chinese living in Xinjiang and a clear attempt to superimpose politics onto economic relations" between China and the United States, according to Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar. The U.S. administration's sanctions against Xinjiang may lead to a situation where American and Chinese businesses and consumers must contend with the ramifications of "poisonous politics" instead of enjoying the dividends of economic globalization, Adhere said. President of the Russian-Chinese Analytical Center Sergei Sanakoyev believes that Xinjiang-related issues are not human rights issues at all, but anti-terrorism and anti-secession issues. When the United States accused China of "forced labor," it never produced any convincing evidence, he argued, adding that the U.S. attempt is to provoke conflicts among ethnic groups and religions in China, destabilize the situation and curb China's development. Murata Tadayoshi, honorary professor at Japan's Yokohama National University, expressed regret that the United States has slandered China with accusations of "genocide." Statistics of the continued growth of the Uygur population in Xinjiang can disprove the "genocide" lie and the tangible results are backed up by detailed data, he said. Jorge Valero, former permanent representative of Venezuela to the United Nations in Geneva, said he visited Xinjiang at the invitation of the Chinese government and saw the progress made by Xinjiang people under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China and the local government. He expressed appreciation of China's comprehensive measures to prevent terrorism in accordance with the United Nations global counter-terrorism strategy. Enditem TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Travellers arriving from 12 countries are banned from entry into Iran for 15 days over the fear of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA reported. The ban, already effective on Saturday, covers eight African countries of Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa, and four European countries of Britain, France, Norway and Denmark, according to Iran's Interior Ministry. For travellers arriving from other countries, the ministry has mandated the submission of a vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test before entering Iran. Iran's Health Ministry on Sunday reported 1,857 new COVID-19 cases, raising the country's total infections to 6,184,762. The pandemic also claimed 52 lives in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 131,400. A total of 6,026,378 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 2,774 remained in intensive care units, said the ministry. On Dec. 19, Iran reported its first Omicron case in a traveller who returned from the United Arab Emirates. Enditem BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Taikonauts Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu have completed their extravehicular activities (EVAs) and returned to the space station core module Tianhe, the China Manned Space Agency said on early hours of Monday. Enditem RIYADH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen accused on Sunday Lebanon's Hezbollah of targeting Saudi Arabia through Sanaa International Airport, Al Arabiya News reported. The coalition Spokesperson Turki al-Malki highlighted at a press conference some evidence of the involvement of Hezbollah in Yemen. The press conference showcased pictures of Hezbollah's members training the Houthi militia to launch explosive-laden drones. The spokesman said that since the beginning of the war in Yemen in March 2015, Houthis attacked the kingdom with 430 ballistic missiles and 851 bomb-laden drones, causing the deaths of 59 Saudi civilians. Houthis have been targeting various areas in Saudi Arabia, especially border cities and vital establishments, such as energy facilities and airports. Most of these attacks had been intercepted before reaching their targets. Recently, the coalition has been air-striking military targets of Houthis in Yemen to deter the militia from launching attacks. Enditem SANAA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 soldiers were killed on Sunday in fighting between the Yemeni army and Houthi militia in Yemen's central province of Marib, government military source said. "Eighteen soldiers were killed today in the battle in the desert area of al-Balak al-Sharki in southern Marib," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. "There were also many Houthis killed in the battle by airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led Arab coalition," he said, without giving a specific number. The Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported 16 coalition airstrikes on al-Balak al-Sharki area without providing further details. The Houthi militia have made major advances in the past months in Marib, seizing control of several districts around the government-controlled central city. In February, the Iran-backed group began a major offensive to capture the oil-rich province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Enditem KATHMANDU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 looms large, Nepal still has a long way to go to vaccinate its targeted population. Even though the South Asian country has been receiving a steady supply of vaccines in recent months, it is now struggling to store them and inoculate more of the population due to the lack of adequate storage capacity and necessary human resources, officials said. As of Sunday, 32.9 percent of Nepal's estimated 30-million population has been fully vaccinated, while 50.2 percent of the 19.92-million population aged 18 and above has been fully inoculated, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. "The level of vaccination is still low amid the Omicron threat," Sher Bahadur Pun, chief medical officer at the Kathmandu-based Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, told Xinhua. "I have found that some older people have not been vaccinated for being unwilling to queue in the vaccination centers. Some people are still not aware of the importance of vaccines against the pandemic," he said. Nepali health officials acknowledged that the vaccination rate is still low and they are trying to increase the coverage. "The World Health Organization has advised us to increase the portion of fully vaccinated to 40 percent of the total population by December and we are reaching close to that level," said Bibek Kumar Lal, director of the Family Welfare Division at the Department of Health Services. "We have also rolled out a vaccination campaign for people aged 12-17 after first vaccinating people aged 18 and above." Nepal has so far identified three Omicron cases. Despite the potential threat, Nepal cannot double or triple the vaccination rate anytime soon, officials said. "We have been vaccinating around 250,000 people on a daily basis. Sometimes we inoculated as many as 350,000 people in recent days," said Sagar Dahal, chief of the National Immunization Program under the health ministry. "In the past, we vaccinated a maximum of 300,000 people in a day." The government is making efforts to expand the vaccination drive that started in late January, he said. "But we're facing difficulty in expanding the vaccination drive due to the lack of trained human resources and logistics," he said, adding that it also takes time to raise public awareness and create momentum for the drive. "Due to the delayed supply of syringes, the vaccination campaigns were affected in some districts," said Lal. "On Thursday, we received a supply of five million syringes, which will be enough for us to run a vaccination drive for a few weeks. An additional 60 million are also in the pipeline." By Sunday, the COVID-19 pandemic has sickened a total of 827,271 people and left 11,585 others dead in Nepal. In recent months, the country has been reporting new daily cases mostly in 200-300 and new deaths mostly in a single-digit number. In contrast with those hard times, Nepal has an adequate supply of vaccines for now, and the government aims to vaccinate all the population by mid-April next year. As of Sunday, the country has received 39.2 million doses of vaccines, with an additional 20 million to be supplied by February next year, according to the health ministry. The country has requested delayed shipments due to a lack of enough refrigeration facilities. "We have a stock of about 9 million vaccine doses and the storage facility is already stretched," said Dahal. According to the official, the existing storage capacity may accommodate an additional 20 million vaccines only. "So we have asked the companies which are willing to supply extra vaccines to Nepal to delay the shipments till February," he added. Enditem WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on Saturday, in a revolutionary mission to seek the light from the first galaxies in the early universe and to explore the solar system, as well as planets orbiting other stars. Launched onboard Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket at 7:20 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (1220 GMT), Webb will travel to an orbit about 1.6 million km away from Earth and undergo six months of commissioning in space -- unfolding its mirrors, sunshield, and other smaller systems; cooling down; aligning; and calibrating, according to NASA. Ground teams began receiving telemetry data from Webb about five minutes after launch. The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket performed as expected, separating from the observatory 27 minutes into the flight. Approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb unfolded its solar array, and mission managers confirmed that the solar array was providing power to the observatory. After solar array deployment, mission operators will establish a communications link with the observatory via the Malindi ground station in Kenya, and ground control at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore will send the first commands to the spacecraft. Engineers and ground controllers will conduct the first of three mid-course correction burns about 12 hours and 30 minutes after launch, firing Webb's thrusters to maneuver the spacecraft on an optimal trajectory toward its destination in orbit about 1 million miles from Earth, according to NASA. Webb is NASA's largest and most powerful space science telescope ever constructed. With a 6.5-meter primary mirror, the large infrared telescope will study every phase of cosmic history -- from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, said NASA. Webb will directly observe a part of space and time never seen before. It will gaze into the epoch when the very first stars and galaxies formed over 13.5 billion years ago, according to NASA. The space telescope will also be a powerful tool for studying the nearby universe, said NASA. Scientists will use Webb to study planets and other bodies in the solar system to determine their origin and evolution and compare them with exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. "The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us forward into the future," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The promise of Webb is not what we know we will discover; it's what we don't yet understand or can't yet fathom about our universe," he said. "Now we will watch Webb's highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge. When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space. Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination," said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA headquarters. Webb is an international program led by NASA with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Enditem The court case in Sydney against Hillsong senior pastor Brian Houston has been delayed until next year. Australian website Eternity News reports that a local court deferred his case until 27 January 2022 when the date of his full trial is due to be announced. Houston has pleaded not guilty via his lawyer. New South Wales police charged Houston in August with concealing information about sexual abuse committed by his father in the 1970s. The charge followed a two-year police investigation. The elder Houston abused a number of children in his native New Zealand, but the case before the court concerns the abuse of Australian survivor Brian Sengstock as a young boy. In a statement in July, Brian Houston insisted that he did not find out about his father's abuse until 30 years after the event and that he was honouring the victim's "multiple requests not to inform the police". "The law at the time granted an exception to reporting a crime of this nature when a person had a reasonable excuse not to report," Houston claimed. "This state law has since further clarified that this type of situation - when an adult victim of child abuse explicitly does not want the matter reported - qualified as a reasonable excuse under the law." Reposted with permission from Christian Today A Christian charity is calling on the international community to take urgent action after reports of at least 35 civilians being burnt alive in Myanmar on Christmas Eve. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the atrocity was carried out by the Tatmadaw - the Myanmar army - in Kayah State. The victims include elderly people and children. Their bodies were discovered by the Karenni Human Rights Group (KHRG) on Christmas Day. CSW has also received reports of people being used as human shields and landmines being placed around villages. The massacre is the latest in a string of violent attacks in Kayah State that have left over 600 homes, six churches and at least one clinic destroyed between May and December. Dr Sasa, spokesperson of the National Unity Government of Myanmar and Myanmar Special Envoy to the United Nations, condemned the recent killings in the "strongest possible terms". He said in a statement: "These acts clearly constitute the worst crimes against humanity and we expect that all peoples and governments the world over should condemn these acts. "With the condemnation, however, should come a commitment that these criminals be brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions." Benedict Rogers, CSW's Senior Analyst for East Asia, is calling for a global arms embargo. "As many of us celebrate Christmas, the Tatmadaw has continued to perpetrate egregious violations against the people of Myanmar, burning innocent civilians alive and killing and displacing hundreds more in targeted attacks on the country's ethnic and religious nationalities," he said. "We call once again for urgent international action, and specifically for the swift and comprehensive imposition of a global arms embargo on the country as a means of pressuring the military regime to bring an end to these horrific atrocities." Reposted with permission from Christian Today Faith? What is it? In the beginning stages of becoming a follower of Christ, I came to know that faith is simply believing in Jesus, believing in the Father and Holy Spirit. Faith for me is that God is so real that when I talk to Him I believe He replies. This is what faith looked like for me. Jesus said in Luke chapter 18, verse 17, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." When I encountered this verse for the first time, I wondered what is in a child that God wants us to imitate? My understanding of this verse was only on the level of my knowledge of a childthey play, eat and sleep. That's just about it. Then years later, God called me into full-time children's ministry and my knowledge and understanding of a child broadened and deepened. Our church is located in a rural area where most of the residents come from the lower class (though I don't really see them as very poor or unfortunate). They just have enough for the day. And there's this little girl who will come to church to eat with us because sometimes they have no food at home. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6, verse 26: that if our heavenly Father is feeding the birds that neither sow, reap nor gather into barns, then much more will it be so for all His children who are far more valuable. Like this little girl. She's not worried about things like food, but God uses people to feed her. It's strange that most of us adults worry about things like having no food to eat later or tomorrow. Also, observing children who are about five to six years old, I learned they can play with their friends and later on fight. And when my husband and I come to restore them, minutes later they are back again playing as if no fight happened. It amazes me how children can be like this while us adults find it hard to forget an offense done to us. It can even take us years to forget. And I will never forget how God used the faith of a little girl to increase my faith. I went through a season of physical illnesses and didn't know what was happening with my health; I got so worried. Then God made me remember this little girl who came to me to pray for her foot that had wounds. I could tell it was serious because it looked like there was a presence of pus and infection. After praying for her, I told her to tell her mum to have it checked by a doctor but she said they didn't have money. So we just prayed and trusted God for it anyway. Eventually, her wounds were healed completely. God took care of her. God used that moment to open my eyes to what the faith of a child looks like. Somehow, being called into children's ministry I have learned these two major thingswhy God is pleased with a childlike faith: Firstly, children do not worry about anything at all. They have an inborn trust that, somehow, they will be taken care of. And this is what God wants for all of His children regardless of age: to have this kind of trust in Him because He is a good Father. Secondly, children do not hold offenses. That is why they are free as the birds in the sky. When we allow ourselves to keep offenses in our hearts, whether minor or major issues, we put our own selves into the prison of that offense. God wants us to have an attitude of forgiveness, like a child, in the Kingdom of God because it is for our own sake. Therefore, to enter into the kind of life God wants for us, a worry-free, stress-free, and simply-at-rest kind of life (which is reflective of the Kingdom of God, a heaven on earth), we must become like these children who neither worry about anything nor take offense and trust him. "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew chapter 18, verse 3) - MariSilicon X, the world's first 6nm Dedicated Imaging NPU self-designed by OPPO, and OPPO Air Glass, OPPO Find N, make their public debut. - During its third annual OPPO INNO DAY event, OPPO announced its new brand proposition, "Inspiration Ahead" DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand, OPPO, successfully held its annual technology event, OPPO INNO DAY 2021, from 14th to 15th December. Themed 'Reimaging the Future', the event included a news-filled keynote speech by OPPO Founder and CEO Tony Chen, announcing OPPO's new brand proposition 'Inspiration Ahead.' During the two-day event, OPPO introduced its first Cutting-edge Imaging NPU, MariSilicon X, the revolutionary OPPO Air Glass, and OPPO's first flagship foldable, OPPO Find N. OPPO Sets Eyes on the Future with New "Inspiration Ahead" Brand Proposition During his opening keynote speech, Tony Chen reaffirmed OPPO's commitment to developing innovations that revolve around user experience while announcing the company's new brand proposition, "Inspiration Ahead," which takes optimism and Inspiration against the challenges and uncertainties everyone is facing. "We are living in an unprecedented age, and as a global technology company, we at OPPO feel it is both our duty and our privilege to try and make the world a better place through our technologies, products, and action," said Tony Chen. "Although the journey towards each technological breakthrough is full of challenges, we aim to continue as we have started, step by step, to reach 'Inspiration Ahead' as we have set out in our new brand proposition." Introducing the World's First 6nm Cutting-edge Imaging NPU and the Revolutionary Products During the event, OPPO unveiled its first Cutting-edge Imaging NPU a MariSilicon X,A built on 6nm process technology which is of its first kind in the world, MariSilicon X features an advanced NPU, ISP, and Multi-tier Memory Architecture that delivers incredible image processing power with ultra-high-power efficiency. As a dedicated Imaging NPU, MariSilicon X marks a new era in computational photography. MariSilicon X's NPU delivers an unstoppable 18 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and only 11.6 TOPS per watt power efficiency. It not only achieves a milestone in the energy consumption level of the smartphone NPU, but also claims the top-level computing power in the industry at this stage. With its exponential leap in both performance and power efficiency, it unleashes the power of AI algorithms in making individual video frame looks as rich and defined as a still photo. With MariSilicon X, 4K AI Night Video to be captured in the RAW domain using complete image data is possible for the first time on Android smartphones. The Cutting-edge Imaging NPU will make its debut on the next Find X Series in Q1 2022 globally, making it one of the most advanced commercialized imaging NPU on a smartphone yet. OPPO INNO DAY 2021 also saw the official announcement of OPPO Air Glass. The groundbreaking aR (assisted Reality) device features a revolutionary lightweight design, OPPO self-developed compact projection system, and supports various intuitive interactions and practical functions. On the second day of the event, OPPO unveils its highly anticipated foldable smartphone, OPPO Find N. Discover OPPO's Latest Technological Breakthroughs and Artwork from Emerging Artists in the Virtual INNO WORLD This year, OPPO also created an all-new virtual playground, OPPO INNO WORLD, to celebrate INNO DAY 2021 together with OPPO fans worldwide. Within INNO WORLD, visitors can watch the keynote speeches and experience OPPO's other new cutting-edge technologies, including its Digital Human, Retractable Camera, and many more. The OPPO Renovators Emerging Artists Project has also made its way into INNO WORLD, showcasing innovative artwork from young artists around the globe. Now in its third year, OPPO Renovators seeks to support young artists in bringing together the latest ideas and concepts from the world of art and technology as they imagine the possibilities for the future. In the Renovators Showroom in INNO WORLD, eight works from young artists are being exhibited, including AutoGene, Autonomy of Plant, Light High, Revival, and others, creating a platform for these artists to reach a global audience. About OPPO OPPOA is a leading global technology brand since 2004, dedicated to providing products that seamlessly combines art and innovative technology. OPPO is on a mission to building a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity. The smartphone devices have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of smart and frontier technologies in hardware, software and system. In 2019, OPPO launched a $7 Billion US Dollar three-year investment plan in R&D to develop core technologies furthering design through technology. OPPOA is firmly pursuing the creation of the best technology products and technological artistry for global users. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology. For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing smartphones with camera capabilities that are second to none. OPPO launched the first mobile phone, the Smile Phone, in 2008, which marked the launch of the brand's epic journey in exploring and pioneering extraordinary technology. Over the years, OPPO has built a tradition of being number one, which became a reality through inventing the world's first rotating camera smartphone way back in 2013, launching the world's then thinnest smartphone in 2014, being the first to introduce 5X Zoom 'Periscope' camera technology and developing the first 5G commercial smartphone in Europe. Today, OPPO was ranked as the number four smartphone brand globally. OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology of global consumers through the ColorOS system Experience, and Internet service like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO's business covers 40 countries with over six research institutes and five R&D centers across the world, from San Francisco to Shenzhen. OPPO also opened an International Design Centre headquartered in London, driving cutting edge technology that will shape the future not only for smartphones but for intelligent connectivity. About OPPO MEA OPPO started its journey in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in 2015 after setting up its regional office in Egypt. Following the immense success of the brand's sales centre in Cairo in the first year, OPPO accelerated its expansion plan across the MEA region and inaugurated its country operations in the UAE in 2019. Now OPPO is physically present in more than 13 markets across the region, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Nig! eria, South Africa and the Levant. To empower its presence in the region in line with its product localisation strategy, OPPO further invested in MENA and set up its very own factory in Algeria in 2017, thus, becoming the first Chinese brand to build a manufacturing premises in North Africa. Based on insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO has evolved the progress of product localisation, taking into consideration several perspectives towards each market, including product localisation, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localisation, to better communicate with local young customers; and talent localisation, to understand local consumers further and provide an optimum customer service. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X Series and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region. A forward-thinking international technology company, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company that contributes to a better world and have enacted positive change in every way possible through activating local community initiatives and humanitarian, charity campaigns. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1716424/Find_X_OPPO.jpg LogoA - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1451542/OPPO_Logo.jpg A LONDON, Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --aaAs of December 2021, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis' visa-free and visa-on-arrival agreements total to an all-time high, thanks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, the Honourable Mark Brantley. This historic revelation means that citizens of the small eastern Caribbean nation can travel hassle-free to over 161 destinations worldwide, including major business hubs in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The latest country to partner with St Kitts and Nevis was SAo TomA and Principe. On December 16th, the two nations signed a full visa waiver agreement Principe through high representatives of both countries in New York. A few months ago, Foreign Minister Brantley travelled to Serbia and signed visa waiver agreements with Palestine and with African Nations Burkina Faso and Gabon. These partnerships have moved St Kitts and Nevis ahead of Mexico and Israel, leveling with Barbados for the number one passport in the Caribbean region and 24th globally. During his Budget 2022 Presentation last week, Minister Brantley said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation "shall continue to seek means of convergence with all of our partners, that we advance our discussions and actions around our mutual interests." He also added that the government will continue to build on key affiliations with partners such as Canada and the United States to further strengthen bilateral relations and forecasted that face-to-face engagements at ministerial and ambassadorial levels would increase with quarantine and travel restriction ease. St Kitts and Nevis' increasing international diplomacy and travel partnerships are a major pull factor for time-poor high net worth investors looking to obtain a second citizenship. According to the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Index, published by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine, St Kitts and NevisA is the Caribbean CBI country with the most extensive visa-free and visa-on-arrival offering.A The report also ranked the Federation's CBI ProgrammeA as the world's best in 2021. In exchange for a financial contribution to a government fund, vetted foreign candidates and their families are awarded nationality and issued internationally respected citizenship that permits their bearers visa-free travel to over 161 of the world's 193 countries. The life altering investment allows them to live, learn and work in a fast-growing economic paradise and the opportunity to confidently develop their business across the world. pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com Mumbai: Actor Tovino Thomas, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the recently released superhero film Minnal Murali, has expressed his desire to work in Bollywood movies. The Malayalam star made his debut in 2012 with Prabhuvinte Makkal and has garnered appreciation for his work in films such as 7th Day, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Uyare and Mayanadhi, among others. After spending around nine years in the Malayalam film industry, Thomas said he is open to the idea of venturing into new territories, including Hindi cinema. Bollywood industry is blessed with amazing filmmakers but the character should demand an actor like me only then I will do it, Thomas told PTI. The Mayanadi star was offered Laal Singh Chaddha, starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Thomas said he had let go of the opportunity of working on this "big Bollywood film" as he was already committed to complete the remaining portions of Minnal Murali then. The role was eventually played by Naga Chaitanya. I got one offer for a very big film but I had to say no because I was in the middle of shooting for Minnal Murali'. I don't regret it but I do have a sense of disappointment as I had to say no to it because I had no other option. Even though I wanted to do it, I am glad I didn't compromise on Minnal Murali', the 32-year-old actor added. Minnal Murali features Thomas as Jaison, a tailor who gains special powers after being struck by lightning. Directed by Basil Joseph, the Malayalam language film released on December 24 on Netflix. As many as 164 people recovered from the disease leaving the total recoveries at 20,60,836, the bulletin said. (PTI Photo) Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh on Sunday reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, taking the tally to six. The two new cases were reported from Anantapuram and Prakasam districts, and both persons arrived from foreign countries, the Director of Public Health said in a statement. A 48 year-old male who recently came from South Africa to Hyderabad and then to Ongole on December 16 tested COVID-19 positive on December 20. His samples were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, for genome sequencing, it said. He was declared positive for the Omicron strain on December 25. In the other case, a 51 year-old man arrived in Bangaluru from the UK on December 18. His samples were collected and sent to the CCMB after he tested positive for coronavirus. Later, he tested positive for the Omicron variant. Both the patients are healthy and in quarantine under the close observation of the health department, the statement said, adding that all the primary and secondary contacts of both persons were tested and found to be negative for the virus. Meanwhile, the state recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases taking the cumulative figure to 20,76,492, while the toll rose to 14,490 with one more fatality. Active cases stood at 1,166, a health department bulletin said providing details of the last 24 hours ending 9 AM today. As many as 164 people recovered from the disease leaving the total recoveries at 20,60,836, the bulletin said. The lone death was reported in Krishna district. Over 25,000 samples were tested during the last 24 hours. The total number of samples tested so far stood at over 3.11 crore. Chittoor District topped the chart with highest number of active cases with 248 followed by East Godavari (149). Kolkata: The Indian Army informed on Sunday that it's inquiry into the killings of at least 13 civilians in a botched up military operation in Nagaland earlier this month has been "progressing expeditiously." It is also "fully cooperating" with the special investigation team of the Nagaland government in the case and assured the people of the North Eastern state of "justice" amid their demand for the repeal of the AFSPA. Dimapur-based 3 Corps of the Eastern Command stated, "Indian Army wishes a Happy New Year to the people of Nagaland & we pray for the good health, peace, happiness & prosperity for the people. We once again deeply regret the loss of lives during the 04 Dec 21 incident in Mon Dist. Loss of lives is indeed sad & unfortunate. The inquiry ordered by Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest." It said, "We have taken out notices for people to come forward & assist us in the inquiry by providing any information including videos, photos or any other material from original sources and will be grateful for the same.This can be conveyed on Whatsapp Messenger at +916026930283 or Army Exchange Helpline +913742388456. The Indian Army is also fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team(SIT) inquiry ordered by State Govt & required details are being shared in timely manner." The 3 Corps added, "We request all brothers and sisters of Nagaland to be patient and wait for the findings of the Army inquiry. We assure you that action will be taken in accordance with the law to secure justice for all. The people of Nagaland have always cooperated and assisted the Security Forces in maintaining peace & tranquillity over the last many decades. We share a deep bond of brotherhood, trust and friendship with you. Let us work together for a brighter & better future." New Delhi: Just days after Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio urged the Centre to remove the operation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state, the Union home ministry has decided to form a panel to look into the suggestion, said the Nagaland government. In a statement issued in Dimapur, the Nagaland government said Union home minister Amit Shah had on December 23 held a meeting to discuss the present scenario in the state. The meeting was attended by Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland deputy CM Y. Patton, and Naga Peoples Front Legislature Party leader T.R. Zeliang. At the meeting, it was decided that a committee will be instituted to look into the withdrawal of AFSPA in Nagaland, the state government said. The state government has also urged the MHA to replace the Assam Rifles unit in Mon with immediate effect. The MHA is yet to make a formal announcement in this regard. Briefed the media with regard to the meeting chaired by Honble @HMOIndia Shri @AmitShah on Dec 23, 2021 in New Delhi. Grateful to Amit Shah ji for taking up the matter with utmost seriousness. The State Govt appeals to all sections to continue to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, Mr Rio tweeted. According to the Nagaland governments statement, the committee will be chaired by the additional secretary looking after the Northeast in the Union home ministry and will include the chief secretary and director-general of police of Nagaland. Other members of the panel will be IGP of Assam Rifles (North), and representatives of the CRPF. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 45 days and the withdrawal of the Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA from Nagaland will be based on the recommendations of this committee. The Nagaland government has said that a court of inquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Army unit and its personnel who were directly involved in the Oting incident and that action will be taken on the basis of fair inquiry and the identified persons who will face inquiry will be placed under suspension with immediate effect. The Indian Army had on December 20 announced an inquiry into the Oting incident. In addition, the state government has set up a Special Investigation Team to investigate the killings and fix responsibility. The state government said it will provide jobs to the next of kin of the persons who died during the firing by security forces on December 4 when 14 civilians were shot dead at Oting village of Mon district in what is seen as a botched-up anti-insurgency operation. The chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya had written to the Centre seeking withdrawal of the AFSPA and sought action against the security personnel involved in the incident. The state government appeals to all sections to remain calm and to continue to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The democratic and peaceful nature of civil society groups, tribal hohos and mass-based organisations in our collective quest for justice and truth have been well received and has created a positive image of the Naga people to the rest of the global community, the statement said. Vijayawada: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice N.V. Ramana has said that he will work towards enhancing the dignity of Telugu people and asserted the need to ensure law reaches the common people. He was speaking at a function in his honour organised by the Vijayawada Rotary Club here on Saturday. The Rotary Club presented the Life Achievement Award to Justice Ramana. Justice Ramana said the award had added to his responsibilities. Justice Ramana said "People at the grassroots should be made aware of their rights. Anarchy will increase without the rule of law. Court matters should not remain an incomprehensible commodity. The governments are responsible for creation of infrastructure in the judiciary, which is also to be Indianized. Turning nostalgic, Justice Ramana said that Bejawada was famous as Blazewada due to different theoretical theories and Vijayawada was a very dynamic place. He recalled that he was associated with Vijayawada since 1983 and expressed dissatisfaction that Vijayawada did not make as much progress as he had hoped. He said that the language in court must be understood by the people. He said that it is a good development that there is a lot of debate on the constitution, rights and responsibilities. He said that there are 4.6 crore cases pending in the country. He said "If all three systems work properly, justice will be rendered to the people." London: A 19-year-old man with an offensive weapon has been arrested following a security breach at Windsor Castle, where Queen Elizabeth II is spending her Christmas, the police said on Sunday. Prince Charles and wife Camilla are spending Christmas with the 95-year-old monarch at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, south-east England, after she took the decision to call off her traditional Christmas at Sandringham estate in Norfolk amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases. Officers from Thames Valley and the Metropolitan Police said they responded to the breach on Saturday morning and arrested the man from Southampton. Members of the royal family were informed about the incident and were not in harm's way, the police said. An investigation is ongoing following this incident and we are working with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, said Thames Valley Police Superintendent Rebecca Mears. The man has been arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon. He remains in custody at this time. We can confirm security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds and he did not enter any buildings. We do not believe there is a wider danger to the public, she said. The Sunday Mirror reported that the arrest came after security controllers monitoring CCTV noticed a man carrying what appeared to be a crossbow. Police have not confirmed what the weapon was and it is not known where exactly the man was on the grounds and how close he got to the castle itself. It was reported that he carried an offensive weapon. In her annual Christmas broadcast on Saturday, the Queen paid tribute to her beloved husband Prince Philip, who passed away aged 99 in April. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him, said the Queen of the late Duke of Edinburgh. "But life of course consists of final partings as well as first meetings and as much as I and my family miss him I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas. We felt his presence and we like many around the world readied ourselves for Christmas, she said. The message was recorded earlier at Windsor Castle beside a framed photograph of the royal couple taken during their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007 when the Queen wore the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch as in the broadcast. Jerome Kim, the director general of the International Vaccine Institute / Courtesy of International Vaccine Institute IVI director general urges Korea to develop strategy for possible Omicron-led wave By Lee Hyo-jin It may be too early to take an optimistic approach to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, says Jerome Kim, the director general of the International Vaccine Institute, calling on the Korean government to take preemptive action and come up with an in-depth strategy for a possible wave of the fast-spreading variant. "While the coronavirus may eventually mutate toward a more rapidly spreading but truly 'flu-like' illness, Omicron is not the variant you are hoping for," Kim said in a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Times. Citing a lack of data, he stressed that the world should be vigilant against any blind optimism surrounding the Omicron variant. "We don't have enough data to reasonably make a proposition like that," he said. "It is true that a significant amount of tracking and sequencing information suggests that Omicron is more infectious, but we don't yet have information about the severity of illness." According to Kim, once Omicron enters a population, it spreads "efficiently," with the ability to infect previously infected persons as well as vaccinated ones. The risk of reinfection from Omicron is 2.4 times higher than with Delta. He also said that the early supposition that Omicron might be less severe than previous strains has been "tempered," citing preliminary data in the U.K., where investigators have found that it is not different in severity from previous waves, in addition to early data in South Africa, where it appears 20-percent more severe than Delta in children. Unlike Kim, some overseas experts have offered optimistic views about the highly transmissible variant, as it so far seems to be less lethal than previous strains. Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who first alerted the authorities on the presence of the new variant, described the symptoms of Omicron as "very mild" compared to Delta. "While treating patients infected with Omicron, I did not see frequent COVID-19 symptoms such as loss of taste or smell, severe respiratory illnesses requiring ventilators, unlike what we've seen with Delta infections," she said during an interview with local radio TBS, Dec. 16. Kim's warning comes as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the globe since it was first detected in South Africa in November. In just about a month, the heavily-mutated virus has arrived in nearly 90 countries, including the United States, Japan and European nations such as the U.K., Denmark and Italy, forcing governments to tighten social distancing measures and expedite rollouts of booster shots. After Korea reported its first cases on Dec. 1, the number of Omicron infections has grown to 376 as of Saturday. Omicron has already become the dominant variant in several countries, including the U.S., and public health authorities here believe the same will happen in Korea in less than two months. But regarding whether the fast-spreading variant will soon become the dominant version, Kim said it remains to be seen whether Omicron will replace Delta or if the two will coexist. Medical workers prepare to administer COVID-19 tests at a testing center near Seoul station, Friday. Yonhap Boosters 'a good way' to decrease disease due to Omicron While the Korean government has been urging people to roll up their sleeves for booster shots, several breakthrough infections of Omicron, even among those who have received boosters, have raised concerns. In Korea, five people have tested positive for the variant so far, even after being inoculated with a booster shot, leading some to question the efficacy of the vaccines against newly emerging variants. A medical worker administers a COVID-19 booster vaccine at a community center in Jung District, Seoul, Dec. 20. Yonhap LGBTQ activists hold a press conference at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall in this March 27 photo, on the occasion of March 31 International Transgender Day of Visibility. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The nation's human rights watchdog will recommend sexual minorities be included in the government's statistical and fact-finding surveys, concluding that Korea lacks any government-level efforts to learn about the demographics and current conditions of such people, it said, Sunday. The recommendation follows a series of cases where sexual minorities, including transgender people, suffered discrimination in various sectors, such as the military and college admissions. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said, Sunday, it decided on the recommendation recently to help the government set up policies to eliminate acts of hate and discrimination against LGBTQ people. National Human Rights Commission of Korea headquarters / Korea Times file By Yi Woo-won At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, the "Turn Toward Busan" commemorative ceremony an annual event to remember the sacrifice and dedication of U.N. service members during the Korean War was held at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, now a bustling and thriving port city in Korea. The memorial cemetery, the only United Nations Cemetery in the world is home to fallen veterans from 11 countries. A total of 22 countries participated in the war, of which 16 nations provided combat units and six other nations offered medical support units. Some 1.95 million U.N. troops fought during the 1950-53 Korean War. The idea of "Turn Toward Busan" was first proposed in 2007 by Vincent Courtenay, a Canadian Korean War veteran. He suggested facing toward Busan where the United Nations Cemetery is and paying a silent tribute for one minute to the U.N. service members who fought in the Korean War. It was also a silent appeal for world peace. At the same time in Seoul that day, a siren went off for a one-minute homage and the United Nations commemorative ritual was hosted by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. There were about 300 people, including Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Colombian Vice President Marta Lucia Ramirez, U.N. Command (UNC) commander Gen. Paul LaCamera, foreign ambassadors and 40 Korean War veterans and their families who visited Korea on invitation. One newsworthy event at this year's ceremony was that three more missing Korean War veterans joined the U.N. memorial cemetery. Sadly, however, they were unknown British soldiers, whose remains had been discovered between 2016 and 2017 in Paju, northwest of Seoul. During the ceremony, the remains of the three fallen British troops were laid to rest as "unknown soldiers" as their names have yet to be verified. In a pre-taped video message, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reflected emotionally upon the fierce battle on the banks of the Imjin River 70 years ago, in which British troops fought shoulder to shoulder with South Korean fellow troops against North Korean forces. He then finished his speech, saying: "And today, just as we did then, the U.K. stands with you for peace, prosperity and the stability of the Korean Peninsula." According to a Wikipedia entry: Between January and March 1951, the area surrounding the Imjin River was defended primarily by British forces against the numerically superior enemy of North Korean and Chinese units. The battle then is known as the "battle that saved Seoul." The peaceful and serene memorial park spreads across a grassy plain of 135,000 square meters, with flags of each of the 21 U.N. nations. The burial ground for U.N. casualties of the Korean War now has 2,314 fallen veterans from 11 countries, including the three recently added British troops. Laid out over 35 acres, the graves are set out in 22 sites designated by the nationalities of the buried U.N. service members. Some notable sites and memorials include: Memorial Service Hall, Memorabilia Hall, two Turkish Monuments, the Greek Monument, the Australian Monument and the British Commonwealth Monument. Most prominently, there is a Wall of Remembrance with the engraved names of the 40,896 United Nations casualties (killed and missing) of the Korean War on 140 marble panels. Impressively this year, in the ponds next to the Wall of Remembrance, 40,896 yellow primroses were afloat in the water, glorifying the sacrifice of each fallen hero. As a Korean War veteran myself and as a fellow human, I felt sad and sorry for the three fallen British soldiers. I brooded over the poor soldiers, wondering if they were high school students like me when they joined the Korean War (because I was a senior in high school when I was conscripted into the army); if they knew why they were fighting; were they scared of the war; who they have in their family; were they married or engaged; who they missed most; and so on and so forth. Yi Woo-won ( yiwoowon1988@gmail.com ) lives in Waegwan, North Gyeongsang Province, and has been writing since 1986. Credit card fee cuts offer little help for small businesses Credit card processing fees will be reduced in the run-up to the March 9 presidential election. The government and the ruling party said the move is aimed at easing financial difficulties facing small businesses and self-employed people amid the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is doubtful what substantive help the miniscule cuts could give to pinched small business owners, most of whom already pay card fees that are at near-zero rates. Instead, one feels that the governing camp is trying to impress voters ahead of the election by twisting the arms of credit card companies under the pretext of supporting people's livelihoods. For instance, the commission rate for owner-operators with annual revenues of below 300 million won ($252,550) will be lowered from 0.8 percent to 0.5 percent. The number of credit card member stores with yearly sales of less than 300 million won reaches about 2.2 million, or 75 percent of the total. The rate cuts are likely to save 470 billion won in total card fees. Still, the benefits for individual stores will mostly be indistinguishable. Many self-employed people gathered at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul last Wednesday not to protest high card fee rates, but plunging revenues due to tight business curbs. At the protest rally, complaints poured out about the government's quarantine policies, including the abrupt introduction of a vaccine mandate, blasting their hopes for a year-end sales boom. The prolonged pandemic along with the failure of some quarantine policies, coming on top of declining sales due to sharply raised minimum wages, have driven some small merchants to extreme situations. The government should compensate them sufficiently in any way it can. However, squeezing credit card companies is not the answer. Moreover, the lower the card fees, the smaller the benefits for consumers, as cost-conscious card companies reduce interest-free installments while raising annual dues. Korea is the only country where the government sets card fee rates. The paradox between card fees and consumer benefits demonstrates the adverse effects of price control. The card commission rate has been lowered no fewer than 13 times over the past 12 years as a vote-gathering scheme by the governing camps. Until when will the government repeat the outdated practice of taking credit for lowering fees? Not everyone was happy to see Santa in 1954. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Starting in 1890, Christmas became one of the largest social events held in Seoul by the Western community. Unlike the previous decade when the Western residents of Seoul were mainly single missionaries and diplomats, there were now families with small children and they brought with them the familiar holiday traditions of Santa Claus and Christmas trees. For many children, the magic of Christmas is Santa Claus and, as I noted a couple of years ago, the American children in Seoul dutifully wrote letters to the jolly old soul in which they extolled their good behavior (and naturally glossed over their naughtiness) in an attempt to convince him they were deserving of his visit and, more importantly, a gift. Without exception they succeeded. Such was the case of Maurice, the eight-year-old son of Horace Allen (the secretary of the American Legation in Seoul), who, in 1894, found a pair of ice skates under his Christmas tree after a letter had been written to Santa Claus. His exuberant belief amused the adults, including John Sill, the American minister to Seoul, who wrote: "It hardly seems possible that a boy his age should really believe such a thing, but he appeared most innocent." Young Maurice's conviction of the veracity of Santa was strengthened three years later at the American Legation's Christmas party, when Santa suddenly appeared and presented him and the other children with gifts. Korean children greet Santa in 1954. Robert Neff Collection Although I have been trying to confine this article to anecdotes about Americans residing in Seoul, I am compelled to include Santa's visit to Wonsan in 1896. As most parents are more than aware, Santa is a very busy man and sometimes requires assistance. Mr. L. Ahrendts, a member of the Korean Customs Department at that port, took it upon himself to assist Santa by assuming his dress and role. It was an unforgettable act and was described in The Independent (an English- and Korean-language newspaper that was published in Seoul): "He was robed in scarlet mounted with beautiful snow cotton a veritable 'old Santa,' as he bound down from the snowy North. He had not finished his stories to the children, when by an accidental twitch of the hand the cotton took fire, and in a moment he was [engulfed] in a mass of flames. Mr. Ahrendts' presence of mind enabled him to free himself very quickly of the burning robe, thus came off with nothing more serious than a severely burned hand. It was a moment of intense excitement. And after all was over, the frightened children scarcely knew what to make out of 'Old Santa,' that he should take his departure in a burning flame like that." While Santa enthralled (and, in some cases, frightened) children, it was the Christmas trees that seemed to bridge the cultural gap between the foreign residents and their Korean hosts. One example is in 1890 when Lillias Underwood hosted a Christmas party in her home and took great delight in entertaining her son and his young guests describing them as "a queer little company." Years later she wrote: "[There were] little Americans from the missionary homes, little English from the consulate, little Russians, little chubby Japanese from the legation, little German Americans, Canadians, one Korean and the very cunningest little Chinese baby you ever did see, all wadded up in such an amazing number of gay quilted coats he could roll one way as well as another, and could roll all day without hurting himself." Christmas dinner at a U.S. Army camp in Korea in 1954 Robert Neff Collection There were, naturally enough, some problems in entertaining so many children of varying ages. Some felt they were too old to sit with the youngest children and demanded a place with the older children or with the adults. Their demands were met with apologies and quick seating changes and dinner was promptly served. However, it wasn't the meal the children were interested in they were interested in the magic: the Christmas tree. Obtaining a tree had been no easy task. Underwood wrote: "The poor around the city, where trees are quite scarce, cut them down so fast for fuel that the cutting of trees had been forbidden by law, and, unless one can be had from someone's own land, we must do without." Fortunately, after several days of searching and waiting, a small tree was obtained just before the party along with "large bunches of the beautiful mystic mistletoe so prized by our English cousins, and long branches of evergreens." She had the tree set up in the parlor and the evergreen branches and mistletoe were used to decorate the walls and ceiling. The parlor was carefully closed off so that none of the curious and expectant little tykes could get an early peek. A postcard from the 1930s shows the Korean countryside during the winter. Robert Neff Collection As the children were finishing their meal, the partition was moved aside and the candles on the tree were all lit, allowing the children to see it for the first time "all blazing and glittering." I am sure there are more than a few parents who can relate to what happened next. "Such a clapping of hands, such shining eyes! Each of the babies had a rattle, each of the boys some trumpet or musical instrument, and soon the racket was all that a boy could desire, or Christmas time-honoured custom demand." The party soon ended but the tree was not finished entertaining yet. A group of little Korean schoolgirls and their teacher arrived to gaze with wondering eyes at [its] bright lights and glittering trimmings. Then they sat down on the floor, Korean fashion, and received their gifts, had their little feast of Christmas dainties, and were sent home greatly perplexed how to carry away all the goodies that had been given to them." The following afternoon, the Korean boys from the orphanage were invited for tea. Preparations were made well in advance as long low tables had to be set up with trays of bread, sweet crackers, cookies, cakes, tarts and other exotic treats. At the appointed time, the smallest little boy led his companions to the Underwood house which they entered, dropped their wooden shoes in the hall and made their most humble and polite bows. Underwood recalled that they were "such a lively and brilliant little company, coats of cherry, blue, green, purple, red, white with bright ribbons fastening their long braids." They were taught some American games and they romped about until they were served their treats. After they had partaken of all the cakes and pastries they could eat, they were taken into the parlor "and found the tree waiting in all its glory. When the penknives, etc, had been appropriated by their joyful little owners, excitement was at its height. They sat speechless with pleasure. They were aching to return [to their orphanage] and enjoy their gifts, so they soon made their bows and farewells" Waiting to enter Gyeongbok Palace in 2012. Robert Neff Collection What happened to the Underwood Christmas tree of 1890? Early the following morning, it was discovered that "a dishonest servant" robbed it of its tinsel and paper ornaments. Robbed of its initial beauty, it was declared that the tree had served its purpose and was promptly chopped into pieces and used to heat the house. "He [the tree] blazed up merrily and made a delightful, warm, cheery fire, and even his ashes were used to brighten up the andirons till they shone as never before." Every year in the 1890s there were Christmas parties held in the homes of missionaries and diplomats all of them had beautiful Christmas trees and judging from the accounts, each venue competed with its rivals to have the most beautiful tree. Despite their valiant attempts, it appears the Americans did not have the best Christmas trees in Seoul the Russians did. Yet, it was the Americans who managed to catch the attention of the Korean royal family. In 1894, Christmas found its way into the Korean palace through the efforts of Lillias Underwood, who set up a Christmas tree for the royal family. It wasn't a great success as she recalled: "Soon after Christmas I dressed a Christmas tree for the royal family, but to my great vexation, the effect was quite spoiled because their majesties were too impatient to wait till dark to view it, and one cannot lock the doors on kings and queens and forbid them to do as they will in their own palaces. There were no heavy hangings or means of darkening the room, and so the poor little candles flickered in a sickly way in the glaring daylight, and I felt that Western customs were lightly esteemed in the critical eyes of the East." Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbok Palace in 2012. Western residents of Seoul were often invited to the palace during the winters in the late 1880s and early 1890s to skate on the ice. Robert Neff Collection An attendee photographs a sign next to the CES logo, ahead of the first keynote address at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. AFP-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul Thanks to the absence of global tech giants at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Korea's Samsung Electronics is set to appeal to global investors about why its recent decision to merge its mobile phone and home appliance businesses matters from an investment standpoint. The backdrop is that Samsung recently announced the creation of its DX (Device eXperience) Division, as a reflection of the company's priority of catering to consumers with a variety of electronics, which is how Samsung will highlight the physical hub in its smart home ecosystem. Samsung has long been known as the global leader in memory chips, displays and televisions. While the company has been consistent in honing its strengths in home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and even vacuum cleaners, its efforts in the creation of an in-house physical hub might have had tepid effects on its brand awareness. The central point of a smart home ecosystem is having an in-house physical hub, which functions as the core for all connected products within a household. A hub allows consumers and users to control all connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices from a central point. Users simply install an app in their mobile device, which boosts the user experience with its customized features, enhanced accessibility and even convenience. The Apple logo is seen in the lobby of New York City's flagship Apple store. Reuters-Yonhap LG Energy Solution (LGES), the world's top-tier battery manufacturer, is participating in creating a sustainable society and environment via various social contribution activities in the eco-friendly energy sector. LGES has been conducting various social contribution activities in local communities and around the world, enhancing its value to society. The "Cheongju Hope Green Power Plant" initiative was launched in North Chungcheong Province to help the underprivileged in the region. LGES has been concentrating its efforts in eco-friendly fields with high public interest for sustainability. It will carry out welfare projects for the underprivileged in North Chungcheong Province through the establishment of solar power generation facilities, the company said. At the end of last year, LGES established the "Cheongju Hope Green Power Plant," a solar power generation facility with a power generation capacity of 410 kilowatts, at the Northern Transit Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The facility is expected to be in operation for the next 20 years, reducing greenhouse gases by around 4,900 tons. It is also estimated to generate 40 million won annually, which will all be donated. The plant's proceeds will be used for welfare projects for the underprivileged in the region, including scholarships and improving living conditions for low-income families. LGES has also been actively carrying out a project to support children in low-income families. The company's Ochang Plant social volunteer group has been operating the Twin Angel Fund, a social contribution fund created through the voluntary participation of employees. Since 2005, the fund has been providing monthly support for 30 children in the Cheongju area, donating a total of 300 million won to 122 people. In addition, LGES provides opportunities for young people through various activities, such as viewing cultural performances, invitations to factory events and winter kimchi support programs. LGES plans to continue its various sponsorship activities in the future to support the hopes and dreams of local children. (advertorial) Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks to reporters on the latest issues surrounding Korean companies during an interview at KCCI's headquarters, Wednesday. Courtesy of KCCI In this photo issued on Dec. 23, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in Windsor Castle, Windsor, England. The photo at left shows The Queen and Prince Philip taken in 2007 at Broadlands to mark their Diamond wedding anniversary. AP-Yonhap Queen Elizabeth II in her Christmas Day message shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate with friends and family, despite the grief caused by the ongoing pandemic. Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season ''with one familiar laugh missing,'' the monarch delivered her address beside a framed photograph of her arm-in-arm with Prince Philip, who died in April at age 99. On her right shoulder was the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch she wore in the photo a glittering statement pin that she also wore as a newlywed. ''Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,'' the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. ''This year, especially, I understand why.'' This festive season is the first since the monarch said goodbye to her husband of more than 70 years in a service in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Coronavirus restrictions in place at the time meant that the queen sat alone a poignant reminder of how she would spend her life going forward. Despite her own loss, the queen said her family was a ''source of great happiness, noting that she had welcomed four great-grandchildren this year. ''While COVID again means we can't celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions, be it the singing of carols as long as the tune is well known decorating the tree, giving and receiving presents or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending,'' she said. ''It's no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines.'' As the highly transmissible omicron coronavirus variant spreads rapidly across there U.K., the 95-year-old queen has decided not to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the royal estate in eastern England where she traditionally spends the festive season with family. The palace said Monday that the queen would spend the holidays at Windsor Castle, west of London, where she has remained throughout most of the pandemic. She will be joined by some members of her family, including Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The annual Christmas message to the people of the U.K. and the Commonwealth marks the end of a busy and sometimes difficult year for the queen. Philip died in April, just two months shy of his 100th birthday, after spending weeks in the hospital. Buckingham Palace announced this week that she had agreed to stage a service of thanksgiving for his life in the spring. The monarch has had health issues of her own, cutting down on travel and work since spending a night in the hospital in October and being told to rest by her doctors. Since then, she has undertaken light duties including virtual audiences with diplomats and weekly conversations with the prime minister. In June, she made an appearance at the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, and in November she gave a recorded address to the U.N. Climate Talks in Glasgow. In closing her Christmas message, the queen noted that the holiday is often seen as a time for children. But, she said, this is ''only half the story.'' ''Perhaps it's truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all. Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things where children do not. And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas.'' (AP) gettyimagesbank : Tom102 (), : WaterWorld : Its easy to lie, but its hard to lie, but Old Guo cant hide his tail. : BBS (Sun Dec 26 02:56:57 2021, ) Yesterday, Guo Wengui and his subordinates arranged the MV "The Manifesto of the Coin Keeper". A group of men in black, armed with shields and spears, dressed in heavy armor, with hideous faces, patrolled in the dark night, just like a horror blockbuster. The bad news is about to begin to keep the currency until I die. I will not toss the currency, do not cash out, do not short, do not look at the price, regardless of the rise and fall of the currency, do not toss." The sonorous oath of life and death, makes people shudder. Guo Wengui wanted to make use of deceptive performances, fooling and threatening, in order to persuade the investors of Xicoin to retreat, no longer mentioning the word "withdrawal", and let them deceive and squeeze them. Now, after three ugly tricks, Guo Wengui has smeared HiCoin in darkness. In the long run, HiCoin investors who have recollected and awakened will surely rush to push Guo Laojie to the justice platform. If you don't believe me, let's wait and see. Xibi, which was planned to go public since April of this year, finally arrived late after the 12th contract. Many HiCoin investors originally thought that as soon as HiCoin opened its doors, they could cash out, buy luxury houses and yachts, and live the same high-class life as cheating brothers. But on the second day of Xibis listing, that is, November 2, when the "financial truth" failed to withdraw 2,000 and Guo Wengui was reprimanded as "extremely over-excited", all the ants were just like being caught in the winter. The cold water aroused, and it was icy. Although Guo Wengui later said that the cash withdrawal function of the Xi Stock Exchange has not yet been launched, and he took a sap and suffocated "financial truth" and took the initiative to admit his mistakes and show his favor to Guo Wengui from the air, but this monarch has never recovered from this, and his heroism has been Nothing exists. Perhaps, in the realm of no one, Guo Wengui has already seen 10,000 grass mud horses pass by in his heart. Nowadays, the "financial truth" that 200,000 dollars has been swallowed, and Xiaosky and others who have invested 550,000 dollars, although they have fallen into the pit of Xibi, they have to continue to follow Guo Wengui to deceive others, hoping to get back someday. Rebate. These are just the tip of the iceberg, but Guo Wengui has already planted hidden dangers for himself. Think about Sara, Luther, and Yan Limeng, Guo Wengui is not doing well after all. This is the first wave of stinky feet in the coin scam. Waiting for the smasher by the Yellow River to repeatedly criticize and bite , Guo Wengui had no choice but to announce that the cash withdrawal function of the Xi Stock Exchange was online, and said that he would withdraw 100, 000 US dollars to the "Financial Truth". It proved to be a vanity. Now that the Zhengqing withdrawal has failed, An Hong has no choice but to settle the withdrawal. It can be seen that even if you raise two thousand each time, plus 5% of the handling fee, it is now an extravagant hope. What's more, a few days ago, when several operating computers inside the Xiexchange had black screens, Xicoin still kept rising. This kind of clumsy deception made people feel a sense of enlightenment. Since then, the four characteristics of Xibi have been completely exposed to the world. Because of this, professionals in the virtual currency industry also disagree with Guo Wengui and Xibi, such as Zhao Changpeng, the founder of Binance. Seeing the siege from all sides, Guo Wengui, who didn't know how to converge, even gave Zhao Changpeng a blackmail, which was obviously a deadly operation. Now, as one of the co-founders of Binance, He Yi has already spoken out to Guo Wengui and warned the Internet celebrity Guo Wengui of his self-respect. In short, in the second season of the coin scam, Guo Wengui was questioned and attacked, rushing from the left to the right, embarrassed. As a result, Guo Wengui did not stop doing two things, and simply announced that Xicoin would be locked for three years and no cash withdrawals would be allowed for three years. At the same time, he let the Xi Alliance Committee hold it on its behalf, forcing investors to sign a holding agreement. To this end, Guo Wengui also gave a high-sounding and tall reason: Xibi is the money of comrades-in-arms, and latecomers must enter the market before investors who come can withdraw cash. This kind of weird theory is obviously in contradiction with the concept of listing. What's more, a few days ago, Guo Wengui claimed that he had already given a one-time payment of 700 million U.S. dollars to Hei Alliance, and Brother Changdao even threatened, "Today, five or six exhibitors have already paid in for the money to buy Hei coins. One exhibitor claimed to Go in 1 million HD, and there are other amounts ranging from 300,000, 500,000, and 600,000. There are countless small amounts." In this case, it is even more unreasonable to pinch the neck of Xibi investors and not allow withdrawals. . Guo Wengui, who made more and more black and made more mistakes, simply threw out his killer tricks, linking the investment in hi-coins with the anti-communist annihilation, and imagined that investors would shut up completely. In this way, after the lock, not only is the ants hopeless to withdraw, but also has endless future generations. But Guo Wengui's best and time-tested trick is also the most useless trick. The benefits are gathered, and the benefits are exhausted. The ants who come to get rich, once the dream is broken, how can Guo Wengui not ask for trouble? ! Nowadays, the ant gang is very angry. Not only are 11 people such as Wen Qi from New Zealand who have a rebellious heart, but there are also people in Russia's Hei Farm that are opposed to the Hei Alliance holding the Hei coin. A few days ago, Guo Wengui's high-profile "Happy Coins Fly to the Moon", the United Kingdom and Japan were out of 100, and could not find the ranking . It can be seen that there are not many people who have come to support Guo Laojie on the list. In short, because XiCoin could not withdraw cash, Guo Wengui not only encountered attacks from outsiders who smashed Guo, but also the non-waiting attitude of Xi Guo's comrades in arms was also obvious. Embarrassed on all sides, Xibi will eventually be Guo Wengui's sword of suicide and a urging kid. So, alas! -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 137.] ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed on Saturday by a projectile fired by the Houthi rebels against Yemen's oil-rich province of Marib, a government official told Xinhua. The local government official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that "a projectile fired by the Houthis landed on a popular marked in Al Jubah district in Marib's southern part, leaving four people killed." He confirmed that the attack caused damage to the public properties and left nearly six other people injured including children. Meanwhile, Yemen's Ministry of Defence reported that dozens of the Houthi rebel group were killed and injured in ongoing fighting with the government forces and airstrikes carried out by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Marib. The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched in February a major offensive on Marib in an attempt to seize control of the oil-rich province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Yemen has been mired in civil war since September 2014 when the Houthi militia forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem Photo released on March 4, 2021 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) shows a high-resolution image of Mars captured by the country's Tianwen-1 probe. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Thursday published high-resolution images of Mars captured by the country's Tianwen-1 probe. These images include two panchromatic images and one color image, said the CNSA. (CNSA/Handout via Xinhua) The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, April 29, 2021. China on Thursday sent into space the core module of its space station, kicking off a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of next year. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2021. China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on Saturday, which is scheduled to dock with the space station core module Tianhe to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. (Photo by Guo Wenbin/Xinhua) Photo released on June 11, 2021 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) shows a selfie of China's first Mars rover Zhurong with the landing platform. The China National Space Administration Friday released new images taken by the country's first Mars rover Zhurong, showing national flag on the red planet. The images were unveiled at a ceremony in Beijing, signifying a complete success of China's first mars exploration mission. The images include the landing site panorama, Martian landscape and a selfie of the rover with the landing platform. (CNSA/Handout via Xinhua) The crewed spacecraft Shenzhou-12, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, is launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert, June 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, June 17, 2021 shows China's Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship having successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe. China's Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship has successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The spaceship, launched on Thursday morning, completed orbital status setting after entering the orbit and conducted a fast autonomous rendezvous and docking with the front docking port of Tianhe at 3:54 p.m. (Beijing Time), forming a three-module complex with the cargo craft Tianzhou-2. The whole process took approximately 6.5 hours. This is Tianhe's first rendezvous and docking with a Shenzhou spaceship since it was sent into orbit on April 29. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 4, 2021 shows Chinese astronaut Liu Boming slipping out of the space station core module Tianhe. Chinese astronauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo had both slipped out of the space station core module Tianhe by 11:02 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Sunday, starting extravehicular activities (EVAs), according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Donning new-generation homemade EMU (extravehicular mobility unit) spacesuits Feitian, meaning flying to space, the two astronauts have completed installing the foot restraints and extravehicular working platform on the mechanical arm, the CMSA said. They will continue to work together to install other relevant extravehicular equipment with the aid of the mechanical arm, it said. Astronaut Nie Haisheng has been staying inside Tianhe in cooperation with Liu and Tang for their EVAs. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Astronauts Nie Haisheng (C), Liu Boming (R) and Tang Hongbo are out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-12 spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Sept. 17, 2021. Three Chinese astronauts, the first sent to orbit for space station construction, have completed their three-month mission and returned to Earth safely on Friday. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) The Long March-7 Y4 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-3, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 20, 2021. China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-3 on Monday to deliver supplies for its under-construction space station. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) A see-off ceremony for three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 15, 2021. Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang (C), Wang Yaping (R) and Ye Guangfu will stay in space for about six months. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Nov. 7, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs) out of the space station core module Tianhe. Taikonauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping have been out of China's space station core module Tianhe by 8:28 p.m. (Beijing Time) Sunday to start EVAs, the China Manned Space Agency said. Zhai opened the hatch of Tianhe's node cabin at 6:51 p.m. This is the second time Zhai has performed EVAs, having completed China's first spacewalk 13 years ago during the Shenzhou-7 mission. Meanwhile, Wang's EVAs make her the country's first female astronaut to leave footprints in outer space. Donning China-developed new-generation Feitian spacesuits, the pair will conduct a series of extravehicular tasks with the aid of the mechanical arm, the agency noted. Ye Guangfu stayed inside to support his crewmates in completing the operations. (Photo by Guo Zhongzheng/Xinhua) Students attend a live class given by the Shenzhou-13 crew members, at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 9, 2021. The first live class from China's space station was held on Thursday afternoon, given by Shenzhou-13 crew members Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu to students on Earth. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The sad truth is that everyone of the decision of Tamil Nadu government appear to be taken on the basis of political considerations rather than improving the economic status of the state and relieving the state from severe financial crisis. by N.S.Venkataraman After ten years of governance by AIADMK party, DMK party was voted to power in the state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu seven months back with absolute majority. Majority of people voted for DMK and its allies mainly due to the promise during the pre election campaign that corruption would be rooted out in Tamil Nadu and some freebies would be extended to the people in addition to the several existing freebies. Unfortunately, during the last seven months of DMK rule, the focus has been on politics rather than economics , with no perceptible reduction in corruption and promised freebies not being fully honoured due to severe financial crisis in the state. Obviously, many promises have been made during the pre election campaign without considering the financial condition of the state and probably thinking that the election should be won somehow . Extent of financial crisis : Today, Tamil Nadu is passing through a period of severe financial crisis , with the total outstanding liabilities of Tamil Nadu government expected to increase to about Rs.6.59 lakh crore in 2020-21, where state development loans (SDL) account for Rs.4.65 lakh crore. The remaining components of the liabilities include obligations from UDAY bonds, loans from financial institutions and others. As per the Reserve Bank of India data, Tamil Nadu government raised as loan Rs.62425 crore in 2020-21 and Rs.39,000 crore in 2021-22 ( till September,2021) through market borrowings. The grim fact is that in the last three to four years, borrowings have been made even for spending like salaries, pension and interest payments. Tamil Nadu is expected to spend 20.5% of its revenue receipts on interest payments in 2021-22, that would leave little money for implementing development projects. More than 60% of the Tamil Nadu governments revenue are reported to be spent for paying salaries and wages to government employees. It is difficult to visualize a financial crisis of Tamil Nadu government more severe than this. Remedial steps needed : Obviously, what the Tamil Nadu government has to do is to increase its tax collection, which is not happening due to high level of corruption and inefficiency in the government machinery at various levels. Further, it is necessary to get rid of the loss incurring public sector / government owned undertakings such as TANGEDCO ( Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited), State Transport Corporation etc. since these institutions have been incurring severe loss for several years now and with no feasibility of operating profitably in the near future. Further, unproductive assets of the Tamil Nadu government have to be sold to reduce the debt. Unfortunately, during the last seven months of DMK governance, nothing has been done towards such essential steps. On the other hand, the financial crisis in some state undertakings are becoming more grim due to populist actions of the government. For example, inspite of heavy loss incurred by state transport corporation, the travel has been made free for women in the bus, which means that the income of the state transport corporation has been reduced to nearly half of the previous level. Crisis in TANGEDCO In the case of the TANGEDCO, there are several allegations that power is being purchased at very exhorbitant cost by TANGEDCO, with suspicions being raised about the motive of decision with regard to purchase of power. The fact is the bank loans of TANGEDCO have been placed under negative watch category. Further, there are reported to be around Rs.3,300 crore of uncollected amount for electricity distributed to several municipalities and state government owned organisations. This is shocking. No worthwhile efforts to improve the efficiency of TANGEDCO appears to have been taken so far. Unnecessary expenditures : There is urgent need to reduce the unproductive expenditures which are now being incurred such as setting up public park in Coimbatore, big library in Madurai, memorial building for political leader, construction of Tamil Nadu House in Delhi etc. All these are certainly expenses which can be postponed until the financial conditions would improve. Committees galore : After coming to power, the DMK government has been announcing various committees to suggest economic reform measures and promote industrial growth, including one committee by internationally known economists. Many people wonder as to what is the need for so many committees on so many issues when solutions for the problems are very well known and only strong , efficient and proactive measures are required to be implemented. More politics While the financial crisis of Tamil Nadu government continue unabated and perhaps, largely unattended , the matter of concern is that there appears to be more politics than economics in Tamil Nadu governance at present. The DMK government started on a wrong foot by unilaterally terming the central government as union government (Ondriya arasu in Tamil), which serves no purpose other than providing vicarious satisfaction to some political groups in Tamil Nadu. More than any other subject, it appears that the DMK government has been focusing on reforming Hindu temples in the state that are under government control. It has appointed priests in Hindu temples , without observing the traditional practices and rules for appointment of the priests. Further, the DMK government is claiming that it is recovering the encroached land of Hindu temples in a big way. At the same time, it is using the land belonging to Hindu temples for setting up colleges , when there are no trustees for the temples and government is only the administrator of the temples and cannot behave like a owner. The court has now stayed this order of state government to use the temple land for other purpose . Further, the DMK government has been taking steps to collect the gold , silver and diamond in the possession of temples and melt the gold and silver and use it to augment the financial resources of the state. This step has also been challenged in the court and the court has issued order against the melting of the gold and silver belonging to temples ,until the court would give its final decision. At the same time, Chief Minister has been announcing some special stipend etc. for some priests in Hindu temples and these moves are suspected as measures to cover its unnecessary steps to reform the Hindu temples. This move to interfere in Hindu temple administration is being criticized, since several leaders of DMK government have declared themselves to be atheists and non believers in God. There are lot of other instances of politics in administration such as demand for repeal of NEET ( entrance examination) for admission to medical college , insistence that only Tamil prayer song should be sung in educational institutions, government functions, public sector undertakings and everybody should stand during the prayer. So many other instances of politically motivated orders in the name of promoting Tamil culture have been initiated , which appears to be non issues , particularly as far as focused governance on development is concerned. While the focus should be on economic and industrial development and improving the financial conditions of the state, the discussions in Tamil Nadu political forums now take place only on counter productive political issues. In public forums and media, there is little discussions about the economic development strategies and financial crisis confronting the state.. While the government frequently announces that several MOUs have been signed for setting up industrial projects that have long gestation period , nothing much has been said about saving the existing industrial units from slipping into losses. For example, the fireworks industry in Sivakasi region is facing grim issues today due to variety of reasons and government has done nothing about saving the Sivakasi units. Counterproductive focus : The sad truth is that everyone of the decision of Tamil Nadu government appear to be taken on the basis of political considerations rather than improving the economic status of the state and relieving the state from severe financial crisis. For example , Sterlite Copper unit in Tuticorin continues to remain closed and Chennai Salem Highways project virtually remain stagnant due to political consideration of the state government. Neutrino project is an extremely important project that would boost research status of Tamil Nadu in the world arena. Nobody in DMK government is talking about this project, for whatever reasons. A serious constitutional issue that arises is whether it was within the legislative competence of the National State Assembly to have introduced the requirement of a referendum into the law-making process of the Parliament it created under the 1978 Constitution? by Dr Nihal Jayawickrama The 1978 Constitution introduced into the law-making process of Sri Lanka the concept of a referendum. It was hailed in some quarters as a return to basics. In the tradition of the Greek city states, actual decision-making was being restored to the people. 43 years later, what has it actually achieved? It has entrenched provisions which no legislature would have ever contemplated repealing: the prohibition of torture and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It has prevented Parliament from restoring to this country its original name the Republic of Sri Lanka, by dropping that utterly unnecessary prefix borrowed from the Democratic Socialist Republic of North Korea. It has installed February 4, 1948 as our National Day the day on which Ceylon received the gift of self-government and dominion status under the British monarchy, rather than May 22, 1972 the day on which Sri Lanka unilaterally declared itself a Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic. And, it requires a country-wide referendum to be held before a single note of music in our national anthem, set out in the Third Schedule, could be changed say, from base to treble. More seriously, and most unfortunately, it was successfully invoked in 2018 to impede the JVPs constitutional amendment which would have enabled the Ceremonial Head of State under the 19th Amendment to be elected by Parliament rather than at a country-wide, divisive, general election. What was most tragic was that the determination of the Supreme Court on that Bill was clearly erroneous in that it had failed to consider a previous relevant binding decision of a Full Court. Localized single issues A referendum (or a plebiscite as it is sometimes referred to) is a mechanism frequently resorted to now in Swiss Cantons, usually to seek community views on single issues such as whether Sunday shopping should be allowed, or liquor shops should be kept opened on the day of Sabbath. It is a democratic way of resolving simple single issues. It is not suitable for consulting the population on complex issues such as the text of a new Constitution. For example, in Canada in 1992, a package of very significant constitutional amendments designed to recognize and give effect to the multicultural character of that country, known as the Charlottetown Accord, which was agreed upon by all the First Ministers and territorial and aboriginal leaders, was rejected at a national referendum for widely divergent reasons which had no relevance whatsoever to the question at issue. Foremost among these reasons was the widespread unpopularity of the then Prime Minister of Canada. So it was with the 2017 referendum in the United Kingdom on the question of leaving the European Union. The crippling consequences of Brexit were not explained to the electorate, and many in middle-England thought that an affirmative vote would mean the restoration of the British Empire! I was in both countries at the relevant times. An alien concept The referendum, as a mechanism of direct law-making is alien to this country and unfamiliar to most Sri Lankans. That was evident in the one and only referendum which was conducted in 1982 in the most bizarre circumstances. President Jayewardene first secured undated letters of resignation from all his Members of Parliament and Ministers. He then forwarded to the Supreme Court a Bill that would extend the life of Parliament for a further six years, and thereby deny the people their right to elect a new Parliament. He certified the Bill as urgent in the national interest and required the Courts decision within three days. He then submitted the Bill to Parliament and required it to be debated and voted on in a single day. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution was next submitted for approval by the People at a referendum. The reason he gave the country was that he had information that a Naxalite group intended to establish a military government if a general election was held. The Bill he submitted to the people was either not read by the people, or was probably incomprehensible to many of those who did. In fact, it received two diametrically opposed interpretations by the Supreme Court, with the seven- Judge Bench returning a divided verdict of four to three. Nevertheless, it was approved by a majority of the people in what is now accepted as the first genuine mass rigging exercise in the countrys electoral history. Issue of legislative competence A serious constitutional issue that arises is whether it was within the legislative competence of the National State Assembly to have introduced the requirement of a referendum into the law-making process of the Parliament it created under the 1978 Constitution? The 1972 Constitution authorized the new National State Assembly which it established to amend any provision in that Constitution with a two-third majority. Accordingly, in 1978, the National State Assembly, by a two-third majority, repealed and replaced that Constitution in its entirety. In doing so, it provided that certain provisions in the new Constitution, which it adopted by a two-third majority, could be amended only by a two-third majority in Parliament followed by approval of the people at a referendum. In other words, those provisions were to be unalterable by Parliament even with a two-third majority. Could the National State Assembly have invested such a superior status to the law which it had made by a two-third majority that it would be unalterable by a similar majority? If it could have, why is it not possible today for Parliament to pass an ordinary Bill by a simple majority of one, and state that law may only be amended or repealed by a two-third majority; or to take another example, to state that it may be repealed only by the affirmative votes of all the members of Parliament? Is it even conceivable that Parliament could make a constitutional amendment by a two third majority and declare that amendment to be unalterable by that or any other Parliament ever thereafter? The absurdity of such a provision is obvious. The National State Assembly was a creature of statute, a legal persona. It had no existence outside the provisions of the 1972 Constitution under which it was created. Its law-making powers were explicitly defined. It was prohibited from abdicating, delegating, or in any manner alienating its legislative power. It was prohibited from setting up an authority with any legislative power other than the power to make subordinate laws. Therefore, it did not have the power to make a law that could not be amended or repealed by a legislature either by a simple or two-third majority. (The writer, a distinguished legal academician, served as Attorney General (1970), Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice ( 1970-77), has been a Research Fellow, Kings College, University of London (1977), Associate Professor of Law, University of Hong Kong (1985-1997), Professor of Human Rights, University of Saskatchewan (1992-93), served as Executive Director, Transparency International, Berlin (1997-2000) and is currently Rapporteur of the UN Judicial Integrity Group (of Chief Justices) 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. 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However, amateur Ham Radio Operators in the state not only traced her but made all the arrangements so that she could come back to her family. A mentally challenged tribal woman who was in a hospital in Varanasi for nearly 13 years is being reunited with her family at Kotwali in West Midnapore district of Bengal. The formalities at the administrative and police level have been completed and her family members will be leaving the city in one or two days to take her back. The identity of the woman came to the fore when Anima Chakraborty of Ham Radio went to Varanasi for religious purposes last month. During her visit to Pandeypur Mental Hospital for distributing fruits and sweets among the patients she came across a woman who was speaking Bengali fluently. This attracted her attention and she got in touch with her ham radio team who immediately got to work. After she got in touch with us, we asked the caretaker of the hospital to send a photograph of the woman so that we can establish a connection with her family through our network. After the photograph we could trace that she belonged to a family in Kotwali in East Midnapore. We could establish contact with her brother Joydeb Dolui at Sholkamari village at Kotwali in West Midnapore., Ambarish Nag Biswas, the secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club an organisation of ham radio enthusiasts in the state said. Read more here: https://www.canindia.com/mentally-challenged-woman-to-meet-her-family-after-13-years/ Radio amateurs plan WiFi for disaster areas The German radio amateurs who have joined forces in the non-profit German Amateur Radio Club (DARC) have developed a new emergency radio concept. During the flood disaster in the Ahr valley, they hardly got a chance, because the rescue workers have a powerful communication infrastructure with the new digital radio for authorities and the radio bridges that amateurs could build can hardly be integrated. According to its own information, the Emergency and Disaster Radio Department at DARC has been analyzing for a long time how the requirements for emergency radio have changed as a result of technical change. The association has now presented a completely new concept in which external helpers from aid organizations, politics, business and the armed forces have contributed. In the future, German radio amateurs in disaster areas will no longer just record and forward messages as before, but rather set up high-performance WiFi networks that allow those affected to access the Internet and send messages and retrieve information themselves via smartphone or notebook. Source: https://marketresearchtelecast.com/radio-amateurs-plan-wifi-for-disaster-areas/233625/ Whenever I am asked, Who was the most successful pre-1947 Indian politician? my answer is M.A. Jinnah. by Natwar Singh The date of the birth of Mohammed Ali Jinnah remains something of a mystery. In the register of his school, in Karachi, the date given is 20 October 1875. M.A. Jinnah always maintained that he was born on Christmas Day in 1876. Why am I writing about Jinnah? Yesterday, I finished reading, Jinnah: His Successes, Failures and Role in History. The volume is 808 pages long. The author is Ishtiaq Ahmed, who is currently professor emeritus of political science at Stockholm University. Whenever I am asked, Who was the most successful pre-1947 Indian politician?, my answer is M.A. Jinnah. Jinnah was a brilliant lawyer, before becoming an astute and brilliant politician. Almost all his life he lived in Bombay. By the age of 35 he was a millionaire. He lived in a palatial house in Malabar Hill. He married late in life. His wife came from an eminent Parsi family. The marriage was not a happy one. Jinnah at one time was called the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity, by no less a person than Sarojini Naidu. He was member of the newly founded Muslim League and also of Congress. When Gandhiji finally returned to India from South Africa in January 1915, Jinnah warmly welcomed him. By 1920 Gandhiji had become the Congress supremo. Jinnah did not participated in the non-cooperation movement. He was for achieving Indias independence through constitutional means. He finally left the Congress in 1928. Feeling politically frustrated, he left for London in 1930. He bought a house in the upper class part of London, Hampstead, was driven by an English chauffeur in his masters Rolls Royce. Jinnahs law practice flourished. He apparently made a lot of money. The Muslim League was rudderless, an elitist party of Muslim talukdars and rich landowners. On the pleading of Liaquat Ali Khan and other leaders, Jinnah was persuaded to return to India. This he did in 1935. Single-handedly he converted the Muslim League into a mass organisation. The Congress did not take him too seriously. Major political misjudgement. In the 1937 provincial elections, the performance of the Muslim League was dismal. The Congress did exceptionally well and formed governments in six out of eleven provinces. In 1938-39, the Congress faced serious internal problem. The Mahatma and Subhas Chandra Bose did not get on. Eventually Gandhi had his way. Gandhiji launched the Quit India movement on 8 August 1942. On the 9th he and all members of the Congress Working Committee were arrested. The Mahatma for once got it wrong. The Quit India movement lasted for seven to eight months and was brutally suppressed by the Viceroy. The political field was now at Jinnahs hands. From 1942 to 1947, the Muslim League became a major factor in Indias politics. The Muslims were not a minority but a nation, was Jinnahs unbeatable slogan. India had to be divided. It was on 14-15 August 1947. Hence, the India Freedom Movement ended in partial failure. Nehru himself conceded this. M.A. Jinnah did not spend even a day in jail, did not face a lathi charge nor took part in a political hartal. By 1946, he abandoned constitutionalism and resorted to Direct Action. Recall the Calcutta killings. Almost single-handedly (the British behind the curtains did help him) he created Pakistan. Steadfast bigotry and communalism succeeded. Millions of innocent lives were lost when India was partitioned. Was Jinnah a great man? In many ways he was. He created a nation. However, he could be disagreeably petty. When Gandhiji was assassinated Jinnah issued the following incredible and graceless statement: Whatever our political differences, he was one of the greatest men produced by the Hindu community, and a leader who commanded their universal confidence and respect. I wish to express my sorrow, and sincerely sympathize with the great Hindu Community and his family in their bereavement at this momentous, historical and critical juncture so soon after the birth of freedom and freedom of Hindustan and Pakistan. The loss to the Dominion of India is irreparable, and it will be very difficult to fill the vacuum created by the passing away of such a great man at this moment. But deeply moving and sincere homage was paid to Gandhiji in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, by the East Bengal Premier, Khawaja Nizamuddin, Mian Mumtaz Daulatana, Premier of Punjab, M.A. Khuhro, Premier of Sind. M.A. Jinnah heard the tributes to Gandhiji. Finally he stood up and to some extent made up for atrocious earlier statement. I have heard the deep expression of sorrow and grief and I associate myself with the tributes that have been paid to this great man and his greatness. He died in the discharge of duty in which he was engaged. He was man of principles and when he believed that it was his duty he took it up and performed it. His tragic death, however, much as we may deplore and condemn it, was a noble death for he died in the discharge of the duty in which he believed. I will convey the message as desired by you, Mr Prime Minister, to the Indian peoples in due course. The Pathfinder Foundation, a think tank founded by newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Delhi Milinda Moragoda had asked the government of Sri Lanka to seek IMF support to get rid of the current recession. The statement issued by the body noted that It is unrealistic and impractical to expect to restructure external debt without the support of the IMF. Read the full statement issued by the Pathfinder below; Has the time come to consider seriously the merits of restructuring the governments external debt obligations? The Sri Lankan authorities have indicated that they are in the process of negotiating inflows to meet the countrys immediate foreign exchange requirements. However, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether there would be sufficient inflows to meet the acute dollar illiquidity over the medium-term. Moragoda Companies and even families restructure their debt when foreseeable future earnings become insufficient to repay debts while maintaining their financial viability. The same applies to countries. Over the years, a number of countries have restructured their debt and the pandemic is pushing others to follow suit. Has Sri Lanka reached that point when it would be advantageous to restructure its external debt? What are the costs and benefits of doing so? If debt restructuring is a credible option, how one would go about it? Should Sri Lanka restructure its external debt? Foreign revenues in the next couple of years are extremely unlikely to be sufficient to service external debt obligations, while supporting the essential foreign exchange (Forex) requirements of the economy. Known external debt repayments amount to USD26 billion over the next five years. It is unrealistic to expect to repay about USD five billion per year, particularly in the next 12-24 months, when foreign inflows are unlikely to increase on the scale necessary to service debt and finance imports necessary to meet essential needs and support the growth of the economy, particularly as the downgrading of Sri Lankas sovereign rating has excluded it from international capital markets. Countries protect access to these markets scrupulously to have the capacity to roll-over debt and avoid such a predicament. It is noteworthy that the following Business Chambers have jointly issued a statement highlighting the severe problems being faced by their members due to the acute shortage of Forex which has been caused primarily by the combination of the loss of tourism earnings and access to international capital markets: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, FCCISL, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, The Womens Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs, The International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, National Chamber of Exporters and the Chamber of the Construction Industry. Collectively, these Chambers represent almost all sectors of the economy. Their concerns cannot be addressed while there is a diversion of large amounts of Forex from markets to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to service external debt. As a result, there is now a strong case for considering debt restructuring to release foreign exchange to meet the needs of businesses and acquire the essential needs of the people, e.g., food, fuel and pharmaceuticals. The costs and benefits of external debt restructuring The most significant disadvantage of restructuring external debt is an immediate loss of access to international capital markets. This is now completely irrelevant for Sri Lanka as market access was lost when the economy was downgraded to a CCC rating. It is now even lower, at CC. As a result, Sri Lanka can no longer borrow in international markets. Another downside is the increase in the risk premium Sri Lanka would need to pay when it is eventually able to regain market access. However, the increased risk premium demanded by markets as a result of the restructuring is likely to be tempered by the impressive commitment Sri Lanka has shown in meeting its obligations thus far. Two International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) of USD 1 billion each were repaid on time in October 2019 and July 2020, despite having to deplete external reserves, thereby imposing sacrifices on domestic businesses and households. This combined with Sri Lankas impeccable debt servicing record to date is likely to contain the increase in the cost of future borrowing when it becomes possible. Options for Restructuring Debt restructuring is a long and complex process. Having delayed and allowed usable reserves to deplete to barely one months import cover, it is no longer possible to achieve a soft pre-emptive restructuring. There are three modalities available to restructure debt: re profiling the principal (extending maturities); modifying coupon (interest) rates; and write-down of principal (haircuts). Given its current circumstances it is unlikely that Sri Lanka could avoid haircuts for its creditors. It is unrealistic and impractical to expect to restructure external debt without the support of the IMF. Before embarking on an external debt restructuring one needs the IMF to independently validate that Sri Lanka has a strong need to restructure its debt, in order to assure creditors that the Sri Lankan authorities are not being opportunistic. The IMF would also need to validate the proposed medium term fiscal adjustment path to debt sustainability. Rescheduling bilateral, commercial and multilateral debt requires different treatments. Bilateral debt rescheduling is negotiated with the Paris Club of creditors. It is not possible to approach the Paris Club without IMF support. China and India are not members of the Paris Club and separate negotiations would be necessary with them. An option is to seek to initiate an informal Common Framework approach (approved by the G20 which includes both China and India). It would need to be informal as the Common Framework is not available for a middle income country like Sri Lanka. This approach would have the advantage of including Sri Lankas three major bilateral donors: China, India and Japan. Bilaterals are likely to focus more on stretching maturities. Commercial creditors could be approached once a deal is in place with bilateral donors. Such sequencing can lead to a better deal for the debtor country on the basis of equivalence across all creditors in terms of the rescheduling. In this respect, there is considerable merit in taking soundings from the Japanese Ministry of Finance regarding their suggestions for the terms of the restructuring. Over the years, Japan has proved to be a flexible and generous creditor in this respect. On Commercial debt, here again, it is exceedingly difficult to proceed without the IMF. Given its current circumstances, the restructuring package for Sri Lankas commercial debt is likely to include a combination of stretching maturities; coupon modification and a haircut. Haircuts on repayment of principal should be avoided, if at all possible, as they delay rating improvement and regaining market access. It is likely that it is now too late for Sri Lanka to avoid a haircut for its commercial creditors. It is not possible to restructure Multilateral debt (i.e., debt owed to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the IMF) without a complete suspension of the relationship between Sri Lanka and these institutions. There would be a suspension of all lending activity including project loans. However, the practice has been for to these institutions to provide financing to assist the debtor country to service the payments owed to each of them, once the debt rescheduling package is negotiated. Appointment of Advisers It is customary to appoint a financial and a legal adviser at the outset of the restructuring process. The IMF is able to provide a list of potential advisers from which the country concerned can choose. Conclusion The unsustainability of Sri Lankas external debt is the cumulative effect of poor economic management over several decades. The size and persistence of the external financing gap for the foreseeable future makes debt restructuring an urgent priority. It should be possible to negotiate a package which provides three years of breathing space to rebuild Sri Lankas economy to earn and attract sufficient foreign inflows to achieve external debt sustainability and place the economy on a path of sustained growth. Nearly 75% of Government external debt is owed to bilateral and commercial creditors, all of which is eligible for rescheduling, thus providing considerable scope for relief from onerous debt repayments. Now that Sri Lanka has lost access to international capital markets and is extremely unlikely to regain it for some years due to its CC rating, there is very little downside and very considerable upside to debt restructuring. There is now no choice but to restructure our external debt. The positive impact on dollar liquidity will be substantial and could be measured in billions of dollars. It is also timely as the negative social consequences are manifesting themselves in terms of ever-increasing hardships for the people, particularly the poor and vulnerable. It does not seem realistic to count on short term liquidity injections or a reliance on a revival in tourism as well as increased exports, FDI and remittances, to overcome the dollar illiquidity and its negative consequences in the next couple of years. Paying back debt at the expense of scarring the economy and imposing hardships on the people should not be seen as a badge of honour. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will finance a $40 million water treatment plant in the city of Camaguey, Cuba, providing clean, safe water to more than 300,000 residents. Financed by the SFD, the project will develop and replace existing systems of Camaguey and neighbouring cities. The project will also meet the sixth United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): To ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. In recent years, SFD had financed seven projects in the Republic of Cuba across the health, water, and infrastructure sectors, worth $139.3 million, in addition to a grant of $9.3 million to build the King Salman Mosque in Havana. SFD had also provided support to the Cuban economy in recent years through the Saudi Export Support Programme. In 2016 it signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment for $50 million over eight years, to import plastics, metals, and agricultural materials and equipment. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Faisal bin Falah Al-Harbi, the Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Carmenn Hernandez Requejo, Vice-Governor of Camaguey, Bladimir Matos Maya, the Vice-President of the National Institute of Water Resources (INRH), and a number of officials of Camaguey. Requejo thanked Saudi Arabia for its commitment to sustainable infrastructure projects in Cuba. She said the development of the water treatment plant would have a positive impact on the quality of life in the city, providing access to safe drinking water to more than 300,000 beneficiaries and enhancing sustainable food security. In addition to preventing the spread of diseases and epidemics caused by unclean water. Al-Harbi commended the Saudi-Cuban relations, and the role that the Saudi government undertakes, through the Fund, in supporting sustainable development that achieves the aspirations of peoples towards a prosperous future. He also stressed that the kingdom's contributions to development take an inclusive approach. In addition to working with international organisations, the kingdom also provides support to many countries around the world, without political, ethnic, or religious discrimination. Dr Saud Alshammari, Head of SFD delegation to Cuba said: "This is a significant infrastructure project. By optimising and developing the existing water treatment plant, we will increase efficiency and ensure the accessibility and sustainable management of water in Camaguey, in line with the 6th UN SDG. This project provides access to safe and clean water, and meeting the citys needs for these services, as the project is part of a comprehensive program for the city of Camaguey to be implemented in several phases, and this project is the first phase of it. As part of the visit to the Republic of Cuba the SFD delegation also held meetings with Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba and other Cuban officials in order to follow up on projects funded by the kingdom through SFD. The delegation visits included SFD funded projects in Camaguey, such as the development of the water treatment plant in the city of Cardenas, which provides safe, clean water to 130,000 people; a project to revitalise Old Havana which will raise living standards through the provision of new housing, access to clean water, improved sanitation, electricity, and communication services, as well as redeveloping social centers, and public facilities. SFDs delegation concluded its programme with a visit to the King Salman Mosque in Havana, which was built to enhance the cultural and social ties.-- TradeArabia News Service Saudi-based Amaar Real Estate Company has signed an agreement with globally leading consulting firm McKinsey & Company to help develop a strategy and business plan for the establishment of its new entity, Amaar capital. Its shariah-compliant operations will focus on the real estate industry with the aim of integrating and aligning the strategy of Amaar Real Estate, said the company in a statement. Amaar capital will have leadership with unique competitencies and a strategic competitive advantage through the deployment of modern fintech tools to facilitate its operations and serve its investors and partners, it stated. The new entity will aim to exploit the significant developments in the real estate industry of Saudi Arabia. Amaar Real Estate Board Chairman Abdulhadi Al Qahtani said the move was in line with the Saudi Economic Vision 2030, emphasizing the neccessity of creating a sustainable and prosperous economy. It would be the beginning of fruitful cooperation with McKinsey, given the consulting firms prestigious professional history, and a proven record of crafting strategies and successful methodologies. The Saudi economy has witnessed rapid development since the launch of the promising 2030 Vision, which paved the way for structural changes in government procedures, regulations and laws. This has resulted in the comprehensive modernization of the services provided by both the public and the private sector. The largest non-oil industry of Saudi Arabia, real estate, is an integral part and a significant driver of the overall economy of the Kingdom, enjoying great financial strength and a pioneering organizational structure formed in the past few years. The Saudi real estate market is expected to witness remarkable improvement in the coming years, supplemented by a large infusion of quality government and private projects. Therefore, unique and unprecedented opportunities are emerging for organizations that operate according to advanced & effective systems, as well as a high regard for corporate governance. Al Salem Johnson Controls (York), a leading provider of integrated solutions in HVAC-R, fire, safety and security systems, building management systems and controls, has signed a co-operation agreement with Electromin, one of the worlds prominent technologies-led electric vehicle (EV) solutions providers. The deal with Electromin, a brand owned by top Saudi automotive and lubricants company, Petromin Corporation, is aimed at developing York's economic cooperation through energy supply and generation services to coordinate in operating Electromin facilities, said the statement from the Sauid group. It also includes preventive maintenance of all company branches and facilities, it added. The MoU is aimed at strengthening joint economic cooperation between York and Electromin and studying the prospect of entering into a commercial relationship inside and outside Saudi Arabia, remarked Dr Mohanad AlShaikh, CEO of Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK) in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen, after inking the deal with Kalyana Sivagananam, CEO of Petromin. Dr AlShaikh said the cooperation with Electromin will help provide energy audit services to Electromin and some of its affiliates facilities, such as Petromin Nissan Express, Diesel Express, Petromin Auto care, gas stations, office facilities, and other industrial and commercial facilities of Petromin. Under this pact, AlShaikh said York would be undertaking audits and offer services to help Electromin save energy and increase the efficiency and safety of its facilities, in addition to proposing solutions to enable savings and potential reductions in the environmental footprint. On the York partnership, Sivagananam said for a company such as Petromin, which operates in food industries, car services, fuel retailing, housing, packaging sectors and others, the MoU was a significant one as it will help cover key areas such as renewable energy. "The MoU encompasses studying and cooperating to supply and generate energy using alternative energy sources such as solar energy in different Electromin facilities," he stated. Dr AlShaikh said the MoU incorporates York implementing alternative energy projects on the BOO (build, own and operate) model, provided that Electromin buys energy from it in accordance with the power purchase agreements. Under the MoU, Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK) will provide the best energy equipment and monitoring services for Electromin facilities.-TradeArabia News Service Metso Outotec, a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, has been awarded a EUR150 million ($170 million) contract for the delivery of key technology to the Boliden Odda zinc smelter expansion in western Norway. Approximately 90% of the contract has been booked in Metals Q4/2021 orders received and the rest in Minerals Q4/2021 orders received. With the expansion, Boliden Odda is planning to increase its annual production capacity of zinc metal from 200,000 to 350,000 tonnes. Several by-products will also be produced. The project is called Green Zinc Odda, and its energy consumption is based on fossil-free energy. Metso Outotec scope of delivery includes roasting and off-gas cleaning solutions and a sulphuric acid plant. Metso Outotec will also supply hydrometallurgical equipment and technology for calcine leaching, solid liquid separation, solution purification, as well as process and plant engineering and site services. Metso Outotec deliveries will take place in 2022-2024. We are very happy for being trusted with this order. The Green Zinc Odda project paves way for more sustainable zinc production and is yet another important milestone in the many years of collaboration between Boliden and Metso Outotec, says Jari Algars, President, Metals business area at Metso Outotec. Metso Outotecs industry-leading zinc processing technologies consist of several proprietary Planet Positive solutions. These sustainable and cost-efficient technologies and services enable efficient zinc and by-product recovery from a wide range of primary zinc raw material. In the roasting process, even electrical power is produced as a by-product.-- TradeArabia News Service Chinese envoy's visit to northernmost point of Sri Lanka sparks curiosity, concern Colombo, Dec 26 (UNI) The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhongs visit to the Northern region of Sri Lanka, during which he travelled to Jaffna and Mannar and the northernmost point of the island at Point Pedro, has raised curiosity, and concern. His visit, according to reports, appeared to be more of a concerted attempt to win local hearts and minds, as well as create a substantial Chinese footprint in the North-East. His visit would not have gone unnoticed in India. Lucknow ,Dec 26(UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that country's defence capability has strengthened and now no one can threaten us. "We are not making BrahMos missiles to attack any other country in the world. We want to make BrahMos so that India has such power at its disposal that no country in the world dares to look at us with an evil eye," he said. He said that, "The country needs a nuclear deterrent to protect the country and give a befitting reply to some of our neighbours that we are competent to deal with any situation." Mr Singh made these comments while laying the foundation stone of BrahMos Missile Unit and Lab of Defense Technology and Testing Center (DRDO) in Lucknow along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Sunday. The defence minister said now the country's defence manufacturing capabilities has increased and defence exports have commenced. "Recently I had met Russian defence minister in Delhi where we mooted a new 3-point slogans to woo foreign defence manufacturers. These are Aayo(Come)- Make in India, Aayo- Make for India and Aayo- Make for World," he said . He also said that the name BrahMos name came from Brahmapurata river of India and Moskva river of Russia. Mr Singh said now in Lucknow, DRDO will prepare such a Brahmos missile, which will ensure India's security. Today a new chapter has been added in the economy of Uttar Pradesh. The establishment of BrahMos Missile Unit and DRDO Lab will also provide employment to the people of Uttar Pradesh. "I would like to express my gratitude to CM Yogi ji and to those who, as soon as I mentioned the setting up of the projects, agreed immediately without delaying even for a moment. The 200 acre land was given to DRDO in just 45 days", he said. He said that if anyone has done the work of implementing all the schemes implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively in the entire state, then it is Yogi Adityanath." I want to congratulate him wholeheartedly. When I go to other states, people say that the government of UP is very effective. In every work, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shows courage," he claimed. Mr Singh specially mentioned about how CM Yogi Adityanath wiped out the mafias from the state and now UP has turned into a most favourite destination for the investors. He said in the defence manufacturing corridor, UP has already received investments of over Rs 14,000 crores. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that a new BrahMos Missile production unit will be set up in Lucknow. This will increase employment in the state. New India is moving ahead fast in the defence sector. CM said this DRDO units will boost employment and the economy of UP and will give speed to a new India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The dignitaries also visited a DRDO exhibition. For Brahmos manufacturing unit, the government has provided more than 80 hectares of land on lease of just Re 1. Apart from this, the work of Defense Research and Development will take place in the DRDO Lab, right next to Amausi Airport. DRDO is going to invest more than Rs 10,000 crore in these two projects. UNI MB ACL1528 TTD EO directs officials to digitize all manuscripts available with TTD, University libraries 06 Jan 2022 | 11:51 PM Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Jan 6 (UNI) Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer Dr KS Jawahar Reddy on Thursday directed officials to digitise all manuscripts available with TTD and also in the libraries of universities as per regulations of the National Manuscripts Department. see more.. 24th national conference on e-governance 2022 in Hyderabad from Jan 7 06 Jan 2022 | 11:49 PM Hyderabad, Jan 6 (UNI) The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in association with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Government of Telangana is organising the 24th National Conference on e-governance at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) here from January 7 to 8. see more.. AP CM assures employees unions to make an announcement on PRC in 3 days 06 Jan 2022 | 11:41 PM Vijayawada, Jan 6 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has held discussion with Joint Staff Council on issues related to Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and assured that he would do as much as he can to benefit the employees and urged them to be practical and lower their expectations. see more.. Development works at the fishing harbour to benefit fishermen: AP Minister Kannababu 06 Jan 2022 | 11:32 PM Kakinada, Jan 6 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture, Cooperatives, Marketing and food processing Kurasala Kannababu has said that developmental works would be taken up in fishing harbour and also along the coast to benefit the fishermen. see more.. UK coronavirus cases top 14 mln 07 Jan 2022 | 1:23 AM London, Jan 6 (UNI/Xinhua) Britain reported another 179,756 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 14,015,065, according to official figures released Thursday. see more.. New COVID variant B 1 640 not a threat yet: WHO 07 Jan 2022 | 1:17 AM Geneva, Jan 6 (UNI/Xinhua) The new COVID variant called B.1.640 being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) is not "circulating widely at the moment" and has so far been identified in less than one percent of the samples sequenced in France, WHO experts said here on Thursday. see more.. Pak set to get its first woman SC judge 07 Jan 2022 | 1:17 AM Islamabad, Jan 6 (UNI) Pakistan on Thursday approved the elevation of Lahore High Court Justice Ayesha A Malik to the Supreme Court, paving way for her to become the country's first female apex court judge. see more.. Pakistan President tests positive for COVID 06 Jan 2022 | 11:49 PM Islamabad, Jan 6 (Xinhua) Pakistan President Arif Alvi tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time, the president said in a tweet on Thursday. see more.. UAE Ambassador to India calls on Lok Sabha Speaker New Delhi, Dec 25 (UNI) UAE Ambassador to India Ahmed Albanna on Saturday called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla here. During their meeting, the Speaker said India and UAE share historical relationship and added that it has further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed. The 2015 visit of Indias Prime Minister gave a new momentum to the relationship between the two countries and his next visit to UAE in January, 2022, will further cement the ties, added Birla. As India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava on the 75th year of its Independence, UAE is also celebrating 50 years of its Foundation Day, recalled Birla, Lok Sabha secretariat said in a communique. Nicaragua receives 2nd batch of China-aided COVID-19 vaccines 00:00:00 Staff members convey Chinese COVID-19 vaccines at an airport in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Nicaragua received a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China on Friday, the second in a month. The cargo arrived at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, capital of Nicaragua in the morning, and was received by Presidential Advisor Laureano Ortega Murillo and Health Minister Martha Reyes. Nicaragua appreciates and acknowledges the solidarity of the Chinese government and people, the presidential advisor told Xinhua, calling the shipment "a great Christmas gift from the Chinese people." "Since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, under the one-China principle, we have received different expressions of appreciation, affection, and love for our people," he said. Both countries are working together to identify opportunities for bilateral cooperation, focusing on projects of high humanitarian value for the benefit of their people, he added. The new batch of vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm will bolster Nicaragua's voluntary vaccination campaign, Health Minister Reyes said. Yu Bo, representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China will continue to support Nicaragua's anti-pandemic efforts and promote the construction of a community of health for all. Nicaragua, which resumed diplomatic relations with China on Dec. 10, received the first batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines on Dec. 12. Military personnel are seen in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. Following the reopening of the roads, Ahmed Nooh, a local security official, expressed the hope that stability and security were established in the country. A few days ago, a large number of military vehicles and heavy weapons were deployed, and schools were closed in the area for fear of possible military action. The UN Support Mission in Libya expressed concern about the military mobilization, calling on all Libyan actors to "exercise restraint at this delicate moment and to work together to create a secure political atmosphere that preserves Libya's progress and enables peaceful elections and a successful transition." Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem An excavator is seen working in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) An excavator is seen working in Ain Zara area in southern Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 25, 2021. A number of roads in southern Tripoli were reopened Saturday after they were closed due to recent military mobilization. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) This image captured from a video on Dec. 25, 2021 shows the site of a suicide bomb explosion in Beni of the province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. At least six people were killed in a suicide bomb explosion late Saturday, in the middle of Christmas celebration, in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected monitor on eastern DRC. (Xinhua) BENI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed in a suicide bomb explosion late Saturday, in the middle of Christmas celebration, in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said the local government. According to General Ekenge Sylvain, spokesman for the governor of North Kivu Province, at least six people, including the suicide bomber, were killed and 13 others wounded in this "terrorist attack." This tragedy took place "around 8 p.m. local time, at the entrance of a busy bar. The suicide bomber, stopped by the security guards from entering the bar crowded with customers, activated the bomb at the entrance of the bar," he said. "We call on the population to be vigilant by all means and to avoid crowded environments during this holiday season. In the city and territory of Beni, it is difficult, in these times, to know who is who. We all need to open our eyes and stay alert," he said in a statement. "The government condemns the explosion on Christmas of a bomb in a bar in Beni, the work of a suicide bomber. Loss of life is reported. The security services are already deployed," Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya tweeted. In a communication on the radio without giving more details about the explosion, the Beni mayor asked the population to stay at home to allow the security and medical team to do their job to evacuate the wounded and secure the area of the attack. The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, long troubled by insecurity, have been under siege since May 6 due to violence by armed groups, including rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Since Nov. 30, the Uganda People's Defense Forces, in collaboration with the Congolese army, has officially launched air and artillery operations against several ADF rebel positions in northeastern DRC. In June, two bomb blasts, including one carried out by a suicide bomber, hit on the same day the Beni city, causing at least one death and several injuries. Enditem This image captured from a video on Dec. 25, 2021 shows the site of a suicide bomb explosion in Beni of the province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. At least six people were killed in a suicide bomb explosion late Saturday, in the middle of Christmas celebration, in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected monitor on eastern DRC. (Xinhua) HONG KONG, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported nine new imported cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total tally of confirmed cases to 12,589. Six of the cases involved mutant strains while the mutation test results of the remaining three cases are pending. The patients comprise three males and six females, aged 19 to 57. A total of 97 cases have been reported in the past 14 days. One of them is an import-related case, while the rest are imported cases, according to the CHP. Since the launch of the government inoculation program in late February, around 4.85 million people or 72.1 percent of the eligible population have taken at least one shot of the vaccine, while over 4.63 million or 68.8 percent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, a total of 344,983 people have taken the booster shot in Hong Kong as of 8:00 p.m. local time Saturday. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government expects the third-dose vaccination to cover about 1.86 million people. Enditem OUAGADOUGOU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Forty-one people had been killed in an ambush carried out on Thursday by armed terrorist groups against a column of civilian fighters from the homeland defense volunteers (VDP), in Burkina Faso's northern Lorum province, government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga announced Saturday in a statement. According to the same source, the identification of the victims is still underway by the national gendarmerie. The government strongly condemns this barbarity, and the president has decreed national mourning of forty-eight hours on Sunday and Monday. Security in Burkina Faso has worsened since 2015, with terrorist attacks having killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over one million others in the West African nation. Enditem Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks at a symposium with counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History to contribute their insights in promoting economic and social development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a symposium on Friday. Noting a complex COVID-19-induced international environment and downward pressure on the economy, Li called for deepening research in the innovation of macroeconomic regulation, enabling market entities to thrive and ensuring basic living standards. The purpose of development is to improve people's well-being, Li said, urging the counselors and researchers to listen to the people's voices and make targeted suggestions about people's livelihood, such as compulsory education, old-age care, medical care, and housing. He also underlined efforts to strengthen communication and cooperation between different cultures and contribute to national and cultural development. Enditem Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks at a symposium with counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, watches exhibits at the China Central Institute for Culture and History in Beijing, capital of China. Li presided over a symposium with counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History in Beijing on Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) URUMQI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Residents in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region shared stories about their employment and entrepreneurship on Sunday at a press conference held by the regional government. In recent years, Xinjiang has taken innovation as a new engine to expand employment, lowered the market entry threshold, and continued policies to support entrepreneurship, said Gul Ablim, the conference moderator. Ebiljan Rahman from Shaya County, Aksu Prefecture, started his business in the county with his friends doing home-decoration. "Local authorities provide three years' rent-free housing, helping more entrepreneurs to realize their dreams." Nurali Kidirali, a man from the Kirgiz ethnic group, applied for interest-free loans after graduating from university and opened a cultural media company. "The monthly income of employees in our company can reach nearly 9,000 yuan (about 1,414 U.S. dollars). I want to make the company bigger and become an excellent director in the future," Nurali Kidirali said. Enditem Amar Aziz drives a cotton picker in his own cotton field in Gezkum Town of Xayar County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 25, 2021. Amar Aziz lives in Xayar County, Aksu Prefecture, which is an important cotton-producing area in Xinjiang. (Xinhua/Ma Kai) When the United States accused China of "forced labor," it never produced any convincing evidence, said Sergei Sanakoyev, president of the Russian-Chinese Analytical Center. The U.S. attempt is to provoke conflicts among ethnic groups and religions in China, destabilize the situation and curb China's development, he added. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States' signing of the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law which bans imports from China's Xinjiang region is economic bullying and another attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs, analysts told Xinhua. This law, based on ill-informed information and prejudicial to China, is "sheer interference in Chinese internal affairs and a severe violation of international law," said Muhammad Asif Noor, director of the Islamabad-based think tank Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies. U.S. foreign policy has been tilted towards interfering in the internal affairs of countries, yet the world is no longer blind, Noor pointed out. Abdul-Raziq Ziyada, a Sudanese political analyst, sees the American decision as "a clear violation of the international law governing the relations among countries." Aerial photo taken on Oct. 24, 2021 shows cotton pickers working in one of farmer Erkin Rehim's fields in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) The signing of the so-called act is a "continuation of U.S. longstanding disinformation about Chinese living in Xinjiang and a clear attempt to superimpose politics onto economic relations" between China and the United States, according to Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar. The U.S. administration's sanctions against Xinjiang may lead to a situation where American and Chinese businesses and consumers must contend with the ramifications of "poisonous politics" instead of enjoying the dividends of economic globalization, Adhere said. President of the Russian-Chinese Analytical Center Sergei Sanakoyev believes that Xinjiang-related issues are not human rights issues at all, but anti-terrorism and anti-secession issues. When the United States accused China of "forced labor," it never produced any convincing evidence, he argued, adding that the U.S. attempt is to provoke conflicts among ethnic groups and religions in China, destabilize the situation and curb China's development. A tourist takes selfie at a resort in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Murata Tadayoshi, honorary professor at Japan's Yokohama National University, expressed regret that the United States has slandered China with accusations of "genocide." Statistics of the continued growth of the Uygur population in Xinjiang can disprove the "genocide" lie and the tangible results are backed up by detailed data, he said. Jorge Valero, former permanent representative of Venezuela to the United Nations in Geneva, said he visited Xinjiang at the invitation of the Chinese government and saw the progress made by Xinjiang people under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China and the local government. He expressed appreciation of China's comprehensive measures to prevent terrorism in accordance with the United Nations global counter-terrorism strategy. Photo taken on Dec. 4, 2021 shows a passenger wearing a face mask taking the escalator at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) The flight cancellations, roughly 740 on Sunday after nearly 1,000 on Christmas Day, came as U.S. officials focused on ensuring there were enough staff and resources to make sure "we don't get an overrun on hospitals," said Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser. NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines canceled more than 750 flights combined on Christmas Day, and cancellations were set to drag on through Sunday, upending plans during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, major U.S. media reported. "All four airlines said Omicron cases among staff were driving cancellations," said USA Today on Sunday. "A combination of issues, including but not limited to inclement weather in some areas of the country and the impact of the Omicron variant, are driving cancellations and potential delays," said Delta in a statement. "Holiday travel is generally a stressful enterprise, but a rapid surge in cases of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant have caused hundreds of flight cancellations, adding another layer of difficulty to the proceedings," reported NBC, noting that several major airlines are dealing with a shortage of workers. "Major U.S. airlines canceled hundreds of more flights on Sunday, the third day in a row of mass cancellations and delays over Christmas weekend, as staff and crew call out sick amid the Omicron surge," reported CNN, adding that almost 700 U.S. flights were canceled and another 1,300 were delayed on Sunday. Photo taken on Dec. 1, 2021 shows travellers arriving at the San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, the United States. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) MORE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS Delta Air Lines said it expected to cancel more than 300 flights on Sunday, on top of 368 scratched on Saturday. United Airlines canceled nearly 100 mainline flights on Sunday due to staffing concerns, while roughly 25 percent of its customers have been able to re-book to arrive earlier than their original plan. JetBlue spokesperson Derek Dombrowski was quoted as saying that the airline has seen an "increasing number" of sick calls due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant, despite entering the holiday season with the highest staffing levels since the start of the pandemic. American Airlines spokesperson Derek Walls said the company was "working hard" to re-book customers quickly. United Airlines spokesperson Maddie King said the airline was also working to re-book as many people as possible "and get them on their way for the holidays." Globally, airlines canceled more than 6,000 flights on Christmas Eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas, according to FlightAware, a flight tracker website. That included about 1,700 flights within, into or out of the United States. Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2021 shows people lining up to receive COVID-19 test in Arlington, Virginia, the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) MORE PANDEMIC CASES In an effort to head off staffing shortages and flight cancellations, U.S. carriers have asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce recommended isolation periods for fully vaccinated people recovering from COVID-19, reported The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. The flight cancellations, roughly 740 on Sunday after nearly 1,000 on Christmas Day, came as U.S. officials focused on ensuring there were enough staff and resources to make sure "we don't get an overrun on hospitals," Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, was quoted as saying. "The president's multipart component of the response is to make sure that we have adequate backup for hospitals with military personnel, doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers, making sure that there's enough (personal protective equipment) and that if needed, there's enough ventilators in the national strategic stockpile," Fauci said. "As of Sunday, the seven-day average of COVID-19 cases eclipsed the peak set during the Delta variant's earlier march through the country," said the report, noting that the average reached 184,302 as of Dec. 25, according to Johns Hopkins University data. NEW DELHI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister of India's northeastern state of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio Sunday announced that a committee will discuss the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state. "A committee to look into the withdrawal of the AFSPA in Nagaland will be instituted," Rio said on his social media account, adding that the committee will submit its report within 45 days. According to Rio, the decision was taken during his meeting with federal Home Minister Amit Shah on Dec. 23 in New Delhi. The demand for the withdrawal of AFSPA, which gave a wide range of powers to the army, increased in Nagaland after 14 civilians were killed earlier this month in a botched Indian army operation and the subsequent violence in the state's Mon district. Protests demanding the withdrawal of AFSPA were held across the state. In a statement, the government said that a court of enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and personnel involved in the incident. "The identified persons who will face inquiry will be suspended immediately," the statement read. Last week, the Nagaland lawmaking body unanimously decided to demand a repeal of AFSPA from the northeast, especially the state. Enditem A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman for COVID-19 test at Al-Shati Clinic in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Dec. 26, 2021. The Hamas-run health ministry announced on Sunday that it has recorded the first Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the besieged Gaza Strip.(Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas-run health ministry announced on Sunday that it has recorded the first Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the besieged Gaza Strip. Health ministry official Majdi Dhair confirmed the infection during a press conference at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. He said the infection had shown the Omicron variant was "present and widespread in the society." The Gaza Strip "is on the verge of a difficult stage and a powerful fourth wave, as expected," he added. Dhair urged rapid preparation to confront the virus's fourth wave and get out of it with minimum losses. According to the official, to deal with any unsustainable increase in the number of infection cases, the ministry has boosted its preparedness by providing more skilled medical personnel and increasing the number of beds available. However, the health ministry in Gaza needs laboratory equipment "to facilitate the greatest number of tests to check coronavirus," he said. Enditem A medical worker packs collected swab samples for COVID-19 test at Al-Shati Clinic in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Dec. 26, 2021. The Hamas-run health ministry announced on Sunday that it has recorded the first Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the besieged Gaza Strip.(Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) "(...) We have agreed (to purchase) 55 million doses from different laboratories for three quarters of next year, which would allow us, if necessary, to administer a fourth dose (booster dose) to the most vulnerable groups and frontline workers," he told Canal N. In addition, Cevallos clarified that the administration of a fourth dose for the general population, three months after the third one, will depend on how the pandemic evolves in the country next year, noting that this is a possibility that cannot be ruled out. The government official confirmed that the number of doses needed to vaccinate children between 5 and 11 years of age, in January, has already been agreed with the Pfizer laboratory. "This will be important to give parents peace of mind as their children begin their return to school, which is urgently needed in the country," he stated. Cevallos pointed out that the vaccine doses for children aged 5 to 11 will arrive in the first half of January next year. According to the minister, the exact date of the start of the vaccination drive that targets the above-mentioned age group will be announced in the coming days. (END) LIT/RMB Peru has agreed to buy 55 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for 2022 to continue vaccinating the population, even with the fourth dose (booster dose), if necessary, Health Minister Hernando Cevallos announced on Sunday.Published: 12/26/2021 El numero de casos confirmados de la variante omicron se elevo a 49 en Lima Metropolitana y Callao, uno de los cuales viajo a La Libertad, afirmo el ministro Hernando Cevallos. pic.twitter.com/iEKYmJkfU7 "People must avoid very large gatherings on Christmas. Meeting with parents and children is totally normal and natural, but you have to take the necessary care and prevent this dinner from becoming a large meeting, to which neighbors or friends are invited, and then such meeting ends up becoming a party," he recommended. The Cabinet member was emphatic in stating that the Christmas celebration is a tradition which is not prohibited. "I want to tell people that we can get together as a family, give one another a hug, and sit down to have dinner relying on the necessary care and face masks () maintaining social distancing and avoiding crowds. Of course, we can beat the pandemic if we act responsibly," Cevallos noted. "Now more than ever, this celebration is not synonymous with gifts; it is more than anything an intimate meeting with the family, a reflection, a hug that the Peruvian people have earned a long time ago for the enormous effort made during the pandemic, but always taking care of ourselves, thinking about the future," he told Canal N. Police intervention The Health Ministry (Minsa) head also said he has spoken with the National Police directorate to develop a work in the streets so as to prevent citizens from holding parties or meetings with high concentrations of people. Christmas curfew Curfew on Christmas will start tonight at 11:00 p.m. in Peru, not at 1:00 a.m. on December 25 as had been initially established. The new five-hour-long curfew will be in force nationwide on December 24 and end at 4:00 a.m. on December 25. A similar measure will be in force on New Year's Eve (December 31) starting at 11:00 p.m. thru January 1 at 4:00 a.m. The objective is to avoid social gatherings and crowds due to the presence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the country. (END) RRC/MVB You could retire with hundreds of thousands of dollars more depending on which super fund you're with. (Source: Getty) Its about to be a brand new year and with more Aussies looking for a new job, its a good time to remember that your super fund will be following you around. As of 1 November this year workers were no longer automatically signed up to their employers super fund unless opting not to - meaning if you're stuck in a dud fund it may be time to switch things up. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released a heatmap exposing the best and worst super funds for Australians. The first release was back in August, where APRA named the 13 super funds which had failed its test while this release named the best performing funds. So, if youre thinking of making the switch, here are the top 10 super funds that are publicly (those which are tied to private companies for their employees have been excluded). UniSuper - Balanced Australian Ethical Retail Super Fund - Balanced AustralianSuper - Mysuper QSuper - Lifetime Cbus - MySuper HostPlus - Balanced Statewide - MySuper First Super - MySuper Care Super - CareSuper Aware Super - MySuper Lifecycle The heatmap works by tracking each fund's performance from the past seven years and comparing it to an investment benchmark. Why is switching super funds important? If you are stuck in a dud fund you could be missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement. For example, using the MoneySmart super calculator, a 30 year old who makes $75,000 a year with a super balance of $60,000 could retire with over $1,000,000 if they were in the best option compared to just $511,000 for someone in the average option. (Source: MoneySmart) In alphabetical order, the 13 products that failed to meet the new benchmark performance test are: AMG Super - AMG MySuper ASGARD Independence Plan Division two - ASGARD Employee MySuper Australian Catholoic Superannuation and Retirement Fund - LifetimeOne AvSuper Fund - AvSuper Growth (MySuper) BOC Gases Superannuation Fund - BOC MySuper Christian Super - My Ethical Super Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust - Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust Commonwealth Bank Group Super - Accumulate Plus Balanced Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme-Pool A - Balanced (MySuper) Labour Union Co-Operative Retirement Fund - MySuper Balanced Maritime Super - MYSUPER INVESTMENT OPTION Retirement Wrap - BT Super MySuper The Victorian Independent Schools Superannuation Fund - VISSF Balanced Option (MySuper Product) Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter. When looking at a snapshot of the Cayuga County-area economy as 2021 winds down, there's good news and bad news. In just about every economic indicator, the county's much stronger than it was in the spring of 2020, when the initial COVID-19 shutdowns had their biggest impact. The unemployment rate jumped to a record 16.6% in Cayuga County in April 2020, with an estimated 5,600 residents jobless. But while there has been local economic growth unemployment dropped below 4% last month for the first time since late 2019 it's lagged the nation as a whole and not come back to pre-pandemic levels. It's a story that's also played out for much of upstate New York. "Job growth resumed throughout the region but lagged the nationwide pace, especially in upstate New York," economists with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York wrote in a report published Dec. 17. "This was likely the result of the renewed spread of the virus at the end of last year, as people pulled back on many activities and restrictions were implemented in the region. The result of these two forcesa larger initial job loss and a slower pace of job gains for much of this yearhas led to job shortfalls that significantly exceed the nations." The Fed economics said its early benchmark estimate show payroll employment is still about 7% below pre-pandemic levels in upstate New York. Nationally, that shortfall is just 3%. A big part of the shortfall is a labor shortage that has continued into the fall months, even after expanded unemployment insurance benefits expired. New York state Department of Labor data shows fewer Cayuga County and Auburn residents are holding jobs compared with not just pre-pandemic times, but also from a year ago when a wintertime COVID-19 surge was just starting. The county labor force, which is the total number of residents who are employed or actively seeking employment, was just 33,600 in November, compared with 35,500 in the same month of both 2020 and 2019. The total marked the lowest monthly number for Cayuga County dating back to 1990. For Auburn residents, the labor force size of 10,800 tied with April for the lowest month going back to 1990. It was down from 11,500 in November 2020 and 11,300 in November 2019. There have also been significant drops in the number of unemployed residents. That trend combined with the smaller labor has produced unemployment rates that are well below year-ago levels, but not quite down to pre-pandemic marks. The Cayuga County jobless rate last month was 3.7%, down from 5.2% a year earlier but just above the 3.6% reported for November 2019. The city of Auburn unemployment rate fell to 4.7% from 6.8% a year before, but above the 4.3% mark from two years ago. Similar trends are reflected in the number of jobs filled by employers in Cayuga County. November brought 23,700 nonfarm jobs in Cayuga County, a loss of 300 jobs from a year ago and 2,000 from 2019. Private sector jobs accounted for 17,900 positions, down by 300 from a year ago and 1,600 from 2019. The New York Fed economists expect conditions to eventually get back to full strength, but the short-term outlook is uncertain. "While businesses and households generally remain optimistic that conditions will improve over the next six months, the regional economy faces a number of headwinds," the wrote. "As in much of the rest of the country, growth is likely to be hampered until the virus comes under control and there is meaningful progress toward relieving shortages of both workers and supplies." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It isn't uncommon for people to make excuses if they get fined on road or get arrested for doing something illegal. Owner of a Mercedes C-Class who was recently caught by police in Germany for making illegal modifications to his vehicle, claimed that he had just purchased the vehicle half an hour ago and had no idea about the modifications done to it. Similar Cars Berlin Police took to social media to inform the public about the incident and noted that the Mercedes C-Class had an engine that was leaking oil, its rims were damaged with different tyre profiles, it sported an unregistered rear spoiler and a poorly installed front splitter. The officers also noticed a loose cable lying inside the car. (Also read | Planning to modify your car or bike? You could be fined or worse, imprisoned) The vehicle was caught during a large-scale operation at Tempelhof-Schoneberg and Steglitz-Zehlendorf regions in Berlin with a focus on car racing and tuning. The owner of the Mercedes C-Class told the police, I only purchased the vehicle half an hour ago, I have no idea." However, he failed to convince the German police officer who then seized the vehicle on the spot. The newly purchased car of the young man is now staying with us for the first time to create a defective report," the police said in the post. (Also read | New York introduces hefty fine for vehicles with excessively loud exhausts) The rear diffuser and the quad exhaust pipes of the vehicle suggest that it could possibly be the pre-facelifted Mercedes-AMG C63 that was sold between 2008 and 2011. In stock form, the C63 comes equipped with a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 producing 451 hp of power and 600 Nm of torque. The Berlin police also informed in the Facebook post that apart from the illegal Mercedes C-Class, there were other incidents where owners were fined during the large-scale operation. These include driving without a valid license, noise caused while driving, profiling trips, driving on drugs and driving without liability insurance. 75 years ago 1946: Hope fading for a white Christmas.Warm and slightly damp is the weatherman's forecast for Christmas Day in Arizona. The Flagstaff weather forecast calls for continued overcast with light rain in the afternoon temperatures near or above freezing Wednesday morning. Yesterday the high temperature in Flagstaff reached 50 degrees. The world was in a festive mood today, the eve of the second Christmas since the end of World War Two. Children the world over anxiously awaited the coming tonight of Santa Claus, the fat, jovial, white whiskered, mythical gentleman who deposits gifts under their Christmas trees while they sleep--- in a gesture symbolic of the gifts presented by the three wise men to the infant Christ at his Bethlehem birthplace 1946 years ago. 50 years ago 1971: The Flagstaff City Council today voted five to zero to notify the state highway department that it is still interested in an extension of 4th St reaching to the Lake Mary Rd. The project, which has been pending for approximately 4 years, would extend 4th St from its present terminal point at Santa Fe Avenue onto Lake Mary Road and would be financed partially by federal funds, state funds, and some money provided by the city. At this morning's meeting, there was barely any debate or discussion on the matter before the council unanimously passed the motion of continuing interest made by vice mayor G. Robert Knowles. Flagstaff's spate of wet December weather, highlighted by almost three days of rain during Christmas week, has raised the Lake Mary water level by more than 1 billion gallons, but that's not the end of the city's water problems by any means. The Flagstaff city manager was breathing just a little easier than he has in recent months over water problems. The city's principal source of water had been raised by 9 or 10 feet and that at this time some 1.9 billion gallons of water are stored in the lake. It doesn't eliminate the water problem, but it does take off some of the pressure. The rain, which brought a large amount of runoff from itself and from snow already accumulated on the ground during previous winter storms, raised the level of the lake by almost 1.45 billion gallons. One of the city's most pressing issues in the year about to end was the winter crisis, which arose early in the summer after a dry winter had left Lake Mary fall far below its normal level of recent years. 25 years ago 1996: Doctors in Flagstaff who prescribe marijuana for medical use under new state law may become the targets of stiff penalties by the federal government. Officials in the drug fighting agencies settled Monday that a new plan for federal response to state laws that permit medical use of marijuana calls for strict enforcement of the federal law. Marijuana and heroin are scheduled one substances, and federal law recognizes no legitimate medical use for these drugs. Voters in Arizona last month approved measures that would relax restrictions on the medical use of some illegal drugs, such as marijuana. Kinsey elementary sixth-grade students wrote holiday wish lists for themselves and the world. Here is a sample-- I wish that everybody in the world would have peace and that they can share their opinions and feelings without anybody disturbing them. Also, I wish that for all this year everybody would have food all the time that no one died because they don't have food. Also, I wish that everybody helped each other for a better world. Merry Christmas and a happy new year for everybody. By Fabio Matamoros All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. Bruce Carl Ertmann assisted with compiling the events. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Across the nation, civic groups, faith leaders and alarmed citizens are staging hundreds of candlelight vigils and marches in support of voting rights and contacting Congress to mark one year since the ransacking of the U.S. Capitol. Originally, the Stop the Steal movement sought to reverse the 2020 election results and organized the Jan. 6 attack. But the insurrection isnt over: It was a dress rehearsal for whats coming next. The movement still thrives and is redoubling its efforts at the state level for another effort to subvert our democratic system of government. Heres a few things we can expect in the year ahead: State-level Republicans will continue to pass more voter suppression laws and take steps allowing them to throw out election results they dont like. Already, the Stop the Steal movement is taking over offices that supervise elections; obstructing mail-in balloting; limiting the number, hours and availability of election polls; imposing harsher voter ID requirements; expanding voter roll purges; and securing partisan oversight over final election tallies. According to the Brennan Center, so far 19 states have enacted 33 laws to make it harder for Americans to vote, and we can expect more. Many of these anti-voting laws are quite extreme, and all of them will disproportionately affect minorities and low-income people targeting constituencies that tend to vote Democratic. For example, Georgia residents may be charged with a crime for handing out water to voters waiting in long lines at the polls. In Texas, election administrators may face felony charges if they encourage voters to request mail-in ballots. And in Iowa and Kansas, people could be criminally prosecuted for helping voters deliver their ballots, for example, if they assist voters with disabilities. In other states, Republican legislatures have undermined the nonpartisan administration of elections by elevating the role of state lawmakers in overseeing election officials and even inserting themselves into the election count. Saving our democracy from these attacks and confronting the filibuster will be the most crucial fight of 2022, and it is not at all clear if our democracy will survive. Democracy is not down and out yet, but it is getting dangerously late. Two essential legislative measures have been introduced in Congress that would overturn many state voting restrictions: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Freedom to Vote Act would protect and expand vote-by-mail, enact automatic voter registration, simplify voter ID laws, make voting polls easily accessible, and mandate paper ballots, rein in secret political spending, and more. The Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring that no eligible citizen is denied the right to vote. The U.S. House already passed the Freedom to Vote Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act. In the Senate, they enjoy the support of a narrow majority, but so far have been blocked by a Republican filibuster. Calls for modifying the filibuster rules to get these voting rights measures passed into law are mounting, with even President Joe Biden speaking out. This will be the decisive fight of 2022, with consequences that likely will reverberate for decades to come. If the election results are close, state-level Republicans will attempt to overturn those that dont go their way using bogus claims of election fraud as the pretext. Stop the Steal efforts are being coordinated across states by a network of pro-Trump election lawyers, touting their goal of reining in election fraud, despite the reality that no meaningful record of election fraud exists. Voter fraud conspiracy theories have been widely debunked by election officials, legislative hearings, academic scholars and the courts. Most recently, three Trump supporters from a Florida retirement community were charged with voting more than once. But the wild notion that voter fraud is pervasive and affected the 2020 election results is accurately known as the Big Lie. Michigan is one of the key states where Republicans hope to seize control of the election process and decide it for themselves. Under pressure from Republican lawmakers, the state ultimately conducted three separate election audits and found nothing. Now, Republicans are running a Trump election fraud lawyer for state attorney general. 2022 is the year that either will remake our democracy for the 21st century leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can participate or break it entirely. Its up to all of us and our lawmakers to save it. Craig Holman is the government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) condemned the United States' so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" being signed into law. The Act seriously and brutally damages China's overall interests and aroused great indignation from Chinese society, textile industry and consumers, according to a statement issued by the CNTAC along with its 12 subsidiary associations on Saturday. The statement said the U.S. unilateral move of blocking commodities produced in Xinjiang into international supply chain is a behavior of hegemony and it set an abominable and dangerous precedent in the field of international economic and trade rules. In the statement, the CNTAC reiterated there's no "forced labor" in the northwest Chinese autonomous region and Xinjiang cotton plays an important role in international supply chain which accounts for nearly 20 percent of global cotton output in 2021 with an yield of 5.129 million tonnes. "We call on the United States to face up to the solemn position of the Chinese government, industry and consumers, and correct wrong legislative and administrative measures as soon as possible," read the statement. China's Cotton Association also voiced opposition to the U.S. Act on Saturday. China's cotton and textile industry has been working on labor protection, the statement said, noting cotton farmers and textile industry employees improved their income and living quality with their hard work. The mechanization of large-scale cotton production in Xinjiang has reduced labor intensity while increased productivity, the association said. This year, 87.9 percent of cotton harvest in Xinjing are done by machines, and the cotton industry has been a major income source for local ethnic minority groups, offering about 600,000 jobs, according to the statement. source: CGTN ANGELA On a recent winter afternoon the wind on this Eastern Montana plain was rising slowly like a tide, the cool dense air rolling in to replace whats been warmed by daylight. At first, the change is barely noticeable, but then the 210-foot blades of the Clearwater Wind Project start to turn. Though the blades have been feathered to catch none of what this chilly air has to offer, they turn nonetheless. The setting is perfect for what will be Montanas largest windfarm, said Jess Melin. A Livingston guy, Melin is executive director of renewable development for NextEra Energy Resources. The company brands itself as the world's largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar. This 750-megawatt giant is NextEras first Montana project. Melin seems to preface all his observations about Eastern Montana with Im a little biased. How outrageous that Alden Global Capital should sue Lee Newspapers because they were thwarted in their efforts to buy Lee. But apparently that is what the entitled ultra-wealthy do when they dont get what they want. We in Billings and in the other four Montana communities who read Lee newspapers should, however, be very worried. Alden controls over 200 newspapers in the United States, including recent takeovers of the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, and Baltimore Sun. Once Alden owns the controlling interest in a local newspaper they fire reporters, sell off real estate, and increase subscription rates. Research done in communities where Alden has taken control of the local paper shows disturbing trends: less and lower quality news, local government dysfunction and corruption, less civic engagement, and lower rates of voting. But Alden cares nothing about local journalism, Billings, or any other community in our nation. Alden is a vulture capitalist, and their only goal is to make as much money as they can, no matter who or what is harmed or destroyed in the process. Citizens of Billings, you may not like everything about The Billings Gazette, but losing The Gazette would be a devastating blow to our city. Alden has made it clear they will use all means at their disposal, no matter how dishonest or underhanded, to acquire Lee. Should they succeed, they will become richer still, at our communitys great loss and expense. If Elsie Arntzen were your batty aunt, shed be kind of fun, inspiring incessant family gossip. As in, she did what? Noooo. Tell me more. The problem is, she is our state superintendent, Montanas chief public education officer, and she is doing a simply awful job of it. Her management has caused 90% of the Office of Public Instruction staff to abandon ship, fleeing her fanatical temper tantrums. Without that staff's experience, OPI is no longer functioning, and superintendents across Montana are in open rebellion, circulating seething letters denouncing her leadership. Probably she is incompetent, maybe even deliberately sabotaging public education. We might expect she would be alone in this, an outcast from the Republican Party, condemned for failing our children. But she isnt. Other Republican officeholders, including Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, all too clearly share her contempt for public education, professionalism, and science. Facebook,,,Facebook, Copyright Statement: Dwnews Blog is a platform that gathers the opinions of all parties and allows users to upload users content in real time. This website is not obliged to review or screen users content in advance, and assumes no legal responsibility for the authenticity, completeness and opinion of all users content. Our Terms of Service do not allow users to upload someone else's intellectual property material without authorisation, including copyright and trademark. If you believe someone is infringing your copyright, you can report it to us ( copyright@ dwnews.com ) and submit a copyright removal request by providing the relevant background information. "When we were getting things started, it just looked like an impossible task," said Bill Nowak, one of the original Friends of the Buffalo River activists in the late 1980s. "It's just incredible: you know, the amount of hope and the fact that it's now a real resource instead of just a dirty body of water that you wanted to stay away from that would probably be smelling on any given day and looked like it would hurt you if you tried to go swimming in it." Blue-collar workers in the town already receive 12 holidays, including their own birthday and a floating holiday to use whenever they wish, and two more half-day holidays. "I don't think it's fair to the town residents that we give them more, unless they want to open up contract negotiations to put everything on the table," said Emminger, who added the town made a push to mark the holiday when negotiating the last blue-collar collective bargaining agreement in 2018. Adams insisted his members do want to mark the King holiday, but the town never made it a priority in negotiations for previous contracts. The deadlock means Adams' members are coming into work on Jan. 17 but without their supervisors, nearly all of whom are members of the white-collar union now taking the day as a holiday. "Our workers could 100% do our jobs without the bosses there," Adams said. Emminger, however, disagreed. That's why the town has opted to have the hourly workers come in that day to a centralized location for training in topics such as workplace safety. The same thing will happen on Juneteenth in 2022. Then, in June 2020, NRG, without explanation, announced the sale agreement was off. Ullian previously has said little about his effort to buy the plant because he was subject to a nondisclosure agreement that has since expired. "I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm furious. Because I moved up to Buffalo. I left Miami. I spent $300,000 on due diligence," he said. Ullian points to his group's track record in redeveloping former power plants and urban brownfield sites and said he had met all of the company's criteria except one. NRG, for its part, hired a national consulting firm, Vita Nuova, to help guide the restarted Huntley sale process. NRG wanted to receive responses, or expressions of interest, from prospective buyers by May. Schrader would not say how many responses the company received. Emminger said he has heard little from NRG officials in recent months about the status of the sale process. Schrader told The Buffalo News the company's review of submissions will continue into 2022, but he couldn't be more specific. No words better exemplify his ministry than the three he contributed to a work of art at The Carter Center: love, freedom, and compassion. He lived his values in the long struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, in his leadership of the national campaign for truth and reconciliation, and in his role as a global citizen. His warmth and compassion offered us a spiritual message that is eternal. former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was never afraid to call out human rights violators no matter who they were and his legacy must be honored by continuing his work to ensure equality for all. Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed. The loss of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu is immeasurable. He was larger than life, and for so many in South Africa and around the world his life has been a blessing. His contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies." The Nelson Mandela Foundation. adamkaz / Getty Images If you want to stretch your retirement savings as far as possible, don't focus solely on the cheapest places to retire. Pay attention to taxes in the places you're considering, too, because they can take a big bite out of your retirement income. Narrow It Down: The Most (and Least) Tax-Friendly Cities for Retirees Also: The Most and Least Tax-Friendly Countries GOBankingRates looked at income, sales and property tax rates across America to find out whether Social Security is taxed, all to help you pinpoint the most tax-friendly states for retirees. ShriramPatki / Getty Images/iStockphoto 25. Michigan State sales and average local tax: 6% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.44% Income tax rate (65+): 4.25 Retirees can benefit from Michigan's low income tax rate and no taxes on Social Security benefits. However, residents will pay 6% in sales tax. Find Out: The Best Hidden Gem Destinations in Every State StacieStauffSmith Photos / Shutterstock.com 24. South Carolina State sales and average local tax: 7.46% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.56% Income tax rate (65+): 7% South Carolina has the fourth-lowest property tax rate, and Social Security benefits escape taxes. But the state's income tax rate is the second highest in our rankings. What Do You Do? Most Popular Things To Do With Your Tax Refund -- and How To Do It Smarter Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com 23. Massachusetts State sales and average local tax: 6.25% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.44% Income tax rate (65+): 4.25% Despite its nickname "Taxachusetts," Massachusetts isn't even close to being the worst state for retirees when it comes to taxes. In fact, it beats out 22 of them. For starters, MA doesn't tax Social Security benefits -- and its 6.25% sales tax rate is lower than in the majority of states. However, its property tax rates are among the highest. Watch Out: 35 Retirement Planning Mistakes That Waste Your Money Michael Fitzsimmons / Shutterstock.com 22. Pennsylvania State sales and average local tax: 6.34% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.51% Income tax rate (65+): 3.07% Story continues Pennsylvania's income and sales tax rates rank among the 12 lowest on our list. But its property tax rate is the 3rd highest. Decision Time: Key Signs You Should Sell Your Home When You Retire welcomia / Shutterstock.com 21. Idaho State sales and average local tax: 6.03% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.75% Income tax rate (65+): 6.93% Retirees benefit from a relatively low property tax and no tax on Social Security income in Idaho. But income tax is the 4th highest on the list. SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com 20. Texas State sales and average local tax: 8.19% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.69% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Seven of the cheapest cities to retire are in Texas, a separate GOBankingRates study found. You won't pay any income tax or tax on Social Security, however, Texas doesn't make it into our top 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees because of its high sales tax and property tax rates. digidreamgrafix / Shutterstock.com 19. North Carolina State sales and average local tax: 6.98% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.85% Income tax rate (65+): 5.25% Social Security benefits aren't subject to state taxes in North Carolina. But the state's income tax rates are higher than the rates in more than half of the states. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com 18. Alabama State sales and average local tax: 9.22% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.40% Income tax rate (65+): 5% Alabama has the second-lowest property tax in our rankings. But its sales tax rate is the third highest in the U.S. f11photo / Shutterstock.com 17. Maryland State sales and average local tax: 6% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.04% Income tax rate (65+): 4.75% Maryland ranks among the top 20 best states for retirement taxes because it doesn't tax Social Security benefits. Its income tax rate is relatively low, and its sales tax is lower than more than half the states on this list. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com 16. Virginia State sales and average local tax: 5.73% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.86% Income tax rate (65+): 5.75% Virginia retirees benefit from no taxes on Social Security and the 10th-lowest sales tax. But the income tax rate is higher than more than half the states on this list. Shutterstock.com 15. New Hampshire State sales and average local tax: o% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 2.03% Income tax rate (65+): 5% New Hampshire is one of the best places to live for retirees to escape taxes. It has no sales tax, no state income tax and no tax on Social Security. The only reason New Hampshire isn't the No. 1 tax-friendly state for retirees is because its property tax rate is the third highest in the U.S. and the highest on this list. SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com 14. Mississippi State sales and average local tax: 7.07% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.65% Income tax rate (65+): 5% Mississippi is one of the states that require the least amount of retirement income to live comfortably, a GOBankingRates study found. Retirees also benefit from low taxes on retirement income because Social Security income isn't taxed in Mississippi. Shutterstock.com 13. Kentucky State sales and average local tax: 6% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.82% Income tax rate (65+): 5% Although the income tax rate is higher in Kentucky than many of the states on the list, retirees don't have to worry about a state tax on Social Security. Plus, Kentucky's largest city -- Louisville -- has one of the best neighborhoods for retirement in America thanks to a low cost of living, plenty of amenities and a relatively high percentage of adults 65 and older, a GOBankingRates study found. Related: The Most and Least Tax-Friendly Countries Davel5957 / iStock.com 12. Arizona State sales and average local tax: 8.40% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.67% Income tax rate (65+): 3.34% There's a reason Arizona is a haven for retirees. They can escape the cold weather and a big tax bill by moving here. Its income tax rate is among the lowest in the U.S., and Social Security benefits aren't taxed. In fact, one of Arizona's biggest cities -- Tucson -- is one of the best places to live on only a Social Security check, another GOBankingRates study found. Arizona vs. Florida: Which Retirement Haven Is Right for You? Ron_Thomas / Getty Images 11. Indiana State sales and average local tax: 7% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.87% Income tax rate (65+): 3.23% Indiana's income tax rate ranks among the 20 lowest in the U.S. Plus, there's no state tax on Social Security. But Indiana's sales tax is higher than in more than half of these states. Mike Liu / Shutterstock.com 10. Hawaii State sales and average local tax: 4.44% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.30% Income tax rate (65+): 8.25% The cost of living is high in Hawaii, but retirees can hang on to more of their income to cover expenses because the tax bite is small in the state. Social Security benefits escape state taxes, and Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in our rankings. Plus, its capital and largest city -- Honolulu -- is one of the coolest places to retire in the world. GarysFRP / iStock.com 9. Oregon State sales and average local tax: 0% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.98% Income tax rate (65+): 9% Oregon has the highest income tax rate in the U.S. However, it's still one of the more tax-friendly states for retirees because it doesn't tax Social Security income and has no sales tax. Shutterstock.com 8. Washington State sales and average local tax: 9.23% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.92% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Washington is one of the states with the lowest taxes for retirees because it has no state income tax or a tax on Social Security. Plus, the property tax rate is lower than in half of the states. However, it's state sales tax is the third highest on the list. On top of that, Washington's capital -- Olympia -- is one of the most affordable cities for retirees who want an active lifestyle, a GOBankingRates study found. SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com 7. Tennessee State sales and average local tax: 9.55% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.73% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Tennessee doesn't tax Social Security benefits. But Tennessee retirees need to watch out for the state's sale tax, which is the second highest in the U.S. and the highest on our list. Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com 6. South Dakota State sales and average local tax: 6.40% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.22% Income tax rate (65+): 0% South Dakota is another one of those states with no income tax. And Social Security benefits escape taxes in the state. But its property tax rate is higher than in a majority of states. Read: Retirees Confess What They Wish They'd Done With Their Money Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com 5. Florida State sales and average local tax: 7.08% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.94% Income tax rate (65+): 0% No taxes on income or Social Security benefits make Florida one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees. Its property and sales tax rates rank in the middle of states. f11photo / Shutterstock.com 4. Nevada State sales and average local tax: 8.23% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.66% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Nevada is one of the states that do not tax Social Security. Plus, it doesn't have a state income tax. However, the sales tax in Nevada is higher than in most states. DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com 3. Delaware State sales and average local tax: 0% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.58% Income tax rate (65+): 5.55% Delaware is one of the best states to retire taxwise because there is no state tax on Social Security or sales tax. Plus, its property tax rate is among the lowest in our rankings. WitGorski / Getty Images 2. Wyoming State sales and average local tax: 5.33% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 0.55% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Wyoming is the second-best state to retire to avoid a big tax bite. There's no state income tax or tax on Social Security benefits. Plus, Wyoming's sales and property tax rates are among the lowest in the U.S. It's also one of the best states to retire rich thanks to a relatively low cost of living and competitive rates on interest-bearing savings accounts. emperorcosar / Shutterstock.com 1. Alaska State sales and average local tax: 1.76% State tax on Social Security: None Effective property tax: 1.02% Income tax rate (65+): 0% Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees because it has no state income tax or tax on Social Security. And its sales tax rate is the fourth lowest on our list. But keep this in mind: The cost of living in Alaska is higher than in most states. More From GOBankingRates Cameron Huddleston contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: To determine the top 25 tax-friendly state for retirees, GOBankingRates examined data from the Tax Foundation on each state's (1) 2021 combined state and average local sales tax rate, (2) state tax on Social Security benefits, (3) effective state property tax rate, and 4) state marginal income tax rate that would apply to the 2019 national average income before taxes of consumers 65 and older, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The income tax rate was determined assuming the standard deduction in each state taken by a single filer. States were scored on each factor and then ranked against each other with no. 1 being the most tax-friendly state for retirees. State tax on Social Security benefits was weighted twice as much as other factors in the final scoring. All data was gathered on and up to date as of Feb. 17, 2021. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Surprising Data Reveals The Top 25 Tax-Friendly States To Retire I regularly deal with women whove been sexually abused in other countries. Many of them do not report the assaults to law enforcement, because in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the police are unlikely to take rape and harassment seriously. These are generally patriarchal societies, where women are still considered property. There might be laws on the books, but theyre rarely applied. But if you live in the United States, where we have a female vice president, a female speaker of the House, thousands of female judges at the state and federal level, its a little harder to understand why a woman who says shes been attacked would wait years or even decades before making her accusations. I call it CBFT, short for Christine Blasey Ford Time. Dr. Ford was the woman who famously accused Brett Kavanaugh of assaulting her way back in the 1980s at a high school party. She didnt just wait years. She waited almost four decades to tell what she believed to be her truth, and a troubling number of people (not just women) found no problem with the fact that shed waited half a lifetime to come clean. This week, two women who had either worked with or traveled in the same circles as actor Chris Noth, the famous Mike Logan of Law and Order and the even more famous Mr. Big of Sex and the City, accused him of assaulting them on two different occasions. Like many of the women who accused Bill Cosby of similar acts, the women did not know each other and their accusations were lodged months apart. To be honest, they seem pretty credible. But they occurred in, respectively, 2004 and 2015. The legal statute of limitations is long past. They know that, and we know that, and there is very little likelihood of any criminal charges being brought against Noth. There is no legal or ethical twist as there was in the Cosby situation. And unlike Blasey Ford and Anita Hill before her, these women are not trying to keep a man from being confirmed for a seat on the Supreme Court or some other high-profile job. Nonetheless, what they are doing is equally dangerous, even though it doesnt have the capacity to strip a man of his employment or worse, have him locked up as an octogenarian based on hearsay evidence and a complete manipulation of privacy protections and civil depositions. They are launching fire bombs against a person who is being asked when he stopped beating his wife. He will, like former Secretary of Labor Ray Donovan, be forced to search for that office where he can get his reputation back. He is losing, as Shakespeare wrote in the person of Cassio the immortal part of myself, and all the rest is bestial. In fact, by calling Chris Noth a sexual beast, his accusers have had him tried, convicted and sentenced in that quicksilver span of time known as a trending topic on social media. I dont care what happens to Noth. In fact, up until this weeks revelations, the only time I thought of him was when I watched the endlessly looping reruns of Law and Order, seasons 1-5 (the only ones worth watching, in my opinion.) Im 60, hes older, and thats about it. But even forgettable cads have a right not to have their reputations trashed by women who emerge from the shadows like avenging handmaids, wanting to tell their stories of woe to strangers. Its not enough that they might have spoken to friends about their alleged ordeals the morning after. And they certainly know they cant get any legal redress at this late stage. They dont seem to want celebrity, because many of them hide their identities. The only thing I can think is that they see this shining bandwagon in the distance, chugging along the social justice highway, and they want to jump on. They want to make sure men with bad attitudes are publicly shamed because for so very long, they werent. They want to shift the societal axis toward what they believe to be payback for women, but which I am certain they would call justice. But its not justice, because all they will be getting is some after-the-fact affirmation that they were wronged. Men who rape and sexually assault women need to be held accountable. The way to do that is to actually hold them accountable when they commit the acts, not years later when they wont be prosecuted. We already have Eastern Standard and Daylight Savings Time. We need to get rid of Christine Blasey Ford Time. Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19, as the nation's travel woes extended beyond Christmas, with no clear indication when normal schedules would resume. More than 700 flights entering, leaving or flying within the U.S. were called off, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday. Delta, United and JetBlue have blamed the omicron variant of the coronavirus for staffing shortages that forced cancellations. "This was unexpected," United spokesperson Maddie King said of omicron's impact on staffing. Globally, airlines scrapped about 2,200 flights as of Sunday morning, down from more than 2,800 from the day before, FlightAware's data showed. The site does not say why flights are canceled. JetBlue scrapped 10% of its flights Sunday. Delta canceled 5% and United canceled 4%, according to FlightAware. The three airlines canceled more than 10% of their scheduled flights on Saturday. American Airlines spokesperson Derek Walls said the Christmas cancellations stemmed from virus-related sick calls. Theres work to be done to shift things to be more functional, particularly at the highest levels, with the city manager. That whole relationship just needs to be stabilized, and frankly, made more professional in terms of how we do it, less drama around the edges, he said. Wade also expressed a desire for order, and said that starts with collaboration among councilors. I think that if the public applicants [to city positions] see that we have a strong, collaborative City Council that will work together, will communicate together, it will go a long way, Wade said. Pinkston said he believes the city is in a position to move on to another chapter. I think its important that we not let narratives sort of take root and produce bitter fruit, so to speak. Yeah, theres been dysfunction. There is some dysfunction but we still have some solid people in the crucial positions. And I think the institution of City Hall itself is rocking along, Pinkston said. In a departing address at the last City Council meeting of the year, Walker shared her hope that the new guard would continue taking strides toward equity. Charlottesville is a local model of the work thats going to have to be done [in the country]. Anyone that thinks that were going to be able to hold hands in a circle around a campfire and kumbaya, they are not being realistic about what its going to take to actually ensure an equitable society exists, Walker said. I hope that you all are about the business of continuing that work. I hope that when there are challenges that you confront them and that you dont just place blame on what has occurred the past four years it is all of our duties you have to right the wrongs. 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. DALLAS (AP) The wife of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested Christmas Eve on a domestic violence charge that the right-wing provocateur said stems from a "medication imbalance. Sheriff's deputies took Erika Wulff Jones into custody and booked her into an Austin jail around 8:45 p.m. Friday. Jail records show the 43-year-old faces misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and resisting arrest, search or transport. She had not received a bond Saturday afternoon. Alex Jones, an Austin resident and founder of the right-wing media group Infowars, declined Saturday to say whether he'd been injured or elaborate on what happened beyond that he believes it was related to his wife's recent change of medication. Its a private family matter that happened on Christmas Eve," Jones told The Associated Press in a brief interview. "I love my wife and care about her and it appears to be some kind of medication imbalance. The Travis County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request Christmas Day for the report on Wulff Jones arrest and a spokeswoman said she could not provide more information. An attorney for Wulff Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the territory, promoting settlement and agriculture there as well as creating a thriving local tourism industry. The U.S. was the first country to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied. Bennett said the decade-long war in Syria made the idea of Israeli control of the territory more acceptable to its international allies, adding that the alternative would be much worse. Israel has long argued that the strategically important area has, for all practical purposes, been fully integrated into Israel since it was captured from Syria - and that control of the strategic plateau is needed as protection from Iran and its allies in Syria. Some 50,000 people live in the Golan Heights roughly half Jewish Israelis and half in Druze Arab villages that formerly were part of Syria. Some of the Druze population opposes Israeli control. The Israeli development plan aims to double the Jewish population in the coming years. Cancellations and delays are possible, so it will be important to check your flight status today if flying through Terminal 5, LAX tweeted. In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, crews were repairing a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rain late Thursday. The closure of the major route into the Big Bear ski resort area could last for weeks, officials said. The continuing storms were welcomed in parched California, where the Sierra snowpack had been at dangerously low levels after weeks for dry weather. But the state Department of Water Resources reported on Christmas Eve that the snowpack was between 114% and 137% of normal across the range with more snow expected. Up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) of snow was predicted at the highest elevations of the Sierra. Before Sunday, 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow already had fallen at Homewood on Lake Tahoes west shore. About a foot (30 centimeters) was reported at Northstar near Truckee, California, and 10 inches (25 centimeters) at the Mount Rose ski resort on the southwest edge of Reno. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LOS ANGELES (AP) T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. He was 80. The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday. He-man was the muscled frontman for toy manufacturer Mattels Masters of the Universe franchise, which would later spawn an animated series that became a staple for children. Kids squeezed in homework between scenes featuring the strapping cartoon hero as he battled sorcerers and other villains. He-Man was the epitome of hulking superhero warrior but also became an icon within the LGBTQ community, who saw parallels in the secret life of Prince Adam, He-Mans alter ego. As in the case of many creative endeavors, many hands shaped the franchise. Taylor has said the prototypes date back to his own childhood as he fantasized about being the next hero. He said he based the concept of He-Man on his vision of Cro-Magnon men, as well as Vikings. Earliest fashion In "The Flintstones," Fred and Betty are clothed in furs but archaeological evidence of what our Stone Age ancestors actually wore and how they made clothes is thin. Fur, leather and other organic materials generally aren't preserved, especially beyond 100,000 years ago. However, researchers say 62 bone tools used to process and smooth animal skins found in a cave in Morocco may be some of the earliest proxy evidence for clothing in the archaeological record. The tools are between 90,000 and 120,000 years old and were used to work leather specifically to remove connective tissue. Similar bone tools are still used by some leather workers today. Neanderthal brains Brain matter doesn't preserve well in the fossil record, making it impossible to know how modern human brains differ from our long-extinct ancestors, the Neanderthals. From fossilized skulls we know that their brains were big slightly bigger than ours, in fact but they tell us little about their neurology and development. Events Sunday First Sunday after Christmas worship, 9 a.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive, Corvallis, or www.svlccorvallis.org or facebook.com/shepherdcorvallis. The service will include Gods Word and Holy Communion. Pastor Eric Bohlmanns sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas will be Worship: Purification of Jesus. The congregation continues to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to protect worshipers health, and asks individuals to wear masks. First Sunday after Christmas Day worship, 9:30 a.m., https://www.facebook.com/CorvallisFUMC/live/. Offered by First United Methodist Church in Corvallis. The Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber will lead the service, asking the question After we celebrate the wonders of Christmas, what is your plan to work it out? Where we may be tempted to see the birth of Jesus as the conclusion of a holiday season, instead, it is a call to share a gospel that can actively change the world. Baha'i devotions and discussion: Kwanzaa Spirit, 10:30 a.m. Zoom. All are welcome to join in reading and meditating on the seven principles of Kwanzaa through the lens of many religious traditions. Baha'is regard all religions as having one animating source. For Zoom instructions, visit https://linnbenton.local.bahai.us/. The Zoom room opens at 10:15 a.m. Saturday Guided 2022 First Day Hikes, several state parks. The normal $5 day-use parking fee will be waived for the day at the 25 parks that normally require a parking permit. Jan. 1 also marks the beginning of the yearlong Oregon State Parks centennial commemoration. A list of guided hikes, including times and meeting locations, is available at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do.events. Visitors should check the calendar in the days leading up to Saturday for additional guided hikes. Some parks not hosting guided hikes may post information that includes recommended hikes and ranger favorites. Parsons added that at this time of year, whales can be seen during winter migration, so bring binoculars to coastal parks to help scan for whale spouts. Ongoing Pastega Christmas Display, 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Friday, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis; enter off Reservoir Avenue and exit on 53rd. The drive-through event has returned after being canceled last year due to COVID-19. Admission: donation of packaged food items for local food items. Organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with taking down the display after Dec. 31; information is available at https://www.pastegachristmasdisplay.com (click on the "Volunteer" button). Fourth Annual Ornament Hunt and Sweepstakes, through Saturday, non-wilderness trails, Willamette National Forest and Umpqua National Forest. The Willamette Valley Visitors Association is sponsoring the hunt, which encourages locals and travelers to connect with public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities. Two hundred wooden ornaments featuring the Willamette Valley will be hidden along non-wilderness trails not affected by wildfires. Each ornament includes a Willamette Valley leather patch and instructions on how to register to win a prize of an adventure and overnight stay in the Willamette Valley. The visitors association website, https://willamettevalley.org/ornament, will serve as the hub for contest winners to claim their prizes throughout the contest. You can also find trail information and hints throughout December on this page. Once the contest closes, all remaining ornaments will be picked up by U.S. Forest Service professionals. The Willamette National Forest provides recreational opportunities, fishing, hunting, foraging, firewood, minerals, wood products and Christmas trees. Christmas tree permits are available at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits. Albany Visitors Association's 34th Annual Nighttime Magic Holiday Light Contest. Pick up a list of the winners at the AVA, 110 Third Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Friday. The addresses are also posted on the Albany Explorer App. Participants' lights are on from 5 to 10 p.m. through Saturday, or beyond. Holiday light string collection; drop off lights at the Republic Services office, 1214 SE Montgomery St., Albany. Through Jan. 3. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mid-Willamette Valley residents woke up to a winter wonderland the day after Christmas as a storm dumped three inches or more of snow on the area. In neighborhoods near Timber Ridge School in Albany, children and the young at heart engaged in snowball fights, sledded down driveways (with varying degrees of success) and the population surged thanks to a plethora of newly created snowmen. Juliano Castillo, a junior at South Albany High School, said he absolutely had to build a snowman Sunday morning. This is my first time being in the snow, said Castillo, who moved from California about two years ago. Its interesting for sure, he added. Emmett Wolfe, 10, his little brother Judah Wolfe, 5, and his father Nathan Wolfe made snowmen in their front yard. I cant believe we got snow here, exclaimed Emmett, as he munched on a piece of snow and prepared to head inside to warm up. Theres so much! The familys biggest snowman looked regal with deer antlers as headgear, courtesy of Emmetts dad. Engaged couple Mitchell Brouhard and Karla Garrett built a classic looking snowman together, complete with a carrot nose, sticks for arms, ornaments plucked from the tree for eyes and a Santa cap. They were hoping to see snow before they went to bed on Christmas. When we woke up, its crazy how much there was, Garrett said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. Its like a white Christmas one day late, she said. Of course, the snow meant hard work for some residents, who shoveled sidewalks for safety in front of their houses, such as Joe Rose. This is kid stuff. Im from New York. In New York if we didnt clear the sidewalk, youd get in a lot of trouble. Right now, its just important to get out and do some exercise, Rose said. A short time later, fluffy white flakes were floating down and swirling in the wind. And more snow could be on the way, according to the National Weather Service. The agency has issued a winter storm warning for areas including Alsea, Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home through 4 a.m. Monday. But Monday nights forecast for Corvallis and Albany also includes a likelihood of snow, though less than a half-inch is expected. A slight chance of snow is predicted for Tuesday night, and Wednesday night brings a 20 percent chance of snow. Overnight lows are predicted to remain in the mid-20s through Tuesday night for Corvallis, Albany and surrounding communities, then dip to a frosty 19 degrees overnight on Wednesday. Oregon State University announced Sunday night that it would close its Corvallis campus on Monday due to the prediction of sub-freezing temperatures and continued snowfall. A chance of snow remains in the forecast for Alsea and other areas in the central Coast Range and Sweet Home and spots in the Cascades foothills through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @KyleOdegard. Love 0 Funny 1 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. Year_in_review featured Year in Review: Denton Countys top 5 stories of 2021 Al Key/DRC file photo Gray clouds loom above the new Denton County Administrative Courthouse off Loop 288 as a heavy precipitation storm complex moves in Oct. 13. The four-story, 96,000-square-foot building now houses more than 10 county offices and courts. From new headquarters to new district lines to new transportation, change was the standard for Denton County in 2021 all while wrangling year two of the coronavirus pandemic. In no particular order, here are this years top five county storylines as covered by the Denton Record-Chronicle. Jeff Woo/DRC file photo Denton County staff, volunteers and medical personnel gather to celebrate DCPHs 100th vaccine clinic on Oct. 20 at the Denton County Morse Street Facility. Coronavirus pandemic 2021 began with Denton County facing the highest number of coronavirus cases it had to date, and the county public health departments role became magnified with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. As criticism mounted over the states handling of vaccine shots, frustrated boiled over to Denton County Public Healths own phone registration system. After several weeks of being left in the dark on vaccine allocations, DCPH was named a vaccine hub by state officials. Vaccine doses were shipped in by the thousands, culminating in the countys mass clinics at Texas Motor Speedway. At the programs peak, over 15,000 Texans could get a drive-thru dose in a single day. Denton County faced its own struggles as well, much of which spilled over from year one of the pandemic. Departments continued to adapt on the fly especially those responsible for doling out millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. The purchasing department continued to bypass standard procedures under the countys disaster declaration, which even applied to the rental contract with Texas Motor Speedway. How has Denton County used its COVID-19 disaster declaration? Denton Countys COVID-19 disaster declaration has been extended through Jan. 4, nearly two years after it was instituted in March of last year. From its operations at Texas Motor Speedway to the management of its vaccine portal data vulnerability, heres how officials have utilized the declaration throughout the pandemic. One coronavirus death hit especially close to home for county officials. After spending over 15 years at Denton County, Fire Marshal Roland Asebedo died of COVID-19 complications in September. Hundreds of family, friends and co-workers said goodbye at his funeral in Lewisville. Denton County says goodbye to Fire Marshal Roland Asebedo Hundreds of family members, friends and co-workers gathered at First Baptist Church in Lewisville Monday afternoon for the funeral service of Denton County Fire Marshal Roland Asebedo, who died last week of complications from COVID-19. New courthouse The Denton County Administrative Courthouse opened for business in September after several years of construction. The four-story, 96,000-square-foot building is now home to over 10 county offices and courts, which moved over from the Courthouse on the Square and the Joseph A. Carroll Building. A look inside Denton Countys new headquarters After nearly three years and about $45 million, the Denton County Administrative Courthouse is now open for business. Heres a look inside the four-story, 96,000-square-foot building and the factors that sent it over its original timeline and cost projections. County Judge Andy Eads said the new courthouses design pays homage to the iconic original downtown in details from material used on exterior walls to the floor plan of the new Commissioners Courtroom. The project had plenty of hiccups, ending up about $2 million over budget and about a year past its initial opening timeline. Eads chalked up the delays to the pandemic, Februarys winter storm and shortages of material and labor. But he also said things didnt always go smoothly with contractor Sundt Construction. In one example, Eads said, an installation of bricks had to be redone because county officials determined it wasnt done according to the design. He said he was pleased with the end result, but left the county-contractor relationship somewhat ambiguous. We do have legal advice that we seek as were wrapping this up, to make sure the countys protected and our interests are protected, Eads said. We appreciate the work Sundt has done and were glad they submitted a bid. We want to be a good place to do business but were also balancing that with the fact these are tax dollars. Thats why we do maintain our standards. Redistricting Denton Countys redistricting process set off local fireworks in November. Officials released guidelines ensuring the new maps would be drawn with as minimal change as possible, but some residents had objections. It was Oct. 26 that officials released their redistricting guidelines and stated theyd be aiming for minor modifications. Residents got less than two weeks to give their input before commissioners approved the precinct lines Nov. 9. Denton County finalizes commissioner precinct lines through continued criticism Denton County officials have unanimously approved a redrawn commissioner precinct map, making no changes to last weeks second draft despite continued opposition to the proposal. For the most part, it was Precinct 2 that got put under the spotlight. The precinct is by far the most politically competitive of the four, won by current Commissioner Ron Marchant by fewer than 400 votes in 2018. Residents, including two city mayors, raised concerns over the proposed changes to Precinct 2. But the end result was significant changes to both its geographic area and its population demographics. Eads said gerrymandering accusations are made during any redistricting process, but didnt rule out politics as a factor. I think politics comes into play any time youre looking at redistricting, Eads said. Its a variable you can consider, and the Supreme Court has allowed you to look at partisanship in drawing lines. I would say the overriding factor that we used for the lines was population growth and the future population growth. GoZone and bus routes In September, the Denton County Transportation Authority rolled out GoZone, an on-demand rideshare service designed to replace Denton and Lewisvilles Connect bus routes. I rode GoZone, Uber and Lyft to see how DCTAs new program stacks up to the competition I spent a few hours Monday afternoon riding GoZone, Uber and Lyft through some of Dentons busiest streets. The experience gave me some insight into how the Denton County Transportation Authoritys latest program compares to its fierce rideshare competition, including some key benefits but some significant downsides as well. In the months leading up to the GoZone launch, and in the months since, the program has been the subject of debate. Many residents including some Denton City Council members defended the bus routes despite DCTAs insistence that they simply dont get ridden enough to justify their cost. As that debate raged on, DCTA dealt with some early struggles in the program. Via Transportation, the contractor responsible for GoZones day-to-day operations, had to increase the number of active vans to account for increasing wait times. In early December, DCTAs board settled on a compromise following a proposed plan by the agencys CEO and staff. Lewisvilles two routes were cut, but all except one of Dentons routes will stick around as a new hybrid model is worked on. That model will see bus routes heavily modified in an attempt to integrate them into the GoZone app and increase their ridership and efficiency. DCTA saves most Denton bus routes, cuts Lewisville routes The Denton County Transportation Authority has reached a consensus on fixed bus routes: With the exception of one Denton route and both of Lewisvilles routes, the agencys Connect service has been continued through September 2022. Optimizing fixed route and tying the two together is a really exciting opportunity moving into the new year, DCTA CEO Raymond Suarez said. The demand should shape what kind of service were providing. Courtesy image Shown is a mockup of how the Confederate soldier monument might look once its moved to the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum. Confederate monument Denton Countys Confederate soldier monument was taken down in 2020, but county officials announced in April their plan to make an exhibit out of the monument in the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum. Denton Confederate monument moving to Square museum The Texas Historical Commission has unanimously approved plans to relocate the Confederate soldier monument to the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum, the county announced Thursday. The exhibit will include the soldier and two engraved tablets from the original monument. It will be surrounded by a 3D version of its previous form on the lawn, with the exhibit also including a contextual narrative on its history and the history of slavery. Eads said the plan was a way to present the monument in terms of its history, saying its not up to the county to tell people how to interpret it. Activist Willie Hudspeth, on the other hand, disagreed with the plan after his years of advocating for its removal in the first place. One year later, Denton County's Confederate monument draws closer to next chapter in controversial legacy On June 25, 2020, in the quiet of night, an Arlington-based art preservation company arrived at the south side of the Denton County Courthouse on the Square. About 10 hours later, its crews would leave, taking with them decades of history, protests and a legacy of controversy all methodically divided into individual chunks. In the spring, county officials stated the exhibit would be installed by about November, but that timeline has been pushed back. Officials have not given a reason for the delays, with the latest update from Eads being that the exhibit will likely be installed sometime in January or February. 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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 Japanese retailer Aeon plans to open an additional 100 of its MaxValu supermarkets in Vietnam by 2025 in the context of wet markets suffering difficulties following Covid outbreaks. A Nikkei Asia report said that Aeon, which has four MaxValu stores in Hanoi at present, would add bigger stores with 500 sq.m or more as part of its overall expansion strategy. "Vietnam is the most important market for our overseas strategy," it quoted Soichi Okazaki, the executive in charge of the group's Southeast Asian business, as saying. Supermarkets are one part of the Tokyo-listed company's vision for growth. It plans to increase its shopping centers in Vietnam to 16 locations by 2025 from the current six. Aeon, which has invested $1.18 billion in Vietnam, has also said it plans to list shares on the Vietnamese stock market, and facilitate export of Vietnamese seafood, garments and other products to Japan. Nguyen Thi Huong can no longer be a grandmother to her grandchildren. She has to mother them now, not in the city they are used to, but in her village. She lulls them to sleep and calms them down whenever they get startled or become fearful. Covid-19 has devastated the family of the two children again and again. After their father passed away in a hospital at the end of July, their mother died six hours later at another hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and their paternal grandfather died in a quarantine facility five days later. Tran Khanh Nhu and Tran Dang Huy, 13 and 6, are no longer in a familiar world. As their sole living relatives, Huong and her husband have had to move their grandchildren from HCMC's District 8 to their village in Dong Nai Province. Although the couple had retired from their fishing vocation a few years ago, her husband now gets up early to prepare tools and fish on the Dong Nai River, trying to earn several hundred thousand dong (VND100,000 = $4.36) a day to support his family with the orphaned grandchildren. Nhu and Huy are among many children forced to move out of their familiar environments and move to new ones after Covid-19 took their parents lives. Tran Dang Huy studies at his grandmother's house in Dong Nai Province, December 2021. Photo acquired by VnExpress The Institute of Labor Science and Social Affair under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said at the Vietnam Economic Forum 2021 that as of Dec. 5, the pandemic has left almost 2,500 children orphaned. Of them, approximately 100 children have lost both parents to Covid. Accompanying the traumatic loss of parents is the loss of their home and having to live with relatives in strange locations. "The fourth wave of Covid-19 (starting in April) has upended the lives of many children, leaving many with no familiar place to lean back on," said Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, program director of the educational charity Teach For Vietnam. Tran Thi Tuyet Ngan, 11, has learnt to live alone in a dilapidated house in southern Soc Trang Province after her mother died of Covid-19. Her father was fatally electrocuted six years ago. Even before her mother died, Ngan's family had been the poorest in the community. Her older brother, Trinh Van Nhan, had to drop out of school after their father died and go to HCMC to sell fruits at the Thu Duc wholesale market. A year later, her mother too Ngan to the city and worked as a porter. The three family members lived in a 15 square meter room near their workplace. Ngan's mother contracted Covid in August this year and died after seven days of treatment at a field hospital. The brother and sister returned to their hometown after collecting their mother's ashes. After constructing a cemetery for their mother, Ngan's brother received a phone call from the shop's owner, urging him to return to work. Since he couldn't physically take care of his sister because he had to work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Nhan had to ask his uncle to take care of Ngan while he was away. Tran Thi Tuyet Ngan studies in a centralized quarantine facility before returning to her hometown in Soc Trang Province, September 2021. Photo courtesy of Ngan On the day he returned to HCMC, the 21-year-old left home in the middle of the night while his sister slept because she wouldn't let him go. He left her a note. The note said: "Stay focused on your studies. I'm going to work to earn more money, and I will be back with you next month on father's death anniversary." La Linh Nga, director of the Psycho-Pedagogy Research And Application Center (PPRAC), said children who lose a loved one unexpectedly can suffer long-term negative psychological impacts and react unpredictably. Grandma Huong regularly rubs Huy on the back when he wakes up after weeping in the middle of the night. "Go to sleep, your parents will come back tomorrow," she says. She hasn't dared to reveal the truth to her 6-year-old grandson. She drove to him to HCMC about a month ago after the situation had eased to pack their belongings and returned the leased room. When the boy arrived at his house and he saw his parents' belongings, he held them and cried. As his grandmother tried to pack the parent's clothes, the boy asked: "If you take Dads and Moms clothes, what will they wear when they get back?" Thirteen-year-old Nhu, on the other hand, hides her feelings from her grandparents. Every night, she sits alone in her room, holding photographs of her parents and sobbing in the pillow before falling asleep. Ngan has been taking online classes at her parent's house after her brother departed. The girl only goes to her uncle's house when it is time to eat and sleep. Nhan calls his younger sister anytime he has spare time. She cries and blames him for not taking her to Saigon. "When I have everything settled, I'll bring you here," Nhan promise. He has just applied to work overtime at a company in the hopes of increasing his income. "I have to do this for my sister," he said. Huyen with Teach for Vietnam said losing a loved one and then abruptly moving to a new location will leave a child in shock. She said guardians should try and limit the changes in everyday routines can aid children in some ways. The guardians should understand from the children what their familys everyday routines were and keep some of the activities and habits that dont have to be changed. Family gatherings during holidays and festive occasions like Tet (Lunar New Year) can cause the bereaved children to feel more lonely than usual and feel more the pain of not having their parents. Therefore, the guardians and other loved ones should stay close to the children for at least the first two years and maintain regular routines, Huyen said. She also said that having a honest, frank conversation about a parent's death can benefit children more than avoiding the truth or lying to them. The adults around them can remind them of their parents' positive qualities and urge them to pray together that good things always happen to their parents in the afterlife, she added. Now, whenever her younger brother cries, Nhu no longer turns her face away. Instead, she rushes to console him. She points to the sky and tells Huy that their parents are like stars looking over the them. "Our parents will be pleased if their children are doing well in school and helping their grandparents with housekeeping," she says. "My eyes sting when I listen to her," Huong stated. But she said she also recognized that despite all the difficulties and challenges, as long as the children are healthy and the family has each other, they will be able to weather the storm. An employee counts Vietnamese dong bank-notes near U.S. dollar bank-notes at a bank in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters Economic recovery and stimulus checks in many countries have allowed overseas Vietnamese to send remittances home and support their families amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first week of every month Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, who works at a nail salon in Orange County, California state, in the U.S. heads to a bank near her home to send money to her parents in Ho Chi Minh Citys Binh Tan District. Even when she was jobless for months until May the 32-year-old never stopped sending $500 back home. "If I do not help them, who will?" she asks. Since her parents do not have a pension, "The money I send is their lifeline, especially when I have not been home to see them for years due to the pandemic". Tuyen is among millions of people living abroad who kept sending money home amid the two-year-long pandemic, which prevented them from coming home. The World Bank forcast that Vietnamese will remit an estimated $18.06 billion this year, a new high and the eighth highest of any country globally. Dao Minh Tuan, deputy director of Vietcombank, says apart from the U.S. and Canada, two major remittance sources, large sums also came from Asian economies like South Korea, Japan and Taiwan this year. The main reason leading to the rise in remittances this year is peoples desire to support their loved ones during a time of great need after many people in Vietnam faced financial hardship caused by an unprecedented loss of jobs due to the pandemic. Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang, who is a nurse also in California, says: "My sister in Saigon closed her karaoke parlor in May and has earned nothing since then, and survives on the money I send from the U.S." Before the pandemic her sister was earning around VND20 million a month, but now her four-member family depends on her husbands income as a delivery worker and the money from Trang. Trang says: "She needs money for their food, her sons education and her diabetes medication." The fourth wave of Covid that began in April had a huge impact on the economy and pushed the jobless rate up sharply. Besides, data from the General Statistics Office shows the average monthly income in the third quarter fell by VND877,000 from the previous quarter to VND5.2 million. Tuoi Tre newspaper quotes Vu Thanh Trung, deputy general director of remittance firm Dong A, as saying remittances have increased by 10 percent this year, and mainly go toward families subsistence. "Since many people are facing difficulties due to Covid, expatriates and overseas workers have increased remittances to support their relatives in Vietnam". International border closures and travel restrictions mean many people living abroad have been unable to visit Vietnam for long, and are happy to send the airfare they save to their families. Nguyen Ngoc Thien Huong, a restaurant owner living in Germany, says the local Vietnamese church she goes to has been calling for donations to send back home. The strong growth in remittances has also been aided by economic recovery in Europe and the U.S. and relief money they have been paying their citizens, according to a World Bank report. According to CNN, the European economy rebounded more strongly than expected after lockdown restrictions were eased earlier this year. In the U.S., hiring picked up in October after slowing during the Delta wave, and consumer spending leaped to record highs at the same time. Meanwhile, payments the government sends to the taxpayers to help cope with the financial impact during an economic downturn in 2020 and earlier this year also allowed more Vietnamese the U.S. to send more money home. "The main drivers for the steady flow (of remittance) included fiscal stimulus that resulted in better-than-expected economic conditions in host countries," said the World Bank. Ngoc Thao in California used to send $500 a month to her family, which used to run a seafood restaurant in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province. But then Covid devastated the tourism industry and the restaurant had to be closed. So when Thao received two checks for $1,200 last year and $1,400 this year, she sent back nearly half of each for her family to meet urgent needs. She says: "My family comes first. I can skip a meal if needed to send more money home." She has been sending more money since resuming work at a hair salon in May. While most people send money home to support their families, some do it for investment, especially with real estate being an attractive investment in the last few years. Huynh Thanh An, a nurse in Washington State, the U.S., sent $150,000 this year to his parents in HCMs Binh Tan District to buy an apartment in District 10. "I see the property market in Vietnam is promising, but I cannot be there and so my parents bought the apartment on my behalf," he says. Analysts expect remittances for investment in property to remain high since the market is expected to revive strongly after the pandemic. Tuyen says she has set up a bank account to save money for her parents if the pandemic returns and she loses her job again. "But I will keep supporting my parents even if I earn nothing in America." Motorcycle-riding Santa brings Christmas to disadvantaged children This year, David Archibald, General Director of Al Naboodah International Vietnam, continued his "Special Mission" as Santa Claus delivering gifts and necessities to disadvantaged children in Nha Trang. Christmas Charity Ride 2021, an annual event organized by Al Naboodah International Vietnam, officially kicked off from Dec. 17 to 19, continuing its community-oriented tradition. Hundreds of riders and philanthropists together traveled the full distance of 1100 kilometers via intercity roads and challenging passes from Saigon to Nha Trang, delivering Christmas joy and long-awaited support to disadvantaged highlands children at Phat Buu Temple Shelter - Ninh Hoa and SOS Children's Village. The ride not only brought together over 150 Harley-Davidson, Triumph, KTM and Husqvarna motorcycle owners but also riders of other motorcycle clubs and brands. Organized by Al Naboodah International Vietnam every December continuously for the past five years, Christmas Charity Ride claims to be the largest motorcycle charity event in Vietnam. Looking back at the five-year journey, David Archibald, General Director of Al Naboodah International Vietnam, said Christmas Charity Ride has grown so much from only a dozen of bikers in 2016 to over 150 this year. Thanks to the growth of the event, Christmas Charity Ride 2021 was able to have the support and sponsor by major motorcycle groups, business partners and philanthropists from across the country. The amount of donation and charity goods received was unexpectedly doubled in comparison to 2019. In total, Al Naboodah International Vietnam succeeded in raising almost 35.000 USD, which was then converted to approximately five tons of food supplies, essential goods, school stationery and electronics. All was thoroughly prepared and nicely packaged in accordance with specific demands of the two charity locations in need. "The Christmas Ride this year would be more meaningful and fulfilling for motorcycle enthusiasts to get out of their houses and enjoy after a long period of Covid-19 restrictions," Archibald said. To ensure the safety of all participants, Al Naboodah International Vietnam conducted Covid-19 tests at the showrooms of Harley-Davidson and Triumph Motorcycles before the tour, and issued result certificates. Participants were requested to submit a certificate of negative test results conducted within 72 hours. Covid-19 preventive measures were also guaranteed throughout the journey. Combining motorcycle riding passion with charity, Christmas Ride offers participants different experiences. "First is the pleasure of riding a motorcycle through the safest and best roads, and second, the fulfillment of doing charitable work. It is a journey of freedom and enjoyment," the General Director shared. Christmas Ride 2019 and 2020 took riders to Da Lat, passing through Tuyen Lam Lake Resort, Ta Nung Commune, lush green tea hills, flower nurseries and pine forests, while Christmas Ride this year offered riders breathtaking views of the coastline of Nha Trang. Bikers regardless of groups and brands all gathered for one purpose helping children in need. Moreover, this is not only an opportunity to give more to those in need, but also a perfect chance for bikers to get together and uphold the true biker spirit. "When children receive their presents, their eyes seem to want to say: "Is it really mine?", their body language shows that they are really excited. That is what makes you feel truly fulfilled when you are able to help somebody," Archibald said. He recalled Christmas Charity Ride 2019, when a customer of Al Naboodah International Vietnam found the children were in great need of physical exercise. The company then decided to construct a playground with a rubber surface, swings, and other amenities. "For two years, the playground has been used by many children. That's the goal of our charity work, to make a huge impact." Al Naboodah International Vietnam has been working hard to be the leading and most professional motorcycle distributor in Vietnam and social responsibility is a part of it. That explains its continuous support and hosting of the sixth Christmas Charity Ride and counting. Joseph Adam Sorenson Wanted for: Robbery, second degree kidnapping, battery with intent to commit a serious felony, unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary, and grand theft The Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office asks that anyone with information please call 208-735-1911 or Crime Stoppers at 208-343-2677, where they can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Web tips can be made at 343cops.com or through the P3 Tips app. Though the world remains haunted by the still ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen a boom in promoting world connectivity. Under the BRI framework, railway construction is expanding across the global landscape. The iconic China-Europe Railway Express, the China-Laos railway and the railway line in Tanzania have all recorded milestone achievements over the past year. These important railway projects provide important pillars for the BRI, and also contribute their due share to improving the global supply chain and the COVID-19 fight. LINE OF HEALTH AND GIFTS During days just before Christmas, when people in Western countries are worrying that they may not be able to receive their Christmas gifts on time due to clogged shipping lanes, China-Europe trains from different regions were sending products to Europe without delay. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China-Europe freight trains. By the end of October, the China-Europe freight trains plying along 73 routes have reached 175 cities in 23 European countries with more than 50,000 kinds of goods. Amid the pandemic, the number of China-Europe express trains as well as the volume of freight have continued to break new records. Data from China's National Development and Reform Commission shows that during the January-November period, the railway service linking the two sides operated 13,817 trains, carrying 1.332 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 23 percent and 30 percent respectively compared with the year 2020. At the end of November, the cumulative number of anti-epidemic equipment transported by the China-Europe freight trains reached 13.43 million pieces and 103,000 tons. "China is very important for the global supply chain. And in most cases it's faster (than the ocean shipping). Therefore, it's a useful alternative to use the train, and it's reliable," said Axel Mattern, joint chief executive officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing. According to global logistics company MEDILINK, the initial freight rate of the China-Europe rail network is often two-thirds higher than that of sea freight, but the current price is very competitive. The current freight rates of the China-Europe freight trains are basically the same as those of sea freight, but it only takes nearly half the time, said Logistics industry insiders. KEY FOR TRANS-ASIAN CONNECTIVITY On Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway officially started operation. It marks a crucial step for the trans-Asian railway network, which has been brewing for more than half a century. Since then, the journey from Vientiane to the border with China has been reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and the journey to Kunming, capital of China's Yunnan Province, can be made in a day. "The China-Laos railway is conducive to promoting the development of areas that are located along the line. Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Thailand, Laos and China, will benefit from trade, agricultural products, consumer products, investment and tourism," said Pichet Kunadhamraks, deputy director-general of the Department of Rail Transport under the Thai Ministry of Transport, in an interview with Xinhua. The railway is expected to reduce transport costs between Vientiane and Kunming by 40 to 50 percent, said a World Bank report, noting transport costs from Thailand's Laem Chabang port to Kunming are expected to fall by at least 32 percent. It is estimated that by 2030, the annual volume of commercial goods in transit through the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway will reach 3.9 million tons, it added. This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and the two sides are advancing the BRI and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will officially enter into force. Experts believe that the BRI will lead to the construction of the trans-Asian rail network and promote regional connectivity. ROAD OF DEVELOPMENT In mid-June this year, a ceremony was held to launch the Ithaca-Mwanza section of the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the construction of which is undertaken by a Chinese company. After the completion of this project, it will become an important route connecting Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries, providing a pathway to the Indian Ocean. It is of great importance for promoting the economic development of the countries in the region and improving the living conditions of the people. From the Tanzania-Zambia railway built in the 1970s, to the Djibouti-Ethiopia and Mombasa-Nairobi railways, and the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the joint efforts of China and Africa have created jobs, trade opportunities and a better investment environment, thereby contributing to local prosperity as well as to the improvement of the living conditions of the local residents. As of Dec. 16, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road with 145 countries and 32 international organizations, and financial institutions such as China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund have expanded financing channels for infrastructure construction. According to Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, for many countries, a major obstacle to escape poverty is the weakness of transport infrastructure, and in this regard, China's success can set an example. svaboda.org svaboda.org The authorities are unable to prolong the social contract with the people: there is no way out of the social crisis. On March 25, or Freedom Day, the Belarusian regime repeated a seven-year-old scenario: over a thousand residents, including passers-by, were arrested in the capital; pensioners and people barely of age were also counted as militants. Violent beatings have become the norm for the Belarusian authorities. And the number police in modern "spacesuits" and armed with the latest European weapons surpassed the number of protesters perhaps several times. Did the the display of power scare people? And most importantly: what is next? Uladzimir Matskevich, philosopher and methodologist answered the questions of the "EuroBelarus" Information Service: - Freedom Day became the logical completion of all actions of the Belarusian regime aimed at preventing any kind of protest. The Minsk city executive committee disrupted the plans for Freedom Day, violating the lawful procedure for holding mass actions: the response to the application was not given five days prior the start of the rally, but the night before. The applicants had neither time nor opportunity to notify people of the change in location and starting time of the protest; The applicants reasonably withdrew the application because they could not ensure compliance with the requirements of the city executive committee. Accordingly, the committee announced all the protests that could be held on March 25 in Minsk, illegal. The number of riot police was unprecedented and it many times exceeded the number of people who decided to come to the action despite the lack of authorization. The media stirred up the atmosphere of fear, adjusting actual events to a virtual reality (the detection of fake "militants", replicas of weapons instead of weapons), to the image that has been already created. And then we saw a staged performance. - What was the cause for such an inadequate display of power? - The authorities are unable to prolong the social contract with the people: there is no way out of the social crisis. Thus, it is of utmost importance for the authorities to make the connection of social protest with political demands impossible. Therefore, all the political activists were eliminated: some were put in jail, others isolated, some simply "disappeared" or were found in hospital. And all actions of the people are declared illegal. The authorities seem to be in an extremely complex and contradictory situation: they do not see any way out of the economic and social crisis, except for receiving new loans that will be spent not on the development of the country and the economy, but on maintaining the minimum level of the social contract. At the same time, the reluctance to make political concessions and reforms makes the regime a hostage to its own actions. - Why did the Belarusian law enforcement agencies decide to simply repeat the 2010 scenario? - In light of the recent events, it is reasonable to qualify the Belarusian regime not as a political one, but as an organized criminal group that usurped all branches of power and accumulated such a military bloc in the country that is probably big enough to reflect foreign aggression, but which is completely surplus for the domestic consumption. - The authorities did not eliminate the root of social protests - the economic crisis, and it did not even set such a goal. Moreover, it set people against the state even more. What is the possible scenario for future events? - It is impossible to say how the situation will develop, because there is not a single political force left in the country that can suggest a way out of the crisis today. Speculations about reforms will no longer satisfy people, same as the abstract arguments of Lukashenka about the correctly chosen policy. It is a stalemate. It is necessary to create a real political force that is adequate to the current situation. But it is hampered not only by the authorities, but by the remnants of the defeated opposition unable to act in the current situation as well. These are main obstacles to the formation of a new political force. What should be done to get rid of these obstacles? Elimination of the current political system is the priority. And to create a force able to bring down the regime, it is necessary to conduct a series of very tough, serious reforms in the opposition structures and civil society and to connect them with all the apolitical forces that still have sufficient authority in the Belarusian society. We are facing the need to create a powerful opposition in the country. Not only does the "Union State" undermine the establishment of civilized relations with Europe, but it hinders the possibility of normal relations between Belarus and Russia. On April 3, Lukashenka made a working visit to the Russian Federation: a meeting of the Belarusian leader with Vladzimir Putin was held in St. Petersburg. The leaders of the states discussed "a wide range of issues concerned with development of bilateral Belarusian-Russian relations." What is the "Union State" like today, and what is the future of it? Uladzimir Matskevich, philosopher and methodologist, answered the questions of the "EuroBelarus" Information Service: - Since the "Union State" of Belarus and Russia was a stillborn baby from the very beginning, the stillborn formation can only exist in two variants: calm or dead. "Union State" is pulled out from time to time in an attempt to revive it. But it is hopeless. - And in the light of recent events, we see no such attempts. - This year - probably yes, due to the aggravation of the economic relations between Belarus and Russia, unsuccessful negotiations on oil and gas. But since the "Union State" is not "buried", not denounced, a possibility that after a while it might be summoned once again cannot be ruled out. - Against the conflict between the leaders of the two countries, we may observe very similar processes: mass protests in the regions of Belarus, which culminated in the brutal crackdown in Minsk on March 25-26, and a brutal dispersal of demonstrators in Moscow. - I would not say that the processes in Russia and Belarus are identical, they are different. The major difference is that protests in Belarus are spontaneous, popular, they began in February and were not initiated by opposition, but appeared as a reaction to implementation of Decree No. 3. Russian protests are initiated from above (through Aleksei Navalny), the date could have been chosen for some reasons I am not aware of. Or Navalny was given a hint that Russian protests should "coincide" with the Belarusian: the foreign policy information wave raised by the Kremlin in connection with the growing social tension in Belarus was conducted so as to show that the Belarusian protests are pro-Russian. This step in the information war cannot but lead to certain reflections. - What kind of reflections? - If we bring together the protests in Belarus and Moscow, then, like it or not, a conclusion that there is a unified coordinating force emerges, thus the Belarusian opposition can be believed to be linked to the Kremlin-controlled Russian opposition. But it is a bad sign for our neighbors (Lithuania and Poland); moreover they can start to perceive the Belarusian opposition to be controlled by Moscow. - So it cannot be claimed that both parts of the "Union State" are in a state of popular upheaval? - Both Belarus and Russia are now in a difficult social and economic situation. But if the Belarusian protests have short-term reasons (the implementation of Decree No. 3), Moscow has no situational reasons for protest. If you take look at the social composition of the protesters, workers of budgetary enterprises, people who have experienced a sharp decline in the standard of living over the last year participated in the Belarusian protests, while students and schoolchildren, young people who are most ready to respond to the radical appeals of opposition comprised the protesters in Moscow. We can say that the Belarusian protests are natural, while Moscow's are artificial in this particular case. - If the "Union State" brings no good, does it mean that it does not cause any harm as well? - In spite of the fact that the "Union State" of Belarus and Russia is stillborn and neither state benefitted from it during the whole span of its existence, the Union does harm Belarus quite considerably. It can be illustrated by the following: it severely hinders establishing normal trade and political relations with Europe. Furthermore, the "Union State" has even become an obstacle in the normalization of relations between Belarus and Russia. Instead of establishing normal partnership and economic relations, the "Union State" constantly creates the illusion of a special attitude, which is inconceivable. The sooner the "Union State" is denounced, the better for Belarus. media-polesye.by media-polesye.by A social project "Equal to Equal" has been launched in Stolin district under the campaign "Agenda 50". Belarus signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which provides a turn in policy of disability being conducted now, to a policy based on human rights. After the signing of the Convention, it has been ratified, its provisions have been reflected in Belarusian laws, in social policy programs, while the very process lead by the government should be filled from the "bottom", as well, - by the activity of individuals, communities, social organizations, cities. Exactly this kind of filling the campaign "Agenda 50" contributes to, which is implemented in Belarus with the support of the European Union. - It must be the work of the whole society. The very essence of the agendas is to stimulate activity of people in cities through the creation of links between various initiative groups, without waiting for the state to come one day and do something, commented to the EuroBelarus information service director of the Center for European Transformation Andrei Yahorau. But this activity should be rationally planned. Local agendas are presented just by these local plans which apply not to the whole country, or even to a specific region, but to some cities. To date, a study has been held regarding willingness of Belarusian cities to implement the Convention. There are initiative groups on the ground consisting of friends organizations of people with disabilities and certain government agencies (territorial social services centres in some cities), as well as from other interested social organizations and ordinary citizens. - We drew the experience of our colleagues from Poland, prepared a methodology of work on the agendas in local conditions. Unlike our neighbors, who have everything had fairly centralized, and local authorities have been bound to develop plans in accordance with Polish legislation, our local authorities have neither the need nor the obligation to do so. In our situation, we often do not have from the top" initiative; we rather have planning "from the bottom", but we include local authorities into it, where possible, says Andrei Yahorau. The first and the most serious challenge faced by any initiative group is the absence of certain legitimacy to do some work. Local authorities feel themselves masters of their location, so decisions are sometimes taken in an extra-centralised way; we constantly need to go "at the top" to get permissions. Instead of the cooperation for improving the situation on the ground we have such an unhealthy confrontation: local authorities and public initiatives exist separately, without any contact. This greatly complicates the work, as in case of no legitimacy and right to do something, initiatives become unstable. Therefore, this work requires a great level of dedication, sacrifice and obstinacy. However, sometimes there appears a desire for cooperation between community initiatives and public authorities, and towns of Staubcy, Stolin are more or less favorable in this respect. - But sometimes people themselves have little knowledge of the situation in their city and do not have relevant competencies to implement such initiatives. You must have a lot of activity, creativity, openness, speed of action, while small towns live as though outside the boundaries of time, it seems like nothing ever changes there, stresses the interlocutor. Plans for the implementation of the agendas for different cities and towns are different. Depending on the public activity, social businesses development, relations with local authorities, presence of active churches, educational institutions, which can contribute somehow to the project activity, there appears a unique combination of reasons to start the planning. After all, we can only rely on available resources that can be involved in this issue. - A lot depends on people on the ground in implementing the agenda, on what they can and are willing to do. Barrier-free environment changes much more positively in those settlements (regardless of whether they are large or small), where there are big initiative groups of people with disabilities. But I see two challenges that may arise. The first one is peoples indifferent attitude to work, say, we will do something, and then it will develop by itself. It will not develop by itself. The second challenge is that people may perceive the work on the agendas as a small set of actions, without the understanding that this plan can change something in a city or a town. We should try to make sure that in the end we have got a team of people from different sectors related to each other and with key stakeholders in the city - business, government, churches. We are always ready to help and to be included in activities that are held on the ground, with all the resources that we have. Therefore, there is only one little thing left, namely, people on the ground. Meanwhile, implementation of the first project in the framework of the campaign "Agenda 50" has begun in Stolin district, entitled "Equal to Equal." It consists in creating the conditions for independent living of young people with disabilities in Stolin district and provides for dissemination of experience learned to other regions. The project will be implemented in the course of the year. During this period, the participants will monitor all public and administrative buildings, catering facilities in Stolin for the presence of a barrier-free environment. All data will be processed. This will let releasing a guide to Stolin accessibility for people with disabilities, with indication of each object. The social project "Equal to Equal" is being realized by the Centre of support for young people with disabilities, Belarus Red Cross Society, Belarusian Association of Assistance to Disabled Children and Young People, district organization "BelTIZ" (Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired People), Regional Centre of Correction and Development Training and Rehabilitation, Executive Committee and the initiative group of parents of disabled children. See also the results of the study: Potential and opportunities for introducing local planning mechanisms in Belarusian regions to ensure the rights of people with disabilities". *** This article was created within the framework of Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50) international project. Agenda 50 campaign is implemented with the support of the European Union and in partnership with TUS Foundation (Poland) and European House (Denmark). Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Consortium EuroBelarus and Centre for European Transformation participate in the implementation of the campaign in Belarus. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland? For the past two years, TUS Foundation has been cooperating with the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities within the framework of Agenda 50 Campaign on implementation of the Conventions provisions in Belarusian regions. Last week, during their recent visit in Belarus, representatives of TUS Foundation Magorzata Peretiatkowicz and Piotr Todys conducted an agenda-drafting training for members of Vaozyn local community. Two days of productive work resulted in the initial version of the document. EuroBelarus Information Service spoke with the Polish colleagues about the experience of ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Poland and about their view on the issue in Belarus. The experts note that two years of work is too short a term for any prognosis. Analyzing the situation and trying to understand specifics of Belarusian realities took them the entire first year. The approach we see here is very important to us: persons with disabilities do not want mercy, they demand equality of rights. Still, considering the way your system works, it seems to me that it will take a long time for this approach to reach your central authorities, notes Magorzata Peretiatkowicz. Her colleague finds it really interesting to participate in joint meetings with NGOs that work with the rights of persons with disabilities and to hear their suggestions. We know that Belarus ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but we do not have an insight into the way it is being implemented locally. This situation reminds me of that in Poland: we are still considering what to do with the document, admits Piotr Todys. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service Though the discussions that the Polish experts witnessed involved persons with disabilities, it would be even better if their ratio was greater and reached at least 50%. TUS Foundation often emphasizes the aspect of self-advocacy in projects they implement in Belarus. Talking about the local agendas Piotr and Magorzata help creating, they state that everything goes really well, but we would like to see more persons with disabilities participating in the processes. The main point of our concern will come when we will get to know whether the people for whom these agendas are being created actually use them in their lives, Piotr concludes. I think that writing the agendas is something realistic, they will be drafted, his colleague continues. Their implementation, however, will require a quick and adaptive approach: implementers will have to know where to find resources and people. While implementing the agendas, people will be delegating responsibilities, looking for opportunities, setting tasks themselves and this element is very important in terms of local communities development. Foreign experts are reluctant to talk about differences in approaches to the issue of disabilities in Belarus and in Poland. Neither are they willing to suggest how Belarus can use the experience of Poland. I do not think that comparison is a good idea. Our states and societies have been developing so differently that it is difficult to compare them. It is like comparing two atmospheric phenomena that exist in their own way, and have a right to be what they are. The countries we live in are absolutely different: even words that sound similarly mean various things in our languages. I can only say that Belarusians are wonderful and I really like them, says Magorzata. For sure, one can use the experience of others, but I prefer having own experiences, adds Piotr. Undoubtedly, though, I find it important to use others work when it comes to standards of accessibility. It is crucial to remember that the process of standard-setting is ongoing, we should constantly develop and reconsider the existing standards. It is important to be able to critically assess the situation in the neighboring countries, to understand what happened there and how things worked. It is equally important to be able to transpose this knowledge onto our own realities and estimate what can work here (and if at all). In 1980s-1990s, we often turned to the experience of Germany, because the situation related to persons with disabilities was much more advanced there at the moment. What was a norm to them seemed of sci-fi origin to us. Until now, certain practices applicable in Germany have not been introduced in Poland. Nevertheless, treating their experience as an inspiration, and not merely copying what they had, seemed to be of great value to us. When we organized study visits to Poland, this is exactly what we meant. We never told participants to take our experience and use it in their country, we wanted to motivate them to be very conscious about this work. Polish colleagues made an important linguistic observation during our conversation. We say equality in Poland, and you say inclusion, explains Piotr. At some point in our history we also thought that we needed to include persons with disabilities into society. We seemed to be so kind as to include them into our greater something. In the meantime, equality assumes the right of specific individuals to decide and keep up to some points they value. The group that is being included has merely rights. But equality brings obligations, too. Perhaps, this aspect is characteristic of the situation with the rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus and distinguishes it from the Polish experience. Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service *** This article was created within the framework of Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50) international project. Agenda 50 campaign is implemented with the support of the European Union and in partnership with TUS Foundation (Poland) and European House (Denmark). Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Consortium EuroBelarus and Centre for European Transformation participate in the implementation of the campaign in Belarus. Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination. How to behave with people in wheelchairs? Do we need to help them? And how to do it properly? They talk themselves what we are ashamed to ask them about. The spine has been broken, but not the life. After Belarus joined the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in a number of cities of the country the campaign "Agenda 50" has been launched, which helps to implement in practice the provisions of the document in local communities. In Babruysk, all of three projects contribute to this goal; one of them is called Spytaj miane ("Ask me"). Its goal is to change the attitude of Babruysk residents towards wheelchair users. Under the project, primarily, educational work is planned: across central streets of the city, banners were hung with photos of wheelchair users playing sports, driving cars, living active life. Booklets with information on how to behave with a wheelchair user can be found in government offices, schools, public transport. But no booklets will replace living meetings with people who do - honestly and with humor - talk about how to deal with them. One of such sessions was visited by a correspondent of the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. Every session has a full house. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. - People lack knowledge about wheelchair users. I myself has faced such an attitude when sometimes people think if your legs do not function, neither functions your head, says one of the project organizers Liliya Lamanosava, chairman of the Babruysk Joint Organization PA Republican Association of Wheelchair Users. Therefore, the project is an opportunity to tell everyone that people in wheelchairs are the same as everybody else. They live, work, acquire homes and families and face all the problems that other people do. But sometimes the society simply does not perceive them adequately. - We want to be treated as equals; we want to be perceived not as disabled, but first of all - as people. The spine has been broken, but not the life, says Liliya. Liliya Lamanosava. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. The woman confesses that previously, she did not know either how to interact with people in wheelchairs. And she got to know it only when she became one of them. And for Maryja Kapustsina, head of the Day care department for people with disabilities of the Territorial social services center (TSSC) of Pershamayski district of Babruysk, the project implemented by her together with Liliya became in a sense a way of family reunification. A second cousin of Maryja was injured in his youth, and he became a wheelchair user. - Since then, we did not communicate. I do not know why. I thought, "How to talk to him now? Would it be normal?" He, for his part, was not sure, whether he would be understood and accepted in his new state. And we accidentally met on a tour for people in wheelchairs and got acquainted all over again, says Maryja. Maryja Kapustsina. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. They work, they travel, they love The first part of the session was dedicated to the wheelchair users stories about their ways of living with disabilities. They voiced their stories, and did it with such sincerity and humour that any awkwardness at present, if any, disappeared by itself. - I "was broken" at the age of 21, says Kanstantsin. But I had no depression at all. I began to pull myself out, to go out, joined the wheelchair association, and began to look for a job. In 2006, I bought a car, now Im travelling across Europe - I can not sit at home. Kanstantsin. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. Pavel was injured 3.5 years ago. Now he calls himself a "house husband", but he doesnt sit still at home: he educates and takes care of the three children, plays sports. Pavel. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. Siarhey, Maryja's brother, got married and became a father already as a wheelchair user. Siarhey and Liliya Lamanosavas husband Jacau. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. Volha was injured in 25 years. 1.5 years after she got divorced with her husband. But the woman did cross herself off; she began to look for employment. In social networks she met her future chief - Aliaxandar Makarcuk who is completely paralyzed himself and manages his computer using voice programs. He has his own educational online project for people with disabilities; he has also established a recruit company, which he invited Volha to. By the way, she moved to Babruysk by the occasion: the woman met a loved one there who is also a wheelchair user. Volha. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. A story of love after being injured happened to Liliya Lamanosava and her husband Jacau, as well. They married when both of them were wheelchairs users. The couple lives independently; they work, drive a car. What is permissible and what is not So, how to behave when you meet a person in a wheelchair? The session participants told about this on the example of their own stories. According to them, often a help without warning, even with the best intentions, ends up with the fall of a wheelchair. So, the first and the most important rule is to ask questions. Here again, you need not apply not to an accompanying person, but directly to the wheelchair user. You dont have to touch the wheelchair and, if any, the table conjugated with it - it's a part of one's personal space, he or she can take it as a violation of personal boundaries. Its also inadmissible to roll a wheel of a wheelchair by the leg and to stroke the head of a wheelchair user with the words of sympathy - it would seem indecent to bother with such manifestations of regret even an ordinary person on the street, yet it happens. The instructors story was complemented by personal stories of the wheelchair users. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. Yet, what you really need is to relax. - If a person in a wheelchair sees your discomfort, he or she begins to feel it, too, shares these seemingly truisms Maryja Kapustsina. For yourself and for future generations The sessions of the project "Spytaj miane" turned out to be popular among Babruysk residents. The first session was attended by 68 people, the second one - by 50, the third one - also by over 60. The organizers confess that they themselves did not expect this. Among those present, the majority were representatives of social and medical institutions. Someone came thanks to the professional interest, and someone is planning to transfer the acquired knowledge to his/her children. A community of valueologists. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. - In healthcare organizations, we meet people with disabilities, and sometimes we feel ourselves uncomfortable thinking about how not to hurt them as we would want to build a relationship on equal terms, confesses an instructor-valeologist of the Babruysk central hospital Sviatlana Aharodnik. - It is very necessary for the new generations who, at times, do not know the basic rules of etiquette, shares her impressions from the session still a young woman herself, an instructor-valeologist of the Babruysk maternity hospital Uladzislava Abuzarava-Dabrynskaya. Our future depends on the younger generation. What we give them, what we invest in them, that is what we acquire in the end. One of the billboards that have appeared in the streets of Babruysk under the project "Spytaj miane. Photo by the "EuroBelarus" Information Service. *** The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)". The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland) and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign Agenda 50, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda. On the occasion of the solemn signing of the document, a round table was held in Stoubcy with representatives of the public organizations that worked on the agenda, and with local authorities. Participants of the campaign Agenda 50 aimed at implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the local level, were personally congratulated by Lene Petersen, a representative of the non-profit organization European House" (Denmark). - You have demonstrated full dedication to our business, and now we have approached the signing of the document. In order for the changes to be large-scale, there must be a shift at the state level. But please follow your local ideas, as they are based on the needs of local population, and no one is more aware of these needs than you. We are convinced that working at the local level plays an extremely important role, said Lene Petersen. Lene Petersen. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service She also added that she was impressed by the efficiency and speed with which the participants prepared a local agenda and implemented a local mini-project, as well as by its quality. It is assumed that the local agenda will be the foundation for the work of the local community. The head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski told the audience about the draft law On the Rights and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. According to him, the draft law still has certain imperfections, but at the same time contains a number of innovations. - In particular, it introduces the concepts of discrimination, universal design, inclusion, and also addresses the issues of integrating people with disabilities into society to improve the quality of their life. After all, it is impossible to reduce everything only to social support, says Siarhei Drazdouski. According to him, this integration will be built not "vertically", but "horizontally": representatives of all sectors of the economy, as well as people with disabilities who jointly solve actual problems will be represented in each local council. Well, according to Siarhei Drazdouski, we still do not have the practice of collegial interaction between the branches of government and people dealing with disability issues. From left to right: Zinaida Kotlashevskaya (Belarusian Society of Disabled People), Alexander Klimash (Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons), Zhanna Lysaya (Stoubcy District Executive Committee), Siarhei Drazdouski. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service - We see that the practice of creating local agendas is one of the most effective methods today. We would like the agendas, which already exist in the five pilot cities, to be an example for other regions. It is important that this does not remain a project, but become a set of permanent activities. At the same time, these documents will need to be developed, clarified - they will be living documents. We are lobbying for this activity at the legislative level so that it will receive support throughout the country, head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities noted. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service The local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed by representatives of the Stoubcy-based organizations of Belarusian Society of Disabled People and Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons, Stoubcy District Executive Committee, Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, and Nikolay Novikov, Assistant Deputy of Elena Anisim. Svetlana Blashko, Director of Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, spoke about the work on creating a local agenda. - At first it was very difficult to decide how we would do it, she noted. Our task was to work on the document in such a way as to outline in it all the problems and goals. We identified problems, managed to sort them out, select the most global ones, and then work with them. Svetlana Blashko. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service The main objectives of the local agenda in Stoubcy are the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, legal awareness, solving the problems of people with disabilities, and their participation in solving these problems. Zinaida Kotlashevskaya, chairwoman of the district organization of Belarusian Society of Disabled People, spoke about the Open Dialogue mini-project, which was implemented as part of the campaign Agenda 50 and consisted primarily in informing people with disabilities and their families about their rights. Under the mini-project, a round table and informational meetings with the population of the district were held, booklets were printed. Now the project funded by the European Union has been successfully completed. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service *** The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)". The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland) and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus. This year we are delighted. Although attendance is still limited at churches, at least we are allowed to go, said Marina Gamil, a Coptic Orthodox Christian, adding that churches are doing their best to maximise in-person attendance, including adding outdoor seating. Clashes between Yemeni government forces and the country's Houthi rebels attacking the key central city of Marib killed a senior military commander on Monday, officials said. The development is a big blow to the forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government, which have been fighting for months against the Iranian-backed Houthis' attempt to take Marib. The Houthis launched an offensive earlier this year on the city in an effort to complete their control over the northern half of Yemen. Maj. Gen. Nasser al-Zubiani, who headed military operations of the government's armed forces, was killed on the front line in the Balaq mountain range, south of the city of Marib, said the two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Al-Zubiani was inspecting government troops and allied tribal fighters trying to stave off the Houthi attack at the time. Government forces had earlier advanced a few kilometers (miles) following fierce battles south of the city, one of the officials said. The rebels stepped up attacks on Marib in recent weeks, sending waves of fighters to try and breach government defenses. Hundreds died in the clashes, mostly rebels, the official added. A Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting on the side of the government forces, said it launched at least 35 airstrikes on rebel positions around Marib over the weekend, killing at least 200 Houthis. At least three more airstrikes hit the rebels in Yemen's western coast, it said. The Houthi offensive on Marib came as they suffered blows elsewhere in the country. Last month, government forces took the district of Hays and a major highway linking the contested port city of Hodeida with the rebel-held capital of Sanaa. Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis took Sanaa and much of the northern part of the country, forcing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the U.S., entered the war months later to try restoring Hadi to power. Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has deteriorated into a stalemate, killing more than 130,000 people, civilians and fighters, and spawning the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Search Keywords: Short link: After the boom in 2021, the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been casting shadows over Egypts tourism sector Egypts tourism sector started to pick up momentum in the second half of the year thanks to factors including the return of Russian tourists to Sinai in August and the glitzy ceremonies of the Pharaohs Golden Parade in Cairo in April and the opening of the Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor in late November. The rejuvenation of the sector came following a severe setback caused by the spread of the Covid-19 in early 2020. However, the Omicron variant of the virus is now casting shadows of uncertainty over the sector, at least in the near term. Had it not been for the discovery of the new variant in November, Egypt would have achieved the high growth in tourism witnessed in 2019, said Kamel Abu Ali, head of the Albatros tourist company. According to Ministry of Planning figures, Egypts hotels and restaurants sector achieved 181.8 per cent growth in the first quarter of this fiscal year, indicating that the negative effects of the coronavirus on the sector were wearing off. Many decisions have been made to support the sector since the outbreak of the pandemic. In July, the Ministry of Health updated procedures for visitors, saying that fully vaccinated passengers did not have to conduct PCR tests. Abu Ali said that the return of Russian tourists to Egypts Red Sea resorts had revived tourism to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada as they top the list of travellers arriving in Egypt. Russian tourists returned to Hurghada on 9 August after a six-year ban on flights to the Red Sea cities and Sinai following the 2015 downing of a plane that killed 224 mostly Russian passengers. August also saw an increase in tourists flying to Egypt from Eastern Europe and Spain, said Mohamed Hassanein, head of Galaxia Tours, a tour agency. Another decision aimed at upgrading the services offered to tourists in early Decemberwas made by the Ministerial Committee for Tourism and Antiquities, which raised the minimum price of accommodation per night to $50 in five-star hotels, $40 in four-star hotels, $30 in three-star hotels, $20 in two-star hotels, and $10 in one-star hotels, as of 1 May 2022, with the exception of the governorates of Luxor, Aswan, the New Valley, and the cities of Taba and Nuweiba, where the decision will be applied starting on 1 November 2022. Setting a minimum price for tourist hotels has been a demand made by the countrys tourism sector for years to prevent the deterioration of services in some hotels. Bad service has affected the reputation of tourism in Egypt, and slashing the prices adopted by some hotels in recent years has attracted low-spending tourists, many people in the tourism sector believe. The decision to set a minimum price for hotel rooms was taken along with the gradual revival of the tourism sector, said Abu Ali. However, Tarek Shalabi, head of the Marsa Alam Investors Association, believes the decision could be a double-edged sword as while some hotels in MarsaAlam have raised their prices, many tour operators that had contracts with hotels for prices ranging from $18 to $20 had refused to accept the new raises. Shalabi added that contracting other companies requires the organisation of more international exhibitions, currently limited due to the pandemic. Karim Al-Miniawi, member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Tourism Companies and CEO of the tourist company IMCO, said Egypt had received a large number of tourists from Ukraine, the US, Poland, and the Czech Republic. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt received 3.5 million tourists in the first six months of 2021, representing revenues of $3.5 to $4 billion, almost the same revenues gained in all of 2020. Economic and social development plans made by parliament approve targets raising the flow of tourists per month to 400,000 in the first half of the year and 750,000 in the second half. They aim at increasing tourism revenues in the current fiscal year to $6 billion, which is less than the $6.8 billion the World Bank had anticipated. The Pharaohs Golden Parade that saw 22 mummies belonging to the kings and queens of the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom moved from the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat and the celebration marking the opening of the Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor made international headlines, promoting Egypt as a premium tourist destination. Al-Miniawi said that the two events had highlighted the cultural aspects of tourism in Egypt and helped promote it as a leading brand, especially as international media outlets were competing to cover the ceremonies. But the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has resulted in a decrease in the number of tourists coming to Egypt, with Abu Ali and Shalabi reporting that cancellations have taken place from the German and French markets, respectively. Shalabi said hotel occupation rates in Marsa Alam had dropped from 80 to 60 per cent after the appearance of the Omicron variant. France and Egypt have decided to accept only travellers presenting negative PCR tests, resulting in the cancellation of 30 per cent of reservations. Hassanein said that few companies had cancelled the reservations of their clients, adding that the sector was holding its breath in anticipation of World Health Organisation (WHO) statements on the Omicron variant. If the variant does not respond well to vaccinations, tourism rates are unlikely to rise higher than last years. Shalabi said that before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Marsa Alam used to receive large numbers of tourists from Germany, Italy, and the UK, while this year the majority of tourists have come from Poland, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. Al-Miniawi said that the states initiatives to support the tourism sector had helped, but they were not enough. The problem was not the decisions that had been made, but their implementation. The banks had not fully applied decisions announced by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to support the sector, he said, adding that only a fraction of tourism companies had benefited from the initiatives. In February, the CBE extended moves to help fund tourist companies with guarantees from the Ministry of Finance. These included allocating LE3 billion of the LE50 billion dedicated to funding tourist companies to credit facilities, aiming to help them pay workers salaries and operation and maintenance costs. The initiative was originally meant to end by June 2021 or when the LE3 billion was spent, whichever was closer. The grace period was extended to December 2021, with the first instalments to be paid in January 2022 for the following two years. The state also decided to put off insurance and electricity payments. Shalabi said Marsa Alam had not benefited from the postponement of payments of electricity bills since the city is lit by diesel-operated generators. He hailed the aid received from funds established to support the unemployed and the state support the tourism sector has been receiving, even if this is through loans. However, the banks have not always been forthcoming in approving loans to tourism companies, seeing them as a high-risk sector, he added. He said expectations for the tourism sector had looked very promising before the appearance of the Omicron variant. The future of tourism in Egypt in 2022 will be determined by the efficacy of available vaccines against Covid-19, he said. Had it not been for the emergence of the Omicron variant, Egypts tourism sector would have completely recovered by the first quarter of 2022, Al-Miniawi said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has so far administered 53.8 million coronavirus jabs with 20 million citizens being fully immunised and 33.8 million others partially vaccinated, Acting Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar declared in a statement on Thursday. Egypt started its coronavirus vaccination campaign in January this year by vaccinating medical workers at quarantine hospitals, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. In his report on the latest pandemic updates in Egypt during the weekly Cabinet meeting which was held for the first time in the New Administrative Capital Abdel-Ghaffar mentioned that an average of 350 thousand vaccines are administered daily. The minister stated that there are currently more than 62 million vaccine doses available for use. Egypt has imported 116.8 million doses of the Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, according to the minister. The country has also been locally producing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. The Egyptian government has set a goal to fully vaccinate 40 million people by the end of 2021. In a phone interview with Sada El-Balad TV channel on Tuesday, Presidential Adviser for Health Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din said that the fourth wave has not reached its peak yet, however, he assured that the situation in Egypt is under control. The country has, as of Wednesday, detected 377,960 coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic, including 21,500 deaths and 314,452 recoveries. On 4 December, the ministry announced that three travellers tested positive for the Omicron variant upon arriving in Cairo International Airport and then promptly sent to quarantine. Search Keywords: Short link: A legislative amendment granting the Union of Syndicates of Acting, Cinema, and Musical Professions judicial powers to crack down on "substandard singers" and punish those who practice without a license was rejected by Egypt's House of Representatives on Sunday. After a two-hour debate, MPs rejected the government-drafted amendments to Law 35/1978, insisting that they are against granting the union of art-centric syndicates judicial or police powers. Parliament speaker Hanafi Gibali had to close the debate when the majority of MPs voted "no" to the amendments. MP Mohamed Radi, secretary-general of the House's Defence and National Security Committee, said "It is too much to give judicial powers to three syndicates on acting, cinema and music." He added, "I do not prefer that professional syndicates get judicial powers, especially as these could be used for seeking personal interests." MP Maha Abdel-Nasser, the spokesperson of the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, said she is against granting judicial powers to the three syndicates because these powers will do nothing to stem the tide of substandard artistic production. "We are in an age of open skies and no obstacles whatsoever could be used to prevent persons from using social media to broadcast their activities," said Abdel-Nasser. MP Diaaeddin Dawoud, a Nasserist deputy, said "judicial powers are not necessary and it is better that artistic activities be left to the judgment of the people." MPs Amira Al-Adly and Mohamed Ezzat said "fighting substandard artistic activities should not come through granting the union of the art-centric syndicates judicial powers, but through producing high-standard artistic creations." Chairwoman of the House's Culture and Media Committee Dorya Sharafeddin, however, defended the amendments, insisting that granting the syndicates judicial powers is necessary to fight low-standard art which has become rampant in recent years and caused disgust among the public. "We should use every possible tool to protect Egyptian art from low-standard and indecent creations," said Sharafeddin. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives approved the articles of a new government-drafted law allowing the state treasury to obtain a part of the proceeds of private funds and surplus money gained by public institutions. A parliamentary report said the new legislative move aims to support the state budget in order to be able to meet the country's social and economic needs. Parliament speaker Hanafi Gibali said the law will be put up to a final vote in a later session. The first article stipulates that the state treasury will get five percent from an account with money ranging from EGP 5 million to EGP 7.5 million, 10 percent from a fund account with money from EGP 7.5 million and EGP 15 million, and 15 per cent from a fund account with more than EGP 15 million. However, the article also stipulates that the accounts of research projects funded by grants, foreign agreements, donations, university hospitals, health departments and social housing projects will be exempted from the law. The House also approved two foreign agreements on oil exploration in the Gulf of Suez and the Western Desert. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian Ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko said on Sunday the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Russia hit $3.3 billion from January to September 2021. Russia's investments in Egypt amounted to $8 billion by the end of 2020, the ambassador said in a press conference. Egypt will be the guest of honour at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held in June 2022, he said. Borisenko added that the COVID-19 pandemic had badly affected progress on the Dabaa nuclear power plant, but the work will undoubtedly resume in this project, which will attract seven billion dollars worth of Russian investments. Russian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom is implementing the Dabaa plant 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. He pointed out that his country exported large quantities of Sputnik vaccines to Egypt this year, noting that the vaccine technology will be transferred to Egypt to be manufactured with a production capacity of 40 million vaccines. Russia and Egypt have high-level cooperation in the field of combating international terrorism and information security, the ambassador noted. He also referred to the convergence of viewpoints between Egypt and Russia to support the unity of Libya's territory and combat terrorism. Search Keywords: Short link: The Saudi-led coalition on Sunday accused Iran and Hezbollah of helping Yemen's Houthi rebels to launch missiles and drones at the kingdom, where two people were killed. Since the coalition intervened almost seven years ago to support Yemen's government, Saudi Arabia has regularly accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with weapons and Hezbollah of training the insurgents. Tehran denies the charges. Lebanon's Iran-backed Shia militant movement Hezbollah has previously denied sending fighters or weapons to Yemen. The latest Saudi accusation came as the coalition intensified an aerial bombing campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in retaliation for deadly attacks on the kingdom. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki told a news conference the Huthis were "militarising" Sanaa airport and using it as a "main centre for launching ballistic missiles and drones" towards the kingdom. Malki showed reporters a video clip which he said depicted "the headquarters of Iranian and Hezbollah experts at the airport" where, he alleged, "Hezbollah is training the Houthis to booby-trap and use drones". Malki showed other clips which he said depicted a Hezbollah member placing explosives in a drone, and a man he identified as a Hezbollah official telling Houthi members "we must strengthen our ranks". The footage could not be independently verified. The Arab military coalition led by Riyadh intervened in Yemen in 2015 to back the internationally recognised government, a year after the Huthis overran the capital Sanaa. The Huthis come from the minority Zaidi Shia sect of Islam and have their traditional stronghold in Yemen's mountainous north. Between 2004 and 2010, they fought six wars against Yemen's then-government and battled Saudi Arabia in 2009-2010 after storming over the border. The deaths of two people overnight Friday from a rebel missile strike on the Saudi city of Jazan were the first such deaths in the kingdom in three years. Escalation On Sunday, Malki said the international community must "stop hostile acts by this terrorist organisation," a reference to Hezbollah. Since January 2018 the Huthis have launched 430 ballistic missiles and 850 drones towards Saudi Arabia, he said. Sunday evening the coalition announced it had made new strikes near an air force academy in Sanaa to prevent weapons from being moved. Earlier Sunday the coalition said it had struck a Houthi rebel camp in Sanaa, destroying weapons warehouses. On Saturday, the coalition launched what it called a "large-scale" military operation against the Houthis after the rebel missile strike that hit Jazan. The coalition raids left three civilians dead, including a child and a woman, Yemeni medics told AFP. Rights groups have criticised the coalition for civilian casualties in its years-long aerial bombardment. The coalition maintains its operations are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law, repeatedly urging the Houthis against using civilians as human shields. Malki also accused Iran's ambassador to Sanaa, who died of Covid-19 last week after his evacuation from Yemen, of "leading the planning of military operations in Marib" -- the Yemeni government's last stronghold in the north. The Houthis warned in a statement that they will "face escalation with escalation". 'Barbaric Attack' World powers and the kingdom's Gulf Arab allies condemned the rebels' deadly strike on Saudi Arabia. "Houthi attacks are perpetuating the conflict, prolonging the suffering of the Yemeni people, and endangering the Saudi people alongside more than 70,000 US citizens residing in Saudi Arabia," Washington's embassy to Riyadh said in a statement. Ludovic Pouille, the French ambassador to Riyadh, on Twitter offered condolences to families of victims in the "barbaric Houthi attack". The coalition has intensified its air strikes on Sanaa, including last week on what it called "military targets" at the airport. United Nations aid flights were interrupted as a result. The insurgents often launch missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia aimed at its airports and oil infrastructure. The UN's World Food Programme said it has been "forced" to cut aid to Yemen due to lack of funds, and warned of a surge in hunger. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt received a shipment of 1.5 million doses of coronavirus Pfizer vaccine as a donation from the United States on Saturday through COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), the US Embassy in Cairo announced. This delivery of the shipment means the US has now donated 15 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to the people of Egypt to help protect Egyptians from the virus and prevent the spread of its dangerous new strains, the embassy said in a statement. Since August, Egypt has received shipments comprising millions of the US-made Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer jabs. Egypt has reported a total of 380,520 coronavirus cases and 21,571 related deaths since the emergence of the virus in the country in February 2020, with the country experiencing a fourth coronavirus wave since August. Earlier in September, the Egyptian health ministry announced detecting the countrys first three cases of the new coronavirus highly transmissible variant Omicron in Egyptian nationals who had returned from abroad at Cairo International Airport and ordered their isolation. The emergence of Omicron variant places even greater importance on our working together, as strategic partners, to overcome the pandemic, the US embassy added. The Pfizer doses will be handed to the Egyptian health ministrys facilities in Cairo before being distributed across the country to be administered, the embassy said. The US government, through United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has granted Egypt $55 million to support the countrys coronavirus response, reaching nearly 18 million people, the embassy added. Egypt received its first Pfizer vaccine shipment from the US in late September. The latest shipment raises the total of Pfizer doses in Egypt to roughly more than 13.6 million doses, according to calculations. The shipments are part of 500 million Pfizer vaccine doses donated by the US to the African Union countries through COVAX. Egypt has allocated the Pfizer doses especially for the travelers for studying or work purpose, medial staff, and children between 12 to 18 years of age. Egypt has imported 116.8 million doses of the Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, Acting Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on Thursday. Egypt has so far administered 53.8 million coronavirus jabs with 20 million citizens being fully immunised and 33.8 million others partially vaccinated, Abdel-Ghaffar added. Search Keywords: Short link: More than 7,000 flights have been canceled worldwide over the Christmas weekend and thousands more delayed, a tracking website reported Sunday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday hurt to millions. Severe weather is compounding the travel chaos in the United States, with storms expected to wreak havoc on roadways in the country's west, though they brought a white Christmas weekend to Seattle and parts of California. According to Flightaware.com, more than 2,000 flights were canceled on Sunday -- including more than 570 originating from, or headed to, US airports. More than 4,000 delays were reported. Aircrew and ground staff have fallen sick or gone into quarantine after exposure to Covid, forcing Lufthansa, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and other carriers to cancel flights during a peak travel period. More than 2,800 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Saturday, including more than 990 originating from or headed to US airports, with over 8,500 delays. On Friday, there were around 2,400 cancellations and 11,000 delays. "Help united flight cancelled again. I want to get home for Christmas," one exasperated traveler from the US state of Vermont tweeted early Saturday. Flightaware data showed United canceled around 200 flights on Friday and nearly 250 Saturday -- about 10 percent of those that were scheduled. "The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United said in a statement Friday. Delta scrapped 310 flights Saturday and over 100 more Sunday, saying it has "exhausted all options and resources." "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans," the company said. The cancellations added to the frustration for many people eager to reunite with their families over the holidays after last year's Christmas was severely curtailed. Chinese airlines accounted for the highest number of cancellations, with China Eastern scrapping more than 1,000 flights, over 20 percent of its flight plan, on Friday and Saturday -- and Air China grounding about 20 percent of its scheduled departures over the period. 'Treacherous' Conditions The American Automobile Association estimated more than 109 million Americans would travel by plane, train or automobile between December 23 and January 2, a 34 percent increase over the last year. But most of those plans were made before the detection of Omicron, which has become the dominant strain in the United States, overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers. The state of New York reported a record 44,431 new daily positive Covid tests on Friday, as new cases surged nationwide. As unseasonably warm temperatures were bathing eastern states, the National Weather Service announced winter storm warnings, including a deep freeze, for significant parts of the west. "Anomalously cold conditions and a barrage of Pacific moisture results in prolonged periods of mountain snow and coastal/valley rain, some of which may fall heavy at times," the NWS said. An eye-popping two to four feet (61 to 122 centimeters) of snow was forecast to fall this weekend in the Sierra mountains and state of Oregon. Travel will be "treacherous to at times impossible" from the Sierras to the central Rocky Mountains at the weekend due to whiteout snow conditions, the NWS said. Search Keywords: Short link: Trade exchange between Egypt and South Korea increased by 46.9 percent in the first ten months of 2021 to record $1.8 billion, up from $1.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2020, which mainly included oil products, cement, granite, aluminum, ready-made garments, machines and equipment, in addition to autos and medical devices, Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Niven Gamea stated on Sunday. During the same period in 2021, Egypts exports to the South Korean market rose by 62.3 percent to reach $531.5 million, up from $327.5 million during the same period in 2020, Gamea said during a virtual meeting with her South Korean counterpart Yeo Han-koo. During the meeting, Han-koo told Gamea that South Korea is keen on boosting cooperation with Egypt in trade, investment, industry, energy, and health sectors, particularly the COVID-19 confrontation. Han-koo also expressed his countrys appreciation of the great success Egypt has made through its economic reform programme, which enabled the country to attain a 3.6 percent of GDP growth in 2020 despite the significant challenges placed by the pandemic. Moreover, the South Korean minister requested Egypts support to the South Koreans bid to host Expo 2030 in Busan city, which is scheduled to be held from 1 May to 31 October 2030. The meeting also explored the paths meant to enhance the joint cooperation in fields of energy and environment, in addition to localising electrical vehicles in the Egyptian market and bringing the Egyptian agricultural products to the South Korean market. Gamea told Han-koo that South Korea is one of the most important trade partners to Egypt in the East and South East Asia region. She added that Egypts state is eager to develop and improve the economic cooperation relations with South Korea based on the unique political relations between the two countries. In October, Egypts Parliament Speaker Hanafy Gebaly and his South Korean counterpart Park Byeong-Seug announced that a parliamentary friendship association to be established between the two countries based on the friendly relations between the two sides and keenness of the leaders of the two countries to push these relations forward at all levels. Search Keywords: Short link: Work on the New Administrative Capital continued throughout the year, with the project now due to be inaugurated in mid-2022 Government offices and state employees will start a gradual relocation to the Government District of the New Administrative Capital later this month, beginning with a six-month experimental phase during which government buildings and electronic systems will be tested. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has described the inauguration of the New Administrative Capital and the relocation of government employees as marking the birth of a new republic and a new era of modern governmental work. The project is an integral component of Egypt Vision 2030 which aims to improve the quality of life of citizens and expand urban areas to cater for Egypts rapidly growing population. The experimental phase has been delayed by almost a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the soft opening of the New Administrative Capital will now take place mid-2022, Khaled Al-Husseini, Spokesperson of the New Administrative Capital for Urban Development Company, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Located between the Cairo-Suez and Cairo-Ain Sokhna roads, 60 km away from downtown Cairo, the new capital will house 6.5 million people when completed. Under construction since 2015, it is planned to cover 184,000 feddans (720 sq km), nearly twice the area of Cairo. Ninety-five per cent of work on the Government District has been completed and by the end of 2021 all ministry headquarters will be ready to be handed over, said Al-Husseini. In a November statement, the cabinet made it clear that the transfer of state employees to the new capital will be implemented gradually, and that government offices that deal directly with the public will not be transferred to the new capital for the time being. The New Administrative Capitals Government District comprises 10 ministerial complexes that will house 34 ministries, the cabinet headquarters, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Built on 1.5 million square metres, it will host 50,000 employees when it is fully officially operational in 2022. The ongoing construction of the Government District is being overseen by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority in partnership with private and public sector firms. The project has provided 100,000 job opportunities. The inauguration of the Government District will not be limited to opening new buildings for ministries, but it will be linked to a new vision, a modern electronic system, and different work mechanisms, said Al-Husseini. IT skills were among the criteria for selecting the 50,000 employees who will be relocated, and many of them have already received training. The initial, experimental phase will not involve the inauguration of housing projects for the soon-to-be relocated employees since they are not yet complete, Al-Husseini noted. The first phase of a housing development for government workers in neighboring Badr City includes 376 residential buildings, comprising 9,024 housing units, each between 115 to 120 square metres. The project is being built at a cost of LE3.2 billion. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli has said state employees who have their workplace relocated to the New Administrative Capital can choose between receiving a transport or a housing allowance. Employees can secure an apartment in Badr City with a LE110,000 down payment 25 per cent of the discounted propertys cost with the balance paid in installments. According to official statements, the average cost of constructing an apartment is LE700,000. Employees who are unable to move to Badr City will receive a transport allowance, starting at LE2,000 per month. Interest in housing units being built in the New Administrative Capital has increased, head of Smart Step real-estate company Maged Ashour told the Weekly. Demand is being fed by the imminent inauguration of the new capital, and by competition among real estate developers who are offering a range of payment options. The price per metre for housing ranges from LE10,000 to LE14,000 for half-finished units, and from LE14,000 to LE16,000 for fully-finished ones. The new capital will be connected to Greater Cairo by Egypts first monorail train, and its first Light Rail Transit (LRT). Until they come into operation, employees will rely on a network of shuttle buses. The monorail will consist of two lines. The first 56.5km line will be served by 22 stations and connect the New Administrative Capital with the east of Cairo and Nasr City. The second, covering 42km and served by12 stations, will begin from 6 October city. They are being constructed at a cost of 2.7 billion euros. The two lines will connect with Cairos underground network. When complete, a commuter from 6 October will be able to take the monorail to Mohandessin, change to the third metro line and travel to Nasr Citys Cairo Stadium, and then take the second monorail east to the New Administrative Capital. The first phase of the Nasr City monorail is scheduled to be operational in June 2022. The first phase of the light train is due to open in March 2022, and will connect with the third line of the Cairo underground network at Adli Mansour station in eastern Cairo. It will link the cities of Cairo, Obour, Shorouk, Mostaqbal, Badr, and 10 Ramadan with the New Administrative Capital, and will have 16 stations over its 90 km length. The New Administrative Capital, the spokesperson said, will be Egypts first smart city to come on line though 13 others are under construction, including New Alamein, New Mansoura, East Port Said, Nasser City in western Assiut, and New Ismailia. They are being developed by the Ministry of Housing, in conjunction with the New Urban Communities Authority. The 14 smart cities, which are planned to house 14 million people and provide six million permanent jobs, are being developed to the highest standards of sustainability, using renewable and recyclable materials, and with a careful eye kept on reducing energy consumption and waste and protecting the environment. In the New Administrative Capital, Al-Husseini said, the parking system will be based on an application that will inform citizens of available parking spots. Traffic will be monitored by thousands of cameras: the first phase of the new capital, according to Al-Husseini, already has 6,000 advanced cameras installed, able to track vehicles and save facial images, while drones will be used for continuous monitoring and to help in dealing with accidents. The new capital also includes an Arts and Culture District built on 127 feddans and is home to theatres, cinemas, libraries, museums, and an opera house. The opera house was inaugurated in mid-November by the prime minister who attended a concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the 80-year-old celebrated maestro Riccardo Muti. The New Administrative Capital also boasts a Central Business District (CBD) centred on 20 skyscrapers. The CBD is being built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, one of the largest construction companies in the world, in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, represented by the New Urban Communities Authority. It will include the 78-storey Iconic Tower which, at almost 400 metres, is set to be the tallest building in Africa. Work on the tower began in May 2018 with the digging of the foundations. In September, the cabinet announced that it had received an offer from a Chinese company to operate and manage the CBD which the government is studying before giving a final decision. Representatives of the Chinese company expect the CBD to attract a host of international companies, said a cabinet statement. Investments in the CBD total $3 billion. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: As the conflict in Syria enters its 11th year, there is still no solution in sight There were no significant changes for the Syrian people in 2021, and there was no progress in the crisis that has been tearing the country apart over the last decade. Despite a drop in the intensity of the fighting, both the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the opposition are worried about what will come next and what the countries intervening in the conflict are planning for the next stage. The opposition began 2021 with the hope that the world would pressure the Syrian regime and its allies to move forward with a political solution to the crisis based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This would bring the country a step closer to the dream of a pluralist and democratic state not controlled by the security agencies and not in the hands of one family or sect. The regime began 2021 with the hope that it could convince the world that it has been victorious militarily in the conflict, that the opposition are terrorists, that it has not committed crimes against humanity, and that it must be recognised as the legitimate Syrian government and reintegrated into the international order. It also wants funds to be allowed to flow into Syria for post-conflict reconstruction. Neither side has achieved its goals. The opposition is weak and ineffective, and its international support is fragmented. It has remained dependent on external support without mustering influence within the country. The regime has failed to convince the West that it can be reintegrated into the international order, and its propaganda has failed to reverse the Wests outlook. The Syrian quagmire remains one of the most complicated issues on the international stage today in terms of the humanitarian tragedy in the country, the international refugee problem, the political tensions and the clash of regional and international interests in the Middle East. Syria is a battleground for five regional forces and major world powers, and the crisis in the country remains a threat to the entire region. It is rare for a regime to remain in power without change for an entire decade under the kind of circumstances seen in Syria today, said Syrian commentator Mounir Shahood. The regime is boasting of its steadfastness and resilience, ignoring the fact that this has been due to external factors and has come at the expense of the country itself. The regime is ruling a dilapidated country on the brink of starvation through the use of the security forces, deepening the divisions in society, he said. There were indications in 2021 that the international community intends to rehabilitate the regime despite the horrors that have occurred in Syria over the last decade. The US Biden administration approved an agreement allowing Egyptian gas and electricity to be delivered to Lebanon through Jordan and Syria, violating the US Caesar Act putting sanctions on Syria. Washington has not objected to Syrias return to Interpol, the international police organisation, which the opposition worries the regime will use to demand the arrest of opposition members. Several senior US officials have also visited Syria and met with regime members, with Washington being content to say that we do not encourage the normalisation of relations with the Syrian regime. The US Treasury has made exemptions for some activities to continue in Syria despite the sanctions, including allowing NGOs to deal with the regime. Some believe that the Biden administration is no longer interested in Syria, though towards the end of the year Washington said it would not normalise relations with the Syrian regime. US envoy to Syria Ethan Goldrich said that lifting the sanctions against Damascus was not on the table in the recent US talks with Russia. He said that the US was against normalising ties with the regime and was only making exceptions for humanitarian purposes. Visits by Arab officials have also not led to normalising relations between their countries and Syria or brought Syria back into the Arab League. The Arab countries expect the latter step can be made if followed by the Syrian regimes facilitating the passage of humanitarian aid, releasing prisoners, allowing the return of refugees and making progress on the political process. It will be difficult to rehabilitate Al-Assad, said Syrian commentator Saeed Moqbel. Neither the US nor Europe will be able to face the world if they accept a murderous regime whose crimes are well known, he added. From a moral standpoint, it would be difficult to rehabilitate the regime even without looking at the issue from the global political and security perspectives. The regime wants to give the world the impression that it is close to being widely accepted on the international stage. But this will not happen without genuine political change. Meanwhile, the opposition has had few successes in making its case better known. International interest has not increased, and the opposition has not been able to make a dent in the Constitutional Committee assigned by the UN to draft a new constitution. It has remained fragmented due to diverging ideologies, interests and supporters. The opposition continued to attend meetings of the Constitutional Committee in 2021, including the sixth round of talks. It has remained proactive in its desire to make progress on a new constitution, and it has accepted some proposals by the regime about constitutional principles. However, on the last day of the sixth round of the talks, the regime delegation rejected all the ideas discussed, returning to Damascus with little care for international opinion. While the opposition has been unable to force the regime to respect UN resolutions or make progress in the constitutional process, this is because the international community has not put pressure on the Syrian regime and its Russian ally to forge ahead with drafting a new constitution. Iran has also made gains in Syria in 2021. It has converted its military influence into societal penetration by manipulating demographics and spreading Shiism, trying to gradually take control of an already fragile economy. As the Syrian conflict approaches its 11th year, there is no solution in sight. There can only be a solution if Russia and the US reach an agreement as part of a solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the opposition says. The language used during the war is no longer relevant, and the words regime and opposition mean nothing now, Shahood said. No one has won this conflict, and Syria will never return to how it was. It is currently governed by delicate regional and international balances that are difficult to determine, he added. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: By Ryohei Takagi, KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2021 - 18:41 | All, World The United States is examining its "declaratory policy" on the use of nuclear arms under President Joe Biden's commitment to seeking to reduce the role of such weaponry, the State Department's top arms control official Bonnie Jenkins said recently. Her remarks came as focus is increasing on whether the Biden administration will declare the "sole purpose" of U.S. nuclear forces is to deter or respond to nuclear attacks in its upcoming nuclear posture review, a guideline for American nuclear policy for the coming years. But any moves that can be seen as reducing the current ambiguity in U.S. nuclear policy may raise concerns among allies that rely on American nuclear force for protection and prefer the vagueness as a way to complicate the calculations of adversaries. "The nuclear posture review is examining the role of nuclear weapons in our overall national security and defense strategies. This includes declaratory policy," the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security said in a recent written interview with Kyodo News. While noting it is premature to speculate on the outcome of the review, she said Biden has "committed to take steps to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy" and at the same time seeks to ensure that "our extended deterrence commitments to allies like Japan remain strong and credible." The interview was the first Jenkins gave to a Japanese media outlet since assuming her current post in July. The U.N. conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is also approaching in January. The U.S. nuclear declaratory policy has so far centered on what is known as "strategic ambiguity" regarding the exact circumstances that might lead to a nuclear response, though efforts have been seen in the past to offer clarification. Former President Barack Obama, who pledged in 2009 to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons, considered adopting a "no first use" policy, which would mean limiting the U.S. use of nuclear weapons only in response to nuclear attacks on itself or allies. But his administration gave up the idea in the face of objections from some allies including Japan. The Financial Times reported early this month that U.S. officials have reassured allies in Europe and Asia that Biden, who was vice president during the Obama administration, will not adopt a "no first use" policy. The officials will provide the president with options for a "sole purpose" declaratory policy, the newspaper said. The sole purpose posture could leave open the possibility of using nuclear weapons first, if it were the only way to preempt an imminent nuclear attack by a country such as North Korea, pundits say. Still, it could demonstrate a more restrained approach toward the use of U.S. nuclear weapons compared with the 2018 nuclear posture review compiled under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump. Under the former leader, the possibility remained nuclear weapons could be used not only against nuclear attacks but against "significant" non-nuclear attacks. Jenkins said the views of U.S. allies are "incredibly important," and that Washington will continue to consult with them as it seeks to finalize its own review. Meanwhile, she reiterated U.S. opposition to a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons, saying it will "not be an effective tool for nuclear disarmament" as nuclear powers have no intention to support it. "The treaty will not result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon. Instead, it will create political pressures that could undermine extended nuclear deterrence and U.S. security relationships with key allies all over the world," the official said. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into force in January this year at a time when renewed attention was being paid to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons. It only binds states that have formally signed and ratified it. Jenkins also indicated Washington's desire to work with Japan toward a "common goal of a world without nuclear weapons," saying it respects the "special leadership role" Japan has, apparently referring to the fact the Asian nation is the world's sole country to have suffered nuclear attacks. The U.S. atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II "opened our eyes to the truth that a nuclear war must never be fought," the official said, hailing the role of atomic bomb survivors who have conveyed through their personal stories "the costs of the use of nuclear weapons." But she said both Japan and the United States "must balance the desire to advance nuclear disarmament with the need to maintain nuclear deterrence." Related coverage: U.S. urges Japan not to join nuclear ban treaty meeting: sources China likely to own at least 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030: Pentagon FEATURE: Time is running out for victims of world's 1st nuclear explosion By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2021 - 10:35 | All, World, Feature Amid China's ongoing quest to expand its economic clout in Asia and beyond, the U.S. administration of President Joe Biden will gear up next year to launch an "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" to deepen engagement with the region. But the odds are not necessarily in favor of Washington in the absence of a robust strategy for regional trade, an area where the world's second-largest economy seems increasingly eager to fill the void. The idea to develop the economic framework was first announced by Biden in virtual regional summits in the fall, and it could take shape early next year following talks with U.S. allies and partners. The framework remains vaguely defined as an agreement that will pursue "shared objectives," including those around trade facilitation, the digital economy and technology, supply chains, clean energy, infrastructure, worker standards and other priorities. "The Biden administration has to turn this economic framework into something real, and that means partly fleshing out the details," said Matthew Goodman, an expert on international economic policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. What has driven the Biden administration toward the launch of a seemingly half-baked initiative appears to be China's clear efforts to ramp up its influence over trade policy in the fast-growing region. In September, Beijing applied to join an 11-member Pacific free trade pact sealed under Japan's leadership as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, following U.S. withdrawal in 2017 from the deal as originally envisioned. China, along with Japan, South Korea, the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others, are also awaiting the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to take effect on Jan. 1 after years of free trade negotiations. As attention grows as to the importance of the rules governing digital trade, China said in November it has asked for admission to a digital economy partnership signed in 2020 between Singapore, Chile and New Zealand -- three of the four countries that had laid the foundation for what later evolved into the CPTPP. Doubts remain whether China, often accused of market-distorting practices such as the extensive use of subsidies, will be accepted into the high-standard CPTPP anytime soon, with key members such as Japan and Australia voicing caution. But experts suggest that Beijing's move should not simply be dismissed, especially with the Biden administration continuing to distance itself from key trade frameworks in the region as trade liberalization remains a politically sensitive issue on which it is difficult to win Congressional backing. If the United States cannot make its presence felt, and China keeps pressing CPTPP nations to let it in -- possibly by suggesting lower standards for entry or implying threats of retaliation for potential exclusion -- members may eventually have to give a serious hearing to Beijing's application, Goodman said. Mireya Solis, a trade expert at Brookings Institution, another think tank in the U.S. capital, said the Biden administration apparently views the new framework as "easier to launch" because it likely would not require ratification from Congress. Washington seems eager to align like-minded countries by highlighting the rules and standards it wants to promote, given concerns over China's subsidization policy, digital protectionism such as through web censorship and restrictions on data flows, and erosion of some democratic values. "But I think that it's a halfway effort if you're not prepared to talk about a real trade agreement with actionable, binding commitments towards economic integration," she said. Goodman said the framework should include U.S. requests for "higher standards" in each of the areas in question, but such a proposal would have to be balanced with "offers of tangible benefits" for its partners. A meaningful framework would not just bring together allies and advanced economies that already have close ties with the United States, but also the less developed yet strategically important economies like Vietnam, which shares concerns about China's increasing assertiveness in the region, he said. For example, under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the original pact that later became the CPTPP, Washington had offered market access to Vietnam, reflecting the Southeast Asian country's desire to sell more clothing and footwear to the world's largest economy. But such tariff-cutting steps are unlikely to become part of the new framework when the administration is apparently seeking to avoid the "hard political work" of gaining market-access concessions from Congress in favor of a combination of other potential incentives such as infrastructure investments and clean energy solutions, Goodman said. "If the combined benefit for the partner countries is positive, then maybe they will be willing to engage, and accept some of the U.S. requests for higher standards on worker rights or on digital economy. But I think that's a question," he said. Goodman said he hopes the "political constraints" on trade will ease for the Biden administration, at least after the November midterm elections, and that it will be able to shift to a more proactive stance on the issue. White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell indicated in a think-tank event in November the challenge of competing with China economically in the region without an affirmative trade strategy. As the moderator described the U.S. situation as "one hand or two hands tied behind your back," Campbell said, "It may be even more than that -- maybe one foot tied back there as well." (Miki Ishibashi contributed to this story.) KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2021 - 19:21 | All, Japan Students applying to enter public high schools from next spring will no longer be required to specify their gender on the application form in all of Japan's 47 prefectures except Tokyo, local education boards said as of Sunday. The decision comes amid growing awareness of transgender and nonbinary individuals in Japan, many of whom may face psychological distress having to specify a gender they do not identify with. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education will be the only one to retain the gender field because it has established a gender-based quota system for full-time schools with general courses. According to local boards of education, the gender field was included in all prefectures' public high school application forms for fiscal 2018 admissions. However, Osaka and Fukuoka removed the field starting from fiscal 2019, with other areas taking similar action in the following years. Five prefectures -- Yamagata, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba and Shizuoka -- have decided to remove the field for admissions for fiscal 2022 and onwards. Just as a fiscal year starts in April in Japan, the academic year begins in April for most educational institutions in the country. In explaining its decision, the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education said it "respected sexual diversity," while Chiba's education board said it did not foresee any particular issues with removing the field. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education decided in September to revise its gender-based quota system in stages after facing growing criticisms that the differing pass mark for men and women is sexist. An official at the board said that without the quota, the gender field is "essentially unnecessary," suggesting that Tokyo may follow suit in the future. Mameta Endo, 34, a transgender man and a representative of the sexual minority support group "Nijiizu," said he felt like he was denying himself when indicating his gender on a form. "(Removing the field) will eliminate the need for students to write a gender different from what they identify as, which in turn will help eliminate gender discrimination," Endo said. Related coverage: 80% of arts professors, awards judges in Japan are male: survey JICA issues Japan's 1st gender bonds for female empowerment FOCUS: Women's entry in Japan party leader race may not boost empowerment SHANGHAI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Wang Yong has called on state-funded companies and state-owned enterprises to deepen reform and innovation, while striving to contribute more to stabilizing economic fundamentals. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour to Jiangxi Province and Shanghai on the reform and development of the centrally-administered and local state-owned enterprises. From Wednesday to Friday, Wang went to companies in industrial sectors to visit their research and development centers and smart workshops as well as to learn about their reform and innovation progresses. Wang stressed the importance of ensuring stable development while pursuing progress as well as guaranteeing safe production and defusing risks. Efforts should be made to advance the breakthroughs of core technologies, promote the digital and green transformation, and foster new growth drivers, Wang said. Enditem SAO PAULO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazil on Friday said it registered 164 more deaths and 4,164 new cases of COVID-19 infection in the previous 24 hours. The latest figures raised the nationwide death toll to 618,392, while the caseload reached 22,230,737, according to data from health authorities. Following a cyber attack on the Health Ministry website two weeks ago, pandemic statistics are being released by the National Council of Health Secretaries representing Brazil's state health secretaries, though their numbers are somewhat incomplete. On Friday, data was missing from the states of Bahia (northeast), Tocantins (north) and Mato Grosso (west) because the ministry's real-time platforms were not operating. Brazil has fully vaccinated 142.3 million people, or 67.9 percent of the population, according to data released by a media consortium tracking the figures. Brazil has the world's second highest COVID-19 death toll, after the United States, and the third largest caseload, following the United States and India. Enditem BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China Enterprise Confederation issued a statement on Saturday to firmly oppose the U.S. trade hegemony of unilaterally impeding products made in Xinjiang from entering the international supply chain. The U.S. side has recently signed the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" into law, which bans imports of textile-related products from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The move has severely damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the statement said, adding that it also severely damages the rights to subsistence and development of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. The move will also disrupt the stability of global supply and industrial chains and undermine interests of related enterprises, which is not conducive to global economic recovery amid the pandemic, the statement added. The confederation said it completely approves of Chinese government's related stance and supports any necessary countermeasures. Chinese enterprises, including those in Xinjiang, can certainly cope with the disturbance and the malicious provocation, and achieve sustainable sound development, according to the statement. Enditem A medical worker wearing cartoon head decoration works at a vaccination site in Xuhui District of Shanghai, east China, Nov. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Close to 2.76 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Saturday, data from the National Health Commission showed Sunday. More than 1.2 billion people had been fully vaccinated as of Saturday, said the commission. Enditem Aerial photo taken on Nov. 21, 2021 shows a section of the China-Laos Railway on the outskirts of Vientiane, Laos.(Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Though the world remains haunted by the still ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen a boom in promoting world connectivity. Under the BRI framework, railway construction is expanding across the global landscape. The iconic China-Europe Railway Express, the China-Laos railway and the railway line in Tanzania have all recorded milestone achievements over the past year. These important railway projects provide important pillars for the BRI, and also contribute their due share to improving the global supply chain and the COVID-19 fight. LINE OF HEALTH AND GIFTS During days just before Christmas, when people in Western countries are worrying that they may not be able to receive their Christmas gifts on time due to clogged shipping lanes, China-Europe trains from different regions were sending products to Europe without delay. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China-Europe freight trains. By the end of October, the China-Europe freight trains plying along 73 routes have reached 175 cities in 23 European countries with more than 50,000 kinds of goods. Amid the pandemic, the number of China-Europe express trains as well as the volume of freight have continued to break new records. Data from China's National Development and Reform Commission shows that during the January-November period, the railway service linking the two sides operated 13,817 trains, carrying 1.332 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 23 percent and 30 percent respectively compared with the year 2020. At the end of November, the cumulative number of anti-epidemic equipment transported by the China-Europe freight trains reached 13.43 million pieces and 103,000 tons. "China is very important for the global supply chain. And in most cases it's faster (than the ocean shipping). Therefore, it's a useful alternative to use the train, and it's reliable," said Axel Mattern, joint chief executive officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing. According to global logistics company MEDILINK, the initial freight rate of the China-Europe rail network is often two-thirds higher than that of sea freight, but the current price is very competitive. The current freight rates of the China-Europe freight trains are basically the same as those of sea freight, but it only takes nearly half the time, said Logistics industry insiders. KEY FOR TRANS-ASIAN CONNECTIVITY On Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway officially started operation. It marks a crucial step for the trans-Asian railway network, which has been brewing for more than half a century. Since then, the journey from Vientiane to the border with China has been reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and the journey to Kunming, capital of China's Yunnan Province, can be made in a day. "The China-Laos railway is conducive to promoting the development of areas that are located along the line. Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Thailand, Laos and China, will benefit from trade, agricultural products, consumer products, investment and tourism," said Pichet Kunadhamraks, deputy director-general of the Department of Rail Transport under the Thai Ministry of Transport, in an interview with Xinhua. The railway is expected to reduce transport costs between Vientiane and Kunming by 40 to 50 percent, said a World Bank report, noting transport costs from Thailand's Laem Chabang port to Kunming are expected to fall by at least 32 percent. It is estimated that by 2030, the annual volume of commercial goods in transit through the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway will reach 3.9 million tons, it added. This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and the two sides are advancing the BRI and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will officially enter into force. Experts believe that the BRI will lead to the construction of the trans-Asian rail network and promote regional connectivity. ROAD OF DEVELOPMENT In mid-June this year, a ceremony was held to launch the Ithaca-Mwanza section of the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the construction of which is undertaken by a Chinese company. After the completion of this project, it will become an important route connecting Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries, providing a pathway to the Indian Ocean. It is of great importance for promoting the economic development of the countries in the region and improving the living conditions of the people. From the Tanzania-Zambia railway built in the 1970s, to the Djibouti-Ethiopia and Mombasa-Nairobi railways, and the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the joint efforts of China and Africa have created jobs, trade opportunities and a better investment environment, thereby contributing to local prosperity as well as to the improvement of the living conditions of the local residents. As of Dec. 16, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road with 145 countries and 32 international organizations, and financial institutions such as China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund have expanded financing channels for infrastructure construction. According to Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, for many countries, a major obstacle to escape poverty is the weakness of transport infrastructure, and in this regard, China's success can set an example. Enditem A train carrying 33 refrigerated containers departs from the Tengjun International Land Port in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, for Laos, Dec. 4, 2021. (Xinhua) - "China is very important for the global supply chain. And in most cases it's faster (than the ocean shipping). Therefore, it's a useful alternative to use the train, and it's reliable," said Axel Mattern, joint chief executive officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing. - As of Dec. 16, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road with 145 countries and 32 international organizations. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Though the world remains haunted by the still ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen a boom in promoting world connectivity. Under the BRI framework, railway construction is expanding across the global landscape. The iconic China-Europe Railway Express, the China-Laos railway and the railway line in Tanzania have all recorded milestone achievements over the past year. These important railway projects provide important pillars for the BRI, and also contribute their due share to improving the global supply chain and the COVID-19 fight. Railway staff members check a Yuxin'ou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) China-Europe freight train before it leaves the Tuanjie Village Station of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) LINE OF HEALTH AND GIFTS During days just before Christmas, when people in Western countries are worrying that they may not be able to receive their Christmas gifts on time due to clogged shipping lanes, China-Europe trains from different regions were sending products to Europe without delay. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China-Europe freight trains. By the end of October, the China-Europe freight trains plying along 73 routes have reached 175 cities in 23 European countries with more than 50,000 kinds of goods. Amid the pandemic, the number of China-Europe express trains as well as the volume of freight have continued to break new records. Data from China's National Development and Reform Commission shows that during the January-November period, the railway service linking the two sides operated 13,817 trains, carrying 1.332 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 23 percent and 30 percent respectively compared with the year 2020. A woman views Christmas ornaments made in China in a Christmas market at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, Dec. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ying) At the end of November, the cumulative number of anti-epidemic equipment transported by the China-Europe freight trains reached 13.43 million pieces and 103,000 tons. "China is very important for the global supply chain. And in most cases it's faster (than the ocean shipping). Therefore, it's a useful alternative to use the train, and it's reliable," said Axel Mattern, joint chief executive officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing. According to global logistics company MEDILINK, the initial freight rate of the China-Europe rail network is often two-thirds higher than that of sea freight, but the current price is very competitive. The current freight rates of the China-Europe freight trains are basically the same as those of sea freight, but it only takes nearly half the time, said Logistics industry insiders. A Lao railway staff member welcomes passengers to board Lane Xang electric multiple unit (EMU) train of the China-Laos Railway at Vientiane Railway Station in Vientiane, Laos, Dec. 3, 2021. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) KEY FOR TRANS-ASIAN CONNECTIVITY On Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway officially started operation. It marks a crucial step for the trans-Asian railway network, which has been brewing for more than half a century. Since then, the journey from Vientiane to the border with China has been reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and the journey to Kunming, capital of China's Yunnan Province, can be made in a day. "The China-Laos railway is conducive to promoting the development of areas that are located along the line. Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Thailand, Laos and China, will benefit from trade, agricultural products, consumer products, investment and tourism," said Pichet Kunadhamraks, deputy director-general of the Department of Rail Transport under the Thai Ministry of Transport, in an interview with Xinhua. The railway is expected to reduce transport costs between Vientiane and Kunming by 40 to 50 percent, said a World Bank report, noting transport costs from Thailand's Laem Chabang port to Kunming are expected to fall by at least 32 percent. It is estimated that by 2030, the annual volume of commercial goods in transit through the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway will reach 3.9 million tons, it added. This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, and the two sides are advancing the BRI and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will officially enter into force. Experts believe that the BRI will lead to the construction of the trans-Asian rail network and promote regional connectivity. Passengers are seen at Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Nov. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) ROAD OF DEVELOPMENT In mid-June this year, a ceremony was held to launch the Ithaca-Mwanza section of the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the construction of which is undertaken by a Chinese company. After the completion of this project, it will become an important route connecting Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries, providing a pathway to the Indian Ocean. It is of great importance for promoting the economic development of the countries in the region and improving the living conditions of the people. From the Tanzania-Zambia railway built in the 1970s, to the Djibouti-Ethiopia and Mombasa-Nairobi railways, and the Standard Gauge Railway of Tanzania's Central Line, the joint efforts of China and Africa have created jobs, trade opportunities and a better investment environment, thereby contributing to local prosperity as well as to the improvement of the living conditions of the local residents. As of Dec. 16, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents for the joint construction of the Belt and Road with 145 countries and 32 international organizations, and financial institutions such as China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund have expanded financing channels for infrastructure construction. According to Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, for many countries, a major obstacle to escape poverty is the weakness of transport infrastructure, and in this regard, China's success can set an example. Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 26, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Ye Guangfu exiting the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-13 taikonauts Ye Guangfu and Zhai Zhigang have been out of the space station core module Tianhe to start extravehicular activities (EVAs), the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Sunday evening. The CMSA said Ye opened the hatch of Tianhe's node cabin at 6:44 p.m. (Beijing Time). Ye and Zhai, donning China-developed Feitian spacesuits, got out of the core module from its node cabin at 6:50 p.m. and 7:37 p.m. respectively. The pair will conduct a series of operations such as lifting panoramic camera and testing goods transport. Wang Yaping stayed inside to work with the ground control center to operate the mechanical arm and support the pair in conducting the extravehicular operations. The CMSA noted that extravehicular operations are becoming the normal work of the space station flight missions. Chinese taikonauts will carry out more EVAs which are more complex to provide strong support for the successful completion of the construction and the stable operation of the space station, the CMSA added. The Shenzhou-13 crew conducted the first EVAs on Nov. 7. Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 26, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang exiting the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 26, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Ye Guangfu exiting the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 26, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang exiting the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 26, 2021 shows Chinese taikonaut Wang Yaping working in the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) LAGOS, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and 12 others injured as two vehicles crashed into each other on a road in southwest Nigeria's Ogun state on Saturday, road police said. Ahmed Umar, a commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun state, told reporters in the town of Ota in the state that a total of 18 people were involved in the accident suspected to be caused by wrongful overtaking and loss of control. Umar said the injured were rushed to a local hospital for treatment and the corpses of the deceased have been deposited at the same hospital for identification. He warned motorists against dangerous driving, especially during the holiday season of high vehicular movement. Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad road conditions, and reckless driving. Enditem BAMAKO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Mali has denied the deployment of elements of the Russian private company Wagner on its territory. In a statement released Friday evening, the Malian government also demanded evidence be provided by independent sources with respect to these "allegations." The Malian authorities specified that Russian trainers are in Mali to strengthen the capacities of the SDF (Defense and Security Forces), saying the Malian government wished to be "judged on acts and not on rumors" and stressing that it is "engaged only in a state-to-state partnership with Russia." Fifteen international (western) partners of Mali issued a joint statement Thursday, denouncing the arrival of the Wagner group to support the Malian armed forces. They said Wagner's deployment could only "exacerbate the deteriorating security situation" in Mali and urged the Malian transitional government to instead "restore constitutional order by organizing elections." In a meeting with Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Malian minister of Security and Civil Protection, Thursday, Russian Ambassador to Mali Igor Gromyko urged the Malian transitional authorities to "further strengthen military cooperation" between the two countries. "We expect to increase the quota of Malian police officers in training in Russia and provide a legal basis for their presence," Igor Gromyko told the press. Since 2012, Mali has been facing deep and multifaceted security, political and economic crisis. The independence insurrections, the jihadist incursions and the inter-communal violence have caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, despite the presence of UN (MINUSMA), French (Barkhane) and European (Takuba) forces. Enditem KHARTOUM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese protesters on Saturday managed to reach the presidential palace in Khartoum to demand civilian rule, official SUNA news agency reported. "The protesters reached the vicinity of the Republican Palace amid chants through which they affirmed rejection to the political agreement signed between the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Transitional Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok," the report said. Thousands of Sudanese citizens demonstrated in the capital Khartoum and other cities on Saturday. The Sudanese authorities interrupted internal communications and the internet service before the start of Saturday's demonstrations. According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of Sudanese army soldiers and the Rapid Support Forces have been deployed at the entrances to the bridges linking the three major cities of the capital, including Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri. On Friday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, the body leading the protests, urged the citizens to take part in protests set for Saturday to demand full civilian authority. Khartoum State's security committee, meanwhile, announced in a press release the closure of the bridges linking Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman cities as of Friday evening, excluding Suba and Halfaya bridges. The committee said deviating from peacefulness, approaching and violating the sovereign and strategic sites in central Khartoum would be regarded as a violation of the laws, noting that "chaos and violations will be dealt with." Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25 and dissolved the sovereign council and government. However, on Nov. 21, Al-Burhan and the then removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok signed a political declaration, which included reinstating Hamdok as prime minister, but the deal has so far failed to calm the street. Enditem highlights The husband was seeking another wife through a matrimonial website. He was already married twice but her wives were living with their parents. The women sat on a dharna outside his office when they fount out about his plans. Coimbatore: Enraged over their estranged husband seeking another partner through a matrimonial website, two women and their kin on Tuesday assaulted him in front of a police station near here with a video of the incident going viral on the social media. Police said the two, who have been living with their respective parents unable to bear alleged physical torture by their husband, earlier staged a dharna in front of his office, following which he was asked to come to the police station. As the 26-year old man, employed in a private firm, emerged out of the police station after being questioned, the two women, one of whom he had married in 2016 and the other in April this year, and their relatives pounced on him and beat him up. Police said they intervened and took them inside the station where the two women lodged a formal complaint, accusing the man of cheating them after marriage and attempting to enter into wedlock with another. Further investigation was on, they said even as a video of the man being thrashed by his wives went viral on social media. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Kripashankar Singh was the former Mumbai Congress president. Singh's resignation came days after meeting Maharashtra BJP vice-president. Earlier in the day, Urmila Matondkar had also quit the Congress party. New Delhi: In yet another jolt to the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, former Maharashtra minister and Mumbai Chief Kripashankar Singh on Tyuesday quit the Congress party. Singh, who gave up the party's primary membership, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The resignation of the prominent Congress leader has come days after his meeting with Maharashtra BJP vice-president Prasad Lad, who is considered a close aide of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This was the second big resignation of the day in the Congress party. Earlier in the day, actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar had also resigned from the Congress, blaming the petty in-house party politics. Urmila, who was the Congress candidate from Mumbai North seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, said: "First thought of resignation came to me when after my repeated efforts, no action was taken in pursuance of my letter dated 16th May, addressed to then Mumbai Congress President Mr Milind Deora." RELATED Following the party's 2019 drubbing in Maharashtra and across the country, several leaders in the Congress party have switched their loyalities by joining either the BJP or the Shiv Sena. Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha after quitting Congress, also announced to join the saffron party. According to BJP sources, NCP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh Patil and Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale would be joining the party soon. The extent of resignation in the BJP and the NCP can be understood from Amit Shah's remark that if BJP opens its door completely, except Sharad Pawar and Prithviraj Chavan, no one will remain in their respective parties. highlights The announcement follows creation of a new fast-track visa route. Govts latest announcement was widely welcomed by university chiefs. The UK ended its two-year post-study work visa offer in 2012. London: In a move that addresses a long-standing demand to boost Indian student numbers choosing British universities, the UK government on Wednesday announced a new two-year post-study work visa route for all international students. The new 'Graduate' route, to be in place by next year, will be open to all overseas nationals who have valid UK immigration status as a student and have successfully completed a course of study in any subject at undergraduate level or above at a government-approved UK higher education institution. The visa will allow eligible students to work, or crucially look for work, in any career or position of their choice, for two years after completing their studies. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has effectively re-instated a policy ended by his predecessor Theresa May around nine years ago, said the change would see students "unlock their potential" to begin careers in the UK. "The new Graduate Route will mean talented international students, whether in science and maths or technology and engineering, can study in the UK and then gain valuable work experience as they go on to build successful careers,? said UK home secretary Priti Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin member of Johnson's Cabinet. "It demonstrates our global outlook and will ensure that we continue to attract the best and brightest,? she said. The UK ended its two-year post-study work visa offer during May's term as UK home secretary in 2012, widely seen as responsible for a major drop in student numbers from countries like India. "The withdrawal of the PSW [post-study work] visa was attributed with a decline in international student recruitment in the UK from key markets, notably India. Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, the number of higher education students from India more than halved," noted a report by the UK's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students. The government's latest announcement was widely welcomed by university chiefs and representatives, who highlight that Indian students were particularly prone to make their higher education choices based on being able to gain some work experience at the end of their degree. "Although 82 per cent of our Indian graduates are satisfied with their careers wherever they are working, we know that they value the opportunity to spend some time in the UK working after their degree. This visa will make it significantly easier for them to do that," said Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International, which has been lobbying for such a visa for many years. "The UK ranks first for international student satisfaction overall, compared to other major study destinations, but having a more attractive post-study work offer will open the UK up to even more international students. It will also allow employers in all parts of the UK to benefit from access to talented graduates from around the world," she said. Indian students coming to the UK registered a hike over the last three years, hitting around 22,000 in the year ending June 2018. This was a 42 per cent increase on the previous year, a reversal from a downward trend in the past. "I'm delighted that numbers of Indian students coming to study in the UK are constantly increasing, having doubled over the last three years. Last year alone we saw a massive 42 per cent increase. This exciting announcement will help ensure that the UK remains one of the best destinations for students across the world, said Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner to India. The latest announcement follows the creation of a new fast-track visa route for scientists and the removal of the limit on PhD students moving into the skilled work visa route, which collectively aim to cement the UK as a science superpower and a world-leader in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sector. According to official UK figures, almost half of all Indian students - 130,000 since 2008-9 - heading to the UK in the last 10 years chose a STEM subject. The new Graduate route will launch for the 2020-21 intake of students to UK universities. After the two years, they will be able to switch onto the skilled work visa if they find a job which meets the skill requirement of the route. The new visa, more details of which will be unveiled in the coming months, will offer opportunities to work or look for work after graduating. However, unlike the route which closed in 2012, the UK government stressed that the new route will also include safeguards to ensure only "genuine, credible students" are eligible. The announcement coincides with the launch of a 200-million pound genetics project at the UK Biobank, a charity and health resource that contains information and samples from 500,000 people. The UK Biobank collected DNA samples and health questionnaire information from 500,000 British volunteers over several years and is now open to researchers from anywhere in the world who want to use those resources to develop new treatments for diseases. Boris Johnson said projects of this kind wouldn't be possible "without being open to the brightest and the best from across the globe to study and work" in the UK. His brother, Jo Johnson, who resigned as universities minister last week, is believed to have done all the groundwork on the new Graduate visa, having been an ardent advocate for the need of a credible post-study work offer. Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said an official announcement of alliance with BJP for the Maharashtra assembly polls would be made in the next two days. However, he made it clear that the formula for sharing of seats between his party and the BJP will be finalised after detailed deliberations. Thackeray has recently made the commitment for a saffron alliance in the Assembly polls in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Certain things are being worked out. The official announcement of the BJP and the Sena contesting the elections jointly will be made in the next couple of days," Thackeray told reporters after NCP MLA Avdhut Tatkare, nephew of Raigad Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare, joined the Sena at his suburban residence. Thackeray, while sharing a stage with the PM at a function in Mumbai on Saturday, said the saffron alliance was "atal" (inevitable) and it will return to power once again. "The alliance is 'atal' (inevitable). We want power.. No doubt about it, but we need it for developing the state. The 'yuti' (NDA alliance) will return to power in the state once again after polls. I am glad that PM Modi is providing facilities for growing population in the state," he had said. On Monday, Thackeray didn't comment on the tricky issue of devising a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula with the BJP. "Certain things such as exchange of seats etc. are still being worked out. There will be several rounds of meetings to finalise the seat-sharing formula and other responsibilities," the Sena chief said. He also evaded queries on whether his son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray will be the next chief minister in the event of the NDA returning to power once again. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, believed to be the blue-eyed boy of the BJP top brass, had repeatedly asserted that he would return as the CM of the "yuti" (NDA alliance). As per reports, the Sena wants the BJP to adhere to the 50:50 formula, which means both the parties contesting equal number of seats--135 each. Of the total 288 seats, the BJP and the Sena have agreed to allocate 18 seats to smaller allies, but a formal deal is yet to be sealed. However, poll managers of the BJP are arguing for more seats to accommodate leaders from Opposition parties and its "growing political might". Recently, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil had indicated that his party might not settle for 135 seats as the saffron party wanted to accommodate rebels from other parties and in view of its growing footprint. In the 2014 assembly elections, which both the parties contested separately, the BJP won 122 seats and the Sena 63. The 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls are slated to be held in October. highlights A special court will hold trial on October 1 in a case registered against Yasin Malik. Summons have been issued against Yasin Malik and three others in the case. Malik is currently in Tihar jail in connection with terror finding case. New Delhi: A special court will hold trial on October 1 in a case registered against Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik for killing 4 IAF personnel on the outskirts of Srinagar city on January 25, 1990. Summons have been issued against Yasin Malik and three others in the case. Malik is currently in Tihar jail in connection with terror funding case and his outfit was recently banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The IAF case relates to an incident that occurred on January 25, 1990 at Rawalpora, Srinagar. Air Force employees were fired upon by terrorists in which 40 of them, including a woman, received serious injuries and four personnel were killed on the spot. Two charge sheets were filed by the CBI in August and September of 1990 against Malik before the designated TADA court in Jammu. In 1995, he was granted a stay on trial by a single bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court as there was no TADA court in Srinagar. In 2008, Malik approached a special court saying that the trial should be shifted to Srinagar as he was facing security problems in view of the Amarnath row -- an agitation which had divided people of Kashmir and Jammu on religious lines over the issue of leasing out land to outsiders during the annual pilgrimage. The CBI filed objections and opposed the application, which was rejected in an order dated April 20, 2009. Finally, decks were cleared this April for the trial of Malik in Jammu in the two cases after standing counsel for CBI, Monika Kohli, argued before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that the agency had opposed transfer of cases to Srinagar which was rejected. She also informed the court that petitions challenging the order of TADA court were filed with the high court but these could not be heard. Highlighting CBI's objections, Kohli also informed Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta that the TADA court in Srinagar was abolished and the designated court in Jammu was given jurisdiction throughout the state with its headquarters in Jammu in May 1990. In a 27-page judgment, Justice Gupta, while vacating the order by a single bench, said, "... From bare perusal of contents of petitions and relief sought therein, one can definitely come to conclusion that petitioners (Malik) have sought transfer of their cases from designated court Jammu to additional court at Srinagar, which is not permissible under law." Malik was a militant before he gave up arms in the mid-1990s. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Paytm is in talks to buy stake in Yes Bank from co-founder Rana Kapoor. Sources said Kapoor has held preliminary discussions with Paytam. Digital payments major had recently launched its own digital bank. New Delhi: Digital payments major Paytm is in discussions to buy stake in Yes Bank from co-founder Rana Kapoor, according to sources. The sources, privy to the discussions, said Kapoor has held preliminary discussions with Paytm. They said the structure of the deal would depend on the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), given that Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma already owns stake in Paytm Payments Bank. Paytm declined to comment on the matter. Kapoor and associated entities own a 9.6 per cent stake in Yes Bank. Rana Kapoor could not be reached for comments. Also, banking sources declined to comment whether plans are afoot by Rana Kapoor and family to sell their entire stake in the bank. Ravneet Gill, the current chief executive officer of Yes Bank who took charge in March, has said the bank wants to increase focus on compliance and governance. Notably, these are the two critical areas on which his predecessor Rana Kapoor had to step down, as the banking sector regulator RBI had found lapses on the part of the bank on these issues. The bank had posted its first-ever quarterly loss at Rs 1,506.64 crore on the back of higher provisions in the quarter ended March 2019, compared to a profit of Rs 1,179.44 crore in the year-ago period. However, it returned to profit subsequently and posted at Rs 114 crore profit in the first quarter ended June of the current financial year. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models tonight. The biggest difference is likely to be in the phones camera. Apple is expected to add an extra camera lens to each model. San Francisco: Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models tonight. The companys new phone models will likely mirror last years iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. Prices are likely to stay at $750 to $1,100, before add-ons such as more storage. And they will likely have the same design with more display space, less bezel and no home button that Apple switched to with the iPhone X in 2017. With little change, many customers who bought models in the past two years may hold off upgrading this year, analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights said. The biggest difference is likely to be in the phones camera, an area that Apple and its rivals have all been trying to improve as consumers snap more pictures on their devices. Even there, improvements from year to year have been small. This year, Apple is expected to add an extra camera lens to each model. The two pricier models already have a telephoto lens for better zoom. Now, they are expected to sport a wide-angle lens to capture more of a scene than regular shots. The cheapest model is expected to get one of those features, but its not clear which. Even with those additions, the new iPhones may still be catching up with the improvements that rivals such as Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo and Google have been making to their latest phones. Unlike some of the other devices coming out this year, the new iPhones arent expected to support upcoming ultrafast cellular networks known as 5G. Apple paid billions of dollars to settle a royalty dispute with chipmaker Qualcomm in April to gain the technology it needs for 5G iPhones, but those models arent expected to be ready until next year. Besides iPhones, Apple is also expected to provide looks at the next versions of its internet-connected watch and its video-streaming device, Apple TV. New iPads could also be in the mix. iPhone shipments are down 25% so far this year, according to the research firm IDC, putting more pressure on Apple to generate revenue from services such as music streaming, product repairs, revenue sharing from apps and ad commissions from making Google the default search engine. Revenue from services rose 14% to nearly $23 billion during the first half of this year. And now Apple is getting ready to roll out a Netflix-like video service that will feature a slate of original programs featuring stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Jason Momoa. Apple provided a peek in March, but hasnt specified when it will debut this fall or how much it will cost. Those details are expected to be revealed Tuesday, along with more information about a video gaming service called Arcade. highlights Netanyahu pledged to annex Jordan valley in occupied West Bank Turkey has slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saudi has called an emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers New Delhi: Turkey has slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus 'pledge' to annexe the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank if he comes back to power. Ankara considers itself as the champion of the Palestinian cause and has never shied away from the criticism of Israel. Earlier, Netanyahu issued a controversial pledge regarding the annexation of Jordan and Israeli settlements in the wider West Bank in case of his re-election in the September 17 polls. The election promise of Netanyahu, who is giving all kind of illegal, unlawful and aggressive messages before the election, is a racist apartheid state, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has called an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency stated. Reacting to Netanyahus pledge, the Kingdom issued a statement saying, The kingdom affirms that this declaration is a very dangerous escalation against the Palestinian people and represents a flagrant violation of the UN charter and the principles of international law. It also urged the international community to reject Netanyahus declaration and condemn his pledge. The Palestinians in response said Netanyahus statement was destroying any hopes for peace. Netanyahus political opponents accused him of indulging into cynical play for right-wing nationalist votes. However, the United Nations has warned Netanyahu that his plans to annexe the Jordan valley will have no international legal effect. The secretary-generals position has always been clear: unilateral actions are not helpful in the peace process, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: After arresting Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar, his family has now come on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate. The central probe agency has served a notice to his daughter in connection with the money laundering case against him. The notice to his daughter was sent days after his arrest by the enforcement directorate. Shivakumar had termed his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of money laundering politically motivated and said that he is a victim of BJP's politics of vengeance and vendetta. I congratulate my BJP friends for finally being successful in their mission of arresting me. The IT and ED cases against me are politically motivated and I am a victim of BJP's politics of vengeance and vendetta, Shivakumar wrote on Twitter. After his arrest, he was later sent to a 9-day ED custody in connection with a money laundering case that surfaced following an ITD raid in 2017. Shivakumar, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday night, will be under custodial interrogation till September 13, Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar said. Kuhar passed the order after the ED sought a 14-day custodial interrogation of Shivakumar, claiming that he was evasive and non-cooperative in the probe and there was "phenomenal growth" in his income while he was in important position. Also, it is needed to ascertain the source of unaccounted cash seized by IT-Dept in 2017 and unearth the modus operandi, the ED informed the court. Opposing ED's plea for custodial interrogation, Shivakumar's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the agency's submission was without "application of mind" as the Congress leader has already been quizzed for 33 hours and he was not a flight risk. Unless ED shows that something startling and new has happened, Shivakumar cannot be sent to its custody as he never absconded, Singhvi argued. The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate SK Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with the help of three other accused. HIGHLIGHTS ED has served a notice to DK Shivakumar's daughter in connection with money laundering case. The I-T department has accused Shivakumar laundering money on a regular basis. Shivakumar was arrested by the agency and sent to a 9-day judicial custody. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights His statement came a day after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed "deep concern" over the impact of restrictions in Kashmir. India last month abrogated the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. India's move evoked strong reactions from Pakistan with its Prime Minister making provocative anti-India rhetoric, which India dubbed as "irresponsible statements". New Delhi: In what could be termed as a massive goof-up, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday accepted that Kashmir is an Indian state". While speaking to the media at the UNHRC in Geneva, Qureshi said: India is trying to give an impression to the world that the life has returned to normalcy in Kashmir. If the life has returned to the normalcy, why dont they allow you, the international media, to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. #WATCH: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi mentions Kashmir as Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir in Geneva pic.twitter.com/kCc3VDzVuN ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2019 Pakistan also said the UNHRC must not remain "indifferent" to the situation in Kashmir after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status, saying it is the repository of the world's conscience on human rights. Addressing the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Qureshi said the top UN rights body should not be embarrassed on the world stage by its inaction over the issue. He said the UNHRC must not remain indifferent to the situation in Kashmir after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. "Today, I have knocked on the doors of the Human Rights Council, the repository of the world's conscience on human rights, to seek justice and respect for the people of Kashmir," he said. "We must not allow this august body to be embarrassed on the world stage. As a founding member of this Council, Pakistan feels morally and ethically bound to prevent this from occurring," he said, adding that in order to do so the body should not remain indifferent to the situation that was unfolding. "We must act decisively and with conviction," he said. His statement came a day after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed "deep concern" over the impact of restrictions in Kashmir, and asked India to ease the current lockdowns to ensure people's access to basic services. India last month abrogated the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. India's move evoked strong reactions from Pakistan with its Prime Minister Imran Khan making provocative anti-India rhetoric, which India dubbed as "irresponsible statements". For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Noida: The Pune Police on Tuesday searched the residence of Delhi University professor Hany Babu in Noida in connection with its probe into the Elgaar Parishad case for alleged Maoist links, officials said. Pune Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar said no arrest was made during the search operation at 45-year-old Babu's house in Sector 78 of Noida, adjoining the national capital, early in the morning. "We have conducted a search operation at Babu's residence in Noida in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case registered at the Vishrambaug police station in Pune," he said, adding that police have recovered some electronic devices. The search was conducted at his residence in connection with offences registered at Pune's Vishrambaug police station under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 and 121A (waging or attempting to wage war against government), 124A (sedition), among others. Babu, who teaches English in DU, was not named in the FIR, according to police. Babu alleged that police did not have a search warrant and they seized the phones of his daughter and wife, barring them from communicating with friends. "The officers entered my residence and looked through every room of my apartment. The search went on for six hours, at the end of which they said they will be seizing my laptop, my hard disks, my pen drives and books. They made me change the passwords of my social media accounts and my email accounts," he said. His wife, Jenny Rowena, who teaches English at Miranda House, said they are scared after the raid, but DU teachers and students have expressed solidarity with them. "We were sleeping when they came. We didn't know why they were doing it. They told us that the case does not need a search warrant. They just told us some case number and then said it is connected to Rona Wilson case," she told PTI over phone. "We have books in three rooms and they video recorded the books. After six hours, they said, that you are suspects now in the Bhima Koregaon case," she said. The Noida Police said that only a search and seizure operation was conducted at his residence. "Video recording of whole proceedings was done, reasons for search were explained to him in English, a copy of seizure panchnama was given with his due acknowledgement," Noida Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna said. The SSP said the Pune Police team comprised a senior crime branch officer and cyber experts besides Pawar, the investigation officer in the case, while the Noida Police provided logistical support. The Delhi University Teachers' Association condemned the raid on Babu's house. "Such raids without search warrants are against the very essence of democracy, individual freedom, and open the door for planting evidence. Arbitrary use of instruments of the state to harass and intimidate dissent is inexcusable," the DUTA said in a statement. Bengaluru-headquartered human rights body People's Union for Civil Liberties also condemned the "McCarthy-style witch-hunt" and "victimization" of Babu. "The unending trial of democracy and unremitting assault on the Constitution and rule of law, in the name of Bhima-Koregaon, and the McCarthy-style Witch-hunt and victimisation of constitutionally minded academics and citizens questioning anti-democratic actions of the government in the Bhima Koregaon case continues unabated," PUCL said in a statement. Students of DU English Department have called for a protest-march on Wednesday against the raid in North Campus. In a statement, they called the raid "illegal" and one "which amounts to harassment". The Elgaar conclave was held at historic Shaniwar Wada in Pune on December 31, 2017, ahead of the 200th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. According to police, speeches made at the conclave aggravated the caste violence around Koregaon Bhima village in the district on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured. Police have so far arrested nine people in the case. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights On July 31, Parliament passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Gujarat government on Tuesday announced a drastic cut in the penalties for traffic violations. The amended Central MV Act provides for a fine of 1,000 for driving a two-wheeler without helmet. New Delhi: Hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat government announced a drastic cut in the penalties for traffic violations under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, Maharashtra government has written a letter to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari requesting to reconsider and reduce the huge fine. The fines prescribed in the new Motor Vehicles Act have increased exorbitantly. The central government is requested to reconsider and reduce the same by making suitable amendments in the Act," Diwakar Raote, Maharashtra Transport Minister, said in the letter. Reacting to it, Gadkari said that the Maharashtra Transport Minister was part of the committee that approved the Act. "Maharashtra Transport Min was a part of the committee that approved the Act. During my discussion with Devendra Fadnavis, he didn't mention about it. I feel there'll be no problem," Gadkari said. On July 31, Parliament passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019. But some States, especially those ruled by non-BJP parties, have opposed its stringent provisions and not implemented them yet. The amended Central MV Act provides for a fine of 1,000 for driving a two-wheeler without helmet. Meanwhile, Gujarat government on Tuesday announced a drastic cut in the penalties for traffic violations even as the Centre is justifying the steep fine amounts under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act. In some cases, the reduction in the State is as steep as 1,000 from 10,000. The amended Central MV Act provides for a fine of 1,000 for driving a two-wheeler without helmet; in Gujarat the fine will be 500, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced here. The penalty for the offence in the State currently is a mere 100. While the Central law has proposed a fine of 1,000 for pillion riders not wearing helmet, this provision will not be implemented at all in Gujarat, Mr. Rupani said. Further, one can produce driving licence or other documents in digitised form after storing them in the DigiLocker app, he said. For not fastening seat belts, car drivers will be fined 500 against 1,000 under the Central Act. The new provisions will come into force in Gujarat from September 16, the Chief Minister said. The fine amount for different violations proposed under the Central law is the upper limit. Penalty collection is not our objective. We want people to be safe. The Gujarat government will enforce the law strictly wherever it is needed. We will be lenient wherever needed. That is why we will not impose any fine on pillion riders, Rupani said. For triple-seat riding on two-wheelers, the fine in Gujarat will continue to be 100 and not 1,000 as under the amended MV Act, as poor people cannot afford to hire autorickshaw if a family of three wants to go somewhere, the Chief Minister said. Talking on phone while driving would attract a fine of 500 for first-time offenders and 1,000 if caught a second time, which is almost on a par with the penalty under the Central Act. At present, the police collect 1,000 for the same offence in Gujarat. For dangerous driving as well as driving on the wrong side, the first-time penalty would be 1,500 for three-wheelers, 3,000 for light motor vehicles and 5,000 for bigger vehicles. These fines are lower than those under the Central Act, which provides for fines of 5,000 for the first time and 10,000 for a repeat offence. While the amended Central law proposes a penalty of 5,000 if the driver does not have a licence, the State police will recover 2,000 from two-wheeler riders and 3,000 from drivers of three- or four-wheelers. Against a hefty penalty of 5,000 proposed by the Centre for not registering the vehicle, the Gujarat government will recover 1,000 for two-wheelers, 2,000 for three- wheelers, 3,000 for four-wheelers and 5,000 for bigger vehicles. With PTI Inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jaipur: A six-year-old boy was killed, and his grandfather injured after their two-wheeler was hit by a car in the cavalcade of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Alwar district of Rajasthan on Wednesday, police said. Bhagwat was returning from a programme in Alwar district's Tijara area when the incident happened and there were eight to ten cars in the cavalcade, police said. "One of the cars in the cavalcade hit a motorcycle leaving six-year-old Sachin dead and his grandfather injured," said Ramswaroop Bairwa, sub-inspector of Mandawar police station. The cavalcade went towards Behror after the incident, he said. The car involved in the accident is yet to be seized, police said. "An FIR has been lodged against the driver of the car on the basis of the vehicles registration number," Bairwa said, adding that further investigations are underway. Bhagwat, who gets Z plus security cover, was on a trip to Alwar. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights A newspaper published Khashoggi's last words before he lost consciousness A UN report has alleged that Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for the killing Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi was killed by rogue officials New Delhi: Journalist Jamal Khashoggi urged his killers not to cover his mouth because he could suffocate, new reports have revealed. In his final words, the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi urged his killers not to cover his mouth because he suffered from asthma, according to Turkeys Sabah newspaper. Sabah newspaper, considered close to Turkey's government, published new details of a recording of Khashoggi's conversation with members of a Saudi hit squad sent to kill him. The paper said the recording of Khashoggi's killing and reported dismemberment at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 was obtained by Turkey's intelligence agency. According to the report in Sabah, a member of the Saudi hit squad Maher Mutreb told Khashoggi that he had to be taken back to Riyadh because of an Interpol order against him. The journalist objected saying there was no legal case against him and that his fiancee was waiting for him outside. Mutreb and another man were also heard trying to force Khashoggi to send his son a message telling him not to worry if he doesn't hear from him, according to the paper. Khashoggi resisted saying, "I will write nothing." Mutreb is later heard saying: "Help us, so that we can help you. Because in the end, we will take you to Saudi Arabia. And if you don't help us, you know what will happen in the end." Sabah also published Khashoggi's last words before he was apparently drugged and lost consciousness. "Don't cover my mouth," he told his killers, according to Sabah. "I have asthma, don't do it. You'll suffocate me." It is widely believed that Khashoggi was killed at orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A UN report has also alleged that Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for the killing and Mohammed bin Salman's role in the killing should be examined. The prince has denied any involvement in the slaying. Saudi Arabia initially offered multiple and different accounts about Khashoggi's disappearance. However, as international pressure mounted, it settled on the explanation that he was killed by rogue officials in a brawl inside their consulate. The kingdom has put 11 people on trial in non-public proceedings. Khashoggi's remains have not been found yet. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who has had contacts with the leadership in India and Pakistan, remains very concerned about any potential escalation between the two countries over Kashmir and appeals to both sides to deal with the issue through dialogue, his spokesperson said. Guterres met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit last month in Biarritz, France and has also spoken to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, UN chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a daily press briefing here on Tuesday. On Monday, Guterres also met with the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Maleeha Lodhi on her request over the Kashmir issue. His message to all of them has been the same, both publicly and privately, that he remains very concerned about any potential escalation between India and Pakistan over the situation. He appeals to both sides to deal with the issue through dialogue, Dujarric said. Dujarric was responding to a question on whether Guterres plans to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir during the UN General Assembly session later this month which would be attended by both Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. You know, the position - our position on mediation has, as a matter of principle, has always remained the same, Dujarric said. His comments came as India and Pakistan clashed at the 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva over the Kashmir issue. The UN chief has maintained that his good offices are available only if both sides ask for it. However, India has made it clear to the international community that the Kashmir issue is an internal matter and there is no need for a third-party mediation. And, as was said by the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently, the situation in Kashmir can only be solved with the full respect of human rights, Dujarric said. Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and expelled the Indian high commissioner following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights River died of a drug overdose on the sidewalk outside a nightclub in Hollywood at the age of 23. Rivers best works include films such as "Stand by Me", "Running on Empty" and "My Own Private Idaho" Toronto : Oscar's best actor foreruner Joaquin Phoenix who has become movie-goers sweetheart with Todd Phillips' Joker said his acting career would not have been possible without his late brother, River Phoenix. Phoenix who was one of the two actors to be presented with the TIFF Tribute Actor Award gave an emotional speech crediting his late brother for his rise in career. "When I was 15 or 16 my brother River (Phoenix) came home from work and he had a VHS copy of a movie called 'Raging Bull' and he sat me down and made me watch it. And the next day he woke me up, and he made me watch it again. And he said, 'You're going to start acting again, this is what you're going to do'," Phoenix said at the Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Gala. Joaquin Phoenix talking about his big brother River in his acceptance speech for the TIFF Tribute Award - September 9th, 2019 pic.twitter.com/9VTGFqXAh1 The River Phoenix Gallery (@phoenixsgallery) September 10, 2019 "He didn't ask me, he told me. And I am indebted to him for that because acting has given me such an incredible life," the actor recalled in an emotional speech. Phoenix made a surprise appearance on the stage in the middle of his introduction by Willem Dafoe. The actor thanked his father, mother and sisters Rain, Liberty and Summer. "I feel overwhelmed with emotion, because I'm just thinking about all the people that had such a profound influence on me. When I was watching those clips, I thought about my family. My sisters Rain and Liberty and Summer, who are still my best friends.? River, one of the promising stars in Hollywood and a teen idol, died of a drug overdose on the sidewalk outside a nightclub in Hollywood at the age of 23. Some of his best works include films such as "Stand by Me", "Running on Empty" and "My Own Private Idaho". For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tripura police have detained a family of six, including four children, in the state's Unakoti area.The police have arrested a family of Rohingyas for unlawfully entering Indian territory. The Rohingya were caught after crossing the Bangladesh border illegally. The Rohingyas were apprehended by police, who were accompanied by members of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), after acting on specific information. The police and TSR invaded a residence belonging to one Shahnaj Ali in the district's Ichabpur region and detained a Rohingya family. Two adults and four children were among those arrested. They arrived in India through Dawki, Meghalaya, and then travelled to Assam. They thereafter boarded a train destined for Agartala and arrived in Tripura. The number of shooting victims in NYC continues to rise Putin assures Vucic that Serbia will receive sufficient gas supplies Leopard created orgy in dense population at night, injured many people In view of the fast spread of the Omicron Covid strain, the Iraqi Ministry of Health has warned residents to take health precautions during New Year's celebrations. According to media sources, the Ministry of Health issued a statement urging individuals to adopt health preventive measures such as wearing masks, keeping physical distance, and getting vaccinated. In a second statement, the ministry said it had received 322 additional Covid-19 instances, bringing the total number of cases to 2,092,156 across the country. It also announced seven more fatalities, increasing the total number of people who have died as a result of the illness to 24,115. Since January, Iraq has been moving forwards with its immunisation campaign. According to Saudi official media, a Houthi missile strike on a vehicle maintenance workshop in Samtah killed a Saudi citizen and a Yemeni migrant worker, and injured seven others. After the Iran-backed Houthi militia drove him out of the capital Sanaa, the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to protect President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government. The Houthi group has recently increased drone and missile strikes on Saudi cities across the border. The Houthi militia began a strong offensive against the Yemeni government army in February in order to take control of the oil-rich region of Marib. V's name was not associated with BTS band earlier, know how this journey started IAS's son jumps from 6th floor, died Man attacked with knife when staff asked for a corona test Bhopal: Addressing a program in MP's capital Bhopal, former CM Digvijay Singh has made controversial remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the theme song of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon', she said that girls wearing jeans do not like Prime Minister Modi. He said that women above 40 years of age are influenced by Modi. Digvijay also targeted the BJP over Savarkar and Hindutva. In fact, addressing Congress workers last Saturday on the occasion of Jan Jagran Abhiyan, Digvijay Singh said that girls wearing jeans and girls who keep phones are not impressed with Modi, only women in the age group of 40 to 50 years are influenced by Modi. He said that if the BJP wins again in 2024, the Indian Constitution will be changed first. The reservation will be over. Because they follow the model of Russia and China. Digvijay Singh was training the workers under Jan Jagran Abhiyan in Bhopal recently. As a result, he said that Savarkar's book says that Hinduism has nothing to do with Hindutva. Not only that, Savarkar's book says that a cow cannot be our mother, how can a cow that rolls in its own feces be a mother? At the same time, it is written that there is nothing wrong with eating beef. This is what Savarkar himself has said, who is a special thinker of the RSS and the BJP today. CM Uddhav Thackeray took credit for the demand for booster dose of PM Modi's decision Kapil Mishra hits back at Owaisi's threat CM Nitish's big announcement on night curfew amid 'Omicron' crisis The new year is coming and people are quite excited about the coming of the new year. There are so many expectations about the New Year. In such a situation, in a few days, this year will be our past and 2022 is our present. Not only that, most people in our country have even planned a grand party to welcome the New Year (New Year 2022). Now we are going to tell you how to celebrate Christmas in different places today. Spain - It is customary in Spain to eat 12 grapes simultaneously on the New Year. This tradition started in 1909. In fact, because of the large grape crop during that time, the king decided to distribute a large quantity of grapes among the subjects to celebrate the New Year. It is believed that those who eat 12 grapes at a time on this day are happy throughout the year. Brazil - Here the New Year is welcomed by throwing white flowers in the rising waves of the sea. Not only that, many people also throw perfumes, jewellery, combs and lipsticks into the sea. In fact, people offer a new year gift to the goddess of the sea, 'Yemanja'. Everyone hopes that the goddess of the sea will fulfil her desire on the New Year. Denmark - People here break old plates or spoons. Yes, it is thrown outside the door of its neighbours and friends on New Year's Night. In Denmark, it is believed that the more broken utensils you find outside your door on New Year's Morning, the faster your luck will be. Okra helps in increasing ovulation, know-how? Clothes masks can be fatal to you, these people are more at risk Video of train adorned with lights on Christmas goes viral New Delhi: People are now avoiding travelling on flights in view of the growing crisis of the Omicron variant of corona infection. Omicron has also taken over the Christmas weekend. Not only that, the newer celebration is also going to fade due to this variant. According to a tracking website, more than 6,000 flights worldwide have been cancelled in view of Omicron. While thousands of flights have been delivered. According to a report received, about 2,800 flights worldwide were cancelled on Saturday, with more than 970 flights starting or going to the US airport. Moreover, more than 8,000 flights were taken away due to this. More than 2,400 flight cancellations and 11,000 flights were cancelled on Friday. While 1,100 flights were cancelled on Sunday. Many pilots, flight attendants and other staff came into the contract of the corona, after which they have been quarantined. Cancellation of flights on holiday weekends was initiated by United Airlines and Delta Air Lines in US flight companies, which jointly reduced about 280 flights on Friday alone, citing staff shortages amid an increase in corona infections. In addition, Lufthansa, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and many other short staff carriers also had to cancel flights at peak travel time. People travel in big statistics during Christmas and New Year. However, the expansion of Omicron has taken a hit on both celebrations this time. Many people who travel to meet their families and relatives are forced to cheer in the four walls of the house this time. The coronavirus has increased in the US in recent times due to the omicron variant. Snow and severe cold add to woes of these states, IMD warns Which vaccine will children get, how to register? Know everything here Modi mentions Captain Varun Singh's letter in 'Mann Ki Baat,' says this France has reported 104,611 new cases of Covid-19, the highest daily total since the epidemic began, increasing the total number of cases to 9,088,371. According to the French Public Health Agency, a total of 16,162 Covid-19 patients are now hospitalised, with 3,282 of them in intensive care. The nationwide death toll has now reached 122,546, according to the government, after an additional 84 Covid-19 fatalities were reported. According to the French Ministry of Health, 52,712,462 persons, or 78.2 percent of the population, have gotten at least one vaccination dosage. The French Scientific Council informed the French government on Thursday about the Omicron variant's rapid spread. "It progresses at a breakneck pace, especially among those aged 20 to 29. We estimate hundreds of thousands of new cases every day in January "An epidemiologist and member of the scientific council, Arnaud Fontanet, stated. The Health Defense Council, headed by French President Emmanuel Macron, will convene on Monday. A draught law to convert the current health pass to a vaccination pass is scheduled to be adopted at an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers. French people must be vaccinated in order to obtain a new permit. Afghanistan receives 3,700 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan Celebrate New Year in these beautiful places of world If you are looking for peace, go to these places for a walk During intense clashes near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, hundreds of Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were injured. 247 Palestinian protestors were injured by Israeli forces in the town of Burqa, north-west of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. According to the statement, 10 people were wounded with live bullets and 48 with rubber-coated metal gunfire, with one person in severe condition after being hit in the abdomen. During skirmishes with Israeli forces in the hamlet of Bazaria, near Burqa, 54 Palestinians were injured, according to the report. During conflicts in Burqa and Bazaria, when Israelis opened fire to disperse Palestinians throwing stones at them, 1 Israeli soldier was hurt, according to Israeli media. Witnesses in Burqa reported intense fights between Palestinian activists and Israeli troops who had arrived to defend Israeli residents at an old colony that had been evacuated in 2005. According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Israel's leadership is "totally and directly accountable for Israel's comprehensive assault against the Palestinian people." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that Israeli soldiers and settlers "continue to escalate their assault against our people who are celebrating Christmas and New Year." Iraq urges public to adhere to health precautions Houthis claim responsibility for the missile attack on Saudi Arabia Taliban commander warns Pakistan not to fire at Afghanistan According to reports in the media, a top military commander in the Taliban-led government has warned Pakistan against firing artillery at Afghanistan, warning that if Islamabad did not cease, Kabul will reply. Despite the Taliban's desire for good relations with neighbouring countries, Abu Dojana, commander of the 201 Khalid Bin Walid Corps, warned that his troops had the military equipment to protect Afghanistan in the event of provocation, according to media sources."This is valuable soil. We have made a significant sacrifice to achieve it. We want to be nice neighbours, but if they continue to destroy our land, we will undoubtedly respond "he stated Residents of Kunar have alleged that Pakistan has been targeting many regions of the province for the past two weeks, prompting the commander's statements.At least one civilian was also injured by Pakistani military mortar bombardment in the Chogam region of Kunar's Shiltan district.The Durand Line, which marks the Afghanistan-Pakistan boundary, goes through Chogam. "The mortar struck me in the head, injuring me. During the night, I was transferred to Asadabad. I spent two days in the hospital "Anwar Shah, the injured person, was quoted as saying.Some people claim to have seen Pakistani drones flying over the region. "Pakistan has launched an attack against us. Everyone, including children and women, is in distress "Salman, a Shiltan local, shared his thoughts. Over 30 including children and women killed, bodies burnt in Myanmars Kayah The number of shooting victims in NYC continues to rise Putin assures Vucic that Serbia will receive sufficient gas supplies In Kenya, a chimpanzee's child has been beaten to death by other chimpanzees. The chimpanzee that lost his life is said to have been brought up by humans. He was sent from Iran to Kenya so that he could learn to live with other chimpanzees and animals and develop like other chimpanzees. But no one realized at all that such an incident would happen. Everyone has been very much unhappy since this incident. Chimpanzee's baby dies: On arrival in Kenya, it completed a 90-day quarantine. Gradually he began to learn to mingle with other animals. It is being said that the chimpanzee named Baron had come out of its area and reached among other chimpanzees. Where he was attacked, which claimed his life. Everyone has lost consciousness since this incident. Baron had spent a lot of time with humans: Baron was not well when he was sent to Kenya from Iran. Where he can learn to live with other animals and recover quickly. Baron was brought up by humans because she was born prematurely and was abandoned by her mother. The vet took Baron with him and brought him up. The decision to release Baron was made when they began to feel that he should now be left with his parents. Over Hundreds of Palestinians injured in fierce West Bank clashes Iraq urges public to adhere to health precautions Houthis claim responsibility for the missile attack on Saudi Arabia Home Just In Karishma Manandhar: Why did Nepals star actress resume school in her 40s? Actress Karishma Manandhar, in her 40s, has recently passed her final school examinations (the grade 12 examinations). As an actress who is in the second half of her career, why did she decide to go to school? Why did she feel the need to study at this age? Karishma Manandhar entered the cinema world when she was a teenager. This resulted in her dropping out of school. Then, she spent a long time of her life in the world of Nepali cinema. She also produced some films that were relatively unsuccessful, then she left for the United States. After living in the United States for a few years, she returned to Nepal and started producing movies again. But, again, it did not work out and she got into politics. Even there, she could not perform as expected. Eventually, she decided to continue her study, which she had left long ago. Some six years ago, Karishma Manandhar got enrolled in grade 7 and resumed formal classes. In a recent conversation with Onlinekhabar, the star actor says she will not pause her studies now unless she obtains a masters degree. Excerpts: At this stage of life, what made you realise that you should study? I always felt I should study. But, in the process of living life, I needed to work at a very young age. Being a child of a single mother, or not having my father, I had to give my work the first priority. I entered into such a profession in which I could not continue my formal education. However, from the beginning of my career in movies, I always regretted dropping out of school. After becoming a public figure, I thought that I should not go to school. There was a mentality that public figures should maintain their image every time we come out. I wondered how long I should regret it. But, around six years ago, I mustered the courage to start formal studies. What exactly gave you the courage to start formal education? Now, the world can be seen and understood through the internet. Various ideas can be viewed and heard. Then, I felt nothing is possible without courage. If I have some unfulfilled wish on my mind, why not fulfil it? I always felt back when it came to studies. Attitudes towards life also went on changing as I got older. I began to understand the importance of life, and the need to do something more kept hitting my mind. Thats how I dared to start studying. Would you share your inner thoughts and feelings with your friends? I asked so many people if there is any school where old people can study. I got the information that there is one Prenana School in Satdobato, Lalitpur. But, when I started the film industry, I didnt even take the 7th-grade exam. A 7th-grade certificate is required to be enrolled in the 8th grade. After that, I left that idea for a while. Choreographer Govinda Rai and I are close friends. I dont tell many people what is on my mind, but somehow I express my sorrow and regret of not being able to study with him. He not only encouraged me to resume my formal studies but also assured me that he would manage something. Accordingly, he asked me to meet his friend, and I did. But, I never thought he would take me to his school as a student. Then, I got enrolled in the 7th grade at Triveni Public School in Maitidevi, Kathmandu. I had to prove myself. In the 7th grade, I used to go after 4 oclock and study after other students had left. Driving from Godavari, I worked continuously for four months and took the 7th-grade exam. It was a private school. The reason I studied there was to improve my English. I really wanted to learn from the foundation rather than just getting the certificate. Karishma Manandhar Earlier, the alphabets of English were taught in government schools from class 4 only. I was weak in writing even though I managed to speak some English words. When I restarted the 7th grade, I had to read other books of grammar from the 4th grade. Seems you have studied with great courage, hard work and passion. As a result, you passed one class after another. What changes have you seen in yourself over these years? I think I have become more empathetic now. In the past, I didnt pay much attention to what others thought. I only cared about what I had to do. Now, I can look at everyones face and make sense of their situation. I can understand what they are trying to say. So, how do you assess the importance of education in human life? It is indispensable. I had everything. I was good at my career. I am still doing my best. Everything was fine in my family. You might think I didnt necessarily need education. But, especially after I got involved in politics, my determination to study actually increased. On the other hand, women are lagging behind in education. Various NGOs, INGOs work for them. But, nothing seemed to have changed. I used to feel that all this could be done through education. Such things kept running through my mind. This situation seems to have remained the same in the absence of education. Studying for these years, what do you think of Nepals education system, examinations and curricula? The curricula are outdated; this is my opinion. At present, the government is also revising them. Yet, there are some problems. I had to read old Nepali literature. The textbooks need to be updated according to the changing scenario. There are many other ways and means to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities in life. How did you become convinced that you should go to school and read textbooks? Everything should happen gradually. There are classes on the internet, many English learning apps, and books on various subjects. But, when you go to school, there is discipline. You read gradually. On the other hand, a certificate is also necessary for you. People say if you cannot put your education into practice, it is useless. How much has actress Karishma Manandhar used what she has learned? I also keep saying the same. Lets not just study to pass the examination, lets apply it in practice. The curriculum up to grade 12 has general knowledge such as issues in society, relationships, health, food, and family planning tools. These are the things that you need to lead a normal life. However, in my case, it happened like I did everything first, and then I studied. So, do you find Nepals education practical and realistic? It is not that practical. I lived in the United States for a few years. While my daughter Kavita was studying there, I realised there is not much pressure on the children to pass the examinations. Karishma Manandhar The way of teaching is very much different than here. They focus on the practicability of the study. Here, it is more focused on cramming. I think it needs to be changed. An education system should be developed in such a way that it will not be stressful for children. Teaching methods, overall schooling should be changed. How far do you wish to continue your study? Which subject do you want to gain expertise in? After completing my bachelors, I am thinking of pursuing a masters degree in some good subject. I will not do any job, but I want to study something that can be beneficial for society. I have thought of pursuing a bachelors degree in humanities. I am thinking of studying rural development as suggested by a teacher. But, I will explore some more subjects and take a decision. I am good at social sciences. I am interested to study more about my own country. This is also the reason that I wish to study rural development. How have thought of advancing your political journey any further? Can the country see Karishma Manandhar as a leader again? I have a wish. However, politics is not easy. You have to build a separate personality to come into politics. One had to get a place again. Lets see what happens in the future. Now I am enjoying my studies. Home Society Nepal schools to adopt letter grading system from grade 1 from now onwards Kathmandu, December 26 The government has decided to adopt a new letter grading system for the evaluation of school schools from grade 1 itself beginning from the current school year. An official in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology says Education Minister Devendra Paudel has recently approved a guideline to implement the new system. Hence, all the students from grades 1 to 12 will receive their final annual evaluations in the letter grading system from now onwards, according to the ministrys spokesperson Deepak Sharma. Until now, the system was applied to grades 10-12 only. The details of the grading are given below: SN Score percentage GPA Grade Explanation 1 90+ 4.0 A+ Outstanding 2 80-89 3.6 A Excellent 3 70-79 3.2 B+ Very good 4 60-69 2.8 B Good 5 50-59 2.4 C+ Satisfactory 6 40-49 2.0 C Acceptable 7 35-39 1.6 D Basic 8 Below 34 NG Not graded As per the guideline, students have to get grade D in each subject to get promoted to the higher class. Home Just In Price list: 8 best budget phones (under Rs 20,000) in Nepal for January 2022 The title of being the best smartphone in the market has forced intense competition among smartphone companies. The battle can be seen in every price category. Companies like Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme and Vivo are consistently competing for the market share. The battle at the flagship level was always there, but now the competition is equally interesting for being the best budget phones also. Customers can benefit hugely from this competition as they will have multiple options to choose from. Due to the intense competition, the smartphone companies are providing a handful of features in the best budget phones as well. If you are about to purchase a new phone for New Year 2022, make sure you read this as we bring you the list of best phones under Rs 20,000 in Nepal. SN Phone Price 8 Samsung Galaxy M02s Rs 15,999 7 Vivo Y15s Rs 19,999 6 Realme C21Y Rs 17,099 5 Samsung Galaxy A12 Rs 18,999 (4/64GB) Rs 19,999 (4/128GB) 4 Realme Narzo 50A Rs 19,499 3 Samsung Galaxy M12 Rs 18,499 2 Redmi 9 Power Rs 18,999 1 Redmi Note 9 Rs 19,999 8 best budget phones in Nepal for January 2022 8. Samsung Galaxy M02s Photo: Samsung These recent years show Samsung has realised the importance of the budget sector as well. Lots of improvements have been made, and many smartphone models have been released from Samsung in the budget range, especially to attract the market in Southeast Asia. Therefore, starting the list of best budget phones under Rs 20,000 is Galaxy M02s. It is a budget smartphone from Samsung with a 6.5-inch PLS IPS screen. The phone is 9.1mm thick and weighs around 196 grams. It has a 13MP triple-camera setup on its back and a 5MP camera on the front. The main camera can record videos in 1080p. The phone runs on Android 10 and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450. The phone gets its life from a 5000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery and supports a 15W fast charger. It comes in three colours: black, blue and red. The price of the Samsung Galaxy M02s is Rs 15,999 for a 4/64GB variant. 7. Vivo Y15s Photo: Vivo Vivo Y15s is the latest release from Vivo. Comparatively, Vivo was not so active this year and only launched a handful of smartphones in the market. The latest Y15s offers 6.51 inches of IPS LCD display with a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. It has a good design and is only 8.3mm in thickness and weighs lightly at 179 grams. It has a 13MP dual camera on the back and an 8MP selfie camera. The cameras can record videos in 1080p at 30fps. The phone runs on Android 11 (Go edition) with Vivos Funtouch 11.1 on top. It has a 5000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery which supports 10W fast charging and 5W reverse charging. Vivo Y15s, as one of the best budget phones in the Nepali market, also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. It supports FM radio and has Bluetooth 5.0, micro USB 2.0 for further connectivity. The price of Vivo Y15s is Rs 19,999 for a 3/32GB variant. 6. Realme C21Y Photo: Realme Realme C21Y started the transition of the Realme phones this year. This model features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen that has a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. The phone has a glass front, plastic back and a plastic frame. It weighs around 200 grams whereas it has a thickness of 9.1mm. Realme C21Y has a 13MP triple-camera setup on the back. Likewise, on the front, it has a 5MP camera. Both cameras can record videos in 1080p @ 30fps. This phone runs on Android 11 with Realme UI on top. The phone is powered by a Unisoc T610 chipset while the graphics are handled by Mali-G52. The device has a 5000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery and supports reverse charging as well, making it one of the best budget phones in the market. The price of Realme C21Y is Rs 17,099. 5. Samsung Galaxy A12 Photo: Samsung Samsung Galaxy A12 is one of the most affordable smartphones in the A series from Samsung. This phone features a 6.5-inch PLS IPS display with a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. Talking about the build, it has a glass front, plastic back and a plastic frame. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which also works as a power button. Galaxy A12, as one of the best budget phones in the Nepali market, has a quad-camera setup on the back. The main 48MP camera is accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie camera. Both cameras are able to record 1080p resolution videos. The phone runs on Android 11 with One UI 3.1 on top. It is powered by MediaTek Helio P35 chipset while the graphics are handled by PowerVR GE8320. There is a 5000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery on the phone which supports 15W fast charging. The price of the Samsung Galaxy A12 is Rs 18,999 for 4/64GB and Rs 19,999 for 4/128GB. 4. Realme Narzo 50A Photo: Realme Realme Narzo 50A is the latest release from Realme in Nepal. It was released alongside Realme Narzo 50i. Narzo 50A is probably one of the best budget phones from Realme yet. The phone comes with 6.5 inches of IPS LCD display which has a maximum resolution of 720-1,600 pixels. This phone is built with a polycarbonate back, a glass front and a plastic frame. The phone weighs around 207 grams and is 9.6mm in thickness. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for the security of the phone. Narzo 50A has a triple camera setup. The 50MP camera on the back of the phone is accompanied by a 2MP macro and another 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is an 8MP camera. The main camera can record videos in 1080p at 60fps while the front camera is limited to 30fps only. Realme Narzo 50A comes with a huge battery backup. There is a 6,000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery on the phone that supports 18W fast charging and reverse charging as well. The price of Realme Narzo 50A is Rs 19,499 for a 4/64GB variant. 3. Samsung Galaxy M12 Photo: Samsung Yet another Samsung phone on the list of best budget phones in Nepal currently, the Galaxy M12 comes with a 6.5-inch PLS IPS display with a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. An interesting addition to the phone is the 90Hz refresh rate, which is rare on other best budget phones. It has a build of the typical glass front, a plastic back and a plastic frame. The phone weighs 212 grams and is 9.7mm thick. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint. It has a quad-camera setup on its back. The 48MP main camera is accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and another 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it has an 8MP camera. Both cameras can record videos in 1080p at 30fps. Galaxy M12 runs on Android 11 with One UI Core 3.1 on top and is powered by Exynos 850 chipset. The graphics of the phone are handled by Mali-G52. The phone gets its power from a 5,000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery and supports 15W fast charging. The price of Samsung Galaxy M12 is Rs 18,499 for a 4/64GB variant. 2. Redmi 9 Power Photo: Redmi From the name itself, it can be expected that Redmi 9 Power is a power-packed smartphone. The phone comes with 6.53 inches of IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1,080*2,340 pixels. The phone has a glass front, plastic back and a plastic frame build. The display has a Gorilla Glass 3 protection and also has a water-repellent coating, which is first in this category. The phone has a 9.6mm thickness while weighing around 198 grams. There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the phone. The model, as one of the best budget phones in Nepal currently, boasts a quad-camera setup on the rear. The 48MP main camera is housed together with an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor. At the front, there is an 8MP camera. The cameras can record videos in 1080p resolution. Redmi 9 power runs on Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset. The graphics are handled by Adreno 610. The phone gets its power from a 6000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. The phone also supports 18W fast charging and 2.5W reverse charging. The price of Redmi 9 Power is Rs 18,999 for a 4/64GB variant. 1. Redmi Note 9 Photo: Mi The top on the list of best budget phones in Nepal has to be Xiaomi; the best smartphone under Rs 20,000 in Nepal is Redmi Note 9. The phone comes with 6.53 inches of IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1,080*2,340 pixels. It has a beautiful design and has a glass front, plastic back and a plastic frame build. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and is the only phone on the list to have so. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The phone has a quad-camera setup on the back. The 48MP main camera is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 13MP camera. The cameras can record videos in 1080p resolution. The phone also has high res audio speakers and supports a 3.5mm headphone jack. Redmi Note 9 runs on Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top and is powered by Mediatek Helio G85 chipset. It has a 5,020mAh battery backup. The phone supports an 18W fast charger as well as 9W reverse charging. The price of the Redmi Note 9 is Rs 19,999 for a 4/64GB variant. So, do you agree with the list? Kathmandu, December 26 The government is preparing to let tenants and renters possess separate electricity metres in their own name soon. So far, one needs to own a house in their name to subscribe to an electricity line. But, soon, the government is changing the rule and people without their own houses will also get this facility, Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal informs during a press meet recently. Bhusal said the new provision would help millions of tenants and renters living in urban areas including the Kathmandu valley for their education and work. Currently, there are complaints rife that homeowners have been overcharging tenants for electricity consumption. In some cases, the tenants have also been barred from the use of daily electric appliances. Meanwhile, Bhusal said the government had prepared a plan to electrify the entire country within the next two years in partnership between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre. The Chocolate Makery at the Jewish Childrens Museum. A mouthwatering experience where children will gain a wealth of knowledge on this exciting journey. Children will join in the fun as they harvest the cocoa pods, grind and roast the beans to mold their very own delicious chocolate creation! The Chocolate Makery Experience will be running December 26 December 30, at the Jewish Childrens Museum at 792 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn NY, 11213 Visit our website, https://www.jcm.museum , for more information. I dont want to be a pessimist, but after this weeks 1883, Id be shocked if even a quarter of Captain Brennans group makes it to Oregon. Not that its necessarily their fault! As the episodes opening montage shows us, in the Big Scary West, death is waiting behind practically every blade of tall grass. If the dirty water doesnt get you, a wagon accident or a coyote attack or a snake bite in the tush (yeah, they actually show that) certainly will. More from TVLine How best to mitigate the risks of such a perilous journey is the subject of this weeks episode, and that quandry doubles as the issue that drives a fissure between James Dutton and Brennan about which literal direction (east? west?) to take. Read on for the highlights of River. EAST DOESNT MEET WEST | As the group approaches the river, James wants to head west. After all, thats the way the group ultimately is heading. But Brennan would rather keep traveling east until they reach a better crossing point, especially because the Germans dont seem like theyve got the wherewithal to ford the water just yet. However, as James (and Thomas) point out, winter is rapidly approaching, and life is going to suck significantly more when it arrives. James points out that he doesnt work for Brennan, so he and his family are going to head west, and thats it. The captain is irked. 1883-recap-season-1-episode-3 THE NEW MRS. BRENNAN? | Hes even more irked when he learns that two of the Germans have stolen food and supplies from Noemi, a widow whose newly dead husband owed them a debt. She and her two sons are in bad shape, dont know how to handle their wagon, dont know how to hobble their horses, etc. When Brennan promises to see Noemi safely to their destination, she awkwardly offers to be his wife; the gesture (which is proffered with her hand down his pants) angers him, and he growls at her that he wont be around to teach her anything when they get to Oregon. (Seems that death wish is still burning pretty brightly, eh?) Story continues Thomas and Brennan then find the men who took Noemis stuff and beat them up, demanding that they return the items. And THEN, Brennan breaks the mens wagon and kicks them out of the trip. If you steal, you stay where you stole, he says, de-saddling their horses and slapping their flanks so theyll run away. (Side note: This seems foolish, no? Why not keep them around as spares?) Brennan threatens to kill the men if he sees them again, then admonishes Josef the tall guy German who speaks English to get a better handle on his group. Afterward, Thomas quietly points out to Brennan that they need the groups trust in order to lead them. 1883-recap-season-1-episode-3 OH DEER | As all of the strife is going down between Brennan and his customers, Elsa and Margaret volunteer to help the cowboys with the herd. This gives Ennis ample opportunity to flirt openly with Elsa, who flirts right back; Margaret notices all. Meanwhile, James brings John hunting, and they take down a deer. Its your first kill, so Ive gotta blood you, Papa Dutton tells his son, wiping some of the animals blood on the boys cheeks. He points out that they have to thank the animal for giving its life so that they can eat. When you kill things, son, it makes you a little less man, a little more animal, James says. We try to find the balance between them. Thats all life is. Back at the camp, James still doesnt want to hear anything about going East especially because itll add three weeks to the trip. You said youd help, and youre not helping, Brennan counters, but James wont be swayed. It gets pretty testy when the captain points out that he cant have a member of the traveling party publicly questioning his authority. But Dutton angrily answers that hes neither Brennans employee or patron, and I only care about my family. BRENNAN LAYS DOWN THE LAW | A short distance away, the Germans including the two that Brennan ordered to leave are agitating for ditching the captain and Thomas, pointing out that they havent been much protection so far on the journey. The men talk a big game until they realize that Brennan is right there, hearing everything. He challenges one of the men to a duel, and when Brennan can draw his gun before the other man can even find his in its holster, the German in question starts crying like an infant. In the war, Brennan says, he was in battles in which thousands died. When I say killing you means nothing to me, I mean it, he adds flatly. Killing you means nothing. But he lets them go, even though doing so will put a target on the groups collective back once the men hit Fort Worth and start talking. The whole incident takes a bit of a toll on the old captain, who tearily tells Thomas that his daughter was someone who couldve made the world better, the kind of person Thomas earlier said was the reason they were going through with the trip in the first place. Anyway, he also announces that the wagon train will leave in the morning, heading west. 1883-recap-season-1-episode-3 After learning from Margaret that Ennis and Elsa fancy each other, James finds the young man the next morning and gives him permission to court the teen. You break her heart or get handsy, were going to have a problem, James warns him. Define handsy, Ennis shoots back, which was not the right answer. Joke. Bad time to tell it, Ennis quickly backpedals. Sorry, sir. (Ha!) Now its your turn. What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments! Best of TVLine The smashing success of Marvels latest superhero vehicle, Spider-Man: No Way Home, had two of our critics curious: Is it actually any good? Turns out, they vehemently disagreed. But sometimes thats more fun, right? Below, Shannon Keating and Elamin Abdelmahmoud hash it all out: Is Tom Hollands Homecoming trilogy a welcome expansion upon the existing Spidey-verse, or just a depressing cash grab? What can millennial nostalgia tell us about the Tobey Maguirehelmed series, which kicked off nearly 20 years ago? Does the deployment of the multiverse in No Way Home actually make any sense? And, finally, should you see it? Elamin Abdelmahmoud: In Toronto, where I live, new COVID restrictions due to the spread of Omicron require movie theaters to refrain from selling popcorn, candy, and drinks. Which is to say: They require movie theaters to refrain from selling joy. So what would make anyone go to the theater under such unfulfilling conditions? This weekend, the answer was Spider-Man: No Way Home. Audiences turned up in droves for the movie, helping it pull in the third-biggest opening weekend of all time worldwide, and the second-biggest of all time in the US. Thats not a pandemic-era record. Its an all-time record. I was among these people. I put on a fresh KN95 and settled in for what I was sure would be a lesser movie experience. But it was not. No Way Home, reportedly the conclusion of Tom Hollands tenure as Spider-Man (oris it?), is one of the most satisfying entries into the franchise, perhaps second only to Into the Spiderverse. Thats because of its sheer scale and ambitious plot in No Way Home, Hollands Peter Parker attempts to fix the consequences of his actions through a time spell from Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), but his plan goes terribly wrong when the spell becomes unstable and starts pulling in Peter Parkers/Spider-Men from alternate universes (aka Tobey Maguires Spider-Man and Andrew Garfields Spider-Man) and all the villains theyve fought, too. Story continues Describing a film as satisfying can read like shorthand for fan service, which has become a lazy way for franchises with big, passionate fandoms to elicit excitement without putting in the effort to write films that offer something unique. No Way Home does deliver big fan-servicey moments when Garfield showed up, there were audible gasps in the theater but the devastating emotional center of the film makes it far more than a simple play on nostalgia. In this iteration, after Hollands Peter suffers a catastrophic loss, the multiverse Spider-Men show up not just to help him on his quest but to redeem themselves, too. By the time we meet Maguires Peter, hes a Spider-Elder who has reckoned with his Spider-Doubts and found purpose. Meanwhile, Garfields Peter is rudderless and lonely, having lost himself in his Spider-Duties. These two Spider-Men share touching moments (No, you are amazing, and I need to hear you say it, Maguires Peter says to Garfields; Garfields Peter cant quite get there, but hes overwhelmed with gratitude to be seen). Together, all three Peters unite to resolve the central question that the previous movies have been circling but not quite answering, which is: What is Spider-Man for? Ultimately, the answer is a poignant and simple one: to help us understand and better deal with grief. Thats why No Way Home is good, actually. Shannon, what do you think? Shannon Keating: Totally agree that Spider-Man is about understanding and dealing with grief! But Im not sure I agree about how well No Way Home deals with those themes. After watching No Way Home this weekend (in Mexico City, where COVID cases are currently decreasing), I went home and binged the three Tobey Maguire iterations. The first, Spider-Man, came out in 2002 (!!!!) when I was 10 years old. Almost 20 years ago. Wild. Those movies are obviously big millennial touchpoints; Maguire will always be my Spider-Man, I think. Theres a certain grittiness to the trilogy that I appreciated even as a kid. Spideys origin story is a dark one, but before my rewatches, I had forgotten just how dark. In Spider-Man, when Peter holds his murdered Uncle Bens hand, its not a beautiful or poetic moment; Ben is grimacing with pain and anguish. Its pretty horrible. Then we have all of James Francos daddy issues with the incredible Willem Dafoe my introduction to both actors were their roles as Green Goblin and son Harry Osborn and the unhealthy and eventually murderous ways Harry channels his confusion and his grief. The Maguire movies are also lovely tributes to New York City. Spider-Man doesnt just save New Yorkers; New Yorkers have his back, too. In the first movie, a proud and rowdy group rains detritus upon the Green Goblin when hes trying to kill Kirsten Dunsts Mary Jane and a cable car full of people, one of them yelling, You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us! In Spider-Man 2, after Spider-Man stops Doc Ock (Alfred Molina) from plunging a subway train into the river, he passes out from exhaustion and the passengers gently lift him into their arms, set him down, and promise not to reveal his identity his mask had come off during the fight. This is all to say that I didnt get a lot of those big, emotional beats from No Way Home, even with that one significant and sad death. Im sure my millennial nostalgia is a part of that an unwillingness to accept this new version of an old, beloved character. But I dont know, man. First off, No Way Home is justdoing a lot. The multiverse is a fun concept, and its cute to see all these different Spider-Men united in brotherhood, but I think I preferred it when Spider-Man hewed closer to that gritty New York realism. No Way Home, though it does have its darkness, feels very Disney: shiny, wholesome, sexless. This could just be a me problem, but the logic of the movie also escaped me. When Hollands Spider-Man is trying to rehabilitate the villains from other worlds, I couldnt stop thinking: Why are you making gigantic, fundamental changes to universes that are not your own??? We all know how tweaking things in time and/or space can have disastrous consequences! Whats going to happen when these men who were supposed to have died go home and are alive and, I guess, also nice now? Hollands Spider-Man says multiple times throughout the movie that these guys are not his problem, which we are supposed to judge as callousness, because his Aunt May and the movie overall insist that they should be his problem. But why exactly is that the case, especially when the other Spider-Men have already dealt with them sufficiently back at home? I guess its a bummer that they had to die in their original universes, but as Dr. Strange says, thats their fate. Leave the complications of other universes alone! That brings me to my confusion about what the movie is trying to say about being a good person, which Id love your thoughts on, Elamin. I found it pretty goofy on both a thematic and practical, logistical level that all the Spider-Men could create perfectly calibrated antidotes that would turn their respective villains back into regular men, at which point they would seemingly be worthy of redemption. While I appreciate that idea, and would be very interested to see more superhero movies take on ideas around justice and restitution especially if we have to live in a world where most movies are superhero movies, ugh I felt like No Way Home handled it all so clunkily. Something I admired about 2002s Spider-Man is that the Green Goblin wasnt evil just because he accidentally zapped himself with jacked-up superpower juice or whatever. Norman Osborn was already a power-hungry capitalist, making oodles of money by providing the military with horrifying weapons of mass destruction. He was also an asshole patriarch who was sexist toward Mary Jane and emotionally tortured his son, which in turn led to Harrys own descent into supervillainy. This is a bad guy! Who dies, remember, in a botched attempt to murder Peter. Not to say that Norman isnt deserving of restorative justice I think we all are, supervillains included but still, it felt pretty reductive to erase these specificities in favor of promoting the idea that all the bad guys were only or mostly bad because of the way they acquired special powers. Superhero movies work best when theyre allegories for our real-life structural problems, and No Way Homes kumbaya approach felt kinda basic and bogus to me. I know this is a movie for children, but still! EA: OK, not only is it a movie for children, its also a movie about children Im really compelled by the way that Holland plays the idealism of Peter. His I can fix it attitude, his desire to just resolve the matter in the simplest way (Lets just make the bad guys good!) is the most kiddish thing about him, and thats what drew me in. In his world, hes trying to apply the morality lessons of helping everyone, and he immediately realizes he can do that with the technological tools he has access to tools that perhaps the other Spider-Fellas didnt. And whats more, they work. Hes seen evidence of this. Changes to other multiverses be damned, theres good to be done here! Thats not to say this viewpoint isnt challenged he suffers some serious consequences for trying to maintain his little-kid attitude and his Pollyannaish energy, and hes faced with a personal crisis. I mean, Holland is ready to kill in this film, before the Spider-Elders offer their perspectives and bring him back from the edge. What unites all the Peters is that moment where they rally around the idea of great power/great responsibility. They realize they all have this in common, but it applies differently in each of their lives: Maguire realizes that his angst over the responsibility that hes been given is not for nothing; Garfield concludes that he is his Spider-Brothers keeper; and Holland realizes that there is a cost to his idealism, but it is worth preserving. One thing that I think is elegant about this film is the way it handily settles the debate between who is the best Spider-Man by saying: Actually, all of them deal with different tragedies, and you cant compare them but you can resolve them, so each finds some closure. SK: Youre totally right that Hollands can-do Peter feels appropriate, especially due to his age! As much as I didnt love this movie, I am a little bummed that Hollands time as Spider-Man is allegedly coming to an end Im genuinely curious to see how his idealism would evolve over time. The Spider-Elders hyping each other was obviously fan service, in a way that probably would have delighted me more if I were more of a real fan, as opposed to someone who isnt that attuned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But I do really like that idea, Elamin that this movie is weighing in on the debate about whos best by sharing the love. OK, OK, Im starting to give the movie more credit than I did initially. I wouldnt necessarily recommend people who arent MCU fans drop into this one especially in our era of Omicron but catch it on an airplane in a few years? For sure. Photo credit: TOBY MELVILLE - Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are honoring human rights icon Desmond Tutu. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid tribute to Archbishop Tutu of South Africa, who died Sunday at the age of 90. The Nobel Prize winner fought tirelessly against apartheidthe country's regime of oppression against its Black citizensand campaigned internationally for racial justice and LGBTQ rights. The clergyman was also the first Black bishop of Johannesburg, and later became the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, earning his nickname "The Arch." In their statement, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan lauded his life's work and reflected on their son Archie's 2019 meeting with Tutu and his daughter Thandeka in Cape Town. "Archbishop Tutu will be remembered for his optimism, his moral clarity, and his joyful spirit. He was an icon for racial justice and beloved across the world. It was only two years ago that he held our son, Archie, while we were in South Africa 'Arch and The Arch' he had joked, his infectious laughter ringing through the room, relaxing anyone in his presence. He remained a friend and will be sorely missed by all." The event at Cape Town's Old Granary building, which was Archie's first official engagement, acknowledged the work being done by the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, which facilitates discussions about social justice and makes the lessons of Archbishop Tutu accessible to new generations. Photo credit: TOBY MELVILLE - Getty Images Harry and Meghan have closely followed Archbishop Tutu's work, and have previously shared his inspiring quotes on their Instagram account. Harry also met with the Archbishop in November 2015, when he was presented with the Insignia of an Honorary member of The Order of Their Companions of Honour on behalf of the Queen, in recognition of his services to British communities and international peace reconciliation. Tutu is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Nomalizo Leah Tutu, and his children, per CNN. You Might Also Like Little, Brown and Company announced it has acquired a planned memoir offering a critical examination of Facebook by Frances Haugen. The book does not yet have a title or release date. Financial terms were not disclosed. During my time at Facebook, I realized a devastating truth: almost nobody outside of Facebook knows what happens inside of Facebook. They operate in the dark, Haugen said in a statement. They win by keeping their systems closed without oversight or transparency, by shrouding their operations in secrecy and PR spin. I came forward because I believe that every human being deserves the dignity of the truthand the truth is that Facebook buys its astronomical profits by sacrificing our safety. But it does not have to be this waythese problems are solvable.. We can have social media we love that also brings out the best in humanity. My hope is that this book will show us the way. Two people in separate parts of the Fredericksburg region are shedding light on a painful part of the past: the execution of Black men, one at a makeshift gallows behind a courthouse and the other at the hands of an angry mob. Cindy Miller in King George County and Reginald Carter Jr., who grew up in Essex County, dont know each other. Theyre generations apart, represent different races and bring vastly different backgrounds to the table. But both seek the same thing. Just tell the truth, no matter how brutal, just tell the truth, said Carter, who sought out and paid for a highway marker to educate others about Essex Countys only documented lynching. Thats the only way we can tell the story, if we address it. Its OK if you feel saddened by it because thats only natural, but just tell the story. Miller and Carter have researched the history of two men who suffered similar fates in the segregated South after being accused of raping white women. Thomas Washington was lynched in Essex in 1896 and Gabriel Battaile was hanged in 1906 from a makeshift gallows behind the old King George courthouse while hundreds watched. Theres a definite need that the Sheriffs Office has recognized for years, and being able to finally accomplish that is exciting, she said. Fredericksburg City and Caroline and Stafford counties have all in the past obtained similar grants to hire domestic violence investigators, but this is a first for Spotsylvania, Skebo said. We did our best for years to try to get this and when we were able to accomplish it, that was a huge burden we felt lifted, he said. In reality, because of the sheer volume of domestic assaults that come through any agency, there are cases that fall through the cracks. By having a dedicated detective and the advocate partnership, theres less chance that these will fall through the cracks. Anderson said cases brought by the Commonwealths Attorneys office against perpetrators of domestic violence are also stronger when there is a dedicated domestic violence investigator involved. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The system works better both for victim safety and offender accountability, she said. Throughout 2021, this nationwide movement of poor, low-wage workers has staged Moral Mondays, bringing directly affected people from Manchins home state of West Virginia to Washington, D.C., where dozens have been arrested for civil disobedience. Theyre demanding that members of Congress listen to the voices of the people, not lobbyists. As the Rev. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign, said in December: For too long we have heard promises during campaigns that sound like theyre going to lift up the people, and then once people get elected they disappear because somebody, somewhere has got some deep pockets and says its not possible. Well, we refuse to accept the crisis of possibility. Hero: Workers As Striketober turned into Strikesgiving, we now find ourselves in the midst of Strikemas. While politicians in Washington bickered over infrastructure, jobs and the social safety net, thousands of unionized workers across the heartland went on strike in 2021 to get their fair share directly. Most of us are not willing to reach for our wallets for quality information when we can make do with free junk news. I myself consistently use online tools to bypass paywalls, despite supposedly caring about journalists and hypocritically wanting to get paid as one. Across 20 countries that include the U.S., France, Germany, and the U.K., only 17 percent of the population paid for any online news in the last year. As if that werent enough, misinformation can be used to manipulate public opinion and drive a wedge between citizens and their government by polarizing the democratic process. Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections is a prime example. Additionally, misinformation has amplified damaging effects when it reaches those in positions of power. At the time of his presidency, Trump claimed that the virus would miraculously go away and that it was like a flu. Deaths from the pandemic in the U.S. might have been cut in half as of May 3, 2020, if administrators had listened to experts advice just one or two weeks earlier. Anti-abortion piety unduly punishes the poor On Dec. 1, the Supreme Courts preliminary arguments regarding a Mississippi law restricting a womans right to an abortion that could end the Roe vs. Wade law affirmed again the politicization and personal bias of this court. Five current justices inserted their personal religious views into objectively interpreting a law that nine justices, with the same constitution and precedents, found legal in 1972., Five justices think their religious views and indebtedness to conservative presidents justify abandoning precedent. Their arguments are biased, political, prejudicial and wrong for these reasons: 1. Establishes a de facto national religion. The courts majority is invalidating the First Amendments ban on establishing a national religion by forcing the religious beliefs of Catholics and evangelical Christians on all those who do not believe the same or believe abortion is justified in certain cases. 2. Precludes equal protection of the law. LOS ANGELES (AP) Artist Wayne Thiebaud, whose luscious, colorful paintings of cakes and San Francisco cityscapes combined sensuousness, nostalgia and a hint of melancholy, has died. He was 101. His death was confirmed in a statement Sunday by his gallery, Acquavella, which didn't say where or when Thiebaud died. Even at 101 years old, he still spent most days in the studio, driven by, as he described with his characteristic humility, this almost neurotic fixation of trying to learn to paint, the gallery's statement said. The dean of California painters, Thiebaud drew upon his earlier career as a Disney animator, sign painter and commercial artist. While some took his hot dogs, bakery counters, gum ball machines and candy apples to be examples of pop art, Thiebaud never considered himself to be in the mold of Andy Warhol, and he did not treat his subjects with the irony the pop movement championed. Of course, youre thankful when anyone ever calls you anything, he once said. But I never felt much a part of it. I must say I never really liked pop art very much. The real subject, many critics said, was paint and the act of painting itself: the shimmering color and sensuous texture of the thickly applied paint. He laid on the paint so heavily that he often carved his signature into the painting instead of putting it on with the brush. The oil paint is made to look like meringue, said Marla Prather, a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art New York who helped organize a 2001 retrospective of the artists work. And with the cakes, you get this great sense of texture with the frosting. You just want to step close and lick it. Many of his painted images were outlined in neon pinks and blues that made the objects appear to glow. Shadows were often a rich blue. Its joyful, while a lot of modern art is angst-ridden, Prather said in a 2001 Associated Press interview. Thiebaud told PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in 2000 that the subject of food was fun and humorous, and thats dangerous in the art world, I think. Its a world that takes itself very seriously, and of course, it is a serious enterprise, but I think also theres room for wit and humor because humor gives us, I think, a sense of perspective. Gum ball machines were a favorite theme, he said, because a big round globe is so beautiful, and its really a kind of orchestration of circles of all kinds. But its also very sensuous, I think, and it offers wonderful opportunities for painting something like, almost like a bouquet of flowers. In 2004, a New York Times writer praised his wry vision of modern consumerism and said, No one did more to reanimate the tired old genre of still life painting in the last half century than did Mr. Thiebaud with his paintings of industrially regimented food products. Thiebaud told the NewsHour he preferred calling himself a painter, rather than an artist, because its like a priest referring to himself as a saint. Maybe its a little too early or hes not the one to decide that ... Being an artist I think is a very rare thing. Along with the sensuousness, there was sometimes an emptiness and melancholy reminiscent of Edward Hopper. He likened the feeling to the bright pathos of a circus clown. In landscape, his most famous subject was the city of San Francisco, whose steep hills he portrayed in a fantasy-like way, with spectacular angles and stark shadows. Originally, I painted right on the streets, trying to get some of the kind of drama I felt about the city and its vertiginous (dizzying) character, he told the NewsHour. But that didnt seem to work ... The reality was one thing but the fantasy or the exploration of it was another. Thiebaud was born in Mesa, Arizona, in 1920 and grew up in Sacramento, California. He started out as an animator for Walt Disney and later worked as a poster designer and commercial artist in California and New York before becoming a painter. He also was a longtime professor at the University of California, Davis. He officially retired in 1991 but continued teaching one class a year. ___ Former AP writer Polly Anderson contributed biographical information to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Police in Pakistan say a man has confessed to killing his former wife, an American national of Pakistani origin. U.S. citizen Wajiha Swati went missing after arriving in Pakistan in mid-October to settle issues with her ex-husband, Rizwan Habib. Habib, who was arrested on suspicion of murder last week, has confessed to killing his ex-wife the day she arrived in Rawalpindi, the citys police chief, Sajid Kiyani, told a press conference on December 26. Swati's body was exhumed from a house owned by an employee of Habib in the district of Lakki Marwat in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and brought to the city of Rawalpindi for a postmortem examination, Kiyani said. He said that police believe Habib picked up Swati at the airport, abducted her, and killed her with the help of his father and his employee, both of whom were also arrested. Investigators believe Swati was killed in a dispute over property. The police officer said he was in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad regarding the investigation. It was not immediately clear where Swati resided. According to Human Rights Watch, violence against women and girls -- including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage -- remains a serious problem across Pakistan. Based on reporting by AP and Dawn 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 26, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias The new express lanes on the I-25 South Gap project opened at 8 a.m. on Dec. 10. The express lanes span 14 miles on northbound I-25 and 15 miles on southbound I-25. With weather forecasts calling for snow and dangerously low temperatures, National Western Stock Show officials canceled the downtown parade and an event planned at McGregor Square on Thursday. For the first time in over two decades, Community Kitchen of North Iowa is about to take on new leadership. At the start of the new year, Karen Handeland will take over as executive director of the Community Kitchen of North Iowa for a retiring Amanda Ragan, who has been in the role for the past 25 years. Handeland is originally a native of Coulter but moved out of Iowa as part of her job working as a general manager for commercial printing companies. In 2020, she decided to move back to Iowa, settling in Mason City, and was looking for ways to volunteer in the community. Family members suggested she visit Community Kitchen. She did just that, and in May 2021, Handeland signed on as a volunteer there. "They handed me an apron and said, 'get to work,'" Handeland recalled. "And I've been volunteering ever since." Since then, Handeland said she "fell in love" with Community Kitchen, and when Ragan announced that she would be stepping down as executive director, she spoke with Handeland about applying for the open position. Amanda Ragan set to retire from executive director role at Community Kitchen A longtime presence at Community Kitchen is preparing to retire from her roles with the Comm "She suggested that I apply, and I did," Handeland said. "Once I got the opportunity to speak with the board, I got really excited about it." Set to start in her role as executive director on Jan. 1, Handeland is ready to with the goal of continuing to grow what she believes to be an essential service to the North Iowa community. Handeland said that Community Kitchen served more meals in 2021 than the past several years prior. In 2022 and beyond, she hopes to continue expanding and serving meals to as many people in need as possible. "My goal in the first month is just don't break anything," Handeland joked. "But really, just continuing to meet the need of the community is so important; the need is here." Community Kitchen of North Iowa, founded in 1982, provides meals six days a week to people in need, in seven different North Iowa counties. The kitchen also has a Meals on Wheels program in which they deliver meals to those in need who are unable to come and pick them up in person. "We're looking to maintain, and expand our volunteer base," Handeland said. "I would encourage anyone that has a little time on their hands to give us a call." Community Kitchen of North Iowa is located at 606 North Monroe Ave. in Mason City. Zachary Dupont covers politics and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont 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. For better or worse, this holiday season has provided many opportunities to come together as a community and help those in need. North Iowans often turn to organizations like Toys for Tots, the Giving Tree, and Operation Christmas Child, to help those in need. And while this year is no exception, but after the events that occurred on Dec. 15, a new cause found its way into community members' focus. On the night of Wednesday, Dec. 15, a storm with hurricane-force winds swept through the Midwest. The storm has been officially registered as a serial derecho by the National Weather Service the first ever to strike in Iowa in December. North Iowa witnessed trees torn from the ground, roofs fly off of buildings, power lines fallen in the road, and much more. Gov. Kim Reynolds has since issued disaster declarations for Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Floyd, Mitchell, Winnebago, Wright, and Worth counties. Rudd The city of Rudd was hit especially hard, with gusts destroying the library and historical museum. But through devastation comes the opportunity to band together. Schools, public servants, neighbors and community members came together to clean up the damage. A lot of the cleanup has been completed since the storm passed, but there are still many ways to continue supporting the community: Rudd Public Library was all but demolished by the storm. A makeshift library is set up in City Hall until it has a new location. Donations to support the library can be sent to: Rudd Public Library Relief Fund First Security Bank P.O. Box 577 809 Clark Street Charles City, Iowa 50616 Rudd City Hall also serves as a drop-off and pickup location for city-wide donations. Employees there said they have many items available for residents who need them, and they willing to drop off items to those who cannot make it to pick them up. Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Elementary Principal Makaela Hoffman has also opened an account at First Security Bank called RRMR Tornado Relief fund. Roughly $8,000 in donations were distributed throughout the school in the form of gift cards on Tuesday before winter break. Since Tuesday's distribution of funds, $3,000 more have come in from other schools that collected money at sporting events. All donations to the RRMR Tornado Relief Fund will continue to be accepted at First Security Bank. Electronic donations can be given through the Zelle app with the email address hoffmanmakaela@gmail.com. Checks can be made to the school or the bank. The Rudd Iowa Historical Society is currently looking for places to store rescued items, after the building was completely destroyed. A First Security donation account has been established for them as well. The home of Rob Beasterfield in Rudd was also destroyed in the derecho, however the Globe Gazette was unable to get in touch with him for comment. Rural Manly Further to the north in Worth County, the Neel-Barnish family was safe at their parent's house during the derecho, but their own home was not spared. The house was reduced to rubble, cars were totaled, and farmland was damaged. They were able to recover some clothes from the wreckage, but the couple and their four-month-old daughter are waiting on the state's disaster grant to be accepted before rebuilding. We never expected a tornado. Just a little wind damage and power outage. Definitely (were) not prepared to have our lives blown to bits into a corn field said Ashley Barnish. The family is accepting donations through Venmo, @Ashley-Barnish-1. Additionally, Burkes Bar and Grill in Mason City has donation jar for the family, and a Gofundme has been set up at https://gofund.me/94866ace. Gretchen Burnette is a Weeklies Editor and Daily Reporter at the Globe Gazette. You can reach her by phone at 641.421.0523 or at Gretchen.Burnette@GlobeGazette.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 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. Dr. Godfrey: Now that high school students are allowed to work more th [ #permalink Bunuel wrote: Dr. Godfrey: Now that high school students are allowed to work more than 15 hours per week at part-time jobs, those who actually do so show less interest in school and get lower grades than those who do not work as many hours at part-time jobs. Obviously, working long hours at part-time jobs during the school year contributes to the academic problems that many of our high school students experience. Dr. Nash: Thats not so. Many of our high school students set out to earn as much money as they can simply to compensate for their lack of academic success. Dr. Nash responds to Dr. Godfreys argument by doing which one of the following? What did Dr. Nash actually say? Parse her statement. That [your conclusion, Dr. Godfrey,] is not so. Obviously, working long hours at part-time jobs during the school year contributes to the academic problems that many of our high school students experience. No, students who work long hours do so because they already have academic problems for which they are trying to compensate. Dr. Nash responds to Dr. Godfreys argument by doing which one of the following THE OPTIONS Quote: (A) attempting to downplay the seriousness of the problems facing academically troubled high school students not Quote: (B) offering an alternative interpretation of the evidence cited by Dr. Godfrey Quote: (C) questioning the accuracy of the evidence on which Dr. Godfrey bases his conclusion relies her Quote: (D) proposing that the schools are not at fault for the academic problems facing many high school students nothing about fault. Quote: (E) raising the possibility that there is no relationship between academic problems among high school students and part-time employment The opposite answer. The answer is B. Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others. ~ Winston Churchill Signature Read More This question is very good.The difference between the correct answer and the other answers looks subtle but is not.The question asks, "Dr. Nash responds to Dr. Godfreys argument by doing which one of the following?"Dr. Nash:Dr. Godfrey's conclusion:Nash retorts:[Presumably academic failure threatens their chances to go to college or get a good job, for example.]No. Nash does not downplay the seriousness of the problem.Nash doessay: Working students do not have poor academic records.Nash does not say: Poor academic records are not a problem.She disputes Godfrey's causal logic.-- Godfrey says that working long hours causes academic failure.-- Nash says academic failure causes students to work long hours.Possibly a trap answer.Unless you see words that actually downplay the seriousness of the problem, move on.Eliminate AThis option sounds correct.Nash took Godfrey's evidence and stood it on it head.Godfrey: working = academic problems.Nash: No. Academic problems = workings.KEEPNash does not question the accuracy of the evidence.In fact, sheon that accuracy herself in order to retort withinterpretation of the evidence.Eliminate CWhat? Nonsense.Nash saysThe students simply are in academic trouble.Godfrey talks about fault: working too much causes academic problems.Nash disagrees. Work is not to blame. The student already have poor academic records.Eliminate DNash says that there IS a direct relationship: when they have academic problems, they work more hours at part-time jobs to try to compensate for those problems.Eliminate (E)_________________ Another round of litigation against the Mountain Valley Pipeline is revving up, this time over a recent vote by the State Water Control Board allowing the infrastructure to cross streams and wetlands. The Sierra Club and eight other environmental and community groups filed a petition late Wednesday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, asking the court to review the boards decision. Legal grounds were not included in the two-page document; those will be spelled out in future filings. But pipeline opponents have long criticized the board and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, who they say failed to stop construction of the natural gas pipeline from harming natural resources first in 2017, and more recently with a second permit. MVPs dirty, dangerous pipeline project has already impacted both air and water quality along the route, leading to major environmental degradation, as well as public health concerns for communities, Caroline Hansley, a senior organizer for the Sierra Club, said in a statement. A spokesman for DEQ declined to comment Thursday on the case. Opponents say Mountain Valley should not be allowed to continue its past track record of nearly 400 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations in Southwest Virginia. Mountain Valley contends that the problems, largely caused by heavy precipitation in 2018, have been corrected. We believe the Courts review of the work completed by the VA DEQ during the past year will find that the agency met or exceeded all legal and regulatory requirements, and that the agencys action will be upheld, company spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email. Joining the Sierra Club in the latest challenge are: Appalachian Voices, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Preserve Bent Mountain, Preserve Craig County, Preserve Franklin County, Preserve Giles County and Wild Virginia. The Fourth Circuit has been a frequent pipeline battleground, with both Mountain Valley and the government agencies that regulate it often suffering setbacks. So far, however, there has not been a fatal blow to the $6.2 billion project. Five energy companies building the pipeline say its needed to provide 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to markets along the East Coast. Three-judge panels of the appellate court have twice set aside a blanket permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would have allowed the pipeline to cross nearly 1,000 water bodies along its 303-mile route through West Virginia and Virginia. After the second defeat, Mountain Valley decided to seek a different type of permit that required a more detailed study of each crossing. Approval from the two states is needed before the Army Corps can issue a permit for the remaining crossings. West Virginia has until Dec. 31 to act. The water boards 3-2 vote Dec. 14 applied to about 150 streams and wetlands in the six Virginia counties through which the buried pipeline passes: Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, Franklin and Pittsylvania. Getting from one side of a stream to the other has not been Mountain Valleys only legal challenge. In 2018, not long after work began on the long-delayed project, the Fourth Circuit invalidated a permit for the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest. The court found the Forest Service was too accepting of the companys assurances that erosion in the forest would not be a major problem. The following year, the same court issued a stay of an opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which determined that running a 42-inch diameter pipe along steep slopes and through pristine water bodies would not jeopardize endangered species. Both agencies have since re-issued permits, only to be sued again by the coalition of environmental groups. The Fourth Circuit heard oral arguments Oct. 29. Decisions are expected in the coming days or weeks. Assessors with Gods Pit Crew have been traveling within 20 miles in every direction from Mayfield looking for people affected by the tornadoes, Nuckles said. The five tractor-trailer loads of items sent have included at least 30 pallets of blessing buckets, with each pallet containing 48 or at least 1,440 blessing buckets. The blessing buckets include 26 essential items including food, water, hygienic products, first aid kits, paper products, a hot meal, a towel, a Bible and a note with words of encouragement, Nuckles said. In addition, volunteers have been putting tarp over roofs of damaged homes, removing trees and clearing lots and driveways for residents. At least 100 families houses have been impacted [by the assistance], Nuckles said. Of the five loads of items delivered, one went to Arkansas, another state affected by the tornadoes. The sights that our volunteers are seeing in Kentucky are heartbreaking and devastating, a Dec. 17 Facebook update from Gods Pit Crew states. The destruction is miles wide, but in Mayfield, amidst all the rubble, is a wonderful spirit of HOPE. Our teams are working tirelessly cutting trees, moving debris, and delivering hope. Strategically located one mile from U.S. Hwy. 29/Future I-785 and 30 minutes from Greensboro and Burlington, the parks location results in not only a great transportation network to move product to markets efficiently but also provides access to a diverse workforce capable of meeting any labor needs an industry has, from laborers to engineers, Cockram said. Although U.S. Hwy. 29 is currently a limited-access, four-lane divided highway, having the shield changed from highway sign to blue interstate sign is truly a game changer, as it puts your location on a map that otherwise often gets overlooked. The I-785 project has helped in marketing the site, and other road improvements, such as the Outer Loop will offer faster drive times to the Piedmont Triad International Airport and other markets. Since Albaad was announced as the first tenant in 2004, the Reidsville Industrial Park has made a huge impact on the county. More than 440 workers are employed at the park, and millions of dollars has been invested in both real and personal property, generating more than $360,000 in tax revenue per year for both Rockingham County and the City of Reidsville. DANVILLE, Va. Virginia recorded just shy of 6,000 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday morning, the highest number since Jan. 25 when the record peak so far of the coronavirus pandemic was raging. By comparison, there were about 3,100 daily cases added exactly a week ago. The jump illustrates the stunning speed of the omicron variant, a new strain of the novel coronavirus thats still being examined by global medical experts. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control declared omicron as the dominant strain in the United States. Ahead of Christmas gatherings many planned to resemble normality after last years pandemic pause local and state health officials are singing choruses of caution with COVID-19 cases expected to grow in the coming weeks. Speculation continues to swirl around the new variant. Theres some evidence to indicate omicron doesnt cause severe illnesses compared to other strains, but health experts are quick to warn its still too early to know for sure. Numbers alone indicate its the fastest spreading version of the coronavirus to date. MADISON A Sparta man has been arrested and charged in connection with the drug overdose death and concealing the body of a Sparta woman discovered in a wooded area by a hunter here on Monday. Zachary Joseph Taylor, 21, taken into custody on Monday, faces charges including: felony death by distribution, concealing a body, and resist, obstruct and delay of an officer in connection with the death of his girlfriend LaDawn Marie Edwards, 27, the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Tuesday. Investigators with the sheriffs office believe the couple had been visiting people in western Rockingham County on Sunday and had taken a walk together that evening. During the walk along Gold Hill Road, investigators allege Edwards overdosed on an unknown amount of a controlled substance and died, the release said. No information was immediately available about the type of substance Edwards used. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Taylor attempted to report Edwards as a missing person to the RCSO at around 10:30 a.m. on Monday. But by 12:15 p.m., a hunter found her body on Gold Hill Road near Foulks Road, the release said. Authorities then arrested Taylor. A Walmart workers family will enjoy an extra-special Christmas thanks to her big North Carolina lottery win. Wendy Montagno found out she won $150,000 on Dec. 22 just three days after her birthday and three days before Christmas, according to the NC Education Lottery. Montagno, who lives in Pinebluff, won the top prize in a Dec. 8 Holiday Winnings second-chance drawing, lottery officials said. The odds of winning were 1 in 17 million. I am still trying to make sure it is real, Montagno said in a news release. This is the perfect early Christmas and late birthday present. I am so grateful. Montagno, a third-shift stocker at Walmart, took home $106,125 after taxes. She told lottery officials she hasnt decided what she plans to do with her winnings besides paying bills and buying extra Christmas presents for her family. RALEIGH North Carolina public school teachers are trying to find out how they can take personal days without having money taken from their pay to hire a substitute. The new state budget ends the practice in which $50 was automatically deducted from a teachers paycheck when a sub was hired to cover their classes on a personal leave day. But questions exist about how the new practice, which involves giving a reason for taking a personal day, will be carried out in the states 2,600 public schools. Failure to give a reason or even potentially a reason not being considered valid could result in teachers having more than $100 taken out of their pay. The General Assembly is saying, Oh were taking away the fee. All you have to do is tell us why you need to take the day off, said Kristin Beller, president of the Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators. Whats problematic for teachers is its a personal day. The point of a personal day is not saying why you need it. You just take it because you need to take it. Charging teachers for personal days Eden city leaders form new Customer Service Division Edens automated answering system no longer exists. City leaders have formed a new Customer Service Division. Their offices are located just as residents enter City Hall at 308 E. Stadium Drive. The division has three employees available to get the caller to the right person, help navigate callers through their unique issues and assist with facility rentals and team registrations. The team consists of Georgette Spence, Donna McClung and Judy McNamara. Customer Service also manages the SeeClickFix program that was recently launched to let residents alert city departments through an app or the city website of issues that need attention. Residents can also call the office at 336-623-2110 and sign up for CODE RED, which will allow the subscriber to receive calls alerting them of emergencies and such updates as trash collection changes due to holidays. County employees do not need vaccinations Rockingham County Government is not requiring a COVID-19 vaccination for employees or as a condition of employment for the county. The K-9 remained in the Mustang until it crashed. When the driver tried to run, he struck a Forsyth County law enforcement K-9 with his fist after fleeing the traffic stop. A search of the car turned up 31.6 grams of cocaine, 36.2 grams of heroin, about half an ounce of marijuana and a Glock semi-automatic handgun. Three hours later in the magistrates office, deputies wrote in an affidavit that Simon had fled a traffic stop, dragged two deputies and seriously injured one. (Simon) had constricted pupils, appeared lethargic, was unresponsive at times and unsteady. Simon was convicted in April 2014 of selling and delivering cocaine, a felony, and was sentenced to between 13 and 25 months in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Last night, our FCSO Family was reminded that we are not guaranteed to go home safely to our families, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said in a prepared statement. This incident is a harsh reminder that the cost of serving and protecting is high. I am grateful for the covering that God has placed on those who serve and protect, regardless of the day. 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. Kinsley advocated for expanding Medicaid to build out a system of care. Experts say that expanding Medicaid would not only improve overall health for people with substance use disorder, but it would also allow them to access overdose reversal drugs at a pharmacy instead of harm reduction organizations. Im eager for the New Year, Kinsley said, as an opportunity for us to go out and keep one eye on COVID but we also have to really focus and double down on all the efforts that are underway, especially with substance use disorder. This article first appeared on North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. North Carolina Health News is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Visit NCHN at northcarolinahealthnews.org . Somebody comes in, Woollard said, and the ones we see, often theyre either noted as being in Percocet withdrawal or some sort of withdrawal, and its the same issue. They have serious medical problems over a number of days, and then eventually just sort of succumb to them. Forcing people through withdrawal also lowers their tolerance over time. This can be a problem once people are released, said Susan Pollitt, supervising attorney for DRNC. A study by UNC-CH researchers found that incarcerated people in North Carolina were 40 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose within the first two weeks after release than someone in the general population. Theres another complication to tracking how many people overdose in jail. If the person dies outside of the jail facility whether because they were quickly discharged or en route to the hospital the jail staff does not generate a report. LINVILLE Firefighters are monitoring a wildfire in the vicinity of Grandfather Mountain which has burned 350 acres and is about 10% contained, officials said. The Linville Volunteer Fire Department said on its Facebook page that the fire, reported on Friday in the Roseboro area, had spread overnight but wasn't threatening any homes as of Saturday. The post said equipment was deployed to protect residents. The department said the fire was on the Blue Ridge Parkway side of Grandfather Mountain. In a subsequent post, the department said early Sunday that the wildfire continued to advance and shift with the winds. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} As firefighters focus on protecting resources on the northwest end of the fire, the U.S. Forest Service said, the fire is expected to continue to burn to the south and east into the Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area along Timber Ridge. Twenty firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Forest Service are responding, along with fire departments from Collettsville and Linville, the U.S. Forest Service said on Facebook. Several trails in the area are closed, including the Mountains to Sea Trail along Gragg Prong between Roseboro and Pineola Roads. For the 83rd consecutive day, the sit-in activity continues next to the Semalka crossing to demand the Kurdistan Democratic Party to stop its policies that serve the enemy and to hand over the bodies of the martyrs to their families. (photos and video attached). The co-chair of the Executive Council of the Euphrates Region, Muhammad Shaheen, held the international coalition to combat ISIS and the Russian Federation responsible for the continuous attacks of the Turkish occupation state on north and east Syria, and said, "The guarantor countries must stop these massacres against our people." (Pictures attached). The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria accomplished during 2021 many service projects, and despite all the difficulties, it was able to complete important projects, such as opening medical facilities, opening strategic roads, and supporting the agricultural and economic sector. (photos and video attached). Sheikhmus Ahmed stressed that the decision to close the Tel Kojer crossing is a political decision, aimed at pressuring the Autonomous Administration to make concessions to Russia and the Damascus government, calling on the international community to reconsider the decision that threatens the lives of the peoples who fought and fought ISIS mercenaries who threatened the entire world. (photos and video attached). Lawyer Muhammad Jamil said that the Turkish state is violating even its constitution and laws that stipulate respect for human rights, especially detainees. He pointed out that despite Turkey signing the first and third Geneva agreements, it commits types of torture against detainees, amid the silence of human rights organizations. (photos and video attached). The families of the martyrs of Afrin canton denounced the attacks of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on the areas of Zarkan and Tal Tamr, stressing that the aim of these attacks was to evacuate the area from its residents; To carry out his occupation plans. (photos and video attached). The mothers of the martyrs and fighters praised the struggle and resistance of the guerrilla forces against the Turkish occupier, and pointed out that no matter how intensified the occupier's attacks would be, he would not be able to undermine this resistance, affirming their support for the resistance of their guerrilla daughters and sons. (photos and video attached). The people of the districts of Jal Agha, Amuda, Derik, Tirbe Spieh and the city of Qamishlo in Qamishlo canton are organizing events condemning the Turkish attacks on north and east Syria. In Derik, the people go out in a demonstration that starts at 10:00 from Freedom Square, and in the district of Tirbe Spieh, the people make a statement in front of the Syrian Revolutionary Youth Movement Center at 10:00, and in Qamishlo the city council makes a statement in front of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner at 11: 00, and in Amuda the council of the district makes a statement at 11:00, and in the district of Jal Agha, the people go out in a demonstration at 12:00 that starts from the roundabout of Martyr Masoum. (photos and video attached). World The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Damascus government, Bashar al-Jaafari, accused Qatar of obstructing Damascus' participation in the Arab League meetings, while the "Tigray Liberation Front" announced its withdrawal from the Amhara and Afar regions in northern Ethiopia and the retreat to Tigray in a new turning point in the 13-month-old war. (Pictures attached). ANHA St. Peters team gets IAC accreditation The St. Peters Health Cardiology team has been granted an additional three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography (echo) in the area of adult transthoracic, adult stress. The IAC is a nationally recognized accreditation nonprofit founded by medical professionals to advance appropriate use, standardization and quality of diagnostic imaging and intervention-based procedures. Accreditation involves an application and review process. Echocardiograms capture images of the heart to help determine the function of heart valves and chambers. The accreditation demonstrates St. Peters ongoing commitment to providing high-quality assessments of the heart to help detect heart disease or signs of other serious cardiac conditions. This is the third time St. Peters outpatient cardiology team has received IAC accreditation and it is the first time inpatient cardiology services has received the accreditation. Learn more about the IAC online at intersocietal.org. Bill Grant joins CWG Architecture CWG Architecture + Interiors is proud to welcome William "Bill" Grant to the team. Grant brings over three decades of knowledge as an architect, sole practitioner, and owners representative to each project. He has worked to refine the practice of building design. He believes a successful project begins with forming a comprehensive understanding of the needs of the client, the complexity of the site, and the budget. He prioritizes communication and is a keen observer of the construction process, which gives him a solid understanding of what actually works in Montanas construction environment. Grants broad spectrum of expertise includes Building Information Modeling, preliminary architectural reports, construction administration, and project management. His greatest design influence comes from images of sites all over the world as well as common materials and building systems available in our local markets. St. Peters nurses Hinrichs, Bradley receive awards St. Peters Health Registered Nurses Rhonda Hinrichs and Samantha Bradley received DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses. DAISY awardees are selected quarterly from nominations submitted by St. Peters patients and their family members. Hinrichs is the St. Peters Practice Administrator for Primary and Urgent Care and has been a registered nurse for 35 years. A local couple nominated Hinrichs after she connected them to timely COVID-19 testing. Hinrichs has been with St. Peters for 20 years. Bradley works as a registered nurse on the Medical floor and has been with St. Peters since 2019. One of the patients who nominated Bradley said their luck turned when Sam became their nurse, She [Sam] is very caring I was admitted to the hospital after hours in the ER. I was very tired, confused and uncertain of what was ahead. Waiting in the room to greet me were three nurses, that made me feel welcome. Sam was my nurse. The DAISY Award was established to honor the work nurses do to care for patients and families every day. The award is presented in collaboration with The American Organization of Nurse Executives. St. Peters Health administration and staff select the winner from those nominated. Recipients receive a certificate and a sculpture called A Healers Touch, which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. Deadline extended for organic program The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program. This program provides pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses. The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses is now Feb. 4, 2022, rather than the original deadline of Jan. 7, 2022. We listened to feedback from our stakeholders and are happy to provide organic producers, and those transitioning their operations, enough time to learn about the program and complete the application, said Zach Ducheneaux, FSA Administrator. Signup for OTECP, administered by USDAs Farm Service Agency, began Nov. 8. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Jan. 6 insurrection 2,100 miles away in Washington, D.C., hit home when two brothers from East Helena entered a local police station a few days later and said they believed they were wanted by the FBI. Joshua Calvin Hughes and Jerod Wade Hughes were charged later that month. They were then incarcerated, pleaded not guilty and released from custody in April pending trial, on their own recognizance. They will return to court Jan. 7 for a status conference. In past appearances before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, there has been talk of a possible plea deal. The brothers have been charged with eight counts that include civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; destruction of government property and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; entering and remaining in certain rooms in the Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. A violent mob of former President Donald Trumps supporters broke into the Capitol to contest the Electoral College vote being certified that would name Democrat Joe Biden as president instead of Trump. At least nine people who were there died during and after the rioting. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for a historic second time for inciting the rioters. A House panel is looking into the attack. Nearly 727 people have been charged. The prosecution has said the Hughes brothers placed themselves at the tip of the spear on Jan. 6, actively engaged in the destruction of government property, harassed and interfered with Capitol police and obstructed a joint session of Congress. The brothers followed a man who pursued Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman up the stairs and later found their way to the Senate floor, prosecutors said. The Hughes brothers eventually ended up on the Senate floor, which had been evacuated, where they and others sat in senators chairs, opened senators desks, and reviewed sensitive material, the Jan. 28 federal complaint states. Local law enforcement authorities and officials with human rights organizations said they had never heard of either Hughes brother until their arrest. Palmer Hoovestal, an attorney for one of the brothers, said they have no association with political groups of any kind and had never before attended a rally for Trump. But when the president called all patriots to Washington, they decided to attend and then go sightseeing. They got to the front of the line at the Capitol, entered through a window someone else broke, walked around inside the Capitol for 10-15 minutes and left. The attorney said they were not destructive. He called their entering the Capitol through a window the biggest mistake of their lives" Editor's note This story is part of a 10-part series on the biggest local stories of 2021. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 0 Funny 6 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 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. Bishop Desmond M. Tutu of South Africa, who died Sunday at age 90, came to Helena in late 1990 at the invitation of a Montana political satire singing group in an effort to raise money to help educate Native American and South African children in concerts that nearly 4,000 people attended. In 1987, members of the Montana Logging and Ballet Company, a quartet whose parodies had social and political messages, performed an anti-apartheid song, Take the Barriers Down, that Tutu heard during a United Methodist Global Gathering in Kentucky. Tutu, according to The New York Times, wrote notes for the album in which the song was featured. Four white men from Montana cannot sound like South Africans, he said. But they can sing about the justice that is God's intention for us all." The group consisted of Steve Garnaas-Holmes, who wrote Take the Barriers Down, his younger brother Tim Holmes, Rusty Harper and Bob FitzGerald. They were together 38 years and performed their last public show at the Babcock Theater in Billings in 2012. Their last concert was a fundraiser for Rocky Mountain College, The Billings Gazette reported. It is where the four had met in the 1970s. Tutu, who was awarded the peace prize in 1984, for his work to end apartheid, spent 47 hours flying from Cape Town, South Africa to the Treasure State for the Dec. 8, 1990, event According to The New York Times, a reporter asked him, of all places, why he came to Helena. "Of all places," Tutu responded, "it is the one with the Montana Logging and Ballet Company." Montana Logging and Ballet reportedly raised $1 million in donations and scholarships during his visit to help educate American Indians and South Africans, Tim Holmes said. Concert tickets were $50. There was a $500-a-plate luncheon at the Montana Club. For an extra $20, people could attend a reception, where they got a chance to meet Tutu, The New York Times reported. FitzGerald on Sunday called meeting and knowing Tutu the highlight of his singing career. He was relentlessly joyful, able to find that nugget of joy and nurturing in everyone, he said in a telephone interview. He had an uncanny ability to find the best in everybody and anybody and did it without fail. He was just all in all a good person, FitzGerald said. Tim Holmes said he had created a sculpture that he was to give to Tutu in Kentucky, and the Montana Logging and Ballet Co. was asked to perform as well. It was the beginning of a decades-long friendship with the bishop. "Gosh, what a monumental figure," Tim Holmes said Sunday. "I feel so fortunate to be associated with him for more than 30 years." Holmes said Tutu has three of his sculptures. FitzGerald said it was during a concert in Washington, D.C., that they invited Tutu to come to Montana and boom, he accepted it. He said two concerts were held at the Helena Civic Center. He said several state lawmakers were in the audience. Montana was one of three states at the time that did not recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. FitzGerald said Tutu spoke of MLK in such a joyful, enthusiastic way. That recognition of MLK Day came during the next legislative session. Homes said problems with apartheid had escalated when Tutu was in Montana and he was asked how he could be so cheerful. "He said, 'I am not in charge. We are called to be faithful and not successful,'" Holmes recalled. "He was always full of humor and graciousness." Tutu, who had also preached at services at St. Paul's Methodist and St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral during his visit, enjoyed interacting with the public and welcomed children who would run up to him at airports and other public places, FitzGerald and Holmes said. He included everybody, FitzGerald said. He was at ease with kings and queens, but much more at ease with the bellboy, the maintenance worker, the janitor and waitress. Holmes said he remembered Tutu leaving the airport and seeing some workers 200 yards away who were looking at him. He ambled over to say goodbye. "He found everyone to be equally important," Holmes recalled. "When kings and queens were to be greeted, he greeted the powerless people first." FitzGerald said he was extremely saddened to learn of Tutus passing. We knew this day was coming; you just didnt want it come, he said. He was nothing but good. You can read more about Tutu at the Montana Logging and Ballet Co. Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MLandBC/. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 9 Funny 1 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. Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19, as the nation's travel woes extended beyond Christmas, with no clear indication when normal schedules would resume. More than 700 flights entering, leaving or flying within the U.S. were called off, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday. Delta, United and JetBlue have blamed the omicron variant of the coronavirus for staffing shortages that forced cancellations. Meanwhile, snow and cold continue to blanket the western and northern United States, setting up hazardous post-Christmas travel conditions Sunday and into the final week of 2021. Across the West, "travel will remain dangerous and is discouraged, especially along mountain passes where long duration closures are likely. Dangerous avalanches are also likely in the Sierra Nevada, Washington Cascades, Northern Rockies, and Wasatch," the Weather Prediction Center said. Bitter cold in the coming days will also impact states from Montana to Michigan. Meantime, unseasonable warmth will continue to toast the South as wildfire risk stretches across the central Plains. Here's the latest: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Its that time of year much like the dog days of summer when people really would rather be thinking about something besides the ever-snarling pit of political strife. And why not? Our citizens are exhausted from dealing with the very real issues facing them on a daily basis in their personal lives and, quite frankly, theyre getting more than a little worn out by politicians bent on stoking civil strife for their own murky, often unfounded and inexplicable reasons. But for normal people living normal lives, its a time to reflect not so much on what we lack or who to hate or blame for real or imagined transgressions, but to appreciate what weve had and have our families and friends, having love in our lives, and the incredible beauty of Montana that greets us every day. While that might sound corny to those caught in the churning maelstrom of the 24-7 news cycle, the fact is youd probably be a lot happier if you turned it off for a few days. In reality, Congress is out, the White House is in holiday mode, Montanas governor remains primarily invisible and, who knows, maybe even our attorney general has decided to go back up to his hometown of Culbertson to take a break from worrying about the Texas border for awhile. The simple truth is that theres still a tremendous amount of good will among Montanans and we remain a place where no one asks you what political party you identify with or belong to before helping each other out of a snowbank. It is, in part, because of the sheer physicality of where we live. Here, Mother Nature still calls the shots in our big and largely empty spaces and we still rely on each other far more often than city dwellers to deal with whatever Nature throws our way. We do not live in the urban canyons where the sky is some patch of gray stuffed between the peaks of skyscrapers. Theres still real ground beneath our feet the kind that actually grows life instead of cement and asphalt covering every inch. Our night sky still reminds us in all its horizon-to-horizon glory that we are, after all, just one tiny blue dot in the vast expanse of the universe. Thankfully, we can still see the stars, a forgotten spectacle now mostly lost in the glaring lights of our cities a loss not really experienced by humans in most of our existence and one that may have ramifications far beyond what we now know or expect. Within a few minutes of any Montana city we can be in forest-clad mountains or vast rolling prairies, sharing the beauty with almost all the species that were here when Lewis and Clark passed through more than 200 years ago. That, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle in our modern world where progress has brutally pushed non-human species aside a terrible error we can still strive to avoid. So you know, dont hesitate to just kick it back until 2022 gets here. Turn off the news and turn up the tunes. Bust out the good stuff and share a cup of kindness with friends without worrying about who voted for whom, what the latest political scandal exposes, or the constant drumbeat to stir up civil contention. You wont miss a thing. Itll all be here next year, as will the pandemic, the politicians, and their endless, and often pointless, debates over public policy. For now, we can all just be Montanans and be grateful for that. George Ochenski is a longtime Helena resident, an environmental activist and Montana's longest-running weekly columnist. Love 4 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The family of a man hospitalized with COVID-19 who lost his wife to the disease is seeking a court order to get the controversial drug ivermectin as a treatment at an Elgin hospital, his attorney said. A Kane County judge already ruled against the family, preventing 40-year-old mother Maria Abbinanti from getting the drug before her death this week at Amita Health St. Joseph Hospital Elgin, attorney Patrick J. Walsh said. Her husband, 41-year-old Sebastian Abbinanti, remained hospitalized Thursday. Family members were appealing the court order, and Walsh expected a decision next week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19, and warns against such use. One analysis of 14 studies involving ivermectin found the evidence did not support the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, though clinical trials are ongoing. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat intestinal infections caused by some parasitic worms, as well as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea. Different forms of the drug are used to treat animals for heartworm and other parasites. Maria Abbinanti, the mother of three young children, had not gotten vaccinated against COVID-19, after her doctor raised concerns about how she might react due to allergies, Walsh said. The couple was hospitalized in late November, and put in the intensive care unit on ventilators, Walsh said. After other treatments failed, Walsh said, the couples doctor, Sergei Lipov, recommended ivermectin. But St. Joseph administrators policy prohibited use of the drug for COVID-19 at the hospital. The family filed suit in Kane County Circuit Court seeking to let Lipov administer the treatment and agreeing to waive liability claims against the hospital. On Dec. 17, Judge Robert Villa agreed with the hospital and ruled against the family. Family members, friends and community members protested outside the hospital Wednesday, with a mix of sadness and anger, Walsh said. This is a legal issue, Walsh said. The law says the hospital is not allowed to unreasonably interfere with a doctors best judgment on how to treat patients. The hospital did not immediately return a request for comment. Walsh expects a ruling on his emergency motion sometime next week. The family is beside themselves, he said. They have really come together, both sides, working together to try to get through this. In a similar case last month, a man on a ventilator who received ivermectin at Edward Hospital in Naperville, after a DuPage County judge allowed it, recovered and was released, according to the law firm that filed the suit. The city needs to move quickly to Plan B. Whats next? The current situation is not acceptable. If the wells are not going to do the job then we need a new plan, and it shouldnt come from anyone affiliated with the city of Bristol, Virginia. The citys time to fix this problem has expired. The city of Bristol, Virginia needs to raise its hand and ask for governmental help, now. The city is facing the possibility of legal action from Bristol, Tennessee; being regularly fined for violating benzene limits in its wastewater by BVU and fighting back against DEQ over violations concerning inoperable leachate pumps. We have no more time to wait for them to get their act together. Its time for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and/or the federal Environmental Protection Agency to take control of this situation and solicit help from environmental experts to work a solution that will bring relief as quickly as possible. Those affected need a realistic estimate of how long this situation will last and what steps need to be taken to put this smelly genie back in its bottle. Dave Lingafelt, president and general manager of WNNC, WAIZ 63 Big Ways, and WXRC 95.7 The Ride, must be placed near the top of any ranking of people who have done the most to raise Newtons profile regionally and beyond during the last half century. Through newscasts, sportscasts, public service announcements, and countless interviews spanning his 45-year career, Lingafelt has broadcast good news about Newton to listeners across town and, now thanks to streaming, across the world. Ive always thought a radio station had a responsibility to do so many things for the community that it served, Lingafelt said. Ive been privileged with an awesome staff over the years, and especially my wife Janet, to be able to do all of those things for many, many years. Ive always believed when somebody listens to you on the radio station, its the same thing as opening up the door to their home or car and saying, Come on in. Thats a privilege! The best part about all of this has been that Ive enjoyed all of it and still do. All that Ive had the opportunity to do goes way beyond my dreams. The lesson here is that we must first be a friend to the unbeliever, whether its our child or our next-door neighbor. Like Jesus, we have to be willing to let them come to us on their terms. And when they do come, we have to be willing to listen and prepared to answer their questions. Notice that Jesus did not apologize for who he was or what he believed. He told Nicodemus, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:3) Later in the conversation, Nicodemus, frustrated and confused, said, How can these things be? (John 3:9) Again, Jesus did not back down. For God so loved the world, he told him, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) The point here is that honesty should never be sacrificed at the expense of friendship. The two can and must go hand-in-hand. Finally, Jesus was patient. He understood that Nicodemus needed some time to think about things. I wonder what might have happened to Nicodemus if Jesus had pushed him for a decision that night. Over the past few days it has felt like we were ending 2021 where we started it, in the throes of a spiking pandemic. As we toasted in this New Year, we were eager to receive the vaccine that would help stem COVID-19. Never did we imagine there would be friends, neighbors and even family who would refuse to get the shot that would help both them and us collectively speed the return to our normal lives. It was just as unbelievable as the refusal of the former president to accept the results of Novembers elections. Then January 6th happened, a date etched in the memory of our nation like Pearl Harbor Day on December 7th and the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. We watched unbelieving as Americans stormed our Capitol, desecrating a symbol of our Republic. It was an omen for the disquiet ahead. The homeless are dirty. They leave beer bottles, syringes and garbage everywhere. They panhandle and scare decent folk. Our property values will drop. Oh, and this gem. Because the new location is near a busy roadway, some opponents even posited that the homeless would be in danger after dark as if theyre not smart enough to not walk out in traffic. Or as Carmen Daecher, a traffic engineer and a member of the shelters board, helpfully summarized it: You take a poll as to whether a homeless shelter is needed in this town. Everyone will say yes until its put in their backyard. The shelter offered testimony from the pastor at Crossfire United Methodist that refuted neighbors evidence and the shelter director noted strict rules in place for shelter guests. After hours of testimony, the Board took 10 minutes to vote in essence to Screw the homeless. Standing for the underprivileged Undeterred, the shelter board fought on, enlisting the substantial help of the Institute for Justice, a libertarian civil-rights law firm in Washington D.C. willing to fight for the shelters right to use private property as it saw fit. I would feel absolutely rotten if this got lost in the mail, Corpus explained. I felt something this priceless needed to be hand-delivered. So, with a break in his schedule this week, Corpus took a 10-hour flight from California to bring the album to Christopher at his Greensboro home. Merry Christmas, he said to Christopher and his father, Joseph Giampino Jr., while they pored over the album on a kitchen table late Tuesday afternoon. Its pretty cool, said Christopher, looking at the old pictures of his grandfather. Its almost like looking at a ghost, though. Im getting a little fuzzy feeling about it. You know? Christopher, 39, said he only met his grandfather who died in 2002 one time. Thats when he was about 9 years old. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} He used to send me Christmas gifts all the time, Christopher said. But over the years, they lost touch. And then I tried to reach out to him when I was like 22, and then I found out he passed away, Christopher said. And thats when his wife told me shed gather some photos for me. She did send me some photos, like 15 years back. RALEIGH Its not personal, its just business or so Facebook assures me. On this matter, Im inclined to believe the company (now called Meta by its CEO and nearly a dozen other human beings). That doesnt make my latest encounter with the social-media giant any less frustrating, however. I just spent many days jumping through its authorization hoops so I could run political ads on a Facebook page I manage. And even after finishing the process, I still had my ad rejected and had to appeal the decision multiple times. Before you accuse me of burying the lede, let me clarify. I am not abandoning my longtime role as political commentator in order to run for office. I am, of course, unelectable. Thousands of highly opinionated newspaper columns and TV appearances over more than three decades will do that to the best of men, and also to me. No, what set off Facebooks alarm was something else entirely. It flagged me as attempting to use boosted posts on a non-political page in order to promote a political cause. Thats a no-no, according to the policies Facebook adopted amidst criticism of the role its ads played in the 2016 election and subsequent controversies. Equally important, will todays high wheat prices pull Northern Plains farmers to forsake their ever-expanding corn and soybeans empires for the good old days of wheat? Hold that thought -- until at least next year -- when the first peek at a possible answer arrives with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Prospective Plantings Report March 31. This year must not slip away, however, without remembering Sen. Robert Dole, the stalwart Kansas Republican, who slipped away Dec. 5 at age 98. Dole, a true war hero, was a Capitol Hill fixture from 1960 until 1996 when he resigned his safe, comfortable U.S. senate seat to try the most dangerous, least comfortable thing ever, run for president. He lost, and the nation lost something along with him. Thereafter, politics were different; they became bloodier, more corrosive, and more destructive. After his death, some pinned part of the blame on Dole, a lion-tough leader who had a ferocious roar and slashing bite. But, as he proved time and again, neither flaw matched his caring heart and ironclad integrity. His career was built on easing hunger, reducing poverty, healing disabilities, and delivering hope to millions in the U.S. and abroad. Let us end this dreadful year of bitter politics by remembering one of our best, Bob Dole, a wounded giant who always knelt to pick up the broken, hungry, and poor. The Farm and Food File is published weekly throughout the U.S. and Canada. Source material and contact information are posted at farmandfoodfile.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 But he said the CBD business in Nebraska wont really take off until the state legalizes cannabis for medicinal uses. Right now, the Bader brothers and Naumann market their sunglasses and other products at trade shows and farmers markets, and via their Hemp3D.com website. They are producing some custom orders, such as hemp plastic keychains imprinted with a logo, and a plate for tailgating that includes a handy holder for a beverage. They also make hemp chess sets, and a line of bowls and display boxes, as well as can openers, guitar picks and earrings. It is as much art and fashion as it is a manufacturing company, Andrew Bader said, as he assembled a pair of sunglasses. Former Nebraska Secretary of State Allen Beermann, who is among the brothers early customers, said its fun to wear the hemp shades. People ask where did you get those glasses? Beermann said. When I tell them theyre made of hemp, theyre really stunned. As for the future, the brothers are looking to rent a facility and expand production, and hoping to lure investors so they can upgrade the molds they use to fashion their sunglasses. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A film shot in Indianapolis in 1902 that captures a menagerie of Ringling Bros. circus animals parading through the city's downtown has landed a spot on the National Film Registry. The 3-minute-long silent film, titled Ringling Bros. Parade Film, is part of a class of 25 films recently added to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Released by the Selig Polyscope Company in July 1902, it is the 11th oldest movie in the registry, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported. It features elephants, camels and caged lions traveling on Capitol Avenue past the Indiana Statehouse before the parade passes along Washington Street past the Indiana Repertory Theatre's future home. When announcing this years class of films on Dec. 14, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said Black residents seen along the parade route factored in the movies selection for the National Film Registry. African Americans were rarely shown in films of that era, and then only in caricature or mocking depictions," Hayden said. Defense lawyers, though, say she was a U.S. government scapegoat after Epstein killed himself in the Manhattan federal jail cell where he was awaiting his own sex trafficking trial in August 2019. They said the memories of her accusers were corrupted by the passage of time and the influence of lawyers steering them toward multimillion-dollar payouts from a fund set up to compensate Epstein victims. The jury already has asked to review the testimony of the four women, along with former Epstein housekeeper Juan Patricio Alessi, but they have given little hint of their overall progress on six charges, including a sex trafficking count that carries a potential penalty of up to 40 years in prison. Alessi testified that when he worked at Epsteins sprawling Florida home from 1990 to 2002, he saw many, many, many female visitors, appearing to be in their late 20s, often lounging topless by the pool. He also testified that two accusers, underage teens at the time, were repeat visitors to the Epstein mansion. Each day of deliberations without a verdict seems to boost the defense team, which is aware that fast verdicts almost always go in the government's favor and that deliberations that stretch out can sometimes indicate dissension or confusion among jurors. When airborne, the minuscule Cocci spores are easily inhaled. In rare cases, infection can occur via a break in the skin. Symptoms begin to appear one to three weeks after exposure. The majority of people will have no reaction to the fungus, or they will develop mild symptoms that abate on their own. However, some people who become infected can become quite ill. Severity of illness has been linked to the number of spores that someone has inhaled. Although the initial site of infection is the lungs, the fungus can then travel throughout the body and cause a range of symptoms. The onset of infection often begins with general fatigue and a persistent cough. As the fungus travels throughout the body, a skin rash or lesions can appear. People also experience headaches, joint and body aches, night sweats and shortness of breath. Symptoms may go away after a few weeks, or they can be intermittent, fading away and then reappearing. Diagnosis begins with a detailed report of the individual's symptoms, travel history and medical history. Once valley fever is suspected, a blood test for Coccidioides antibodies or antigens will likely be performed. The fungus can cause pneumonialike illness in the lungs, so imaging scans, such as an X-ray or MRI, may be needed. In severe cases, a tissue biopsy may be used to see if the fungal infection has become systemic. Treatment depends on the severity of infection and risk factors for more serious disease. These include pregnancy, diabetes and being immunocompromised. Treatment ranges from watchful waiting to the use of antifungal medication. Most people make a full recovery. Send questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lincoln's 2021 homicide total doesn't include the death of a 9-month-old child in late October, the nature of which was described in an LPD incident listing as "accidental." Vigil said police are awaiting autopsy results in the child's death and declined to describe the circumstances that led up to it. "Any loss of life, whether accidental or intentional, is a great tragedy to our community and to the victims friends and family," Vigil said. "Any death investigated by the Lincoln Police Department is given high priority and we pursue all leads we receive in conjunction with these cases." Also not included in the count are the three individuals killed at the hands of law enforcement in Lincoln in this year. A grand jury cleared officers of wrongdoing in an incident initially described as a shootout on the edge of Lincoln that left a Wyoming couple dead in February. Two state troopers and a Lincoln police officer fired 37 shots toward Hailey Stainbrook and Christian Alexander, who had first pointed a gun at law enforcement. In September, the board indefinitely postponed development of the standards. Penner is far from the first Twitter user to have their account mistakenly suspended by the San Francisco-based company. Earlier this year, Twitter suspended the account of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene twice in the span of about three weeks due to errors. The Georgia Republican, who has in the past promoted violence against Democrats and conspiracy theories about QAnon and the 9/11 attacks, was unable to post to her account for multiple hours in April due to what Twitter said was a mistake by one of its automated systems. That came roughly three weeks after Greenes account was suspended for about 12 hours in what the company also said was a mistake. In 2016, Twitter accidentally suspended the account of company co-founder Jack Dorsey. That mistake came as Twitter suspended the accounts of several prominent members of the so-called alt-right in an apparent crackdown on accounts tied to hate speech or threats of violence. Theres nothing else it can do, Roper said. We dont want to get rid of them. We dont feel like we have the authority to do that. That patience can pay off. About a decade ago, a man contacted the funeral home, ready to claim the cremated remains of his parents, who had died in the 1960s, Roper said. The son had known where the ashes were; he just hadnt been ready for them yet. He was just now at that point of coming to terms with the fact that both of his folks had passed, and he came and picked them up. Im absolutely thrilled when that happens. After hearing from the funeral home, Hansen contacted Cooks great-great nephew in Scottsbluff. Good news, he said. Miner Perkins has no memories of Cook, but the family had long wondered what had happened to his ashes. Its a big deal for us. We didnt know where they were for so long, its really exciting to find him now. Cooks niece collected his ashes on Veterans Day. And the reunions timing was fitting, Perkins said. RIDGELAND, S.C. (AP) A Jasper County town is being paid nearly $920,000 by the South Carolina prison system to end a four-year dispute over a facility's water and sewer bill. Corrections Director Bryan Stirling told the State Fiscal Accountability Authority earlier this month that he didn't want to pay the bill, but he felt like he had no choice because state law allows the increase. They literally came to us and said theyd shut the water off, Stirling said, a move that would cause chaotic and dangerous conditions behind bars. Stirling asked the five-member authority that oversees agency spending, made up of the governor, treasurer, comptroller general, House Ways and Means Chairman and Senate Finance Chairman, to put pressure on legislators to do something to prevent another town from taking advantage of the state. We ask you to vote yes, but we ask you to look at this, Stirling told the board, according to The Post and Courier. Theres nothing to stop other water and sewer districts from doing this to other institutions. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Defense attorneys want to dismiss the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they described as egregious overreaching by federal agents and informants, according to a court filing. In the 20-page motion, which was filed Saturday night, defense attorneys allege FBI agents and federal prosecutors invented a conspiracy and entrapped people who could face up to life in prison. They're asking U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to dismiss the conspiracy charge, which would effectively knock down the federal government's case and other connected charges, according to The Detroit News. The request comes after developments and claims about the governments team, including the conviction of Richard Trask, an FBI special agent who was arrested on a domestic violence charge and later fired and convicted of a misdemeanor. In a politically divided state where Democratic candidates succeed in metropolitan Omaha and Lincoln usually by modest margins while Republican candidates dominate statewide contests with huge margins in rural Nebraska, an appeal by Blood to rural voters makes political sense. But it's more than that, she suggests, pointing to the fact that she was born in McCook and graduated from Adams Central High School near Hastings. Blood said she understands the aspirations and needs of rural Nebraska. A healthy agricultural sector tops that list, she said, and "neighbor helping neighbor" is part of the culture. While the 2022 gubernatorial race has been dominated thus far by a spirited, multi-candidate primary battle for the Republican nomination, Blood said she has been traveling to campaign appearances and meet-and-greet events. The current political debate centers on "a lot of pretend problems that are brought forward and made into bogeymen," Blood said. "That's not the way to solve real problems." It creates "an us-versus-them dynamic," she said, in sharp contrast to "a sense of community." Goodbye 2021. By the end of next Friday, you're gone, scary year. The pandemic has been an ongoing tragedy more than 800,000 Americans dead already and more than 5 million gone worldwide. And it ain't over yet. Who knows what new strain may be ready to follow omicron? It would be Pi, if we're adhering to the Greek alphabet. And we have no clear idea what Pi might look like. And there is another looming challenge to confront in 2022. Jan. 6, 2021 was a threat to the future of our country, hopefully an isolated one-and-done aberration, but potentially the beginning of something unimaginable, a portender, an omen, both a beginning and an end. The answer in Washington to big challenges is to run the clock until the next election. Let's argue, let's delay, let's ignore, let's obstruct until the next election because that's all that really matters here. And then we'll do it all over again. We've got some crucial decisions to make in this new year. The Democrats should have listened to Joe Manchin. As their Build Back Better agenda assumed legislative shape, the Democratic senator from West Virginia kept telling them what he didnt like about it. On Nov. 1, he decried the bills shell games and budget gimmicks and called it a recipe for economic crisis. He wanted to set up and fully pay for a few programs for 10 years. The bill House Democrats passed sets up more programs, but for only a few years; after that, the Democrats were counting on political pressure to get them extended, and maybe paid for. They appeared to think Manchins conditions were just a negotiating position even after he said that he would be comfortable if no bill at all got passed. Last Sunday, Manchin announced that he could not support the current legislation. Democrats should have realized long beforehand that he wasnt bluffing. The fact that President Joe Biden lost West Virginia by 39 points last year should have been evidence enough. Democrats should have agreed to what he wanted. Casino gambling in Nebraska took a giant step forward earlier this month when the state Racing and Gaming commission unanimously voted to approve rules for casinos at the states horse racetracks. It took the commission and its staff more than a year to create the 67 pages of rules and regulations that are the historic first step toward the implementation designed to resurrect horse racing in the state and provide property tax relief from the receipts generated by keeping Nebraska gambling money in the state. Those regulations, which incorporate the language of the constitutional amendments approved by the voters, are based on best gaming industry practices aimed at creating well-regulated, ethical gambling and tight security. The quality of the proposed rules is perhaps best verified by the testimony of gambling opponents at the commissions Dec. 17 hearing. All of those who fought against gambling and the initiative praised the rules for their thoroughness and likely effectiveness. The rules are now before Attorney General Doug Peterson and Gov. Pete Ricketts, who must sign off on them before any further steps to approve and build the casinos can go forward. I've got six opinions. Here we go. Hang on ... Gov. Pete Ricketts, et al, wants to ban mandatory vaccines in our Nebraska National Guard. The primary duty of our nations military, federal or state, is to defend our country against its foreign and domestic foes. That requires a constant state of military readiness. Physical readiness is no exception. In todays pandemic world all of our military personnel should be vaccinated against COVID and whatever else. Governor of all Nebraskans, Ricketts' saying anti-racism is racist makes as much sense as saying two plus two equals three, the sun comes up in the west and he walks on water. More power to Lee Enterprises and all other reputable news services around America and the world in fending off takeover attempts from freedom-of-speech-squelching companies like Alden Global Capital. Alden's goal may be that Faux News is America's only news source. Years ago, marijuana was known as a gateway drug, meaning its use would lead to use of stronger drugs like acid, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc. Today's medical marijuana legislation is simply gateway legislation seeking to legalize marijuana in Nebraska. Larry McClung nailed it! In his letter to the editor ("Laws, not taxpayers, are the problem," Dec. 21), he pinpointed the cause of the American government's gradual collapse. If "money is the mother's milk of politics," Citizens United has transmuted it into a "poison." Of all the proposals proffered for preventing America's demise -- term limits, ranked balloting, gun rights, etc. -- nothing will suffice unless we voters can prevail upon both state and federal legislators to draft constitutional amendments to outlaw private campaign "bribes" in favor of public campaign financing with appropriate limits. Sure, this will cost the taxpayer, but not nearly as much as we are paying now. Legislators should be discussing, debating and legislating in the peoples' interest, not expending energy on raising money for their political campaigns and indebting themselves to the moneyed interests. David A. Anderson, Lincoln Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A vision of Christmas around a beautiful dining table with dear loved ones over 60 years ago remains clear in my minds eye today. The warmth and love, a childs innocence and perhaps the innocence of those years in the 1950s contribute to my magical recollections. They are treasured keepsakes of my childhood. For many Christmases, my parents and I were guests of my mothers brother and wife, Andrew and Elva Fadness. My parents and I would leave Racine early on those Christmas mornings to make the lengthy drive to the Wisconsin village of Rio. It was sure to be a pleasant day for mother and for me. Mothers sister, my aunt Ing (Ingeborg was her real name) and her husband Ben would join us from their Jefferson County farm. I must add, however, to be truthful, that even on Christmas, I know that my father was less than enthused. Oh, he went willingly without complaint, but I imagine that he was already planning his return to Racine before he had even left the city limits. After waiting years to become a CPA and to start his accounting business, he was just seeing that business expand. Accounting thoughts were uppermost in his mind, and I am quite sure that even if the governor of Wisconsin had been present at the Rio dinner table, he would have been waiting to return to Racine and to his work. I can also surmise that my father was less enthused with the stories of Norway and the Norwegian relatives that he was surely to hear. Nevertheless, both he and my uncle Ben, who were each raised in highly German communities, smiled tolerantly at the Norwegian exuberance they were certain to encounter during the day. They knew, however, that mother, Aunt Ing and Uncle Andrew were very close. They had grown up in this little town, inhabited mainly by Norwegians, and actually in this very house at 504 Lincoln Ave. It was a pretty white two-story with gingerbread on the upper gables. When my mother was a young child in the early 1900s, her brave Norwegian-immigrant newly widowed mother had moved her little family from a farm in to this very home. Christmas memories I loved to visit my aunt and uncle on Christmas. First of all, I felt the admiration mother and Aunt Ing held for Andrew and Elva. Andrew, like his sisters, had gone away to college about 1920, a rare accomplishment in those days. He still wore a sophisticated-looking ring from Luther College. Andrew had gone to law school in Madison, returning to Rio to serve as its beloved and trusted attorney. Elva, in contrast to the three dark-haired Fadness siblings, was a beautiful blonde Norwegian. She had graduated in the first nursing class of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That was quite a distinction we thought. Her steady, capable, down-to-earth manner also earned our admiration and respect. I also loved the Rio house itself at Christmas. Aunt Elva decorated it with beautiful Norwegian accessories throughout. Moreover, with her permission, I was free to explore the entire fascinating home. There were not one, but two hidden staircases to the upstairs where beautiful but mysterious trunks and other artifacts brought over from Norway by our ancestors silently resided. There was a solid feeling of beauty and of family history throughout every inch of that house. There was also a love of learning permeating that home. Leather-bound books, numerous magazines, as well as Bible studies and devotionals abounded. At the dining table, Andrew often quoted these sources, adding interesting historical details that shed light on the circumstances of the day. And his were not stuffy, but scintillating explanations which I have never heard their equal to this day. My aunt and uncle had even been to far off Norway. When they returned to Rio they were greeted with receptions and featured as travelogue speakers. Sometimes at that dining table they would read letters aloud from the Norwegian relatives they had visited. (At this time, my father was probably secretly reviewing his accounting matters.) Indeed, I did not mind being the only child in Rio on those Christmas days. My older cousins, Elvas and Andrews sons Peter and John, were away in the Armed Forces during many of those years. Surely I was doted on, but somehow even as a child, I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among such kind and accomplished people. But perhaps best of all, my aunts delicious Christmas dinners seemed to emerge effortlessly from her nearby kitchen. The dining table would be set with her fine china and silver and with my favorite salt and pepper shakers in the world, a porcelain pair of Siamese cats. There would be mounds of white mashed potatoes, ham or turkey with dressing, and Elvas homemade applesauce, pickles and delectable rolls. Andrew would begin with prayers in Norwegian. Elva would conclude by serving a delicious pie or torte. The dining room clock on the buffet would chime its mellow tones. And I would believe that these times together would last forever. The table But how quickly those childhood years vanished. By the time I went away to college in 1966 and married in 1970, the trips for those of us who had once been guests at that dining table became less frequent. Now Peter and John were at that table with their families, hearing the stories of Norway and of history and of faith. And mysteriously, the roads to Rio were becoming longer and more arduous to travel. One by one those former dinner guests were called to another table, including my own dear parents. (My father never once failing to disguise his private accounting thoughts.) Our host Andrew and our hostess Elva were to depart when in their 90s, along with the untimely death of their son Peter. Now close to the turn of the century, the house at 504 Lincoln Ave. stood without its owners needing to be dismantled after being like a living part of the Fadness family for almost 100 years. It was time for my cousin John to ask the children of his brother Peter as well as his own two daughters, Sarah Fadness and Jennifer Fadness, what treasures they would hope to receive from the house. But when it came to Jennifer, it was not one Norwegian keepsake that she requested. Instead, it was only the massive dining table, along with its chairs and buffet, that this young woman asked to receive. Just as I had treasured those moments around the holiday table, she, too, did not want to leave those childhood memories behind. And that made it all the more painful for Jennifer to realize that she was not to have her wish. Her father held firm. As a college student without prospects of a permanent address for some time, the dining set was to be sold. The day of the auction came and Jennifer could not watch. A special phone call It was a few years later that an astounding call came for Jennifer. The owner of the table no longer wanted it, nor the chairs, nor the buffet. In shock that her love for the table had been known and remembered, Jennifer knew that now she simply had to have it. It had seemed to wait for her. Along with her sister Sarah, the asking price was met. And that is how the precious dining table, its chairs, and its buffet reside in Jennifers home today. On its first Christmas there, it was met with utter astonishment by her parents and by their tears. A young womans love for her grandparents and the precious times they had shared together around a dining table had saved it for the family. Now on any Christmas, a beautiful dining table is set with the finest china and a pair of porcelain Siamese cats grace its center. An array of delicious food including Elvas delectable pickles and rolls are served. Tales of Norway still arise. The clock on the buffet chimes to signal the precious hours passing away. Perhaps just a vision is seen of Andrew taking his place at the head of the table and Elva entering from the kitchen with fine coffee cups in hand. Indeed, everyone is still present at this table for another Christmas together. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BURLINGTON A Burlington man has been accused of sexually assaulting a minor. Michael John Sekey, 49, of the 100 block of Capital Street, was charged with a felony count of second degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age. According to a criminal complaint: On Monday, a girl under the age of 16 and her parents responded to the Burlington Police Department to report that she had been sexually assaulted the night before. She said that Sekey sexually assaulted her. Later Monday, Sekey arrived at the Burlington Police Department and met with an investigator. He said that he was drinking and went upstairs from the basement to use the bathroom. He then went into the girls bedroom to talk about the bed he was going to make for her. After the investigator pressed him on it further, he reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting the girl. Sekey was given a $5,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 29 at the at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. COVID-19 outbreaks are hitting the Wisconsin prison system once again, with active cases among prisoners breaking 300 for the first time this week since January, when vaccines had not yet been distributed to prisoners. On Dec. 17, the total number of active COVID-19 cases was 283, according to data from the Department of Corrections. After starting off November with just five active cases across the states 37 adult prison facilities, COVID-19 infections ticked up toward the end of the month to around a few dozen. By Nov. 30, there were nearly 50 active cases. Cases continued to rise through December and broke 300 for the first time on Dec. 13, when there were 308 active cases. The next day, there were 319. The last time active cases were this high was Jan. 10, when the prison system had 308 active cases among prisoners, including a 200-case outbreak at Oakhill Correctional Institution in Oregon. Prisoners were not able to get vaccines at that time. They became eligible March 1. A total of 82% of adult and youth prisoners were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Dec. 7, the most recent day data were available. Some prisoners have gotten boosted, but its unclear how many at this point. That information was not available. The newest cases are spread across 17 prisons, a few with major outbreaks. Jackson Correctional Institution had the most active cases at 90, as of Dec. 17. Dodge Correctional Institution was next at 86. Columbia Correctional Institution had 13. Taycheedah Correctional Institution had 11, and Racine Correctional Institution/Sturtevant Transitional Facility had 31. There were 150 cases among staff on Dec. 16, according to self-reported data provided by the department. Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 11,461 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19. Thats well over half of the current population of roughly 20,000, but that number fluctuates as people are sentenced to prison or inmates are released after completing their sentences. Thirty-two people have died after getting infected with COVID-19 while incarcerated in the Wisconsin prison system. That number hasnt changed since July 27. Lucas Robinson of Lee Newspapers contributed to this report. RACINE A Racine man has been accused of arson and breaking into a building. Damon D. Muhammad Jr., 30, of the 5400 block of Byrd Avenue, was charged with a felony count of arson of a building, as well as misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. According to a criminal complaint: On Monday, an officer was sent to the 4200 block of Kinzie Avenue for a burglary. It was advised that a woman had seen a man inside her home and the suspect was possibly heading west. Officers found the man, identified as Muhammad, leaving the backyard of a residence in the 4200 block of Kinzie Avenue through a damaged fence. An officer then spoke to the woman who said she recently bought the home and had family members arrive to begin work on the home. She entered the front door and saw Muhammad in the kitchen. She yelled at him, asking why he was in her home, but he did not reply. The officer spoke to her husband and the two walked through the home to see if anything had been damaged or stolen. The access door to the garage was damaged and there was a pile of burnt material. On the patio, there was what appeared to be the base of a fire along with another large pile of burnt material and ash. There was a broken storm door window that appeared to have surrounding trim and caulking burned away. There were black marks above the window and burnt wood around the door frame. Inside the home, the thermostat was turned up to 80 degrees and the oven was moved from the wall and was turned on high with the door open. Muhammad was given a $10,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 29 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. A man reported missing on Saturday around the W.R. Wadewitz Nature Camp on Buena Park Road just outside Waterford was found later that evening according to later updates from the Racine County Sheriff's Office. According to a news release early Saturday evening from the RCSO, the man who was reported missing is John J. Egan, 43. He is white, 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. He has brown curly hair and an ungroomed beard and mustache. He was last seen wearing a dark blue zip-up hoodie, tan pants and dirty grey athletic shoes. He walked away from his group home in Rochester at about 7:45 a.m. Saturday. The RCSO sent an update at about 8:30 p.m. that Egan had been found. "John is autistic and goes on daily walks in the Waterford/Rochester area," the news release stated. "He often engages in conversation with people he sees while on these walks. He is not known to be aggressive." CALEDONIA July 13 could have been a much darker day in Racines history. It was still very much a tragedy. But it could have been much, much worse. A man who is believed to have wanted to be a mass shooter came to Racine County, killed Anthony F. Griger an innocent 22-year-old man, on his way to work, at the Pilot Travel Center next to Interstate 94 and tried shooting someone else then fled southeast before stopping at a Mobil gas station on Highway K in Franksville. There, he tried to kill another man. Unbeknownst to the rampaging gunman, the person he tried to kill was a Marine Corps reservist and current, undercover Racine County Sheriffs Office deputy. A gunfight broke out. The deputy was shot, having his pelvis shattered, but managed to wound the gunman, who then took his own life. It became clear in early December, when the Department of Justices full 501-page report was released, that the gunman had long suffered from paranoia but that his mental illness had become much worse in the final days of his life. It also was clear that he had other violent ideations, including plans to commit sexual assault, and also may have been suffering from some sort of multiple-personality disorder. On one of his arms, the phrase LAST BATTLE had been written. The deputy returned home, but is still recovering from the seriousness of his injuries. Fallout In the hours after the shootings, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling was critical of those who have suggsted alternatives to traditional law enforcement. During an impassioned speech given to the Racine County Board the night of the fatal incidents, Schmaling said: Now, I know there are some people in this room that dont support law enforcement. I know there are some people that vocally said that there should be citizens making traffic stops. Ive heard this. I think its ridiculous. I think its insane. Look at what happened today. You want a citizen making a traffic stop of this young man? He just executed a 22-year-old, for no reason? Theres a family preparing a funeral tonight, for that reason. But we should have a citizen making a traffic stop? Thats insane and idiotic, if anything else. I would just suggest that we just reel things in as a community. Were not Minneapolis. Were not California. Were not New York. We are in Racine, Wisconsin. Were different. We have a trained professional law enforcement arena here. We can do this job. We have demonstrated this job. But we need your support. Everyone in this room, we need your support. This led to some blowback from more progressive members of the County Board who have, at times, aimed to rein in law enforcement spending. The sheriff coming to the County Board was precipitated by a real, honest-to-God, terrible community tragedy that resulted in (two) people losing their lives, a number of people being traumatized and a member of law enforcement taking fire and being hospitalized, and thank God, surviving, County Board Member Nick Demske told The Journal Times following that speech. And thats really where our focus should be, is with those people, with their families, and just hoping, praying for restoration for a tragedy like that. Demske, who has repeatedly butted heads with Schmaling in recent years, said he was flabbergasted by Schmalings speech after the tragedy. Jody Spencer, another county supervisor, added that she too also the sheriff was aiming to stifle opposition. We should never feel deterred from speaking up, she told a reporter in an email. When new concepts are presented which is what the sheriff targeted toward the end of his statement they should at least be heard and not scoffed at. 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 One day in the fall, LaTanya Hamilton, a home nurse, said out loud to her daughter: Baby, I want to do a hygiene giveaway. Automatically, her daughter Shyniqua Hamilton was on board. OK, Mom. What do you need me to do? Together, they assembled gift bags full of at least a dozen hygiene products to distribute at Twins Food Mart, 1812 16th St., on Dec. 3. They made 80 total bags, 40 for men and 40 for women all were gone within an hour. That told the Hamiltons there was a big need for hygiene products in the community, and that they needed to host another giveaway soon. A lesser-realized need LaTanya was aware of all of the different food and toy drives going on in the community. She appreciated them and knew their importance, but wanted to address a need she once experienced herself. I had an issue with hygiene myself. Growing up as a teenager, things such as that, she said. I was in prison once before. I had no hygiene products. So, hygiene was always a big part of me because I never wanted to run out of (hygiene products). According to the CDC, in 2020, 2.3 billion people lacked basic hygiene services (handwashing facility with soap and water) and 1.6 billion people had access to handwashing facilities that lacked water or soap. Theres also such a thing as hygiene poverty, which is being unable to afford everyday hygiene and personal grooming products, according to the Hygiene Bank a United Kingdom-based organization dedicated to collecting and distributing such products. Hygiene poverty can look like going to school with matted hair because there is only one hairbrush in the household and theres no time for everyone to get a chance to use it or having to choose between shaving foam and razors, or the transport fare, to a job interview, the Hygiene Bank wrote. The Century Foundation even wrote in July that America is in an unspoken hygiene crisis. According to Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox: While there are many public programs albeit underfunded ones to help families obtain health care, food, and housing, there are none to help with hygiene products. For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program only covers the purchasing of food, but not toilet paper, diapers, tooth paste, shampoo, deodorant or menstrual health products, according to Girls Helping Girls Period. Shyniqua said she observed some people were afraid to take the gift bags at first until they saw others taking them, too. They might be embarrassed because other people are looking at them and they dont want to feel like theyre in the need, LaTanya said. Making an impact While incarcerated, LaTanya did not have the money to afford hygiene products from commissary. A friend she knew from the outside ended up extending a helping hand. She just looked out for me until I was able to do for myself, LaTanya said. I was able to feel more confident in what I wanted to do and able to be around others, because, you know, I would kind of shy away, because I didnt want people to smell me. So it was very a big embarrassment for me. LaTanya chose to do the hygiene giveaway because it was on my heart. I believe that the Lord put it on my heart to do it, she said. In October, LaTanya was hit in a car accident that totaled her car. I just thank God that we both were able to walk away from the accident, she said. Shortly after that, she and her daughter organized the hygiene giveaway despite being worried about how they would get a new car. They said they werent paying attention to how much they spent on the gift bags; just on the fact they wanted to make as many as they could. While at the giveaway, the Hamiltons didnt ask overly personal questions of those who were grabbing the gift bags. It wasnt until a few days after that Shyniqua received a message on Facebook where she initially shared information about the giveaway of a recipient who said they got a new job because of the hygiene products. They felt confident enough to go to the job interview, they felt good about themselves, LaTanya said. It just gave me a really good feeling to give (the bags) away, Shyniqua said. It made me want to do it again. They plan to do it again; in fact, a friend donated $100 to them for gathering products. A second hygiene giveaway is scheduled for Feb. 26 at Taylor Mart, 1813 Taylor Ave. For more information, email LaTanya at latanyabagsoflove@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Authorities have identified the pregnant woman who was killed in a head-on crash near Weyauwega in northeastern Wisconsin on Thursday. The State Patrol identified the woman killed in the crash about 9:25 a.m. Thursday as Genesis Stanton, 26, of Appleton. Her unborn child did not survive. Sgt. Rhae Stertz said in a statement that Stanton was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu east in the westbound lanes of Highway 10 near Reek Road when the Malibu collided head-on with 2012 Mini-Cooper that was passing a 2019 Freightliner semi-trailer. The cars then hit the front driver side of the semi-trailer. The driver of the second car, Lianna Eve Kalenuik, 19, of Milwaukee, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Her passengers, Levi D. Kalenuik, 41, and a 15-year-old boy, both from South Milwaukee, also were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi driver, Mamuka Dzhaniashvili, 43, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was not injured. The Waupaca County Sheriffs Office, Weyauwega Police Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance also responded to the crash. 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. 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 BROKEN BOW Adams Land & Cattle recently sponsored its 13th annual Giving Tree Program, where employees fulfill holiday wish lists by donating Christmas gifts to children and families enrolled in the local Sixpence program. The employees efforts resulted in 320 gifts for 28 local families in need, including 72 children. Adams also gave beef roast bundles to all 28 families. To help support the Giving Tree program, Adams also sold shirts for a cause. All proceeds from the Give Thanks, Eat Beef shirts went directly to purchasing additional gifts for the local families. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Liz Babcock, director of communications for Adams, said, It was incredible to see the support from people all over the country who purchased the shirts and wanted to help bring joy to Custer County children this Christmas. Babcock added, It has been a tremendous honor for Adams Land & Cattle to have the opportunity to help families in our community and bring a smile to a childs face during this special time of year. Jessica Waller-Simdars and her husband, George Simdars, give new life to vintage and antique (at least 100 years old) furniture that they buy, refurbish and sell through their Abracadabra Refurbished store at 1355 Caledonia St. on the North Side of La Crosse, The store opened there in August. Before that, Abracadabras products had been sold in part of the Exclusively Yours Salon & Boutique at 1507 Caledonia St. since November 2020. Waller-Simdars and her husband started their refurbished furniture business in August 2018, mostly selling on Facebook. At their new North Side store, Waller-Simdars and her husband also sell craft supplies and offer classes in using them. Waller-Simdars also plans to begin offering classes in painting small pieces of furniture. Some of the supplies sold at the store include DIY and Wise Owl paints, as well as Iron Orchid Designs craft supplies. The store also sells on consignment items made by area artisans, such as jewelry, prints, apparel and crafts. Abracadabra Refurbished also offers custom painting of furniture. Waller-Simdars operated Jessicas Fine Cleaning Services, a house cleaning service, for about 15 years. She quit doing that about a month after Abracadabra Refurbished moved to its new location, as the latter business was taking up more of her time. While many of the stores customers come from the greater La Crosse area, Waller-Simdars said, I have seen people from the Twin Cities, Rochester, Madison and Milwaukee come here. The business also sells some of its products on its website. Waller-Simdars said she and her husband buy antique and vintage furniture at places such as auctions, Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army thrift stores, and from people who know what they are looking for. Then they refurbish and sell it. Simdars makes any necessary repairs to the furniture, and his wife paints it. Ive painted furniture my entire life, just as a hobby, Waller-Simdars said. In recent years, she would share on Facebook images of furniture that she had painted and upcycled. People would say Thats so cool you should try to sell that stuff, she said. That led to the couple starting Abracadabra Refurbished. I think its the challenge that keeps me going, Waller-Simdars said of what she most enjoys about the furniture refurbishing business. Its so challenging and I get so wrapped up in it. Sometimes, once she has finished making a piece of furniture look much more attractive, she thinks to herself Look at what I just did. The stars aligned somewhere. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 La Crosse County sheriff Jeff Wolf is pushing back against criticism of his offices policies on inmate communication with the outside world. ACLU of Wisconsin issued a press release last Tuesday calling on the La Crosse County Jail to lift a ban on mail correspondence and reconsider fees it charges inmates for electronic communication. Wolf acknowledged Wednesday that inmates pay for electronic communication, but he described the 50-cent charge per email as minimal and said inmates prefer it to traditional mail. Its the cost of a postage stamp, Wolf said. The inmates love it because they can get a response right away. Weve had zero complaints and nothing but positive comments. ACLU and other critics assert that many of the fees are excessive and disproportionately impact poor inmates and their families. We should be working to make sending mail, making phone calls and using other forms of communication as accessible and affordable as possible, said ACLU of Wisconsin interim director Shaadie Ali. Price should never be a barrier for those in custody and their loved ones to stay in touch. The sheriffs office contracts with Texas-based Securus Technology, which handles all the equipment and security protocols. Wolf said its not feasible for his office to set up its own computer stations and monitor inmates during their online communication. Ali criticized contracts with vendors that pay jails a commission for every electronic communication. He said the practice incentivizes jails to force people to choose electronic communications over traditional mail to generate revenue. Wolf said the county nets $8,000 annually from its contract with Securus. He said the jail also charges 21 cents per minute for phone and remote video visitations. He said indigent inmates can be granted a waiver from the fees. He said the revenue accounts for a very small portion of the jails annual $7.3 million budget. They think were making money off this, Wolf said. Wolf defended the jails policy of prohibiting incoming mail. He said its necessary to prevent contraband from entering the jail. Exceptions are made for correspondence with legal counsel, human services and justice support, and inmates can still send outgoing letters. ACLU claimed a victory in Oneida County, where it says the sheriffs office reversed its mail policy after an ACLU inquiry. Oneida County Sheriffs office chief deputy Dan Hess said Thursday that the county jail now issues inmates scanned copies of incoming letters. He said original copies are filed and given to the inmate upon release. Hess said Onieda County contracts with Turn Key Connections and charges inmates 25 cents per email correspondence, 12 cents per minute for telephone calls and 39 cents per minute for videos. Wolf disputed the ACLUs assertion that barring incoming mail violates inmates First Amendment rights. He said ACLU is relying on outdated court decisions from the 1970s that predate email and internet video correspondence. State Rep. Samba Baldeh, D-Madison, has introduced legislation to standardize phone charges in county jails and state prisons and bring them in line with market costs. He said Monroe and Portage counties charge $13.65 for a 15-minute call (local or non-local), while a non-inmate could expect to pay $2.10 for an 15-minute interstate call. Monroe County Sheriff Wes Revels disputed Baldeh's numbers. He said the cost of a 15-minute call from the Monroe County Jail is $3.15. Baldeh said the state Department of Corrections charges 90 cents for a 15-minute call and that some states, including New York, California and Alabama, have effectively eliminated phone charges for inmates. Standardizing phone charges ... will end this cruel practice of price gouging inmates and their families who are simply trying to stay connected while incarcerated, Baldeh wrote. It will make our correctional system more humane and, I believe, more effective at helping these individuals to rebuild their lives and stay out of trouble in the future. Wolf said he agrees with ACLU that inmates benefit from contact with family members and that his office is committed to making communication as accessible as possible. He said family contact is critical to reducing recidivism. We do a lot of things for the inmates for their health, mental health and their well-being, and we realize that staying in contact with their families is important, he said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In recent weeks, a series of threats against Coulee Region schools materialized, leading one to close for a day and others to increase police presence on the premises. Thankfully, no acts of violence have followed but after the shooting at a Michigan school three weeks ago, mental health experts are on high alert. The 15-year-old assailant in the Michigan attack, which left four dead, carried out the shooting using a gun gifted to him by his parents, which authorities stated was not securely stored. His parents are also facing charges. If the gun had been locked up, rather than loose in a drawer, as reported, maybe the shooting wouldnt have happened, says Dr. Emily Rae, psychiatrist and behavioral health specialist at Gundersen Health System. While gun control is a frequently publicized, hot-button topic, far less emphasis is put on proper storage and handling. Maybe we dont agree on gun control laws or what kind of guns we should have, but we all seem to agree on gun safety and keeping our kids safe, Rae says. Rae works with teens struggling with mental and behavioral health, the majority with suicidal ideations or tendencies, and a routine discussion with parents revolves around secure storage of firearms. A suicide attempt by gun, Rae says, is far more likely to be lethal than other forms. Suicides among youth and teens overall are on the rise, and guns suicides are also increasingly common. From 2007 to 2018, suicides among those age 10 to 24 increased by 57%, and from 2008 to 2018 gun suicides in the 15 to 24 age group rose by 50%. We really know that a home without a gun is the safest, says Rae. But lets face it, people enjoy their guns ... so theyre going to be in the home. But there are ways (to own) them safely. Guns in the home should be unloaded, with ammunition and the gun itself locked up separately. Youth may know where keys to a gun safe are stored, and a combination lock with a random code not a birthdate or other easily guessed sequence is safer. Locks which go directly on the gun can also be affixed prior to storing and locking it. Parents might hide the gun, but most kids know where the gun is hidden, Rae says. Adults should always be in charge of the firearm, even if the child has had hunter safety or other gun handling courses. Rae also emphasizes that not having a gun in the home doesnt mean there is no access. Its important to remember the majority of the gun suicides and in youth (involve a) gun from home or from a relatives home. Kids shouldnt be able to buy guns themselves, so theyre finding somebody elses gun that they know, Rae says. Greg Head, therapist at Gundersen and part of the behavioral health team, advises keeping guns stored at a gun range or locked at the home of a friend or relative where no minors live. Head also says parents should inquire about guns in the house before letting their child visit a friend. Over a third of all unintentional accidental shootings of children that occur in the United States happen in a friends home or a neighbors home or another relatives home, Head says. So we would recommend that if your child is going to someone elses house, you inquire (just as you would) ask about food allergies or other sort of issues of safety. The inquiry doesnt need to be confrontational, and if parents feel awkward broaching it they could put it on (themselves): Im a worrywart. Theres just been so much in the news. Most responsible parents and gun owners will understand the idea that it is better to be safe than sorry, and that it only takes one time for a childs life to be lost, Head says. Keeping an eye on mental health, warning signs The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Childrens Hospital Association in October declared youth mental health a national emergency, and Head says the psychological effects of the pandemic are evident on the population he works with. COVID-19, the way our world has been over the last two years, has really changed a lot of things, Head says. The experts that I work with, we are seeing things that we have never seen in our careers before. We are seeing things that even in the research literature shouldnt be happening. I think thats one of the factors that people need to take into consideration COVID may have affected these children, the children in your community and in your childs school in ways that you cant imagine. So its best to take every precaution. Physical isolation during the pandemic, Head says, seems to be one of the underlying causes of psychological distress in teens. Both suicide and threats, whether made to attract attention or with actual intent to act, are often impulsive decisions. The teenage brain, Rae notes, is not fully developed, and one bad day can spark an undoable action. Says Head, The adolescent brain, the prefrontal cortex, does not fully develop until sometime between 21 and 25. (At that age) we really learn to identify true risk versus benefit. And so your child will think differently at 25 than they do now. Parents need to actively check in with their children and recognize possible signs of mental distress, such as irritability, altered mood and behaviors, slipping grades or even giving away their personal effects. The key is looking for a change from from a pattern. And then instead of just brushing it off, asking yourself, Well, what else could be going on there? Rae says. Most kids out there that are suffering, they do want help. They act out and put out signs, like leave me alone, but they actually do want help from their parents and the adults around them. Being bullied could increase the chance of suicidal tendencies, or the issuance of threats or acts of violence, and Head says bullying needs to be taken more seriously, especially by schools. Every day we work with individuals who identify themselves as being bullied. Despite the fact that there are laws in the state protecting students from that, we still often hear the same thing: that schools are telling the students to just ignore them, to just walk away, dont stand around and dont be around them. And thats not enough, Head says. The schools are mandated to proactively protect the children, and now considering how many guns are on the streets and how much chaos is going on across our country because of societal influence I think thats a real risk. These kids should not be told to just ignore this. They should not be ignored. Looking at the recent sequence of threats in school threats in the area as a trend could be dangerous, Head says. Dismissing any threat could be detrimental, and Rae says if any sort of threat is made, whether written, verbal or in other form, parents should have their child assessed by a primary care or mental health provider. A recent nationwide viral TikTok challenge to threaten school violence on Dec. 17 didnt materialize into any actual shootings, but led to several arrests. Schools in the Coulee Region did not close, but some issued messages to families and stated there would be enhanced police presence on school grounds. If a threat is traced back to an individual, consequences can range from expulsion to criminal charges. A 17-year-old Central High School student is currently facing charges following an emailed threat. Mental health conditions could factor into the making of threats or carrying out of violence, and Rae cautions not all are diagnosed or obvious. People may assume This person is mentally healthy. Theyre no risk at all, just because we dont know lot of the times what people are dealing with. Head urges parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of threats and the dangers of guns. At Gundersens inpatient psychiatric unit, it is a daily discussion with families. Most of us go through life just assuming those things wont happen. And unfortunately, what we are asking people to do is to change that and assume the worst. Assume that you may not always know whats going on with your child because that could be a fact. Assume that their friends and media are very influential because thats a fact. And so it is better to take every precaution and and not need it, then not to take precautions and regret it later, Head says. We tend to think if we bury our heads in the sand, the best will happen or it wont happen to us. Be proactive. It wont increase the risk. We know that a responsible conversation with your children about gun safety will decrease the risk of an unintentional shooting. The La Crosse Police Department asks anyone with school safety concerns to call La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS or submit online at https://www.p3tips.com/459. People can also download the Crime Stoppers App P3 to submit a tip via cell phone. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. 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. Weve heard examples of people anonymously extending a good deed to someone they dont know. It might be paying for the next customers gas at the pump. Maybe it means sending a kind note to someone simply because you appreciate their work. The purpose is not recognition. Its simply extending a kindness to someone with the thought that they, in turn, may extend a kindness to someone else. It is not to be confused with a quid pro quo act. In fact, if done in the right spirit, the person initiating the kind act will likely not want to know the outcome. Its an appeal to the better angels in ourselves. Most of us believe the world would be a better place if more people practiced paying it forward. The phrase pay it forward is being used here to refer to altruistic, prosocial, cooperative behavior. There is evidence to support that it works. Sarah Pressman, Tara Kraft and Marie Cross concluded in their article, Its good to do good and receive good that both the givers and receivers reported better life satisfaction, increased optimism, more gratitude and a greater sense of well being. This leads to an interesting question. Can a more prosocial, paying it forward attitude work in a political environment? Lets take a look a few recent examples. In late November, Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D) and Ron Johnson (R) issued a joint statement in an effort to help heal the community of Waukesha after the tragic holiday parade incident. Their message was intended to discourage any attempt to exploit for political purposes the tragedy that occurred at the holiday parade in Waukesha. In December 2021, both the Vernon County Democratic and Vernon County Republican parties joined together to organize a clothing drive for the Afghanistan refugees who arrived at Fort McCoy earlier this year. They will be collecting new and gently used clothing items through Jan. 31, 2022. On Dec. 14, the Wisconsin State Senate Elections Committee heard testimony about Senate Bill 250 Final Five Voting. The bill proposes open primaries and Instant Runoff in the general election ... an approach to counter the hyper-partisan divisiveness in Congress. The lead sponsors are Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R), Sen. Jeff Smith (D), Rep. Tony Kurtz (R) and Rep. Daniel Riemer (D). The testimony strongly emphasized the need to support efforts that promote civility and bipartisanship. Kurtz, a veteran, stated, There wasnt a blue team or a red team in all my years of service. It was just the American team. One might say, why dont these individuals practice these kinds of things more often? And thats a probing and worthwhile question. Its so easy to focus laser-like attention on the things elected officials do that we object to. In some cases, the list may be disturbingly long. But at its heart, the true practice of paying it forward does not involve keeping score even in politics. We dont know whether elected officials (or anyone else for that matter) will use these examples as a reason to do the right thing for someone else. Yet, over time, the practice of paying it forward does have a measurable positive impact. Could this work in politics? The only way to find out is if more of us, and our elected officials, are willing to pay it forward. Lee Rasch is executive director of LeaderEthics-Wisconsin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In the Boeing companys aircraft factory of the future, 3-D engineering designs work with robots that talk to each other. At the same time, mechanics around the world will be linked in through Microsoft headsets that provide a mixed reality experience. The Boeing plan aims to unite design, production and airline services operations under a single, digital manufacturing system. The company says it will put in place in the next two years. Boeing has repeatedly expressed its goal of a digital revolution, but critics say the companys efforts toward the goal have had mixed results. Industry observers say the goals of improving quality and safety have grown more important as the company faces several threats. The airplane maker is trying to regain the trust of fliers after the 737 MAX crisis. That plane that was grounded for more than two years after two crashes blamed on electrical problems. The company says is starting a future aircraft program over the next 10 years that will cost $15 billion. It also aims to prevent future manufacturing problems like the structural problems that affected the 787 Dreamliner over the past year. "It's about strengthening engineering," Boeing's chief engineer, Greg Hyslop, told Reuters. "We are talking about changing the way we work across the entire company," he added. After years of wild changes in the industrys market, the demand for new airplanes has heightened the competition between Boeing and Europe's Airbus. Now, their battle moves into factory operations. Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury is a former automobile research executive. He has promised to "invent new production systems and leverage the power of data" to move its industrial system into the 21st century. Boeing's digital improvement to date has been marked by progress within certain airplane programs or tools. It has not undergone a total, digital remodel like the kind Hyslop is proposing. A new way The airplane manufacturers are not alone in their goal to enter the so-called metaverse, a shared digital space that employs virtual reality technology. Automakers like Ford, social media companies like Facebook owner Meta Platforms and other businesses are making similar moves. Boeing wants development of its next aircraft to include a link to a three-dimensional digital model of the new plane. It also wants the production system to be able to run simulations. The digital models are backed by a "digital thread" that collects every piece of information about the aircraft starting on its first day of development. This includes airline requirements records, millions of equipment parts, thousands of pages of official approvals, and beyond. Go with the new Ending outdated methods, like designing on paper, could bring powerful change. More than 70 percent of quality issues at Boeing have something to do with design, Hyslop said. Boeing believes digital tools will be important to bringing a new aircraft to market in as little as four or five years. "You will get speed, you will get improved quality, better communication, Hyslop said. Enormous challenge Yet the plan faces major difficulty in execution. Automotive experts point to technical problems on two of Boeing's military training aircraft. Both were developed using digital systems. Boeing has been too concerned about shareholder returns, says Richard Aboulafia an expert with the Teal Group. He said the companys engineering expertise has been hurt as a result. The company continues to cut spending on research, he added. Large companies like aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems have already invested in digital technology. But hundreds of smaller suppliers around the world do not have the money or skilled labor to make important, digital changes to their manufacturing systems. Industry experts say Boeing has come to realize that digital technology alone will not be enough. They say the company also must make organizational and cultural changes. Im Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story 3-D (three dimensional) adj. made in a way that causes an image to appear to be three-dimensional, or having height, width and length mechanic n. a person who repairs machines (such as car engines) and keeps them running properly digital adj. using computer technology; created through electronic devices, not physically real leverage v. to use (something valuable) to reach a desired result usually of equal or greater value virtual reality n. a world of images and sounds created by a computer which is not physical that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it simulation n. something that is made to look, feel, or behave like something else especially so that it can be studied or used to train people thread n. (computer) a series of related pieces of information (such as messages on a computer system) that follow in order of time or as steps in a group of activities We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. The new Omicron variant has already shown how easily it infects people. But scientists do not yet know if it also causes more severe disease. Everything is riskier now because Omicron is so much more contagious, said Dr. S. Wesley Long. He heads the testing lab at Houston Methodist Hospital. Omicron now is the number one variant in the United States, health officials said Monday. About three-quarters of new infections last week were from Omicron. Public health officials are surprised at how quickly Omicron became the number one cause of COVID-19 infection. After just three weeks, Omicron makes up 80 percent of new symptomatic cases found by Houston Methodist. Long said it took the Delta variant three months to reach that level. The variant has come at a bad time. Travel is increasing for the holidays, and people have started gathering. But what the arrival of Omicron will mean for the world is still unclear. Here is the latest on what is known and what is still to learn about Omicron: How much protections do vaccines provide? Vaccines in the U.S. and around the world do not offer as much protection against Omicron as they have against other variants. But vaccines still help a lot. And lab tests show that two shots may not be strong enough to prevent infection. But a booster shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can fight off Omicron. Antibodies produced by the vaccine naturally drop over time. The booster shot raises them back up again. But it is unclear how many antibodies are needed to fight off Omicron. The booster provides 20 percent less protection against an Omicron infection than a Delta infection, said Dr. Egon Ozer of Northwestern University. But experts say that while the virus may infect someone who has been vaccinated, the booster protects against severe infection. The vaccines are going to protect you against severe disease, hospitalization and death, said Long. And thats really the most important thing. Natural Immunity? Having already suffered a COVID-19 infection does not appear to offer much protection against Omicron. However, as with vaccination, it may reduce the chances of severe illness. In South Africa, Omicron has already spread widely. Scientists reported a jump in reinfections that they had not seen from the two previous variants. In Britain, a report from the Imperial College of London on Friday found the risk of reinfection from Omicron was five times higher compared to the earlier Delta variant. Health experts say anyone who has had COVID-19 still should get vaccinated. Why does Omicron spread so fast? Scientists are trying to figure out what makes Omicron so contagious. Researchers in Hong Kong recently reported that Omicron may spread more quickly in the lungs than Delta spread, but it does not spread as deep in the lungs as Delta. What scientists cannot measure is human behavior. Many places have been easing pandemic restrictions, which has helped the virus to spread. Also, winter has forced gatherings indoors, and travel has increased just as Omicron began spreading. Is Omicron causing milder illness? Scientists say it is still too early to know if Omicron is milder, especially because there have been so many breakthrough infections. However, if a vaccinated person gets infected, it should be a milder illness than if an unvaccinated person gets infected from Omicron. Early reports from South Africa suggested milder illness. But doctors were unsure whether that is because the population is younger. The British study also found no evidence that Omicron has been milder than Delta, even in young adults. Dr. Jacob Lemieux researches variants for a group led by Harvard Medical School. "Theres a hint, and I think many of us are hopeful, that Omicron will be less severe, he said. Who is most at risk? Based on other variants, scientists think that older people, and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to have severe disease. I dont think its going to be any different than other variants, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. During the holidays, experts agree that in addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, people should take basic safety measures: wear face coverings, avoid crowds, and practice social distancing. I'm Dan Novak. The Associated Press reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story variant n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind contagious adj. able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching booster n. an additional amount of something that strengthens an earlier treatment, such as a vaccination antibody n. a substance produced by the body to fight disease hint n. a small piece of information that helps you guess an answer or do something more easily Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. The shipping capacity for that rig seems to be infinite and its nearly as fast as Amazon Prime. So, whaddya say? Well pop for some Reindeer Chow and a stable. You could even make a few bucks on the side yourself, the licensed driver shortage being what it is. Bob Business Dear Santa, This order may be harder to fill, but is there any chance for some clarity around COVID-19 rules for businesses? Companies with 100 or more workers were told they must require employee vaccinations ... which some of them saw as a good reason not to hire more than 99 people. On again, off again, on again. We dont have a lot of extra cash lying around to hire lawyers every time the feds hiccup. We just want predictability. And dont get me started with the whole mask thing. In one county theyre required in all sorts of places; in the next county over, you wont find a mask on any mug other than that of a smash-and-grabber. Betty Business Dear Santa, Boise mom Theo Brown cant hold back the tears when she thinks about the time her youngest son tackled her one beautifully perfect and memorable day at the park. The tears keep coming when Brown thinks about that moment, and how that playful tackle and all those happy tears wouldnt be possible without Medicaid expansion. Brown says the November 2018 ballot initiative that expanded Medicaid eligibility to about 100,000 low income Idahoans under age 65 saved her life and gave her back the chance to play with her children. But it wasnt always that way. In 2013, Brown began struggling to breathe. She had developed a rare disease called idiopathic subglottic stenosis. It blocked her airway, devastated her body, zapped her energy and left her all but defeated. She said she felt smothered, like her voice was being taken away from her. Brown says the condition is terminal, and that she would die without ongoing surgeries to clear her airway. Brown internalized the feeling of her voice being taken, and began to self-smother, to not speak out for herself. Traumatic experiences from the church she was raised in and a difficult relationship only compounded those feelings about being smothered and voiceless. Her marriage ended. I had four kids, I was single, I had been a stay-at-home mom for 16 years and I had no job skills. My skills are as an artist and a writer, Brown said. It was difficult to make a living. She juggled multiple part-time jobs and put herself back in school. She could barely keep a roof over her and her childrens heads and she couldnt afford insurance. Then the idiopathic subglottic stenosis got worse. Brown constantly felt like she was trying her hardest to breathe through the tiniest, narrowest straw. My youngest son was only 4 when I started to struggle with breathing, Brown told the Idaho Capital Sun. His whole life, I had been fragile and he had been careful, she added. I did my best and was a good mom, but it traumatized them. They were always afraid their mom was going to die. In 2017, Brown went to a Terry Reilly clinic, a community-based health center for people that dont have access to regular health care. Brown went through four surgeries to begin opening her airway. But she wasnt able to pay, and the office eventually wouldnt schedule her for additional visits or follow up surgeries unless she paid her bills, Brown said. It felt like she was doomed to be stuck. Brown obtained the advice of an outside ear, nose and throat specialist who discussed the possibility of a permanent tracheostomy. But the discomfort and bleeding didnt appeal to Brown. I was just 40 years old and I had four kids, and I just wanted to live, Brown said. I just wanted to go mountain hiking. Brown says she used to be discouraged and turned off by politics and didnt know Medicaid expansion was on the ballot in Idaho and up for a vote in November 2018. Idaho voters approved Medicaid expansion by 60.6% of the vote, and a friend reached out to Brown, urging her to try to enroll. Brown was approved, and soon found doctors that accepted Medicaid. Brown has undergone four more surgeries and two more procedures since. She feels much better and feels like she has her life back, though Brown said still has health problems. Medicaid saved my life, and its still saving me today, Brown said. It also gave her back the joy that can only be experienced through moments with her children that she said she fears wouldnt have been possible before. Thats something people just dont understand even though you are not in imminent danger of death tomorrow your quality of life and this condition and lack of insurance took a lot of good years with my kids of being a good mom who could function, Brown said. My youngest son was 9 by the time I was breathing good again. And one day, we were at the park, and he tackled me and just jumped on my back. What is Medicaid expansion? Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to more than 72 million Americans, including pregnant women, children, people with disabilities and low income families, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 allowed states to expand Medicaid eligibility to more low-income adults under age 65. The Idaho Legislature did not expand Medicaid, but the grassroots, nonpartisan, volunteer-driven organization Reclaim Idaho gathered enough signatures to place an initiative on the ballot. In November 2018, Idaho voters headed to the polls to weigh in on Proposition 2, the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative pushed by Reclaim Idaho. A yes vote was a favor of expanding Medicaid eligibility to Idahoans under age 65 whose income was 133% of the federal poverty level or below and who were not eligible for other state insurance coverage. As a result of the vote, Brown and thousands of other Idahoans were able to participate in Medicaid. Before Medicaid expansion took effect, there were 280,563 Medicaid participants in Idaho in June 2019, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesman Greg Stahl said. Medicaid expansion became effective in January 2020. That month there were 317,952 Medicaid participants in Idaho. For November 2021, there were 409,741 Medicaid participants in Idaho, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. For fiscal year 2021, Medicaid expansion cost $669,772,900, according to the Legislative Services Office. Of that total, 6.9%, or $46.3 million, came from the state general fund, while $531.4 million, or 79.3%, came from federal funds. The remaining 13.8% came from dedicated funds, such as the Millennium Fund, which is an endowment fund established with Idahos proceeds from settlements with tobacco companies. Medicaid expansion had an average monthly total of 100,877 expanded participants in Idaho in fiscal year 2021, the Legislative Services Office said. Living a life of gratitude in Idaho Even though Brown didnt know Medicaid expansion was up for a vote in 2018, the significance isnt lost on her now. Before she got a divorce and got sick, Brown said she lived a privileged life and had financial security. She had health insurance and never worried about obtaining care. Her story has given her perspective to make sure I live my life in gratitude. This fall, a Reclaim Idaho volunteer approached Brown about signing a petition for the next ballot initiative Reclaim Idaho volunteers are working on. The organization is trying to qualify an education funding initiative for the November 2022 general election that would raise more than $300 million per year for public schools by raising corporate income taxes from 6.5% to 8% and creating a new income tax bracket that would tax individuals making more than $250,000 per year at 10.925%. The volunteer asked Brown if she had ever heard of Medicaid expansion. Thats when she said yes, and explained how Medicaid expansion and her doctors saved her life. Brown posted on Nextdoor an account of her story and her appreciation to the hundreds of Reclaim Idaho volunteers who gathered signatures to qualify the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative for the November 2018 election. Brown opens the story in an especially memorable manner. I dont even know him, but I am alive because of him and his friends, Brown wrote, referring to Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville. Brown and Mayville havent met in person, but they have exchanged a couple of messages since Brown posted her story to Nextdoor. Reclaim Idaho highlighted her story on its own website as well. They are the reason I believe in petitions now and grassroots efforts, Brown told the Idaho Capital Sun. I was pretty pessimistic before I found out a guy with a clipboard saved my life. I didnt know who he was, but his passion to try do something saved me, and that really means a lot to me. Browns comment about a guy with a clipboard refers to Reclaim Idaho volunteers gathering signatures. Often wearing green shirts, volunteers are spreading out across all 44 counties, armed with clipboards gathering voters signatures on petitions. Mayville has heard Browns story and hopes to meet her in-person soon. I found Theos story deeply moving, and I know many other Reclaim Idaho petitioners did as well. What struck me most about her story was her last three words: Petitions save lives. Mayville said. I love that she used her story to illustrate that grassroots democracy can change peoples lives for the better, Mayville added. Idaho Capital Sun senior reporter Audrey Dutton contributed to this story. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Brad Little showed more pages of his upcoming proposed budget when he met with several hundred attendees at the annual Idaho taxpayers conference in Boise earlier this month. The governor, who has hinted about various items previously, took the opportunity to lay out his thinking in more detail. The state is in good shape financially. Were sitting on a surplus of more than $1.6 billion, enough to do some special, long-needed projects that will benefit the state for decades to come. These include transportation projects such as roads and bridges, improvements in municipal water plants and waste disposal facilities, and the beginning of the statewide network of broadband access. This last item is particularly important in smaller rural communities that do not have the populations to support private expanded service. Yet we all know that in the information age, access is a critical frontline component. The governor also highlighted the needs in education, including school facilities and holding onto staff. We must keep our wages competitive in this critical sector. If we want a better workforce, we must train it and that means investment. He also outlined a plan to help businesses immediately by changes in the withholding tax for unemployment reserves. This fund fluctuates with the economy, and Littles idea is to stabilize it at about $60 million, thereby giving businesses surety and consistency year by year. He all but demanded the Legislature find and approve a fix for soaring property taxes and he urged yet another reduction in income tax rates and perhaps a rebate from taxes paid in 2021. Just last week, one member of the House leadership team said officials were thinking of a tax cut of about $200 million, and another $200 million in rebates. (IdahoPress, 12/22). Idaho leads the nation in reducing taxes, but has done so incrementally, which is both prudent and cautious. Nonetheless, another step-down in income tax rates seems likely. What better use of a surplus than to return some of it to those who paid it? Hard rightists will want to reduce this immediately to zero, as they dont want to pay for anything. Its part of their distorted libertarian philosophy that others should pay for all things governmental. Liberals will argue that the state should maintain its current tax levels but its obvious from the size of the surplus, theres room to cut taxes and accomplish other goals as well. So on the one side, we see hard rightists argue for smaller government, for starving basic services such as public education. On the other side, we see liberals call for more social spending as well as for huge bumps in teacher salaries. Neither of these extremist positions are likely to prevail, and Little knows that a more nuanced middle ground will attract the broadest support. There will be some disputed aspects of whatever Little sets out. Democrats and their media friends and social service advocates will all push to put more money into a long list of programs. Hard rightists will argue that Idaho should not take any federal money and should essentially squeeze state and government back to some unstated, but smaller, point of time. These views on the right and left will get respectful listeners, but Idaho has been well served by a more moderate, centrist approach on fiscal matters. Theyll tuck some money into reserve accounts, cover the states basic needs, perhaps start a few new initiatives, and then head home by mid-March. Thats when filings for the May 17 primary are due and those who will run again will be itching for face time and shaking hands with local constituents. The governors budget this year might be termed a MapQuest outline. He showed where he wanted to go, and gave some initial ideas about what route to take to get there. Thats what we expect our state leadership to do: take on major issues and keep us on the overall track. Little also urged legislators to find a solution to skyrocketing property taxes. Thereve been several attempts in recent years to balance these taxes in a better way, helping those who need it and not overdoing taxes in any one sector. Last years efforts were only a partial solution and left important pieces out. The governor is right when he calls on legislators to fix these issues promptly and fairly. Idaho has a long tradition of centrist/conservative government in which we fund our needs, tuck money away and look at bigger projects as we can afford them. This approach of prudence and caution has given us one of the best economic profiles in the nation, recently upgraded to AAA credit rating. We should stick with these time-proven principles. Stephen Hartgen, Twin Falls, is a retired five-term Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives, where he served as chairman of the Commerce & Human Resources Committee. Previously, he was editor and publisher of The Times-News (1982-2005). He can be reached at Stephen_Hartgen@hotmail.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the new omicron coronavirus variant spreads and extends Americas two-year pandemic misery, tempers are flaring and good judgment is waning among lawmakers. Case in point is a bill recently introduced by a Democrat in the Illinois Legislature, then quickly withdrawn, requiring vaccine-eligible people to pay their own health care expenses if they choose not to get vaccinated and subsequently are hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms. Sure, its cathartic. Its also bad public policy. No doubt more such punitive bills will emerge soon, if not in Illinois, then elsewhere in the country. Democrats are reacting in part to counter Republican lawmakers floating their own truly awful legislation that would have the effect of extending the pandemic. One such Republican bill in Illinois would prohibit local school boards from imposing mask requirements. Another would prohibit state or local governments from requiring proof of vaccination. Yet another would prohibit Illinois employers from requiring coronavirus vaccination as a condition of employment. At least that appears to be the intent of the bill. But the proposal inadvertently wouldnt actually cover coronavirus vaccines because it specifies that it applies to a vaccine that was approved under emergency-use authorization. The major coronavirus vaccines have been fully and unconditionally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bills that seek to punish companies for imposing pandemic precautions also are problematic because those operating in multiple states or that pay their employees health care claims directly would be exempt from legislation that punishes employers for requiring pandemic precautions. Their benefit plans are governed under federal, not state, law. The result would be that the costs would apply only to smaller, in-state companies, which would be saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses because one of their employees decided not to get vaccinated. The average cost of treating a hospitalized, unvaccinated coronavirus patient this year was $27,000. The legislation to require vaccine refusers to cover their own medical expenses was a bad idea for a variety of reasons. For starters, it would discourage people who are really sick with a communicable disease from getting treatment. Every minute that they are sick and not hospitalized, they are spreading disease. A lot of health care spending goes for conditions that could have been prevented if people followed their doctors orders, such as Type 2 diabetes, unplanned pregnancies or smokers with cancer or lung disease. This bill might seem like an innovative way to punish people who irrationally refuse to get vaccinated, but its equally irrational to impose measures that might discourage treatment when people become contagious. Americans who refuse to get vaccinated are making a foolish decision. But bad judgment abounds in lots of other cases, often with hospitalization as a consequence. Republican lawmakers are straining logic to shield vaccine and mask refusers from the consequences of their actions. Democrats shouldnt join such foolish games just to enforce accountability. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Credit: CC0 Public Domain The Chinese city of Xi'an, where 13 million residents are currently confined to their homes, announced tightened restrictions on Sunday as the country recorded its biggest COVID-19 infection numbers in 21 months. China has stuck to a "zero-COVID" strategy involving tight border restrictions, lengthy quarantines and targeted lockdowns. Authorities have been especially vigilant in recent months to avoid an outbreak before February's Beijing Winter Olympics, but there have been sporadic flare-ups. But on Sunday the country reported 206 new COVID infectionsthe highest daily number since March 2020. "In the coming days, a number of cases are still likely to be detected," Xi'an official He Wenquan warned, calling on the city's population not to panic. The northern metropolisabout 900 km (560 miles) from the Olympics venuesreported 155 new COVID patients on Sunday, bringing the total to nearly 500 over the past few weeks. About 29,000 people have been placed in hotel quarantine, He said. Xi'an residents have already been tested several times, authorities said, and a "total" disinfection was to begin Sunday evening. Restrictions on movement have also been tightened. Each household can only send one member out to buy basic necessities once every three daysdown from two days under previous rules. All businesses except supermarkets, convenience stores and medical facilities have been ordered to close. Since the coronavirus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019, China has largely kept the pandemic at bay. The country has officially recorded only two deaths in over a year. Explore further Chinese city locks down 13 million residents to fight COVID outbreak 2021 AFP Christmas arrived around the world Saturday amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that kept many families apart, overwhelmed hospitals and curbed religious observances as the pandemic was poised to stretch into a third year. Yet, there were homilies of hope, as vaccines and other treatments become more available. Pope Francis used his Christmas address to pray for more vaccines to reach the poorest countries. While wealthy countries have inoculated as much as 90% of their adult populations, 8.9% of Africas people are fully jabbed, making it the worlds least-vaccinated continent. Only a few thousand well-wishers turned out for his noontime address and blessing, but even that was better than last year, when Italys Christmas lockdown forced Francis indoors for the annual Urbi et Orbi ("To the city and the world") speech. Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of goodwill to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects, Francis said from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica. Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care and vaccines in particular are provided to those peoples who need them most. In the United States, many churches canceled in-person services, but for those that did have in-person worship, clerics reported smaller but significant attendance. Our hopes for a normal Christmas have been tempered by omicron this year still filled with uncertainties and threats that overshadow us, the Rev. Ken Boller told his parishioners during midnight Mass at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City. Breakthrough used to be a happy word for us, until it was associated with COVID. And in the midst of it all, we celebrate Christmas. The Rev. Alex Karloutsos, of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church of the Hamptons in Southampton, New York, said attendance at the Christmas Eve liturgy was a third less than last year's, with the reality of the omicron virus diminishing the crowd, but not the fervor of the faithful present. St. Patricks Church in Hubbard, Ohio, held Mass on Christmas Eve in a nearby high school because of a church fire this year. The Mass drew about 550 people, said Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar, who presided. In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II noted another year of pain particularly personal after losing her husband, Prince Philip, in April and urged people to celebrate with friends and family. Although its a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. This year, especially, I understand why. Thousands of people across Britain got a vaccine booster shot for Christmas as new cases hit another daily record of 122,186. The Good Health Pharmacy in north London was one of dozens of sites that stayed open Saturday to administer jingle jabs amid a government push to offer booster shots to all adults by the end of the year. The head of intensive care at a hospital in Marseille, France, said most COVID-19 patients over Christmas were unvaccinated, while his staff are exhausted or cant work because they are infected. Were sick of this, said Dr. Julien Carvelli, the ICU chief at La Timone Hospital, as his team spent another Christmas Eve tending to COVID-19 patients on breathing machines. Were afraid we wont have enough space. On the other side of the globe, hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines, Asias largest Roman Catholic nation, spent Christmas without homes, electricity, or adequate food and water after a powerful typhoon left at least 375 people dead last week and devastated mostly central island provinces. Gov. Arthur Yap of hard-hit Bohol province, where more than 100 people died in the typhoon and about 150,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, appealed for help. He was happy many Filipinos could celebrate Christmas more safely after COVID-19 cases dropped, but he pleaded: Please dont forget us. At least one American Christmas tradition was revived after the pandemic drove it online last year: the annual reenactment of George Washingtons daring crossing of the Delaware River in 1776. Reenactors in three boats completed the crossing in about an hour Saturday. Crowds were in the hundreds, down from the usual thousands. COVID-19 testing continued unimpeded in some places, while other sites closed for the day. Lines that in previous days wrapped around the block at a small testing center in Chicagos Lincoln Square neighborhood shrank considerably Saturday, when the only customers inside were Shayna Prihoda and Michael Boundy, whose negative tests freed them to visit Boundys parents in Michigan. We would have stayed home and quarantined, Boundy said. Swelling numbers of cases in Florida made tests almost as popular as Christmas ham. Florida hit a new case record for the second day in a row. Hours before a testing site opened at Tropical Park in Miami, dozens of cars lined up. To alleviate demand, county workers had distributed 12,500 at-home test kits Friday at libraries. Most of New York Citys 120 testing sites were closed Saturday, a day after police were summoned to a Brooklyn neighborhood to quell an angry crowd that had been expecting to receive free at-home testing kits, only to have the supply run out. Chairs went empty at some dinner tables after airlines around the world canceled hundreds of flights as the omicron variant jumbled schedules and reduced staffing. Airlines scrapped nearly 6,000 flights globally that had been scheduled to take off Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with nearly a third involving U.S. flights, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. At a reception center for asylum-seekers in Cyprus, Patricia Etoh, a Catholic from Cameroon, said she did not have any special plans because it just did not feel like Christmas without her 6-year-old child, whom she had to leave behind. But she added: Were grateful, were alive, and when were alive, theres hope. Winfield reported from Rome, Tarm from Chicago and Smith from Pittsburgh. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Bobby Caina Calvan and Larry Neumeister in New York, Michael Schneider in Miami, Ron Todt in Philadelphia, Danica Kirka in London, Jim Gomez in Manila and Daniel Cole in Marseille, France. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) A new study has concluded that licensed child care centers in Connecticut have been missing out on millions of dollars in federal funds for food and nutrition. UConns Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health surveyed more than 230 centers in 2019 about a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that reimburses for food that meets specific nutritional standards. The program supplies qualifying child care programs with nutritious meals and snacks. The researchers found a lack of awareness, lack of knowledge about eligibility and burdensome reporting requirements as factors that weighed against participation. The study estimated more than 20,000 children from low-income homes may have missed out on the programs benefits and that families could have saved an average of $31 per week per child. We want more child care centers to be participating in the program, Tatiana Andreyeva, the study's lead author, told the Connecticut Post. The numbers in our state were pretty low. More than a third of providers said they thought they weren't eligible for the program because they didn't have a sufficient number of low-income children, the study found. But the study also concluded many providers lacked a full understanding of the program and its requirements. Some cited administrative difficulties that posed challenges. Those were likely exacerbated by the stresses brought on by what historically has been a low-paid profession and which have been heightened during the pandemic. A lot of these are small businesses, Andreyeva told the Post. They dont have a manager, an administrator. Theyre doing multiple jobs. Susan Johnson, the director at The Childrens Center of New Milford, which is enrolled in the federal program, said the reimbursements do not always track with the actual price of nutritious food. Theyre unbelievably low," she told the Post. "Theyre totally unrealistic in terms of what the cost of food is. Its been this way forever, and its just gotten worse. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Connecticut Post. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ANGELA On a recent winter afternoon the wind on this Eastern Montana plain was rising slowly like a tide, the cool dense air rolling in to replace whats been warmed by daylight. At first, the change is barely noticeable, but then the 210-foot blades of the Clearwater Wind Project start to turn. Though the blades have been feathered to catch none of what this chilly air has to offer, they turn nonetheless. The setting is perfect for what will be Montanas largest windfarm, said Jess Melin. A Livingston guy, Melin is executive director of renewable development for NextEra Energy Resources. The company brands itself as the world's largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar. This 750-megawatt giant is NextEras first Montana project. Melin seems to preface all his observations about Eastern Montana with Im a little biased. You got to have a place to put a machine, you have to have willing landowners. Very gracious landowners who have been great to work with in Eastern Montana. I'm a little biased, but I've always thought Eastern Montana has the best people on Earth and we found great landowners, Melin said. You need transmission, need a way to get your product to market. We have to build that transmission down to the Colstrip substation because this is where the fuel is. But we're delivering this to Colstrip. One of the gems of Eastern Montana is the Colstrip transmission system. Theres money in the quarter-acre wind turbine leases for Montana landowners. In Clearwaters case, the payouts over the next 30 years are expected to be $226 million. Each turbine, however, takes up about 50 square yards. The land around the turbines is available for grazing and crops. Property taxes paid to Custer, Garfield and Rosebud counties, where Clearwater is located are $217 million over the same period. At this site, the net capacity factor is about 40%, meaning that during the year the turbines are at maximum capacity about 40% of the time. Theres a definite cycle to it, but at about 40% of the year, they're at max capacity, which means they're going to be turning probably 80% of the year at some rotational experience, Melin said. Half of the project is scheduled to come online in late 2022. Colstrip stakeholder Puget Sound Energy has contracted for the first 350 megawatts of Clearwaters capacity. Puget agreeing to purchase 350 megawatts of Clearwater capacity was crucial for launching the project. It assured that nearly half of the wind farms power would have a customer for the next 20 years. The wind turbines being erected now are for Puget. The remaining 400 megawatts will be built when theres another customer. Mild start to December Favorable weather conditions have allowed the project to build out months ahead of schedule. Construction Manager Damon Steelman said the first phase of construction could finish in the spring, though conditions would have to remain favorable. With the hardest months of the Montana winter still ahead, an early finish isnt guaranteed. The initial flourish of 350 workers on site, pouring concrete, burying power lines, building 134 miles of new access roads and upgrading another 94 miles, has subsided. There are now 200 workers at Clearwater. Theres no man camp. Everybody drives in from the outlying area. Clearwaters list of potential customers is only four utilities long. Collectively representing 70% of the ownership in the nearby coal-burning Colstrip Power Plant, each owner faces a state deadline to phase out coal from its portfolio, with the first requirement coming at the end of 2025 in Washington, which is by far the largest consumer of Colstrip power. But its a less often discussed detail of Washingtons climate law that benefits Clearwater, or any Montana renewable project trying to sell into the Pacific Northwest. The provision concerns the Colstrip transmission line. When Washington legislators passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act in 2019, they didnt just put an expiration date on coal power. Lawmakers also required that the transmission lines connected to retiring coal power plants start moving energy from another source or be removed from customer bills as early as January 2026. The requirement is based on the concept that utility customers cant be asked to pay for assets that arent used and useful for service. The adjusted depreciation schedule must require such a qualified transmission line to be fully depreciated on or before Dec. 31, 2025, reads the law which instructs Washington utility regulators to make the determination. NextEras agreement with Puget Sound Energy requires the power to be delivered to Puget at the Colstrip substation. The freight from there is the utilitys responsibility. That arrangement, being able to deliver the power after a relatively short distance, works in favor of the project. From the wind farm, theres a path of steel transmission towers laid in a line that points directly to Colstrip and disappears in the rolling hills. The line will service Clearwater, located roughly 33 miles northwest of Miles City and nothing else. Asked about the 750-megawatt scale of the wind farm, Melin said thats the size necessary to justify the expense of the 83-mile transmission line from Clearwater to Colstrip. A smaller facility wouldnt pencil out. The scale also matches what was available for transmission capacity at Colstrip. Clearwater also takes up the Colstrip line transmission capacity that came available when Colstrip Units 1 and 2 retired in January 2020, after 45 years of operation. These generators were the oldest of the power plants 4 units, but were no longer profitable, according to Talen Energy and Puget, which split ownership in the two 307-megawatt units equally. In June, Pugets Andrew Padula told Lee Montana Newspapers that Clearwaters electricity output was expected to peak at times of the year when wind farms in the Pacific Northwest were less active. Montana wind provides a geographical diversity relative to PSEs wind resources in Washington, along with a winter generation profile that fits well with PSEs peak load need, Padula said. Montana renewables The other Colstrip owners facing Washingtons coal phase out, have also identified Montana wind power as a cost-effective renewable source. The projects they develop or contract with will keep Montana in the energy export business. As 664 megawatts of coal-fired generation retired in Montana over the past two years, development of wind energy for export grew by 990 megawatts, specifically because Colstrip Power Plant owners Puget Sound Energy and PacifiCorp invested in Montana renewables. PacifiCorp became the first Colstrip owner to build a Montana wind farm in 2020 when it constructed the 240-megawatt Pryor Mountain Wind Farm near Bridger. Energy from Pryor Mountains 114 turbines doesnt move on the Colstrip line. Rather, the power moves south into Wyoming on the Yellowtail Dam intertie line owned by PacifiCorp. At the time of construction, PacifiCorp put the cost of Pryor Mountain Wind at $406 million. The wind farm was an early step in PacifiCorps plan to build 7,000 megawatts of renewable generation in the next decade. Pryor Mountain is expected to produce about 841,000 megawatt hours a year, enough power for 76,000 homes on an annual basis. The wind farm pays about $330,000 year in taxes. In an April report, Colstrip owner Avista concluded that 200 megawatts of Montana wind are the most economic new resource to meet CETA requirements beginning in 2024. The Spokane-based utility presented a scenario in which it brought Montana wind online in three, 100-megawatt increments, the first two coming in 2023 and 2024, with another 100 megawatts of capacity in 2028. The utility didnt indicate a particular source for Montana wind. Colstrip owner Portland General Electric has also strategized for Montana renewables in its future portfolio, though it doesnt have a specific project. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bishop Desmond M. Tutu of South Africa, who died Sunday at age 90, came to Helena in late 1990 at the invitation of a Montana political satire singing group in an effort to raise money to help educate Native American and South African children in concerts that nearly 4,000 people attended. In 1987, members of the Montana Logging and Ballet Company, a quartet whose parodies had social and political messages, performed an anti-apartheid song, Take the Barriers Down, that Tutu heard during a United Methodist Global Gathering in Kentucky. Tutu, according to The New York Times, wrote notes for the album in which the song was featured. Four white men from Montana cannot sound like South Africans, he said. But they can sing about the justice that is God's intention for us all." The group consisted of Steve Garnaas-Holmes, who wrote Take the Barriers Down, his younger brother Tim Holmes, Rusty Harper and Bob FitzGerald. They were together 38 years and performed their last public show at the Babcock Theater in Billings in 2012. Their last concert was a fundraiser for Rocky Mountain College, The Billings Gazette reported. It is where the four had met in the 1970s. Tutu, who was awarded the peace prize in 1984, for his work to end apartheid, spent 47 hours flying from Cape Town, South Africa to the Treasure State for the Dec. 8, 1990, event According to The New York Times, a reporter asked him, of all places, why he came to Helena. "Of all places," Tutu responded, "it is the one with the Montana Logging and Ballet Company." Montana Logging and Ballet reportedly raised $1 million in donations and scholarships during his visit to help educate American Indians and South Africans, Tim Holmes said. Concert tickets were $50. There was a $500-a-plate luncheon at the Montana Club. For an extra $20, people could attend a reception, where they got a chance to meet Tutu, The New York Times reported. FitzGerald on Sunday called meeting and knowing Tutu the highlight of his singing career. He was relentlessly joyful, able to find that nugget of joy and nurturing in everyone, he said in a telephone interview. He had an uncanny ability to find the best in everybody and anybody and did it without fail. He was just all in all a good person, FitzGerald said. Tim Holmes said he had created a sculpture that he was to give to Tutu in Kentucky, and the Montana Logging and Ballet Co. was asked to perform as well. It was the beginning of a decades-long friendship with the bishop. "Gosh, what a monumental figure," Tim Holmes said Sunday. "I feel so fortunate to be associated with him for more than 30 years." Holmes said Tutu has three of his sculptures. FitzGerald said it was during a concert in Washington, D.C., that they invited Tutu to come to Montana and boom, he accepted it. He said two concerts were held at the Helena Civic Center. He said several state lawmakers were in the audience. Montana was one of three states at the time that did not recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. FitzGerald said Tutu spoke of MLK in such a joyful, enthusiastic way. That recognition of MLK Day came during the next legislative session. Homes said problems with apartheid had escalated when Tutu was in Montana and he was asked how he could be so cheerful. "He said, 'I am not in charge. We are called to be faithful and not successful,'" Holmes recalled. "He was always full of humor and graciousness." Tutu, who had also preached at services at St. Paul's Methodist and St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral during his visit, enjoyed interacting with the public and welcomed children who would run up to him at airports and other public places, FitzGerald and Holmes said. He included everybody, FitzGerald said. He was at ease with kings and queens, but much more at ease with the bellboy, the maintenance worker, the janitor and waitress. Holmes said he remembered Tutu leaving the airport and seeing some workers 200 yards away who were looking at him. He ambled over to say goodbye. "He found everyone to be equally important," Holmes recalled. "When kings and queens were to be greeted, he greeted the powerless people first." FitzGerald said he was extremely saddened to learn of Tutus passing. We knew this day was coming; you just didnt want it come, he said. He was nothing but good. You can read more about Tutu at the Montana Logging and Ballet Co. Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MLandBC/. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I am rounding out my first term in the Montana Legislature and have spent the past year thinking about hope: where we find hope, how we create it, what is both feeding and eroding it, and the future of hope within our democratic institutions. I am writing to share one of the conversations on hope Ive been having with myself. I recently returned from a legislative leadership academy with a bipartisan group of state lawmakers from across the West. We gathered to learn about the history of state legislatures, how to negotiate and build consensus, communicate effectively, and find common ground. We also spent time together studying the history of democracies the Athenian democracies and Greek republics all of which came to an end after several centuries, driven, in part, by disregard for political norms and violent rhetoric. These history lessons made me think about Montanas 2021 legislative session. As a Democrat in the deep minority, I watched how our caucus was marginalized and sidelined without adherence to process. Over the course of the session, I imagined that if Democrats were in the majority, we would treat the minority party with the graciousness and integrity we did not receive. But in conversations with my colleagues from the legislative academy, Republicans in the minorities in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, they told me their Democratic colleagues treated them just as we were treated. These stories make me feel disheartened. We are working within a system that dehumanizes people and belittles efforts toward kindness and recognition of our humanness. I am disappointed in our bipartisan behavior towards the other that seems to come as a reflex of unexamined power. I also recognize thoughtfulness around power opens up space to include everyone in the work of building an ethic of love in politics. This work takes discipline and a caring for each other and the integrity of our democracy. It is challenging to run a campaign on a platform of curiosity, generousness, middle ground, and thoughtfulness. The messaging doesnt come easy. This kind of campaigning demands more time, attentiveness, listening, asking the questions, and a rejection of the reductive soundbites and slogans we are accustomed to in politics. But campaigns built on disparaging or distancing ourselves from each other make it hard to serve with a spirit of partnership and decency. Despite all of that, a beautiful thing about politics is that the closer we get to the people, moving from national to state to local public service, the more our partisan divides diminish and the easier it is to find common ground, shared values, and consensus. I find hope in We, the people. I find hope in public servants who are meeting people where they are and doing the work that directly improves the lives of those in their communities. I will continue to search for hope in democracy by showing up with love, integrity, and humanness. Alice Buckley of Bozeman represents Montana House District 63. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I own a closet full of guns. But nowhere in that closet is ammunition. That is locked up elsewhere, reflecting a rule I was taught in childhood. Guns are powerful, even deadly, tools. If you own one, its on you to keep it safe. That is what the parents of a Michigan teenager failed to do, and their son murdered four of his fellow high school students. Not long ago, safety seemed gospel for gun owners and the gun industry alike. But something has changed. Responsibility has been discarded in a twisted form of gun idolatry. That change is detailed in a new book, "Gunfight," by Ryan Busse. Hes a gun industry boss who walked away from the industry he championed and the company he helped build. His book documents a shift in Americas culture about guns and politics. Disclosure: Busse is a friend of mine. I bought one of my favorite rifles from him. We both live in the same town in Montana where the gun industry is a significant economic player. Entering our town of Kalispell, theres a billboard from one of our local gun manufacturers that claims We build the things they want to ban. As an open carry community, you can sometimes see moms and dads packing semi-auto pistols as they push a swing on the playground. At a recent high school band concert, one parent wore a T-shirt featuring an AR-15 like a crucifix. The shirt read: Guns are my religion. I am the priest. I dont know whats more weird, the T-shirt itself or the fact it barely raised an eyebrow. Back in 2019, some local high school kids here organized a rally in response to the police murder of George Floyd. About 100 vigilantes came to my towns square, carrying high-capacity semiautomatic rifles. They said they were there to keep the peace. I carried a cardboard sign that borrowed a quote from the federal Supreme Court building: Equal Justice Under the Law. I looked around for a parked car to duck behind in case gunshots rang out. Busse was there, too, and we felt the change. As hunters, we understand the reality of even a single bullet traveling 2,000 feet per second. Clearly, our local vigilantes were no kind of well-ordered militia or even a sanctioned sheriffs posse. Busses company sold tried-and-true rifles, shotguns and handguns, made-in-America to a high standard of craftsmanship for legitimate, legal uses. That was the brand he tried to build, a standard he tried to live by. But Busse describes in "Gunfight" how guns have become political props and ideological symbols. Under this new narrative, any attempt or even discussion of limiting firepower in the hands of random people is denounced as tyranny. Industry spokespeople who dared question this narrative saw their careers ruined. The end result is the sale of rocket-propelled grenade launchers in the public square. There are cultures on earth where you can find such an arms market, but they are in failed states, not democracies. Democracies draw a line between responsibility and unfettered liberty. Anarchy denies any line exists. You dont have to look far for this toxic mix of anarchy and firepower. In Oregon in 2016, an armed band of disgruntled white men took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, taunting federal authorities until one man, LaVoy Finicum, was shot and killed by Oregon State Police. In Michigan in 2020, a group of armed men took over the State Legislature. Also in 2020, in Wisconsin, teenager Kyle Rittenhouse ran into a crowd of protesters with his rifle. As a result, he killed two men and left one badly injured. That same year, in Missouri, a lawyer and his wife pointed their AR-15 rifle and handgun at protestors and photographers, becoming Internet sensations. Not that long ago, these gun owners would have felt a backlash from fellow gun owners. The idea is that irresponsible gun ownership anywhere is a threat to legitimate gun ownership everywhere. Yet some want to make Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of legal liability but still faces potential civil suits, a folk hero. The Missouri attorney is running for the Senate. The mastermind of the Oregon refuge takeover is running for governor of Idaho. I believe it is on responsible gun owners to keep our guns safe in our homes. Its also on us to speak out for responsibility in our communities if we are to maintain our freedoms and our democracy. Ben Long is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, a nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Kalispell. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 20 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 4 Have you had enough of Christmas features? Well, dont worry this is the last one for 2021 but keep in mind, theres always next year! Remember how the Charles Dickens main character Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts particularly the Ghost of Christmas Past. The apparition was the first spirit to visit the old curmudgeon in the form of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Well, here at The Montana Standard, we have put our own spin on the classic story and today are featuring Ghosts of Businesses Past. Some of these businesses did not stay open for long, others were long-term establishments. Among the Christmas advertisements, there are some familiar Butte and Anaconda names among the ads as well Ossellos, The Bronx, Renos Supper Club, Als Photo, Rocky Mountain Cafe and the M&M. For some added fun, included are holiday ads of businesses that are still going strong. But thats not where this story is headed. Instead, the focus will be on bygone businesses that are not so familiar to most of us. One such establishment was Everybodys Shoe Store, which opened its doors in May 1907, at 46 E. Park St. According to a May 5, 1907 Anaconda Standard article, the footwear shop was owned by two experienced salesmen George Bruno and Thomas Hardin. Bruno was the one-time owner of the Bruno Shoe Store and Hardin had sold shoes at Hennessys for years. Looking through old newspaper articles, the business lasted seven years. Both Butte and Anaconda had numerous jewelers vying for business, particularly from 1890 to 1940. J.F. Powell was an experienced jeweler who set up shop in 1915 at 112 N. Main St., and aptly named his business Powell Jewelry Co. Business was apparently not too great but Powell stuck it out for five years. He had a change of heart by 1920 and announced his store was closing. He then published an explanation telling his customers he was going to be affiliated with Towle-Winterhalter-Hannifin Co., a long-standing Butte business. Where I will be pleased to serve my old friends, stated Powell in a newspaper advertisement. You wouldnt know by looking at Hammersloughs 1894 Christmas ad, but the business was an Anaconda jewelry store located at 112 Commercial St. At that time, decorative ads with some bling, even at Christmas, were definitely not the norm. Run by Max Hammerslough, the store sold 14-carat gold and platinum jewelry for more than 30 years. Hammerslough must have been quite the character because in the summer of 1920, he and several other Anaconda business owners were being blackmailed by a group calling themselves Ten Brothers. If each business didnt hand over $500, something bad was going to happen to each of the businesses. The jeweler called the extortionists bluff. kindly meet me in person during office hours, 9 to 6, if possible, he wrote, in which I can assure you, you will be received in real western style By the winter of 1922, one of the jewelers son had set up shop in San Francisco and Hammerslough decided to close his business and move his family to the Golden City. American Mercantile had its grand opening on March 28, 1918. Located at 215-219 E. Park St., the company sold groceries, gents furnishings, boots and shoes. Tomaso Tomich was the proprietor and he had more than his fair share of experience, opening his first store in 1889. He expanded his inventory and then moved to 116 W. Park St. His newest stores motto was Quality and Value for Cash. Tomich wrote in the stores introductory ad Here in our new store we shall offer even greater values, for we are operating on a cash basis and the savings we make under the plan will go to our customers. Another early-day business was the Siegel Clothing Company, which opened for business in 1881. By 1899, the company expanded and moved to the corner of Main and Granite. The business actually hadnt moved too far. Prior to that, it was located at 213-215 N. Main St. The three-story business was run by the Siegel brothers, Henry, Joseph and Sol. It sold furnishings, mens and boys clothing and shoes, and, of course, hats. Their inventory included all types of leather goods as well. The Butte Intermountain called Siegels a credit to the city and it remained so until November 1910, when the family announced it was positively retiring from business. Mose Linz was another pioneer Butte jeweler who opened for business in 1895 on North Main Street. Later, he also expanded with a large credit business. Linz called himself a diamond banker, and continued his profession almost until his death, which occurred in September 1929. During its history, the Ansonia Amusement Co., had control of more than a few Butte theaters, including the Ansonia, Orpheum and Princess. In particular was the Ansonia at 60-62 W. Park St. The Butte Miner reported on July 28, 1912 that a great amount of money has been spent in the designing and construction ... The color scheme is a dark red with bronze statues and decorations so placed as to show to the best advantage. An Auspicious Opening Of A Fine Butte Store was the June 14, 1902 headline in The Butte Inter Mountain. The newspaper was talking about the opening of Morris & Co.s confectionery at 64 W. Park St. The company already had an existing wholesale business at 41 W. Galena St., and was well-known for its variety of candies. But it was their soda fountain that was touted as a work of art. The soda fountain is unsurpassed in the West and there are few, if any, finer soda fountains in the country, wrote the Inter Mountain reporter. The Butte Miner reported the confectionery offered 125 different drinks and that the store had one of the most competent mixers in the business. Theres not a whole lot of details to be found on the Ten-Ninety One Inn, which was out at Nissler Junction. Suffice to say, the liquor establishment, which also went by the Ten-91 Inn, opened sometime around 1944 and had closed its door less than 10 years later. In an ad for New Years Eve 1944, customers were encouraged to ring in the new year at the inn where choice drinks and all brands of beer were served. We sell our goods at eastern prices, was a point of pride for Anacondas O.K. Store, which sold clothes, shoes and other items from 1899 all the way through to the late 1930s. The store also reportedly had courteous, experienced clerks to help Anaconda shoppers and its motto was Be Sure Its the O.K. Store. By the 1920s, it was run by Jack and Joe Schwartz. At one time, the store was located at 34 E. Park St., and later moved to 211 E. Park St. Just in time for some Christmas business, Baxters Furniture opened Dec. 1, 1915, at 20 W. Broadway St. Bernard P. Billy Baxter knew his way around furniture as he spent 17 years as manager of Hennessys furniture department. The newly renovated building had plenty of floor space, approximately 17,000 feet, to showcase furniture, bedding, draperies, carpets, rugs, linoleums and stoves. Baxter died seven years later, but the business remained open up until the 1940s. Driving down the Anaconda Highway, hungry customers would come upon the Copper Hill Restaurant but only for a few short years. It opened Oct. 15, 1949, as the Copper Hill Motel, Restaurant-Drive Inn, and was owned by Jack Miller. There were several ads from the business in The Montana Standard and Butte Daily Post. By 1951, Midge and Jimmy were running the restaurant, and by the next year it was just Midge. By 1955, no ads appeared in either newspaper, so it can only be surmised that the restaurant went out of business. Babe Maloney and Raymond Erickson were partners in the establishment, The Cheery Lounge at 73 W. Park St. The bar was opened for business from around 1945 until fire destroyed it, along with several other businesses, including J.C. Penney, on Feb. 28, 1972. The owners at the time of the fire were Joe Malkovich and Jim Grant. We were within five bank payments of getting in the clear, Malkovich was quoted as saying, and now this happens. The bar owners were not alone. At least a dozen more businesses were destroyed and many more damaged from the explosion and fire. Seriously folks this story on bygone businesses could go on and on but its time to wrap things up. The last featured business was a one-man show PINSEL, The Tailor, who started his business in Anaconda and ended it in Butte. A native of Austria, Nathan Pinsel came to the United States as a young child, and moved to Anaconda around 1921 to set up shop. He was touted as one of the progressive merchants of the city. While still doing business in Anaconda, he opened the LaMode Hat Shop in Butte and later, the LaMode Shop, selling ladies fashions. By the spring of 1944, he was working in a government production plant at Hanford, Washington. He died of a heart attack Oct. 10, 1944, in Hanford. He was 52 years old. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 2 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. Citing the states ongoing workforce woes, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry has proposed an increase in the number of apprentices that can be assigned to a single supervisor in trade settings. Supporters view the change as a key component in meeting growing construction and infrastructure needs statewide, while skeptics question whether the strategy could pose a risk to educational quality and workplace safety. The proposal, initially announced by DLI in September, would allow one journeyman a licensed, fully educated tradesperson to oversee the training and on-site work of two apprentices. Under current administrative rules, the prevailing requirement is two journeymen to one apprentice, a ratio DLI spokesperson Jessica Nelson described via email as outdated and out of alignment with ratios in neighboring states. Nelson said the proposal will increase apprenticeship opportunities for workers and strengthen our workforce, particularly in needed sectors like construction. She added that DLI is pursuing the change at the direction of Gov. Greg Gianforte. Gianforte touted the proposal in mid-November, tying the timing of the ratio change to Montanas growing need for housing and to federal investments in broadband infrastructure. For too long, unnecessary red tape has tied up employers looking to offer apprenticeship opportunities and build a more highly-skilled workforce, Gianforte said. With this commonsense rule change, we can dramatically increase apprenticeship opportunities for hardworking Montanans to meet current and future workforce needs. That assessment was echoed by Labor Commissioner Laurie Esau, and by seven business owners and industry leaders quoted in a separate release from Gianfortes office. Among them were Sheridan-based Volt Electric owner Brian VerHow, Montana Contractors Association Executive Director David Smith and Bridger Mahlum, government relations director for the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Speaking with Montana Free Press this week, Mahlum said the change would not only create more apprenticeship opportunities than the state has been able to accommodate in the past, but would help Montana capitalize on billions of federal infrastructure dollars recently passed down by Congress. Mahlum added that a common refrain from businesses this year has been an inability to expand portfolios or accept new projects due to the difficulty of finding enough skilled workers. We are sitting on an incredible investment opportunity to cover critical-need infrastructure projects in this state, Mahlum said. The greatest concern that I have on behalf of the Montana Chamber, and I think many others would agree, is that we have this opportunity with capital unlike what weve ever seen before, but do we have the workers to actually put the money to the road? MTFP also spoke with Smith, who said hes been hearing from business owners for at least two years about a need to revisit the apprenticeship-journeyman ratio. The primary driver, he added, is a desire to get more young people interested in the trades. I appreciate that the Department of Labor and Industry has taken this step and really has listened to the construction industry, the trades, and has said, How can we get more young people out there making good money in respectable professions? Smith said. To me, thats a really, really big win right there for the construction industry. A separate proposed rule change would exempt pre-apprentices, who have not yet entered programs but may still handle light tasks on jobsites, from being counted toward the ratio. Messaging about enhanced training opportunities and workforce solutions has been tempered by concerns among Montana unions and tradespeople that the ratio change could result in diminished workplace safety and erosion of the quality of trade-based education. Those concerns were articulated to DLI on Wednesday in a virtual public comment hearing on the proposed change. During the hearing, George Bland, chairman of the Montana Electrical Training Center and business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 768 in Kalispell, called the DLI proposal very alarming. We cannot support it without modifications, Bland said. There may be industries where more apprentices to journeymen on the jobsite is OK, but in the construction industry thats pure madness. Davin Quist, training director at the Montana Carpenters Training Center, described how intensive apprenticeships are in an interview with MTFP. Over the course of four years, apprentices, who are paid for their work, spend an average of 160 hours a year in classroom settings learning their chosen trade. But the bulk of their time 40 to 60 hours a week is spent on the job under the supervision and mentorship of their journeyman. Quist sees a one-to-one ratio as ideal for guaranteeing a safe jobsite and a thorough educational experience for apprentices, and he said his initial reaction to DLIs proposed ratio change was shock. Theres always changes that happen to apprenticeships and they usually go through committees and theyre talked about, the pros and cons, Quist said. This one is just kind of a shocker and it really puts these young guys at risk. Bill Bently, executive manager for the Montana chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, shared a list of similar concerns in a letter to Gianforte and Esau last month. Bently told MTFP he understands the workforce issues driving the proposal, but views the ratio increase as an overreaction that was ramrodded down our throats without collaboration with his organization and others. Yeah, we know there is a need for more people on the jobsite, Bently said. But you also have to be able to train the people on the jobsite, and with this new ratio, we really have concerns that youll be able to actually train people on the jobsite. Smith said hes been puzzled by the reaction from organized labor. He questions why apprenticeship sponsors wouldnt want more people learning trades, and believes the safety culture that Montana companies have worked to establish over the years will remain intact under the proposed new ratio. Everything on a construction site is a safety concern, Smith said. Honestly, you know, just walking under a load of boards. This [reaction] to me is not focusing on the need of the future workforce, if thats the real attitude about not wanting to expand it. But union leaders and supervisors arent the only Montanans with reservations about increasing the ratio. Bill Ryan, education coordinator at Dick Anderson Construction, heads the private companys apprenticeship programming. Having supervised apprentices as a journeyman himself, hes well-versed in the demands inherent to on-the-job education. Its a relationship, he said, that requires a journeymans patience, confidence and comfort in his or her skills as a tradesperson and teacher. Ryan said the current ratio doesnt hurt Dick Anderson Construction, and the proposed change is unlikely to, either. But were going to be very careful in making sure that we have the right amount of apprentices per journeyman and not overload that relationship, Ryan said. While hes optimistic the change could help alleviate the states workforce shortage, Ryan also has doubts. For starters, he said, Montana and the country are currently facing a shortage of journeymen to take on supervisory roles, and its not always easy to find one with the right combination of skills to take an apprentice under their wing. DLI specifically mentioned increasing the number of journeymen in the state as a long-term benefit of the ratio change. The other challenge Ryan noted is that the labor industry continues to contend with decades of stigmatization around trade-based education, making it difficult to find people interested in entering apprenticeships. That challenge is unlikely to change based solely on a ratio increase, he said. The stigma around apprenticeship and career technical education, around trades jobs, needs to change, Ryan said. The apprentice ratio is kind of a moot point if we cant get young people to start considering these types of jobs, these types of careers. This story is printed with the permission of the Montana Free Press. The original story can be accessed here. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Getting to work with her sons has been one of the most enjoyable parts of this project. Its been a very special experience to collaborate in that way, she said, and Ive enjoyed getting to know my extended family in a different way Its been a huge blessing in my life, and Ive enjoyed every moment of uncovering. For as much as shes gotten out of making the podcast, however, there is also plenty that Thalacker hopes others especially those who live in Muscatine take out of it, as well. The city of Muscatine and its citizens were an enormous part of the success of the institution, she said. Throughout the years, the citizens of Muscatine and organizations like the Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club did everything they could to make sure the orphans and the elderly people there had moments of happiness and joy. Whether it was giving them tickets to a movie, doctors and dentists donating their time, or sending them baked goods all of those small things made a difference. Thalacker thanked the Muscatine community for all that they did to support the institution during one of the harshest times in American history, and hopes that its current day residents can feel proud of their communitys history. We had a lot of ideas about what would happen, but the reality is always different and more interesting than your ideas, she said. It just gave us time to really settle in into the space, kind of inhabit it a little bit before we get too too far into anything. Now the nonprofit is transitioning from having no facility and focusing solely on outreach into the community to bringing children into the studios and creative spaces. Before they were limited by the materials they could transport, but now were able to get messy and really get into the art and behind what the children want to make their art about, Hatch said. Four core programs will be offered in spring 2022 as three-week sessions based on age groups. Itsy is for children ages 3-5 as early exploration. Their classes are held in IASs largest of the two studios, designed to let kids make a mess and even draw on the tables, thanks to the white board surfaces. Art After 3 p.m. classes are for ages 6 to 12, which is about exposure to new ideas, new artists, new materials and new techniques, Jaster said. V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on Nov. 21, 2021. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden participate in NORAD Santa tracker phone calls from South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec. 24, 2021. The radical Taliban, who have come to power in Afghanistan, call on the US to not interfere in Afghanistans domestic affairs and declare that they are ready for resistance in case of need. This is what Deputy Foreign Minister of the provisional government of the Taliban Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai declared on Sunday, TASS reports. Nobody should think that the Afghans are tired of war and are incapable of defending themselves, the deputy foreign minister stated, adding that the Afghans will be able to show resistance [to the aggressor] for another 40 years, if necessary. According to Stanikzai, after the Taliban came to power in Kabul four months ago, Afghanistan has started making its own decisions for the first time since the past decades. 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President of Artsakh attends Christmas Holy Liturgy Yerevan-Aktau flight scheduled for today is canceled Saakashvili welcomed protests in Kazakhstan Gibka-S missile systems to be delivered to Russian forces in 2022 Lavrov and Cavusoglu discuss the situation in the Caucasus First plane with Russian CSTO contingent arrives in Almaty Georgia PM: I congratulate our Armenian compatriots, brotherly Armenian people on Christmas Russian peacekeepers secure entry to Karabakh for 5,000 vehicles carrying pilgrims Armenia sends about 70 servicemen to Kazakhstan Politico: US Senate unlikely to approve sanctions against Nord Stream 2 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Artsakh 134 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia 12 law enforcement officers killed in Almaty Razm.info: At least 78 casualties in Azerbaijan armed forces become known in 2021 Armenia MFA on Kazakhstan events: We are convinced it is not way for solving political issues CSTO sends peacekeepers to Kazakhstan Armenia President: May your hearts and homes be filled with peace, goodness More than 1,000 people injured in Kazakhstan unrest Catholicos of All Armenians serving Christmas Divine Liturgy MFA: No Armenia citizens at the moment among those affected by Kazakhstan events Blinken, Israel FM discuss Russia, Ukraine, Iran Christmas and Revelation: Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Nativity and Baptism of Christ Dozens neutralized during attempts to attack administrative buildings of Kazakhstans Almaty Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan leaders discuss situation in Kazakhstan Kremlin website posts Armenia PM statement on CSTO decision to send peacekeepers to Kazakhstan Armenia PM: CSTO will send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan Airport of Kazakhstans Almaty freed during special operations 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 Full recognition of the right of the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to self-determination is not subject to reservation and concession, and the Armenians of Artsakh are the exclusive owners of that. Thus, only the authorities of Artsakh are authorized to speak on behalf of the population of Artsakh. This is stated in the Facebook post of President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan. Dear compatriots, Touching upon the recent statements by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict and several concerns of the Armenians of Artsakh about those statements, I would like to stress a few main provisions that I have touched upon in different messages and statements several times, and those provisions are the following: 1. Full recognition of the right of the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to self-determination is not subject to reservation and concession, and the Armenians of Artsakh are the exclusive owners of that. 2. The aim of international recognition of the independence of Artsakh is our main benchmark, and no government can deviate from that. Thus, the people and authorities of Artsakh will never accept any status within the composition of Azerbaijan until our goal is not achieved. 3. There cant be a return to the past in terms of not only status, but also demography. How can we talk about co-habitation when Azerbaijan continues to nourish its society with Armenophobia and prepare them for the emptying of Armenians of Artsakh, not peace? Of course, we support a peaceful settlement of the conflict and are ready to make efforts for this, but the vital rights, interests and demands of our people cant be bargained. 4. The territorial integrity of Artsakh needs to be restored at least in the territories in which the Republic of Artsakh was declared in 1991. Thus, our seized territories need to be de-occupied, and the residents of those territories need to be able to return to their homes 5. As far as the security of Artsakh is concerned, we will continue to make efforts for strengthening of the capacities of the Defense Army, and the Russian peacekeeping contingent needs to remain in Artsakh until the ultimate and just settlement of the conflict and the provision of additional international guarantees for security. 6. Without touching upon the details of the process of negotiations in the past, we simply need to record that now the moment is much more responsible and crucial than ever. Consequently, we dont have the right to make mistakes; otherwise, those mistakes may be fatal for Artsakh and Mother Armenia 7. If any Armenian wishes to support Artsakh, he or she must reckon with the will and goals of the Armenians of Artsakh; if not, he or she must simply not interfere. 8. All authorities are temporary, but our goals and positions need to be maintained. The unity around our national values and goals is important, and, as I mentioned, the guideline for every Armenian and every government for a settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict needs to be the will and goals of the Armenians of Artsakh. Artsakh has been Armenian land for millennia and will remain an Armenian land, and the Armenians of Artsakh have sufficient will and strategic patience to continue the struggle. I am certain that the Armenians of Artsakh will continue their just struggle for international recognition of independence and defense of the Homeland, he wrote. Earlier, during his online press conference, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan made the following ambiguous statement on the status of Artsakh: When Serzh Sargsyan used to say that Artsakh will never be a part of Azerbaijan, now he doesnt say that his negotiations were about the fact that Artsakh needs to remain Armenian. I will go on and say that I dont agree with that either because Artsakh couldnt have been completely Armenian land. What do we mean by Armenian? Based on those negotiations, it was clear that Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast) was going to have Armenian and Azerbaijani populations. Would there be a legislature in Nagorno-Karabakh? Yes, there would be a legislature, but it wouldnt be fully Armenian. There would be Azerbaijani quota and Armenian quota. Would there be local self-government bodies? Yes, but there would be not only Armenian, but also Azerbaijani local self-government bodies. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan responded to the responses of officials of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to the statements that he made during his online press conference on Dec. 24. He particularly wrote the following on his Facebook page: Certain responses to and comments on my interview on Dec. 24 are bewildering, to say the least, and here are the reasons why: 1. During the interview, I talked about the content of the negotiations that existed before I became Prime Minister in 2018. Consequently, I couldnt have had any impact on the emergence of that content. 2. In response to a question, I refuted the statement of former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan according to which the content for negotiations left by the former authorities guaranteed that Nagorno-Karabakh would remain Armenian. I refuted this because during those negotiations it was recorded that the Azerbaijanis having resided in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast during the Soviet era had the right to participate in making the decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. Consequently, if they are residents of Nagorno-Karabakh according to the content of the negotiations, they should have resided in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian side has never objected this content before the revolution in 2018. 3. As for the status that Nagorno-Karabakh had before the potential referendum on status, in this interview, I said in 2016 the mediators had presented three packages for negotiations (one before the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016, and the other two later) where, unlike the Kazan document of 2011, the phrase Nagorno-Karabakh shall obtain an interim status was missing. In the third of those three documents, which was presented in August 2016, there was a provision stating that the decision on the legal and practical mechanisms for organizing life in Nagorno-Karabakh would be made by the United Nations Security Council, consulting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. This is what I considered a catastrophe in the process of negotiations because it is clear that the United Nations Security Council would make all decisions with the logic of the resolutions that it had previously adopted with regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue where Nagorno-Karabakh was recognized as a part of Azerbaijan. 4. By taking this and several other major problems into consideration I claimed from the podium of the National Assembly that before I became Prime Minister in 2018, with the existing content of the negotiations and realities, Artsakh had lost the opportunities to not be a part of Azerbaijan, both in theory and in practice. 5. When I became Prime Minister, I didnt adapt to this, but fought against it. This is also why the war broke out. 6. Today the people who are telling me I shouldnt negotiate on behalf of Nagorno-Karabakh are the people who had been criticizing me for saying that I dont have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of Nagorno-Karabakh since 2018. 7. I understand that many respected people are complaining about the content of the negotiations that served as a cause and effect of the war in 2016 now. At the time, they were either unaware or had no right to complain. I am also complaining about that content, and I did everything I could to fight against that. I am sorry, but I cant conceal the truth, he wrote. The assessments that the Prime Minister of Armenia made during his recent press conference are extremely dangerous for the vital rights of the Armenians of Artsakh and obstruct protection from the policy of genocide of Azerbaijan. This is stated in the statement that Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arman Tatoyan and Gegham Stepanyan put into circulation. The approaches voiced at the press conference of the Prime Minister of Armenia on Dec. 24 completely contradict the natural rights of the Armenians of Artsakh to security and create fertile ground for Azerbaijans violations. These approaches fundamentally jeopardize the natural right to national self-determination. According to the Prime Minister of Armenia, the consistent discriminatory policy of persecution against the Armenian people, the atrocities, the deprivation of property by Azerbaijan in 1923 and other illegal acts for the eviction of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) are overlooked. The Azerbaijani state policy of hatred and enmity towards Armenia is that, in 2020, during the war, this led to massive ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, destruction of cities and villages (Stepanakert, Martuni, Shushi, Hadrut, etc.), depriving people of their homes, torture and atrocities, murder, desecration and destruction of churches. After the war, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, under the auspices of the Azerbaijani authorities, continue to violate the vital rights of the people of Artsakh and kill civilians. We consider the assessments of the Prime Minister of Armenia extremely dangerous. They substantiate the supremacy of political issues over human rights, reinforce Azerbaijan's false theses that ignore human rights. We urge everyone to stop ignoring human rights, creating fertile ground for false Azerbaijani theses, to exclude the subordination of human rights to political issues, as well as to refrain from creating artificial obstacles to protect the rights of our compatriots, especially in international instances, the statement reads. Israel approves plan to double settlers in Golan Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, in a move not recognised by most of the international community. Photo: AFP Israel's government on Sunday approved a US$317 million plan to double the Jewish settler population in the Golan Heights, 40 years after it annexed the territory captured from Syria. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's cabinet voted in favour of the plan that aims to build 7,300 settler homes in the region over a five-year period, during a meeting held at the Mevo Hama community in the Golan. It calls for 1 billion Israeli shekels to be spent on housing, infrastructure and other projects with the goal of attracting roughly 23,000 new Jewish settlers to the area, seized during the 1967 Six Day War. "Our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights," the right-wing Bennett said ahead of the meeting. He was forced to leave the meeting after his 14-year-old daughter tested positive for the coronavirus, putting him into isolation, but a vote on the programme went ahead after a delay. Around 25,000 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights, along with about 23,000 Druze, who remained on the land after Israel seized it. Israel annexed the territory on December 14, 1981, in a move not recognised by most of the international community. Former US president Donald Trump, widely viewed as pro-Israeli, granted US recognition to Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in 2019. "The Golan Heights are Israeli. This is self-evident," Bennett said. "The fact that the Trump administration recognised this, and the fact that the (President Joe) Biden administration has made it clear that there has been no change in this policy, are also important." Shortly after Biden took office in January, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested there were legal questions surrounding Trump's move, which Syria condemned as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty. But Blinken indicated there was no thought of reversing course, especially with the Syrian civil war continuing. Bennett claimed that after a decade of conflict in Syria, international calls to restore Syrian control of the Golan were muted. "Every knowledgeable person in the world understands that it is preferable to have Israeli heights that are quiet, flourishing and green as opposed to the alternative," he said. (AFP) "Hope #SalmanKhan is doing okay now. We all are praying for his speedy recovery. Take Care, your fans love you and the entire Nation wishes Good health to you. @BeingSalmanKhan," a netizen tweeted. "Get well soon bhaijaan. Will pray for your recovery," another one wrote on Twitter. "Hope he is fine. Waiting for his health update," a social media user expressed his concern. For the unversed, Salman was bitten by a non-venomous snake at his farmhouse near Panvel on Sunday morning. He was immediately taken to a hospital at Kamothe in Navi Mumbai and discharged after a few hours. He's at the farmhouse to celebrate his 56th birthday, which will fall on Monday. Last year as well, Salman had celebrated his birthday at the farmhouse in Panvel. (ANI) Actor Paul Bettany has said that it was strange and unpleasant having his text messages become a part of the court record during Johnny Depp's libel suit against the UK tabloid The Sun. According to The Hollywood Reporter, in an interview with a news outlet published on Saturday, the 'WandaVision' actor spoke about his long career in Hollywood, including having a producer tell him he'd never work again and explained his process for how he becomes emotional enough to cry during scenes. However, at one point during the interview, Bettany was asked about his 2013 text exchange with fellow actor Johnny Depp regarding the 'Fantastic Beasts' actor's ex-wife Amber Heard. These messages later became public during Depp's defamation suit against The Sun's publisher over the tabloid's use of "wife beater" to describe him. When answering on the subject, Bettany said that it's "a really difficult subject to talk about" and noted that answering would "just pour fuel on the fire," before chalking the entire situation up to be "very strange." "It was a strange moment. What was strange about it was you suddenly have one of the most scabrous newspapers in London and their lawyers pouring through your texts for the last 10 years. Can you imagine what it would be like, honestly, to have a bunch of lawyers go through every one of your emails and texts for 10 years?" said Bettany. He added, "All I can tell you was that it was an unpleasant feeling." Bettany's communications with Depp were included in the 132-page ruling on the case in 2020. Depp and Bettany texted about Heard, with Depp suggesting they burn her, among other graphic things, while Bettany, apparently taking it as a joke, wrote back and suggested a "drowning test" to determine if "she's a witch." Justice Andrew Nicol dismissed Depp's libel claim in November 2020, after finding the allegations that Depp had assaulted Heard on multiple occasions and that she feared for her life were "substantially true," and opening the door for other publications referring to Depp as a wife beater to have less fear of legal retaliation. The judge also refused permission for Depp to appeal the decision directly with the court, but on December 9, 2020, the actor applied directly to Britain's court of appeal in an effort to overturn the ruling. In March 2021, two court of appeal judges said the actor couldn't challenge the High Court's rejection of his libel lawsuit. Following the November 2020 court ruling, Warner Bros. had severed its ties with Depp, replacing him in the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. In August 2021, Depp said he was being boycotted by Hollywood and later in September that cancel culture had gotten "so far out of hand now that I can promise you that no one is safe" while appearing at the San Sebastian Film Festival, as per The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI) On Sunday, Rannvijay took to Instagram and wrote, "The best thing that happened to us was Jahaan! @jahaanvirsingha #satnamwaheguru#blessed #grateful #2021." He also uploaded a video featuring his videos and pictures with his wife Prianka Singha, daughter Kainaat Singh and the newborn. The family video has garnered several likes and comments. Reacting to the post, a fan commented, "so cute. God bless you all." "Adorable family. May you always stay happy," another one wrote. Rannvijay and Prianka welcomed Jahaan in July earlier this year. On the professional front, Rannvijay, who has hosted many shows on television, is currently busy anchoring the reality show 'Shark Tank India'. He will also be seen in 'Mismatched 2'. (ANI) During a recent study researchers found that ketamine therapy has a swift short-term effect on reducing symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts. The research has been published in the 'British Journal of Psychiatry Open'. A systematic review led by the University of Exeter and funded by the Medical Research Council analysed evidence from 83 published research papers. The strongest evidence emerged around the use of ketamine to treat both major depression and bipolar depression. Symptoms were reduced as swiftly as one to four hours after a single treatment and lasted up to two weeks. Some evidence suggested that repeated treatment may prolong the effects, however more high-quality research is needed to determine by how long. Similarly, single or multiple doses of ketamine resulted in moderate to large reductions in suicidal thoughts. This improvement was seen as early as four hours following ketamine treatment and lasted on average three days, and up to a week. Lead author Merve Mollaahmetoglu of the University of Exeter, said, "Our research is the most comprehensive review of the growing body of evidence on the therapeutic effects of ketamine to date. Our findings suggest that ketamine may be useful in providing rapid relief from depression and suicidal thoughts, creating a window of opportunity for further therapeutic interventions to be effective. It's important to note that this review examined ketamine administration in carefully controlled clinical settings where any risks of ketamine can be safely managed." For other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders, there is early evidence to suggest the potential benefit of ketamine treatment. Moreover, for individuals with substance use disorders, ketamine treatment led to short-term reductions in craving, consumption and withdrawal symptoms. The review synthesized the evidence from a growing field of research into the potential benefits of ketamine for conditions for which there were limited effective treatments. The review included 33 systematic reviews, 29 randomised control trials, and 21 observational studies. Ketamine's effects on depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts are supported by numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which provided an exhaustive overview of research on a given topic. These are considered to have the highest strength of evidence compared to other types of studies, increasing confidence in the evidence for ketamine's antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. However, ketamine's therapeutic effects for psychiatric conditions other than depression and suicidal thoughts are based on a small number of studies that did not randomize people into different treatment arms. These effects require replication in larger randomized placebo-controlled trials, which are considered the gold standard. The authors noted a number of difficulties in the research field, which they recommended that future studies should seek to address. One factor is the bias created because participants realized they have been given ketamine, rather than a saline solution. Senior author Professor Celia Morgan, of the University of Exeter, said, "We're finding that ketamine may have promising benefits for conditions that are notoriously hard to treat in the clinic. We now need bigger and better-designed trials to test these benefits. For example, due to ketamine's unique subjective effects participants may be able to tell whether they have been given ketamine or a saline solution as the placebo, potentially creating an expectation about the effects of the drug. This effect may be better controlled by having active placebo-controlled trials, where the control group receives another drug with psychoactive properties." A number of questions remain unanswered in the research field, including the optimal dose, route of administration and number of doses of ketamine treatment. There is also a need for further research on the added and interactive benefit of psychotherapy alongside ketamine treatment. Additionally, the importance of ketamine's acute subjective effects in its therapeutic benefits has not been fully explored. More research is also needed on how to optimise participants' preparation for ketamine treatment and the setting in which ketamine treatment is delivered. The research involved collaboration with the University of British Columbia and received support from the Society for the Study of Addiction. (ANI) After receiving intelligence inputs, police along with Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel raided the house of one Sahnaj Ali of Ichabpur area under Gournagar Block. The police arrested two adults and four children of the same family, who had confessed that they entered the Indian Territory unlawfully. The head of the family, Abdul Rakim, 32, confessed that they had infiltrated into India from Bangladesh through Dawki in Meghalaya. From there, they reached Assam and boarded an Agartala-bound train. Police sources said they had tried to make some arrangements for a stay in Tripura, but failing to do so on Friday, they left Agartala and reached Ichabpur. Abdul further admitted that he and his family members came here to procure necessary documents to establish themselves as Indian citizens. The Rohingya influx in Tripura has become a big problem since the last couple of years. They had been brought to Kailashahar police station after arrest and they would be produced before the Court on Sunday. (ANI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday welcomed the Centre's decision to vaccinate children between 15-18 age group against COVID-19 and to provide a 'precaution dose' to the frontline and health workers amid Omicron scare and said that the central government accepted his government's demand for the same. "I am happy that by accepting our demand today, Prime Minister has announced booster dose and vaccination of children between 15 years and 18 years. Vaccine and COVID-19 protocol is the only way to fight covid," he tweeted. "In consonance with the opinion of experts, we have written several times requesting the Prime Minister to issue guidelines regarding booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccine for children. "It is my humble request that everyone should understand the seriousness of COVID-19 and get them vaccinated and ensure strict adherence to the COVID protocol during this holiday season," he added. Earlier on Saturday, emphasizing precaution in view of the rise in cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the start of vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group from coming January 3. He added that the healthcare and frontline workers have made a big contribution in keeping the country safe against COVID-19 and they will be given a 'precaution dose' from January 10 next year. He also said that senior citizens facing co-morbidities will have the option to go for a precautionary dose of COVID-19 on the advice of their doctors. The Prime Minister said that 61 per cent of the adult population in the country had been given both doses of COVID-19 vaccine while 90 per cent of the adult population has received the first dose. India started the COVID vaccination drive on January 16 this year. The Prime Minister said that the move to provide vaccination to children in the 15-18 age group is likely to aid in education normalization in schools and will reduce the worry of the parents with school-going children. The decision regarding precaution dose for frontline and health workers has been done in light of the amount of time that they spend in the service of COVID-19 patients."The decision of precaution dose will strengthen the confidence of healthcare and frontline workers," he said. Referring to the Omicron infections in India, the Prime Minister urged people not to panic and to follow precautions such as masks and washing hands repeatedly. He assured that nasal vaccine and the world's first DNA vaccine will be available for vaccination soon in the country. (ANI) On the occasion of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary on Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that he has deeply enriched the Indian political space and the big shift in economic reform was his brainchild. "Atal Ji has deeply enriched the Indian political space. The big shift in economic reform was the brainchild of Atal Ji. Despite large and difficult coalition partners, he fast-tracked several futuristic policies including Golden Quadrilateral, PMGSY, disinvestment, Telecom revolution & Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan," Sinha said while addressing a special event to commemorate the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Sinha also termed Vajpayee as a "true statesman, poet, writer, who was indeed the greatest orator country has heard after Independence." "Through his sharp political understanding and cross-party appeal, Atal Ji significantly shaped the political discourse of his era. He even encouraged regional aspirations by accommodating smaller parties for the larger national cause," the Lt Governor added. "As the nation is celebrating 75 years of Independence, we must remember the contribution of all the great personalities who worked tirelessly for strengthening the Indian democracy, nationalism, and upliftment of the marginalized sections. Among all the leaders, Atal Ji was a true statesman, who rose above the party lines in the larger interest," Sinha said. "Walking on the path shown by the great visionary leader, the government is continuously working to make development, peace, progress, and social harmony the most integral part of the narrative of Jammu and Kashmir," the Lt Governor said. "Over the decades, many governments under pressure refrained from conducting the Pokhran test. It was because of the vision and courage of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji the world saw that India will not allow its national interests to be undermined, whether it is to develop nuclear weapons capability or missile system. By linking internal security with the economy, he sent out a stern message that if the nation is strong, it will not bow down to anyone," the Lt Governor said. "Today, India is keeping its head high in the global arena and proving its mettle in defence due to toughest decisions taken by Atal Ji which clearly shaped the future of the country," added the Lt Governor. Recalling the formidable efforts of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lt Governor said that it was the firm belief of Atal Ji that a progressive society could not be established in the country until people of the country are empowered. "He embodied his ideas in the spirit of collective responsibility, to provide economic, social, educational, and political rights to the marginalized people and worked tirelessly for public welfare and securing social, economic, and political justice for underprivileged and backward classes," the Lt Governor observed. Following the ideals of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Ji established a system of fear-free, corruption-free, hunger-free public centric good governance system in the country, the Lt Governor noted. "Atal Ji has greatly influenced the politics of post-independence India. From connecting villages with roads and building houses for the poor in the villages to bringing revolutions in various sectors, Atal Ji has his deep imprints on system-reforms taking place even today," added the Lt Governor. (ANI) Amid the ongoing impasse over OBC reservation in civic polls, Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Saturday said the state governments did not take a proper stand over the matter and the backward classes should not be thrown back into the fire. "There have been mistakes over the matter. We should have either gone to Supreme Court or the Assembly for the reservation to OBCs in politics. The best way to overcome the shortcomings of governments is to exercise caution and not throw the backward classes into the fire," Patel told ANI. He said that the battle for the reservation of the backward will have to be fought taking everyone together. On Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting regarding the OBC reservation. During the meeting, the way to implement the triple test to decide the reservation in Panchayat elections was discussed. Madhya Pradesh is mulling over grating 22 per cent reservation for OBC in panchayat polls. Statistical data will be collected for this purpose. The government is also keeping an eye on the strategy of other states. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court stayed the election process for the seats reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local body polls in Madhya Pradesh. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the state election commission to re-notify the seats for the general category. It also pointed out that a similar OBC quota in Maharashtra local elections was stayed recently. The Court passed the order while hearing an application seeking stay on the December 4, 2021 election notification issued by the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission in respect of OBC seats in local bodies. On December 15, the apex court had ordered Maharashtra State Election Commission to issue a fresh notification to treat 27 per cent seats reserved for OBC as a general category for local body polls and commence the election process. It had asked State Election Commission to renotify the 27 per cent OBC constituencies as general seats and resume the election process along with the remaining 73 per cent. (ANI) With the cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 reaching 38 in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with health experts, senior officials and cabinet colleagues on Sunday morning to take stock of the rising infections. Besides the CM, Revenue Minister R Ashoka, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Health Minister K Sudhakar, chief secretary Ravi Kumar and other officials of the health and police department are present in the meeting. Further details are awaited. (ANI) The Delhi police have arrested a 30-year-old man who masqueraded as a police officer with the intention to extort money from the drivers of commercial vehicles. According to Delhi police, in view of the forthcoming Republic Day, South West District police staff were directed to be extra cautious of criminals as well as suspicious elements under 'OperationSatark'. On 24 December, while two constables were patrolling in the Kapashera police station area noticed a suspicious person, later identified as Amit, wearing a police uniform in khaki pants, a woollen cap with Delhi Police logo and a black jacket, had wireless set in his hand, pistol on his belt trying to stop the vehicles. On further enquiry by the Kapashera police station patrolling staff, the man introduced himself as Constable Dinesh and showed a Delhi police identity card. On suspicion, he was examined thoroughly and found to be faking to be a police staff and carrying Delhi Police Identity Card to corroborate his story. "A Motorola wireless set, 0.32 bore pistol with 12 live cartridges, fake Delhi Police Identity Card was found from his possession", said Delhi police after the arrest. "He could not reply satisfactorily about the possession of wireless set and pistol", added the police. As per the police, on further interrogation, the accused Amit disclosed that he is a Graduate and working in Bharat Petroleum at Bijwasan in Delhi. From his present job, he was not getting enough remuneration to fulfil the needs of his family. Therefore, he indulged in the wrong act of a fake as a constable and intended to extort money from the drivers of commercial vehicles, said the police. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Rajesh Tope said, "We welcome the Central government's decision on boosters for over 60 years of age, frontline staff, and COVID-19 vaccines for 15 to 18 years. Booster dose amid Omicron scare is need of the hour." "PM Modi has fulfilled the demand of booster dose and COVID vaccines for children. We demanded that children should be vaccinated for keeping them safe as schools are reopening," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced three major decisions in the fight against the disease including the start of vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group from coming January 3. He also announced that the healthcare and frontline workers will be given a 'precaution dose' from January 10 next year. He said that senior citizens facing co-morbidities will have the option to go for a "precaution dose" of COVID-19 on the advice of their doctors. (ANI) The decision came after Sarma asked BJP's state unit leaders to surrender their security. The Chief Minister had reportedly said that having a PSO is "Congress culture" and "we do not have any threat of life for we have done nothing wrong". Sarma tweeted, "I am in deep gratitude, & grateful to Sri Subrata Bhattacharjee, President BJP Karimganj for having given up his PSO on my request. Every karykarta in @BJP4India is committed to principles of humility & connectedness with people pusuing ideals taught by Hon PM Sri @narendramodi." In a letter to Sarma on Saturday, Bhattacharjee wrote, "Inviting reference to the subject cited above and informs you that I have intended to surrender my Personal Security (PSO) and requesting you to withdraw the same and oblige." (ANI) With the administration of 32,90,766 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 141.37 Cr (1,41,37,72,425) as per provisional reports till 7 am today, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. As per the ministry, this has been achieved through 1,50,19,426 sessions. The recovery of 7,091 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) to 3,42,30,354, stated the ministry. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.40 per cent, the highest since March 2020. Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 15,000 daily new cases that are being reported for the last 59 days now. 6,987 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. India's Active Caseload is presently at 76,766. Active cases constitute 0.22 per cent of the country's total Positive Cases, which is the lowest since March 2020. According to the ministry, the testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 9,45,455 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 67.19 crore (67,19,97,082) cumulative tests. While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 0.62 per cent remains less than 1 per cent for the last 42 days now. The daily positivity rate reported to be 0.74 per cent. The daily positivity rate has remained below 2 per cent for last 83 days and below 3 per cent for 118 consecutive days now, said the ministry. (ANI) As per the ministry, the objective is to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of State-owned DISCOMs/ Power Departments by providing financial assistance to DISCOMs for modernization and strengthening of distribution infrastructure. The state governments of Meghalaya and Assam have become the frontrunners in planning their operational and financial reforms as well as the underlying works to accomplish the same under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (Nodal Agency - REC), said the ministry. Accordingly, their state-level Distribution Reforms Committee (DRC) and State Cabinet have approved the proposals, including Action Plan and DPR, for consideration under the scheme. The Action Plans from the states include multiple reform measures aimed towards loss reduction, implementation of smart prepaid metering of the majority of their consumer base, 100 percent feeder level energy accounting by FY 23, reconductoring of old/frayed conductors, conversion to LT ABC, bifurcation of feeders, segregation of agriculture feeders, and up-gradation of billing and other IT/OT systems, in addition to works towards improving quality and reliability of supply. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme has an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 crore with estimated budgetary support from the Central Government of Rs. 97,631 crores, which would be available till FY 2025-26. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded late Group Captain Varun Singh for giving the mantra of turning "ordinary into extraordinary" in a letter written to his School Principal after receiving Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for his act of exceptional gallantry. Addressing the nation in the 84th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister said, "Many people are engaged in serving 'Maa Bharati' and touches heights with pride everyday. They teach us a lot of things. This was the life of our Group Captain Varun Singh who died in Tamil Nadu chopper crash." PM Modi said that Varun Singh was flying the helicopter that crashed this month in Tamil Nadu. "In that accident, we have lost many bravehearts including the country's first CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife. Varun Singh fought bravely for life for many days, but then, he left us." "When Varun was in the hospital, I saw something on social media that touched my heart. He was given Shaurya Chakra in August just this year. After this honour, he had written a letter to the principal of his school," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said that the first thought that came to his mind after reading the letter was that even after reaching the pinnacle of success, Varun Singh did not forget to nurture his roots. "When he had time to celebrate, he showed concern for the generations to come. He wanted that the lives of the students of the school that he studied in should also be a celebration," PM Modi added. In his letter, Varun Singh did not boast his valour, instead he referred to his failures and talked about how he converted his shortcomings into abilities. "At one place in this letter he has written - It is ok to be mediocre. Not everyone will excel at school and not everyone will be able to score in the 90s. If you do, it is an amazing achievement and must be applauded. However, if you don't, do not think that you are meant to be mediocre. You may be mediocre in school but it is by no means a measure of things to come in life," PM Modi stated. The late Group Captain also said "Find your calling - it could be art, music, graphic design, literature, etc. Whatever you work towards, be dedicated, do your best. Never go to bed, thinking, I could have put-in more efforts. The Prime Minister said the mantra he has given to rise from "ordinary to extraordinary" is equally important. Varun Singh, in his letter, also encouraged students and said that 'believe in youself and work for it'. "Varun had written that if he could inspire even a single student, it would be a lot. But today I would like to say - he has inspired the whole country. Even though his letter talks only to the students , he has given a message to our entire society," PM Modi added. "Mann ki Baat" is the Prime Minister's monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme is broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app. (ANI) Meanwhile, The chief minister held a meeting with the officials of Team 9. Later in the day, Adityanath will attend various programs ahead in the day. He will firstly attend Defence Research and Development Organisation's lab foundation stone laying program at 11:30 am which will also be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Later, the chief minister will lay the foundation stone for various development projects program at Osa Mandi in Manjhanpur of Kaushambi. He will reach Prayagraj at 3:00 pm and will do Bhoomi Pujan of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Earlier on Saturday, Adityanath launched a "free tablets and laptops distribution scheme" for one crore youths of the state. (ANI) Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) Ahmedabad has recovered Rs 10 crore more cash from the factory and residence of perfume businessman Piyush Jain, promotor of Odochem Industries of Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh, official sources told ANI. The total cash allegedly recovered from Jain reached Rs 187.45 crore. The cash recovered during the search has been seized under the provisions of Section 67 of the CGST Act. According to official sources, a joint team of DGGI and Local Central GST has recovered Rs 5 crores from Jain's factory in Kannauj. Another Rs 5 crore has been recovered from the residence of Jain in Kannauj. According to officials, after Kanpur, they took Jain to his factory and residence in Kannauj which resulted in a cash recovery of Rs 10 crore. By Sunday morning the agency recovered a total of Rs of 187.45 cr. Another source supervising the search told ANI that DGGI has recovered unaccounted raw material and finished product worth crores. Unaccounted sandalwood oil, perfumes worth crores have been seized from Jain's factory. Interrogation of Jain is on and his statement is been recorded. As per sources, when the DGGI and Local Central GST team reached Jain's premises on day one of the searches, he ran away and came back after two hours on several calls by investigating officers. Officials believe that Jain returned back after getting advice from his 'associates' and 'lawyers' on to what to reveal about the huge cash recovery. Officials told ANI that Jain is giving unconvincing explanations about the cash recovery. He said this "cash belongs to his relatives and brothers." He had taken names of some of his relatives and brothers, but when investigating officers questioned the relatives whose names were taken, they denied Jain's claims. Officials said that no one from Jain's relatives came forward to accept his claim. Jain's brothers have also denied the claim of Piyush Jain. Officials said that they are trying to get the details of huge cash recovered from the promoter of Odochem Industries. Search is still on in Kanpur and Kannauj and investigation will continue until they find the real beneficiary of the cash seized from the premises of Jain. "We want to know the source of such huge cash. Why such a huge amount of cash was collected, where was this cash supposed to be used, from where this cash came. Was the 143, Anandpuri, Kanpur, where Rs 177.45 crore cash was recovered a collection centre of Perfume sale or it was used for some other purpose. The investigation will be on until it reaches its logical conclusion," said an official. This is the biggest cash seizure in the history of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the apex body of the investigation agency Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) who is conducting the search. (ANI) During the investigation, Mumbai's Amboli police found that a 28-year-old Bhojpuri actor died by suicide in the Jogeshwari area after the two accused tried to extort Rs 20 lakhs from her. Later, police registered a case under ADR and sections 306, 170, 420, 384, 388, 389, 506, 120B, and 34 of Indian Penal Code(IPC). The two accused were identified as Suran and Pravesh, residents of Mumbai. "The actor was present at the rave party when these two fake NCB officers demanded Rs 40 lakh from her and her friends. Later, they realised Rs 20 lakhs from her. It also came to light that Arif Ghazi, who attended the party with the actor, was behind it," police said. "After the incident, the Bhojpuri actor got scared and committed suicide through hanging on Thursday," police added. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) With the number of Omicron cases rising in India, the Congress attacked the Centre and asked by when the government is intending to vaccinate the remaining 35 per cent of the adult population of the country. Speaking at the press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "According to the PIB data and affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court, around 36 crore of the eligible population is yet to receive the second dose of COVID dose while 11 crores to get both the doses. By when the government will inoculate this population? The government had promised to vaccinate the adult population by December 31. However, it has not fulfilled the promise." Congress said that the government plans to provide jabs to children aged 15 to 18 and booster shots for health workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years with comorbid conditions. "For this vaccination drive, there are around 25.69 eligible people and to inoculate them is a requirement of 35.70 crore additional doses when there is already a shortage of anti-COVID doses in the country." The Congress party also questioned why the government is administering vaccines to children between the age group of 15 and 18 when some countries across the globe have started inoculating children above three years of age. (ANI) According to a study, entrepreneurs have different behavioural traits and operate with different levels of trust. The research has been published in the 'Journal of Business Venturing'. The researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore found that entrepreneurs, whom they define as individuals who start new businesses, build trust more quickly with others in work-related situations. Entrepreneurs were found to be more sensitive and quick to react to dishonesty during a simulated business transaction. For example, entrepreneurs would be quicker to withdraw from a deal upon sensing that a potential business partner is not reciprocating, said the researchers. Previous research on the psychology of entrepreneurs hypothesised that they had different character traits from the rest of the population and aimed to discover how those qualities made some individuals more inclined to start new ventures, while others did not. The NTU researchers said that the results from past studies were inconclusive, as they focused on finding individual traits rather than on thought processes or behaviours in dynamic situations where trust is built, violated, then rebuilt. This was what led to the design of a roleplaying experiment, which aimed to expose participants to situations where they had to conduct business deals. Along with Dr Bi QingQing from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, who was a former research fellow at NTU's Nanyang Business School when the study was done, the team carried out an experiment in Singapore with 416 participants, who were categorised as entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals based on their occupations. The experiment placed participants through several rounds of business transactions, where participants had to decide how much money they would entrust for investments to an agent, who displayed different levels of trustworthiness. Analysing the behaviour and results of the experiment, the researchers found that while entrepreneurs showed comparable levels of initial trust with professionals and managers, entrepreneurs built trustworthy relationships faster by increasing their investments by around 50 per cent, which is significantly higher compared to managers and professionals (21 per cent and 35 per cent respectively), signalling that they were more trusting and willing to build a partnership. However, the investments from entrepreneurs decreased sharply, by over half (53 per cent) compared to their investments during the initial trust-building stage, when their business partners displayed dishonesty, compared to managers and professionals, at 22 per cent and 38 per cent respectively. The researchers said this showed that entrepreneurs were quick to adapt to bad situations, especially those that would lead to losses or the detriment of their business. Another key finding was that entrepreneurs recovered more easily, defined by the research team as a signal of forgiveness, from losing trust in business dealings compared to non-entrepreneurs if the other party apologised or clarified the situation. This was evidenced in the relatively fewer number of interactions the entrepreneurs took to re-engage in business negotiations, compared to their counterparts. (ANI) The identified person had returned from Canada on December 18. "Himachal Pradesh reported the first case of Omicron. The person had returned from Canada on December 18. The patient's latest RTPCR is negative and her three close contacts have also tested negative," said the State Health Department said. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had said that the tally of Omicron in the country has risen to 415. (ANI) Tutu, a Gandhian follower, and Nobel Peace prize winner died at the age of 90. Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "My condolences on the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was a champion of the anti-apartheid movement and a Gandhian. Such great heroes of social justice will always be a source of inspiration to all of us across the world." He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and in recent years he was hospitalized on several occasions. Desmond Mpilo Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize 1984 for his role as a unifying leader figure in the non-violent campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa. (ANI) The 15-year-old son of the Labour Ministry's Joint Secretary died by suicide as he jumped from the sixth floor of a building in Delhi's Commonwealth village on Saturday night, police said. As per the Delhi Police, the boy's parents were not at home when this unfortunate incident happened at 8:30 pm. They were at Mayur Vihar market and the boy was alone at home. After the incident, he was taken to the nearby Max hospital by the neighbours where he was declared dead. The Mandavali police have inspected the spot of the incident and ruled out any foul play. After the preliminary investigation, the police said that the teenager was a victim of clinical depression, out of which he has died by suicide. The Father of the deceased boy, Gopal Prasad said that his son was an intelligent boy. "We came to know about his mental issues in September this year after which his treatment was going on in RML hospital", said Gopal. "He was supposed to go to a party with his friends yesterday. Before leaving we sang together and spent happy moments. He seemed happy and I saw him last at our society gate", said the bereaved father. Gopal said that his son Kaushal had tried to end his life earlier also, he had confessed it to his psychologist. Following that his parents kept giving him more attention. (ANI) One United Nations Liberation Front (UNLF) cadre was arrested on Saturday, and arms were recovered from his possession. M. Pradip Singh, IPS, SP Imphal East said, "Teams of CDO/IE Unit led by Inspector Henery Singh, Officer-in-Charge Commando Imphal-East Unit and Inspector Pathou Meetei, Officer-in-Charge, Heingang Police Station conducted a searched operation in the different area under Mantripukhri-Koirengei area along the NH-39 road where they arrested an active member of the outfit United National Liberation Front. The arrested person has been identified as Mayengbam Amarjit Singh aged 44 years. The Imphal police recovered one scooter (Honda Activa) and one mobile phone (Vivo) along with one Airtel SIM card from his possession. On further verification, it came to learn that arrested Mayengbam joined the UNLF, through one Bhoge, a member of UNLF in August 2021 and at present was working under his command. During the investigation, Mayengbam said that three days back, one unknown person sent by the said Bhoge handed over the recovered four pistols along' with magazines and ammunitions and advise him to hide them in his house. Following that, the CDO team along with the arrested person rushed to his house at Langol Game Village in Imphal-West District and recovered the pistols along with magazines and 43 ammunitions which were kept hidden on top of his wardrobe. "The recovered arms and ammunition were seized at about 6:40 pm by observing due formalities", the police said. The arrested person along with the recovered items was handed over to Heingang Police Station. Further legal action is being taken up against him, added the Imphal police. (ANI) During the programme, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), prior to this, PM Modi will also attend the 54th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur at around 11 am. "Improving urban mobility has been one of the key focus areas of the Prime Minister. The inauguration of the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is yet another step in this direction. This completed 9 Km long section is from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel," it said. PM Modi will also inspect the Kanpur Metro Rail Project and undertake a metro ride from the IIT metro station to Geeta Nagar. The entire length of the Metro Rail Project in Kanpur is 32 km and is being built at a cost of over Rs 11,000 crore. As per the PMO, the 356 Km long Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project has a capacity of around 3.45 million metric tonnes per annum. "Extending from Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh to Panki in Kanpur, the project has been built at a cost of over Rs 1500 crore. It will help the region access petroleum products from the Bina refinery," the PMO added. During his visit, the Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest of the 54th Convocation of IIT Kanpur. At the convocation, all the students will be issued digital degrees through an in-house blockchain-driven technology developed at the Institute under the National Blockchain Project. The Prime Minister will launch the blockchain-based digital degrees. These digital degrees can be verified globally and are unforgeable. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that even though India has never been an aggressor historically, it is ready to defend its people against any nation with hostile intentions. Singh was in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and laid the foundation for Defence Technology & Test Centre and BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre, established by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). "We have never been an aggressor, but are ready to defend our people against any nation with hostile intentions," said the minister on the occasion. According to a release by the Ministry of Defence, the minister asserted that the purpose of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system is to act as a "deterrent". He said, the system not only reflects the technical cooperation between India and Russia but also the long-standing cultural, political and diplomatic ties. The foundation for the two units was laid in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. A first of its kind Defence Technologies & Test Centre (DTTC), over approximately 22 acres is being set up to accelerate the growth of the defence and aerospace manufacturing clusters in Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC). The BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre, announced by BrahMos Aerospace, is a modern, state-of-art facility in the Lucknow node of UP DIC. It will cover over 200 acres and produce the new BRAHMOS-NG (Next Generation) variant, which carries forward the lineage of the BRAHMOS weapons system. This new centre would be ready over the next two to three years and will commence production at a rate of 80-100 BRAHMOS-NG missiles per year. Congratulating the scientists and engineers of DRDO & BrahMos Aerospace, Singh exuded confidence that the two units will play a pivotal role in bolstering national security, defence production as well as the economy of Uttar Pradesh. He said that the state-of-the-art facilities will prove to be an important milestone in the defence sector. "The establishment of these units will generate revenue; provide employment opportunities to the youth and help in achieving 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi." On the 'Defence Technology and Test Centre', the Defence Minister said, "The Centre will provide the technological base to develop defence products keeping in mind the young innovators and startups in Amausi region of Uttar Pradesh." "It will help in bringing the MSMEs of Uttar Pradesh together and bring the state at the forefront in the field of defence and aerospace manufacturing. The Centre, through skill development, will create direct and indirect employment in the field of defence and aerospace manufacturing." Singh stated that India has attained a respectable position in areas of defence technologies, including the development of state-of-the-art missile systems in the last few years and has made commendable progress in building its defence industrial base. He applauded scientists of DRDO for their crucial role in increasing India's military stature by strengthening the Armed Forces and achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' in the development and production of modern missile systems. The Defence Minister expressed confidence that the foundation stone laying of the two units heralds a new chapter in the defence of the nation as well as defence manufacturing and the economy of the state of Uttar Pradesh and the city of Lucknow. (ANI) Nadda chaired a meeting with party leaders in Dehradun ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present in this meeting. Speaking at the event, Nadda said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a very progressive step towards the better health of women and children. The public's gratitude motivates us to do better, under the leadership of PM Modi." Earlier in the day, BJP president JP Nadda, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and State party president Madan Kaushik listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio program 'Mann Ki Baat'. Madan Kaushik said that party national President Jagat Prakash Nadda gave a victory mantra-- 'Booth Jeeta, Chunav Jeeta' -- for upcoming assembly polls in the state. Earlier on December 24, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had informed that a total of 11,647 polling booths have been made, out of which, 100 booths will be run by women during the upcoming Uttarakhand assembly elections. The Uttarakhand Assembly elections are scheduled for early next year. (ANI) Reacting to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's recent statement over three repealed farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that the remark was intended to deceive farmers and would also humiliate the Prime Minister. Earlier on Saturday, Tomar was quoted as saying: "We brought the farm laws. Some people did not like it. But the government is not disappointed. We moved a step back and we will move forward again because farmers are India's backbone and if the backbone is strengthened, the country will become stronger." However, the minister later clarified that the Centre has no plan to reintroduce farm laws adding that his statement during a programme was misquoted. Tikait has threatened to restart agitation if the farm laws are re-introduced by the Centre. "Narendra Singh Tomar's statement 'moved a step back, will move forward again' is full of deception towards the farmers and humiliating towards the Prime Minister of the nation. BKU condemns such irresponsible statements. Delhi is not far from the farmers anymore," the BKU leader tweeted in Hindi. The three farm laws were repealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19. These bills were passed during the winter session of Parliament which began on November 23. The farmers, who had been protesting on the borders of Delhi against the three laws for almost a year, have suspended their agitation and returned to their homes. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh was also present at the venue. National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) MD, Satish Agnihotri who was here as well told ANI today, "We have acquired and started working on approximately 98.5 per cent of the 350 kilometres land stretch in Gujarat." "We will try to adhere to the time period of 6 years given by the Railways Minister to complete the project in Gujarat," Agnihotri said. Jardosh tweeted, "Reviewed the ongoing work of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project C-4 section at Vaktana near Surat with Gujarat CM Shri @Bhupendrapbjp ji. The High Speed Bullet Train Project is on track to bring unparalleled economical transformation for our nation." At present Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is the only sanctioned project of High-Speed Rail (HSR) in the country which is under execution with financial and technical assistance from the Government of Japan. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), namely National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has been formed to implement the Project, the Ministry of Railways said. (ANI) Speaking to the media here in Dehradun, Dhami said, "JP Nadda's visit is very important to us. Many seatings are being done with different workers and assembly in-charges on Sunday. His visit has inspired us to do better." Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had informed that a total of 11,647 polling booths have been made, out of which, 100 booths will be run by women during the upcoming Uttarakhand assembly elections. (ANI) The curfew will be imposed from 11 pm to 5 am. Meanwhile, Delhi has witnessed 290 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of cases recorded since June 10. With these active cases in the national capital has gone up to 1,103. One person has succumbed to the infection in Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 25,105. (ANI) Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan has sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his concern over the alleged wave of attacks against minority groups. In a letter, the Kerala leader wrote, "I am writing to your goodself to express my deep concern over the recent wave of attacks by right-wing outfits against minority groups in the country... These occurrences are in stark violation to the right to life and religious freedom guaranteed by our constitution." "As you may be aware, the State of Karnataka has witnessed a spate of attacks on Christians in the past week... Unfortunately, no one has been arrested in these incidents. Apparently, the police have been hand in glove with the perpetrators which cast serious apprehension on the intention of the state to curb these grave human rights violations," the letter further read. The Congress leader further said that the recent tales of atrocities against Christian groups that have come to light have been startling, to say the least. The Congress leader said, "Sadly, the decision by the incumbent Karnataka Chief Minister to bring in legislation on forcible religious conversion has aggravated the volatile situation. These laws are abused to harass and intimidate minority communities. Reports reveal that similar attacks have taken place in other states as well. Madhya Pradesh topped the list with 30 cases, while Uttar Pradesh has reported 22 cases in the past one year." "Prime Minister's urgent intervention is beseeched to direct the State Governments of Karnataka, Gujarat, Madya Pradesh, UP among others to take necessary steps to prevent the attack on the Christian community by right-wing groups," he concluded. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed condolences to families of those who lost their lives in an accident in a factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The Prime Minister also hoped for a speedy recovery of those who got injured in the incident. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "The accident in a factory in Muzaffarpur, Bihar is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Also, I wish the injured a speedy recovery." The death toll in the Muzaffarpur boiler blast has risen to seven, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai informed on Sunday, adding that a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident. "The incident is extremely unfortunate. A total of seven people have died while the other seven are injured. A high-level inquiry will be done into the incident. In my opinion, the factory rules were violated as it was operating on Sunday even though factories are closed on that day. The reason behind this will be found out in the inquiry and strict action will be taken against the ones found guilty," said Rai while talking to the media. The minister said that the government had given the certificate for the operation of the boiler in May this year. Rai also said that free treatment will be provided to the ones injured in the incident. Seven people were killed and seven others were injured in a boiler blast in a noodle factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased in the boiler blast incident. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged the youth in the state to join the state government in its war against narcotics, adding that the strictest punishment will be given to those selling drugs in and around college campuses and those using them. He was speaking after launching a state-wide campaign against narcotics organised by the Home Department of the state government in collaboration with a Kannada news daily. "Karnataka would be completely freed from the drug menace with cooperation from the youth," he said. "Energy is another name for the youth," Bommai added and called upon the youth to harness this energy to build a bright future for themselves and bring laurels for the state. Emphasizing the need to eradicate the drug menace from the state, he said that he had instructed the police to install CC cameras around all prominent colleges. "Similarly CC cameras should be installed within the college campuses and hostels too." Karnataka has declared a war against drugs. State tops the country in the quantity of drugs seized and destroyed. "We will wage a relentless war against drugs. Some foreign nationals staying in Bengaluru have been found to be engaged in drug peddling. Stringent action is being taken against them. NDPS act is being used to crush the drug menace. Dark Web has been penetrated for the first time in Karnataka. Drug supply from abroad is being prevented," Bommai said. He urged the youth to register themselves to be part of the campaign against drugs. The Chief Minister termed those involved in the narcotics business as traitors and assured that they would be dealt with sternly. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is daydreaming of coming back to power in Uttar Pradesh and stopping the construction of ongoing works at Ram Janambhomi. Shah was addressing the public rally of 'Jan Vishwas Yatra' at Orai, Jalaun. "Samajwadi Party is dreaming that it will come to power again in Uttar Pradesh and they will stop the ongoing works at Ram Janmabhoomi. Akhilesh Ji, no one can stop the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya," Shah said. Shah further alleged that SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are casteist parties and that under the SP government there were "3 Ps: Parivarwaad, Pakshpaath, and Palayan." Shah said, "Yogi government has waived loans of Rs 36,000 crore of 86 lakhs farmers. Our government has restarted the Ken-Betwa river link project. We have constructed five expressways in five years."There were only 12 medical colleges in 70 years, but in the last five years, we have constructed 30 medical colleges. Earlier, there were 1,900 seats, now it's 3,800." Uttar Pradesh is slated to go to Assembly polls 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 Samaj Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI) Congress on Saturday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging that he lied to Parliament on the firing incident in the Mon district of Nagaland, in which 14 civilians were killed. Addressing a press conference here AICC General Secretary and in charge of Assam, Ajoy Kumar said, "Amit Shah is lying to the people of the country. The statement released by the Home Minister to the country on the Nagaland firing incident was wrong." The Congress leader said that according to a statement by the Home Minister, the terrorists associated with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) were about to pass from that way and the army was deployed there to take action. "Amit Shah in Lok Sabha said that the Army was trying to stop the people but they did not stop, that is why firing happened, and six people lost their lives and the other two were injured. What he said is all lie," said Kumar. Giving further detail of the incident, he alleged, "When villagers came to know about the incident they reached the spot and again firing happened over there and seven people died. The next day one person died at the district headquarter. Amit Shah did not tell the country about this incident in Parliament." He further said that Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi took this matter seriously and constituted four member's committee over the Nagaland killings. "When we were going to meet the family of the deceased people, then at the at Jorhat airport we were stooped. They showed us the notice of section 144 but later in the evening, we were allowed to go to Dibrugarh where two injured were admitted. They told us the real incident," he said. "The family of the injured people told us, "Eight people were coming in the car and the Army personnel started firing without giving any warning from the front, and from the back they heard the sound of the grenade. When villagers reached the spot and asked about their family members then the army personnel denied it and said they don't know anything. They indulge in fights and the army fired at them. The villagers also torched two army vehicles and because of firing seven people died." The Congress leader alleged that soon after Amit Shah gave his statement in Parliament, the Nagaland BJP president said that the Union Home Minister is lying. "The people who died were seated in the car and the army did not give any warning." "Not a single BJP leader or cabinet minister visited the family of the deceased and Amit Shah also lied about the SIT investigation in the Parliament. "Amit Shah should immediately resign because it has become his habit to lie and now he is speaking lie in the Parliament. Congress demands Rs 1 crore compensation to kin of people who have been killed, 10 lakhs to injured and demands commission of enquiry under the sitting judge of Guwahati High Court to supervise the SIT investigation," he added. (ANI) According to a new study, if you are a family member of a child suffering from a life-threatening condition, you are more likely to face mental or physical trauma than others. The research has been published in the 'JAMA Network Open Journal'. A new study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the first to empirically measure the extent of this burden on families, with parents and siblings 50 per cent to 70 per cent more likely than their peers to receive health care for mental and physical health issues, accompanied by medication for these issues, than families of children without a life-threatening condition. Prior qualitative studies had shown adverse collateral impacts on mental and physical well-being for parents and siblings of infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with a life-threatening condition (LTC). These studies had shown lower resilience, greater post-traumatic distress, higher emotional distress, and lower overall quality of life, with damaging effects on family life, marriages, social life, finances, and education, among other aspects of their lives that can be impacted by these disorders. Most studies had not, however, been able to measure the exact impact LTCs have on parents and siblings. Prior studies had been limited by small sample sizes, self-reported outcomes, and is limited to one condition, usually cancer. To address these limitations, CHOP researchers focused on four different types of LTCs that are stressful for patient families: very premature birth, critical congenital heart disease, cancer, and severe neurological impairment. "As clinicians caring for children with a variety of life-threatening conditions, members of our research group have long known, by bearing witness, that many of the parents and siblings of our patients are adversely affected by the stress imposed due to the presence of a life-threatening condition in the family," said senior study author Chris Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH, Director of Research for the Justin Michael Ingerman Center for Palliative Care and a core faculty member at the Center of Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (CPCE) at CHOP. "We hope that this study brings enhanced awareness of this largely unaddressed problem and starts moving us towards effective responses," he added.This retrospective study used commercial health insurance data from a single carrier to match families whose child had an LTC with families whose child did not have an LTC based on the age of the children in the study. The study examined the rates of healthcare encounters (that is, inpatient stay, outpatient visit, telephone consultation), physical and mental health diagnoses, and subsequent medication prescriptions. In total, the study looked at 6,909 cases and 18,619 control children and their families between August 2020 and March 2021. The study found that mothers of a child with a LTC were, on average, 61 per cent more likely to have a healthcare encounter, diagnosis, and/or prescription. For fathers, the rate was about 51 per cent. Sisters and brothers had similar rates at 68 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively."Though limited to four specific life-threatening conditions, our study provides critical empirical data specifically measuring the negative impact felt by family members," Feudtner said. "We hope that this study provides the foundation for more work that offers critical interventions and support for families to help stabilize their mental and physical wellbeing during an incredibly trying time in their lives," he concluded. (ANI) "Those who were opposing the vaccine were committing crimes against humanity. When he got the chance, he could not do anything. Now that they are out of power, they are playing with the lives of the people by spreading false propaganda," tweeted CM Yogi in Hindi. Meanwhile, With the administration of 32,90,766 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 141.37 Cr (1,41,37,72,425) as per provisional reports till 7 am today, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.40 per cent, the highest since March 2020. (ANI) Indian Army on Saturday assured the people of Nagaland that the inquiry into the firing by Army officials in Mon district on December 4, which led to the killing of citizens, is progressing expeditiously while they are also cooperating with the SIT inquiry ordered by the state government. "The inquiry ordered by Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest. We have taken out notices for people to come forward and assist us in the inquiry," reads the official statement. "The Indian Army is also fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry ordered by State Govt and required details are being shared in a timely manner," it added. Army has requested the people of Nagaland to be patient and assured that the action will be taken in accordance with the law. "We request all brothers and sisters of Nagaland to be patient and wait for the findings of the Army inquiry. We assure you that action will be taken in accordance with the law to secure justice for all," reads the statement. Meanwhile, the Nagaland government also informed on Sunday that a Court of Enquiry will be initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel involved in the incident. "A Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel, who are directly involved in the Oting incident and action will be taken immediately on the basis of enquiry," reads the release from Nagaland government. About 14 civilians were killed in a botched up operation by the Indian Army on December 4 in the Mon district of Nagaland. (ANI) Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan slammed the Kerala government on Sunday after migrant labourers allegedly attacked policemen at Ernakulam's Kizhakkambalam. V Muraleedharan told ANI today, "I don't have an opinion that the police in the state is so weak. On some occasions, they may become helpless. If the state government gives the freedom to the police to take fair and impartial action themselves, the police could solve the law and order issues in Kerala. The inefficiency of the home department of the Kerala government is covered up by the police." "In many parts of the state, Kerala police is calling people to the police station including BJP office bearers and keeping them in custody unlawfully. BJP is a party which is in power. To protect the interest of CPIM, if they are trying to torture BJP leaders using police. It will not work. CPIM and the state government should understand it", he said. Regarding Kerala Opposition leader VD Satheesan's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, V Muraleedharan said that let VD Satheesan solve the problems in Congress first. "Prime Minister has the capability to solve the problems in the country," he said. Migrant labourers allegedly set a police jeep on fire and vandalised four police jeeps at Kizhakkambalam in the outskirts of the Kochi city yesterday night. Five police personnel, including a Circle Inspector have been injured. The incident happened on Saturday night when the police team reached a camp of Kitex company where an issue of clash between migrant labourers was reported in the name of Christmas celebrations. Then, a group of migrant labourers attacked the police team. Police from Kunnathunadu police station has been attacked. One police jeep was completely set on fire. One vehicle was completely vandalised by using sticks and stones. Three other vehicles were partially damaged. So far, 150 migrant labourers have been taken into custody for interrogation by the Police. Neeraj Kumar Gupta, DIG of Ernakulam Range said, "Yesterday night, one incident has happened. Prima facie it seems that there was a brawl after consuming the liquor. Police party went there. But they were outnumbered by those persons who were under the influence of alcohol. Then again we augmented the police party. But still police party was not sufficient and they attacked on police. Our five policemen including CI got injury. They are in the hospital. And our five vehicles, one vehicle was completely burnt, one vehicle was completely damaged and the glasses of three vehicles have been broken." Further probe in the matter is underway. (ANI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) will convene a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW ) including Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on December 27, informed ECI sources. As per the sources, "The Election Commission of India will convene a meeting on December 27 at 11 am with senior officials of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare including Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. The meeting will discuss the prevailing COVID19 situation for upcoming Assembly elections in five states." Earlier, amid the COVID variant Omicron scare, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday requested the Election Commission of India to immediately postpone the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh for 1-2 months. The court also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the EC to immediately ban rallies and public meetings of political parties in the state. (ANI) "Pt. Malaviya worked in many organizations... Imagine how great he was that he headed both Congress and Hindu Mahasabha at the same time...Today you can't even imagine this," said Shah. "Ravindra Nath Tagore called him the 'Man of great heart' and Mahatma Gandhi gave him the title of 'Mahamana' (great man)," he added. Shah made the following comments while addressing a gathering at the 160th birth anniversary celebration of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Home Minister also said that Pt. Malaviya should have been conferred with Bharat Ratna soon after the independence. "It is a matter of great sadness. Pt. Malaviya should have got Bharat Ratna soon after independence," said Shah. "When he received Bharat Ratna in 2014, many people said that Bharat Ratna was not needed," he added. As for the Banaras Hindu University, I still believe that among all the achievements of Pt. Malaviya's life, the biggest achievement is the establishment of the Banaras Hindu University. Malviya breathed his last on November 12, 1946, at the age of 84. In 2014, he was posthumously conferred with Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award. (ANI) West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday said that Congress is an 'electoral' Hindu and is on the verge of extinction. The West Bengal BJP president further slammed Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh for his remarks on Veer Savarkar. Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "Digvijay Singh does not even know Savarkar. He does not even recognize him. I think Digvijay Singh hasn't read about what is Hindutva." The WB BJP President said, "We have the court verdict. The ways of thinking, customs and traditions that we have been following for thousands of years and way of life which the court has defined is called Hindutva." "Perhaps he did not understand it fully. If he reads the court judgment, he will know it," the state BJP president said. "Congress is an electoral Hindu. Congress is on the verge of extinction by decreasing. By 2024 there will be a Congress-free India," he said. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will change the Constitution and end the reservation system if it is voted to power again in 2024. Speaking during Jan Jagran Abhiyan event, Singh stated that Congress has a fight with the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Congress leader reiterated that Hindutva had nothing to do with Hinduism. "Veer Savarkar, in his book, had said that Hinduism has nothing to do with Hindutva. He never considered cow as 'maata' and had no problem in consuming beef," the Congress leader said. "Our fight is with the ideology of RSS. If BJP is voted back to power in 2024, they will first change the constitution and end reservation," he added. The Congress party had launched a countrywide agitation programme, 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan' on November 14 to expose the mismanagement of the economy by the Centre. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at a factory in Muzaffarpur. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each, the Prime Minister's Office said. "The Prime Minister has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at a factory in Muzaffarpur. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each," the Prime Minister's office tweeted. Prime Minister earlier today expressed condolences to families of those who lost their lives in an accident in a factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The Prime Minister also hoped for a speedy recovery of those who got injured in the incident. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "The accident in a factory in Muzaffarpur, Bihar is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Also, I wish the injured a speedy recovery." The death toll in the Muzaffarpur boiler blast has risen to seven, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai informed on Sunday, adding that a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident. "The incident is extremely unfortunate. A total of seven people have died while the other seven are injured," he added. "A high-level inquiry will be done into the incident. In my opinion, the factory rules were violated as it was operating on Sunday even though factories are closed on that day. The reason behind this will be found out in the inquiry and strict action will be taken against the ones found guilty," said Rai while talking to the media. The minister said that the government had given the certificate for the operation of the boiler in May this year. Rai also said that free treatment will be provided to the ones injured in the incident.Seven people were killed and seven others were injured in a boiler blast in a noodle factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased in the boiler blast incident. (ANI) Sharma met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the national capital, earlier today and discussed the education policies in the state. Speaking to ANI, the UP Deputy CM said, "I had an elaborate discussion over the education policy of the state with Dharmendra Pradhan. UP is ahead of every state in terms of education." "The state government has made several changes in the education policy of the state and has added several employment-oriented courses," he added. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Anil Vij said, "Digvijaya Singh has a habit to change the meaning of everything. I do not want to comment on any of his statements." On December 25, Digvijay Singh during Jan Jagran Abhiyan in Bhopal said, "Veer Savarkar, in his book, had said that Hinduism has nothing to do with Hindutva. He never considered cow as 'maata' and had no problem in consuming beef." The Haryana Minister further alleged that there was a political ambition behind the farmers' agitation and said, "This is why they stretched the agitation." His comment came as 22 farmer unions have floated a new political party named 'Samyukt Samaj Morcha' which will make its electoral debut in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Vij also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15-18 years and the 'precaution dose' for frontline warriors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15-18 years will start from January 3 and healthcare and frontline workers will be given a 'precaution dose' from January 10 next year. (ANI) Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials, Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Dr NK Arora said on Sunday. In an exclusive interview on the Prime Minister's decision on rolling out vaccination for beneficiaries between 15-18 years of age, which going to commence from January 3, Arora told ANI about the possible benefits of this decision. He explained, "Children between the age of 12 and 18 years, particularly those in the age group of 15 to 18 years, are very much like adults. Our research within the country also says that almost two-thirds of the deaths which occurred due to COVID in India are within this age group. So, this decision was mainly taken to protect the adolescents." Dr Arora said, "There are two other advantages of immunizing adolescents. One is that they are quite mobile, they have to go to the school colleges and their risk of getting an infection, particularly in the light of Omicron, is present." "Secondly, many times these adolescents get infection into their households where elderly and those with comorbidities can get infected. So, in view of all this, the country has decided to introduce vaccination for children between 15 to 18 years," he said. As Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given Emergency Use Authorization for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for beneficiaries between 15-18 years of age, Dr Arora said that during trials vaccine has shown good immune response. "The point is that we have a vaccine, which is approved for children. Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials. In fact, it is slightly better than adults. Secondly, this vaccine is a safe vaccine, and even local effects like pain, swelling in the arms is much less as compared to adults. We would like to offer this protection to our adolescents," he said. The doctor said, "Although the disease's effects are much milder, but as we know many schools have opened. A lot of parents are still not very confident in sending their children to schools. So this vaccination drive will also be giving confidence to them. I would say it's a great New Year gift for our adolescents." In children, an immunogenicity study, not an efficacy study is present at the moment. On the efficacy of Covaxin for children, he said, "So, in children, we have an immunogenicity study, not an efficacy study. So immunogenicity means what level of antibodies are produced, and we know that there is a reasonably good relationship between antibody levels and protection. In fact, as I said, adolescents produce better levels of antibodies as compared to their adults. Here, I would also like to say that the same Covaxin dose is given to children as an adult and the interpretation between the doses is also four weeks. So as far as implementation of the programme is concerned, there is no special effort required. And immunization of these adolescents can be started within a short period without much or a specific preparation." The number of doses for adolescents will be the same, Dr Arora said. (ANI) Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi and Congress MP Jairam Ramesh indulged in a war of words on Twitter over the suspension of 12 opposition MPs as latter said that the onus is on the Centre to ensure that Parliament functions smoothly. Joshi reminded Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh that his party men indulged in hooliganism during the Monsoon session of Parliament. Joshi even went ahead and shared a video of the monsoon session of the Parliament when the proceedings were disrupted by the Opposition members on Twitter and said, "As people's representatives, it is the duty of Parliamentarians to respect the Chair and behave in a manner worthy of their standing. However, Jairam Ramesh, your colleagues chose disruption over debate. It was unfortunate as the whole country witnessed their sheer hooliganism". Jairam Ramesh slammed the Joshi for releasing the video on microblogging site and questioned the presence of Delhi police personnel in the lobbies that day, as only Rajya Sabha security personnel are allowed to maintain security within the house chambers and lobbies. Hitting out at Joshi for releasing the video of the monsoon session of the Parliament, Ramesh said, "Illegal release of CCTV footage shouldn't be allowed. Only Rajya Sabha Security personnel be allowed to maintain security within House chambers/lobbies". Joshi said, "You must not lose your way while pleasing RaGa (Rahul Gandhi). Do tell him about respect being commanded and not demanded." Responding to Joshi, Ramesh made a scathing attack on the leadership, "Further, you must not lose your way spreading lies to please NaMo (Narendra Modi), who himself is the Jagadguru of Jhoot!" Pointing "if the government is accommodative, then Opposition is responsive" and recalled late Arun Jaitley's statement, "Do I also need to remind you of what your leader late Arun Jaitley had said--defending disruption as a legitimate instrument of parliamentary strategy? Ramesh also shared the letter of Leader of Opposition written to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on the issue. The series of Twitter barbs came in the backdrop after the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said he was ready to express "regret" on behalf of the 12 suspended MPs and accused the government of not being ready to resolve the stalemate over the suspension. He also alleged that the government wanted to push bills through without discussion. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had said at the conclusion of the winter session that the House functioned much below its potential. (ANI) "China sent a Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plane into Taiwan's ADIZ," Taiwan News reported citing the country's Ministry of National Defense. The highest concentration of incursions took place in early October this year, with a record 56 aircraft involved on Oct. 4. The period coincided with China's national day on Oct. 1 and Taiwan's Double Ten on October 10, Taiwan News reported. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades. Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war. (ANI) Thousands of Afghans who helped UK forces fight against the Taliban are still stuck in Afghanistan, reported a UK-based newspaper on Saturday. As per British Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly 167 Afghans are still trapped in Afghanistan, but former Defense Minister Johnny Mercer negated it and said that the numbers of Afghans left behind are in thousands, reported Sputnik. Cleverly confirmed that of the 311 former UK staff and their family members left behind in Afghanistan, more than half (167) remain trapped in the country. "We have left thousands behind, not 167. Those are simply the ones who had a response to the ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) programme. Those figures are simply the number who were called forward but didn't make it to the airport," said Mercer. Interpreters and other local staff who had worked with British forces told the UK newspaper that they are in hiding in Afghanistan with their families because the Taliban is "searching" for them, reported Sputnik. Mercer said that "the vast majority" of people who should have been evacuated from Afghanistan under the ARAP program were left behind, because the British scheme was ineffective and thousands didn't get a response. "All the ministers know this, but they are determined to move on from our commitments to these people," Mercer said. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August and on September 7 announced the composition of an all-male interim government headed by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who has been under UN sanctions since 2001. (ANI) Nazari is a Ph.D. holder and has been a university lecturer in Kabul, reported Khaama Press. Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid in a Twitter post said that Doctor Abdul Latif Nazari has been appointed as professional Deputy Minister of the economy. The Twitter post read that Nazari has been appointed based on the decree of the Supreme Leader of the Taliban Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada, reported Khaama Press. "Doctor Abdul Latif Nazari is a Hazara brother and has ability in the area of economy," read Mujahid's Twitter post. Nazari is not the only non-Pashtoon figure in the interim government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan but before that, another non-Pashtoon (Hazara) Doctor Hassan Ghyasi was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Health, reported Khaama Press. Earlier on September 7, the Taliban announced a 33-member caretaker Cabinet which neither had women nor was inclusive. At least 14 members of the Taliban's interim government in Kabul are on the UNSC terrorism blacklist, including acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund. (ANI) A statement released by the Ministry of Higher Education of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan read that the personnel of the unit are part of the ministry's Special Forces that were trained in 313 central corps for 30 days, reported Khaama Press. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Lutfullah Khairkhaw said that the creation of a special unit to protect educational institutions was a must needed. In the meantime, officials in the defence ministry addressing the new graduates said, protection of educational institutions is as important as their stronghold. As per the Taliban, the new unit was created after people filed numerous complaints about the behaviour of Taliban affiliates now protecting these institutes, reported Khaama Press. It comes as public universities and high schools for girls are yet to be reopened. The Taliban, after the siege, proposed a ban on coeducation. Group's officials had also ordered that girls will no longer be allowed to sit in the same classes as boys in universities, Khaama Press reported. (ANI) The alliance is now in contact with Russia, the official said on Saturday. Moscow has not announced any set dates yet. On Friday, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, said that Russia is ready for dialogue with NATO and has received a proposal to convene a Russia-NATO Council meeting. According to Zakharova, NATO's non-expansion and non-deployment of weapons posing threat to Russia's security near its borders will be the issues of utmost importance for Moscow at the upcoming talks on security guarantees with the United States. Earlier this month, Russia released its draft proposals on security guarantees. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow expects to receive specific responses to its proposals from the United States in January. Commenting on the timeframe for NATO-Russia talks on security guarantees, Peskov said that there are no exact dates yet. (ANI/Sputnik) India introduced multi-faceted initiatives to mitigate climate change - from the world's largest railway carrier becoming Net-Zero by 2030 to saving 40 billion tonnes of emission through LEDs it announced at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. India is putting climate change at the centre of its policies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made bold announcements at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference and said that India will go carbon neutral by 2070. PM Modi presented his five-point agenda, which he called the five 'Amrit tattva' while delivering the 'National Statement' at the COP-26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Representing India at the 'High-Level Segment for Heads of States and Government' at the UN COP26 at Glasgow, UK, the Prime Minister said that India is working very hard on tackling climate change-related issues. The important agendas set by PM Modi at the climate summit were: Net Zero Emission; Reducing carbon emissions and intensity; Renewable energy; Climate Finance & Tech Transfer as an imperative; and Lifestyles for the environment. India would become carbon neutral and achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2070. This is a historic step taken by PM Modi which shows India's ambition when it comes to fighting climate change. Despite being a developing country, India shows the way when it comes to safeguarding planet earth. PM Modi announced that India will reduce 1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions from the total projected emissions by 2030. India will also reduce carbon intensity by 45 per cent in its economy. When India took the ambitious pledge of achieving 450 GW installed capacity by 2030 through non-fossil fuel sources, it was seen as over-ambitious. Now, India is not only on track to achieve this target but has decided to further raise it to 500 GW. India has also pledged to fulfill 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewables by 2030. PM Modi gave a clear message to developed countries that just like India has raised its ambition in setting its targets, they also need to raise ambitions in climate finance and tech transfer. The world cannot achieve newer targets with old goals of climate finance. The Prime Minister also called upon developed economies to make USD 1 trillion available for climate financing. PM Modi's mantra of Lifestyle for Environment is inspired by Indian culture and Mahatma Gandhi's teachings to ensure peaceful existence with nature. A potentially important development that emerged out of COP26 (but outside the COP process) is the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda endorsed by 42 countries (including India). This is a cooperative effort to accelerate the development and deployment of clean technologies and sustainable solutions in areas such as clean power, road transport, steel and hydrogen. The Glasgow Summit urged countries to consider strengthening their 2030 targets by COP27 to be held in Egypt in 2022. The summit targeted global warming not to exceed +1.5C and got about 140 countries to announce target dates for bringing emissions down to net zero. The achievement is significant as in the Paris Agreement, the developing countries did not agree to reduce emissions but just the "emissions-intensity" of GDP. India constitutes 17 per cent of the global population and India's contribution to the emission has only been 5 per cent. But today, the entire world admits that India is the only major economy that has delivered on the Paris Agreement in letter and spirit. Most of the countries have dragged their feet. India took several steps to mitigate climate change like International Solar Alliance (ISA); One Sun One World One Grid Group (OSOWOG) etc. The track record of India shows that it has been serious about climate change and it is making every effort to meet the commitments. (ANI) Kazakhstan and Afghanistan discussed prospects of strengthening the countries' trade and economic partnership. The Kazakh delegation led by Trade Minister Bakhyt Sultanov has visited Afghanistan. During the visit, Sultanov met with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and acting Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi. "The Kazakh delegation assured [the Afghan side] that our country is interested in preserving and increasing the current level of bilateral trade through the volumes as well as the list of [traded] products," the ministry said in a statement. It was noted that Kazakhstan had been a traditional supplier of grain and flour to Afghanistan, with over half of all flour exports and more than 10 per cent of grain exports marked exclusively for the Afghan market. Sultanov also brought up opportunities for expanding the list of traded items. According to the minister, the potential of exports to Afghanistan consists of 45 commodities worth USD 360 million. "Both sides noted that inclusion of these products in the bilateral trade will benefit both Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, as well as facilitate the growth of bilateral trade. Also, the representatives of Kazakhstan expressed readiness to purchase Afghan fruit and vegetables," the statement added. (ANI) The gap between import data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) alarmingly grew to a historic high of USD 1.5 billion in November, the biggest sum in a single month since 2008 when reconciliation issue first arose. The official data showed that Pakistan's imports stood at USD 7.9 billion in November 2021 in accordance with PBS data while it stood at USD 6.4 billion on the basis of data compiled by SBP, indicating a widening gap of USD 1.5 billion, reported Geo News. All this is happening when the Pakistani exchange rate has plummeted, with the rupee's depreciation from Rs 152 to Rs 180 against the US dollar. There has always been a slight difference in data of both PBS and SBP. A few years back, the SBP had published a research report and found that ten years of data showed reconciliation occurring by end of the day. PBS data revealed import of food group stood at USD 888 million in November 2021, while SBP data showed import of food group was only USD 705 million, showing a massive USD 183 million disparity, reported Geo News. Though it had been a troublesome issue for the last 13 years, it had never reached USD 1.5 billion on a monthly basis, reported Geo News. In the first five months (July-Nov) period of the current fiscal year 2021-22, the PBS showed that imports stood at USD 31.012 billion while SBP was showing total imports of USD 29.901 billion, indicating a gap of USD 3.11 billion in the five months period, reported Geo News. It has become a source of major concern because the gap between SBP and PBS widened to a massive level in November 2021. The SBP receives data from commercial banks when importers make payments against L/Cs. Due to a variety of factors (like imports on deferred payments, freight, and insurance, etc), there is a natural discrepancy between the two datasets, reported Geo News. (ANI) Governor Maulvi Abdullah Mukhtar, during a visit to Sharana, said the Islamic Emirate had drawn up a plan to control prices and transact in national currency, which would be implemented soon, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. He said with the implementation of the plan, prices would be controlled and transactions would be in Afghanis only. The governor also urged shopkeepers to cooperate with the government in controlling the prices, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. Haji Akbar, a money changer in Sharana, said they agreed with the ban on foreign currency transactions and welcomed the government's move. It is worth mentioning that a demonstration was held in Sharana to promote the afghani. Earlier in September, Afghan businessmen had rejected Pakistan's demand to conduct bilateral trade in the Pakistani rupee in the future. (ANI) The launch was carried out at 11:11 am local time (03:11 GMT) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the country's northwestern province of Shaanxi, using a Long March-4C (also known as Changzheng 4) launch vehicle, Sputnik quoted the CNSA as saying. As well as taking photos of Earth's surface, the Ziyuan-1 02E will study and systematize terrestrial natural resources, the space agency added. In addition to Ziyuan-1 02E, a small scientific satellite, which is part of the China-Africa space exploration project nicknamed Xiwang (Hope), was also sent into orbit to be used as a research platform for high school students. This is the 403rd launch of the Changzheng 4 launch vehicles. (ANI) Workers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) removed the Tiananmen Massacre statue, widely known as the Pillar of Shame, on Wednesday, months after the university had said the statue must go, Hong Kong Free Press reported. This monument was created by a Danish artist in memory of those killed in the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing in 1989. The Chinese University removed the Tiananmen Massacre Goddess of Democracy statue the next day, claiming its erection in 2010 was "unauthorised." Meanwhile, Lingnan University removed a relief dedicated to the June 4 crackdown citing legal and safety concerns. Responding to HKFP as to whether it backed the universities' move, a government spokesperson declined to comment on individual cases, but said: "Various rights and freedoms are guaranteed under the Basic Law. However, these rights and freedoms are not absolute. In particular, any person exercising the right to freedom of expression or the right of peaceful assembly should respect the rights of others, and should not compromise public order and public safety, etc., while doing so." (ANI) Shafiullah Tasal, a spokesman for the Central Passport Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the distribution of passports in the capital had been suspended as per directives of the Ministry of Interior. Without elaborating, he said, "Today, Saturday our work is stopped only in Kabul until further notice." Meanwhile, he said the process of distributing passports in other provinces was underway, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. The Taliban earlier in the day said that Afghan passport applicants should apply online to avoid overcrowding. Inamullah Samangani, the Deputy Spokesman for the caretaker government, tweeted the decision had been taken to prevent overcrowding and avoid people facing problems, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. After the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban taking control of the country in mid-August, most Afghans want to leave the war-torn nation as they fear repercussions from the group as well as dread the previous regime of the Taliban. Last week, a Pajhwok report quoted Passport Director Alam Gul Haqqani as saying a new online form had been designed, invalidating the previous one. Earlier in December, the passport-issuing process in Afghanistan commenced in 14 more provinces, taking the total to 32 at present. Haqqani told reporters that all the 32 Afghan provinces will be competent to issue passports for applicants, reported Tolo News. Afghans in Kabul desperately need passports and are eagerly waiting for the passport office to reopen.As revealed by the passport department, over 125,000 passports have been issued so far since the reopening of offices in Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. (ANI) West has to stand together against China whose leadership often "plays" western countries against each other, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a recent interview. In an interview with Canadian television network Global television, Trudeau said like-minded countries should "show a united front" against Beijing's increasingly "coercive diplomacy." "We need to do a better job of working together and standing strong so China can't play the angles and divide us one against the other," Trudeau said. "We've been competing and China has been from time to time very cleverly playing us off each other in an open market competitive way. We need to do a better job of working together and standing strong so that China can't, you know, play the angles and divide us one against the other." The Canadian PM said the problem occurs as many Western countries attempt to gain access to China's market, letting it dictate the terms and pitting Western states against each other as competitors. Since the past few years, Canada's ties with China have strained over a slew of issues. This discord started after Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese national, was arrested in Vancouver in 2018. Soon after the incident, China detained two Canadians. This move saw as retaliation for Meng's arrest. Meng eventually reached a deal with US prosecutors in September this year, which later led to the release of the two Canadian nationals. Earlier this month, the Canadian PM had announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. "Canada remains deeply disturbed by reports of human rights violations in China. As a result, we won't be sending diplomatic representatives to Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We'll continue to support our athletes who work hard to compete on the world stage," Trudeau had tweeted. (ANI) As a small open economy of 2.81 million people, Lithuania is highly dependent on external trade for industrial and agricultural goods. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, which is pushing for greater sovereignty in regional semiconductor supply chains and for an expansion of capacity, according to Taiwan News. Further, Taiwan would build up a semiconductor task force next year (2022) that will work to offer expertise to the Baltic state, train much-needed engineers, and attract semiconductor investment to the state. Eric Huang, Taiwan's first representative to Lithuania said that Taiwan is known throughout the world for its fully developed semiconductor ecosystem and talent pool, and today it's willing to share its experience with Lithuania. "We will begin to offer training programs for Lithuania in 2022 in its quest for semiconductor talent, and that will coincide with other industry cooperation," he said. "We will also leverage Lithuania's global leadership in laser technologies and the collaboration is sure to create a win-win," he added. Earlier, in late October, a Taiwanese delegation signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Enterprise Lithuania and Invest Lithuania to promote collaboration on semiconductor and biotechnology development during its visit to the European country. (ANI) Stating that their confidence in the country is now "shaken", two Chinese chambers in India have urged the Centre to change its "tax probe practice" and create a "non-discriminatory business" environment for Chinese firms. This comes after the Income Tax department earlier this month conducted searches on leading Chinese mobile companies across the country. Mobile companies including Oppo, Xiaomi and One Plus were covered in this search, sources told ANI. More than two dozen premises were covered in the search this month. "Recently, Chinese mobile phone companies in India have encountered unprecedented difficulties. Some companies have got sudden check and fined by the Indian related government organizations. As a result, these companies are unable to carry out normal production and operation, and their confidence in developing in India is shaken," read the statement sent to China's Global Times. This statement was issued by the Chinese Chambers of Commerce in India and the India-China Mobile Phone Enterprise Association. "Therefore, We do hope that the Indian side will change the above-mentioned practices, treat foreign investors equally, and actively create an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for all Chinese funded enterprises in India," the statement added. Earlier, sources had told ANI that some fintech companies were also covered in this search. Chief Executive Officers of these companies were covered in this search and they were interrogated by the Income Tax sleuths. Further, sources informed that the search was conducted on the intelligence inputs of huge tax evasion by these Chinese mobile firms. They were under the radar for a long time and when the income tax department got concrete intelligence of tax evasion then raids were conducted on these companies. Earlier in August, a Chinese government-controlled telecom vendor, ZTE was searched. Searches were conducted at a total of five premises of ZTE, including the corporate office, the residence of the foreign director, the residence of the company secretary, the account person and the cash handler of the company. During the search on ZTE, the examination of import bills vis-a-vis sale bills shows that there was a gross profit of approximately 30 per cent on the trading of the equipment, though the company had been booking "huge" losses over the years. Investigation revealed that the losses are being booked by the company through bogus expenses in respect of services provided by it. A few such recipients have been identified in whose case substantial expenses have been booked over the years. These entities have been found to be non-existent at their addresses, sources added. (ANI) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's likely return has intensified the political environment posing further challenges to the Imran Khan government. Amid the country's already tense political environment with the government and Opposition defending their viewpoints, a new heated debate has erupted over the rumours of PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's possible return to Pakistan ahead of the next general elections, according to Geo TV. Imran Khan's government has faced challenges and his own popularity is on the wane with the recent reverses for his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Earlier, PML-N President, who is also Nawaz's brother, Shahbaz Sharif categorically said that Nawaz will not return until he has fully recovered. In a statement issued Saturday, Shahbaz said that Nawaz might stay in the United Kingdom legally until the immigration tribunal rules on his appeal against the British Home Office's rejection for extending his visa. "It is inhuman to do politics on the health of a three-time premier. The government machinery is bent upon defaming Sharif for its politics, which is earning a bad name to the country," he said. "Nawaz Sharif will only return [to Pakistan] after full recovery and doctors in London allowed him to travel back home," he added. Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President and Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet, said the visa issue had again proved how her father was on the nerves of the Khan government members "This fake government has accepted its defeat from Nawaz Sharif who is the present and future of Pakistan. By targeting a towering personality, the stature of a pygmy cannot be elevated," she tweeted. Earlier, Ayaz Sadiq, another PML-N stalwart, claimed that Nawaz Sharif was returning soon as the time of justice had arrived for him. Sadiq's claim stirred the political scenario, as he has just got back home after meeting Nawaz Sharif in London, according to Geo TV. (ANI) Moscow [Russia], December 26 (ANI/Sputnik): The conflict in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas must not be resolved by military means as the country's statehood will be at stake, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "Undoubtedly," Peskov told the Rossiya 1 broadcaster when asked if a military escalation in Donbas could be hazardous for Ukraine's statehood, adding that "this is something President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin talked about on multiple occasions and this is something that Kiev knows perfectly well and Washington knows perfectly well." (ANI/Sputnik) China has replaced Chen Quanguo, who served as the Communist Party chief in the Xinjiang region, local media reported. The Xinjiang region in western China is home to Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and other traditionally Muslim minority groups. Chen, in his post since 2016, oversaw a security crackdown against ethnic minorities, under the garb of fighting religious extremism. Ma Xingrui, governor of the coastal economic powerhouse Guangdong province, has been appointed as the new party chief in the province, Xinhua News Agency said on Saturday. Chen Quanguo, who no longer serves as secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee (XUAR) of the CPC, will be given another appointment, according to the news agency. Chen is considered as the person behind the draconian security apparatus in Tibet and a mastermind behind the camps in Xinjiang which incarcerate over a million Uyghur minorities. Last year, he was sanctioned by the US for serious rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. "XUAR is the regional government of Xinjiang and falls under the governance of the PRC. Chen Quanguo (Chen) is the Party Secretary of the XUAR, a position he was appointed to in 2016, following Chen's notorious history of intensifying security operations in the Tibetan Autonomous Region to tighten control over the Tibetan ethnic minorities," US treasury department had said in a release. Last month, several Billboards were put in the streets of London demanding the arrest of Chen Quanguo. The message on the boards urged the United Kingdom to act against the Chinese leader for the repression of Uyghurs and Tibetan communities. (ANI) China's imperial past contributes significantly in it's approach it's policy towards Xinjiang through the cultural genocide prism. China's brutal behavior in Xinjiang does not just reflect the country's increasingly authoritarian turn under President Xi Jinping or the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) whereas it arises out of a fundamentally colonial relationship between Beijing and a territory that it conquered long ago but neither fully incorporated into modern China nor allowed real autonomy, according to Foreign Affairs. Over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim peoples in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang are in mass internment camps, prisons, and other penal institutions where they are subjected to psychological stress and torture, according to reports. Further, Xinjiang, which Uyghurs view as their homeland and which means "new frontier" in Chinese, was conquered by the Qing dynasty in the mid-eighteenth century and absorbed into the empire as a province in the late nineteenth century. When the Qing dynasty fell in 1911, the new Republic of China inherited this region as a distant colonial appendage, ruling over it through Han leaders who maintained a tenuous connection to central state power, according to Foreign Affairs. Further, the China Communist Party (CCP) as it took over in 1949 and sought to exert greater control over the region renamed the territory the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Xinjiang is home to around 10 million Uyghurs. The Turkic Muslim group, which makes up 45 per cent of Xinjiang's population, has long accused China's authorities of cultural, religious and economic discrimination. Meanwhile, Xinjiang, which Uyghurs view as their homeland and which means "new frontier" in Chinese, was conquered by the Qing dynasty in the mid-eighteenth century and absorbed into the empire as a province in the late nineteenth century. Furthermore, by 1959, the CCP espoused the view that Xinjiang was a historical part of China--a position it emphatically maintains to this day, denying the colonial character of the region's entry into China, according to Foreign Affairs. (ANI) Following the defeat in the local body elections in Khyber, Pakistan PM had formed a new organisational structure for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). This decision was taken after dissolving all previous bodies within his party across Pakistan. "We are unable to understand the wisdom behind dissolving party organisations across the country by a high-powered core committee headed by party chairman Imran Khan," a disgruntled party leader in Punjab said, as quoted by Dawn newspaper. "The party lost LG elections in KP because of the government's failure to ensure clean governance and the mismanagement at the hands of top parliamentarians, who helped their favourites get tickets. But, instead, the party organisers have been punished," another senior leader lamented. The announcement about the re-organisation of the party structure was made by Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry earlier this week. On Friday, Chaudhry said that the ruling party has decided to dissolve its organisational structure. "Since party tickets were distributed on the basis of nepotism as against the principles of fairness and merit, Prime minister Imran Khan is very upset," Fawad was quoted as saying by Geo tv. In a presser in Islamabad, Chaudhry said that the party has decided to form a new constitutional committee to devise a strategy for the second phase of the local bodies election in the province. (ANI) US may improve strategic ties with Bangladesh to strengthen its Indo-Pacific policy and counter-balance China's increasing ambitions in the region. The US, however, must be cautious. Bangladesh wants to balance its relations with Beijing and New Delhi, even while it has increased its economic ties to China in recent years. This is why it's essential that Washington pursue a stronger relationship with Dhaka on its own merits, and not simply to bring Bangladesh into an anti-China camp, according to Asia Times. Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Li Jiming recently mentioned about Bangladesh's strategic significance when he warned that China-Bangladesh relations will suffer if Dhaka joins the Quad, an informal grouping that aims to counterbalance Beijing. Further, Bangladesh's location means it holds significant strategic value for Beijing. China relies on the Strait of Malacca, a narrow waterway between Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, to import energy and goods from the Middle East and Africa via the Indian Ocean. Dhaka's relations with Beijing have improved significantly since China launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, and the two upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership in 2016 during President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh as the first Chinese head of state in 30 years, according to Asia Times. Meanwhile, China's courtship of Bangladesh is part of a systematic strategy aimed at expanding Beijing's global influence. China uses infrastructure and Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy to secure greater influence over South Asian states, including Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also trying to extend this balancing act into geopolitics. This year, Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stated that Bangladesh is a part of BRI but also wants to be part of the "Indo-Pacific relationship" - a clear reference to the US Indo-Pacific policy, which is strongly endorsed by New Delhi and is meant to counterbalance China, according to Asia Times. (ANI) The EU boss told Le Journal du Dimanche in an interview published Saturday that "any act of aggression against Ukraine will lead to sanctions and massive consequences. They have been prepared." She was answering a question about whether Brussels could make Moscow respect itself after it passed the EU over and opted for dialogue with Washington instead. "European countries are united, they are acting in tandem with the US and NATO. We want to get along well with Russia," the chief commissioner said, adding Russia needed to stop "provocations." The EU and the US have accused Russia of massing troops on the border with Ukraine in what Kiev claims is preparation for invasion. Russia says it is free to move military personnel anywhere within its territory and demands security guarantees from NATO. (ANI/Sputnik) In a letter to the Archbishop's daughter, Rev. Mpho Tutu, Dalai Lama recalled his enduring friendship with Archbishop Tutu. "I remember the many occasions we spent time together, including the week here at Dharamsala in 2015 when we were able to share our thoughts on how to increase peace and joy in the world. The friendship and the spiritual bond between us was something we cherished," he wrote. "With his passing away, we have lost a great man, who lived a truly meaningful life. He was devoted to the service of others, especially those who are least fortunate," Dalai Lama added. Tutu, a Gandhian follower and Nobel Peace Prize winner died aged 90. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and in recent years he was hospitalized on several occasions. Desmond Mpilo Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize 1984 for his role as a unifying leader figure in the non-violent campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa. He was hailed as the conscience of South Africa. (ANI) Nazari said the existence of corruption in most departments of the former government brought Afghanistan's economy close to the edge of collapse, Tolo News reported. During the ceremony held at the Ministry of Economy, Nazari said blamed the former leadership of the administration involved with the economy, saying corruption existed widely at most of the departments during the former government. The ceremony was held to introduce Abdul Latif Nazari. "Most of the problems are inherited from the previous government, if we judge fairly, billions of dollars were misused due to corruption," Tolo quoted Nazari saying. Islamic Emirate officials said the appointment of Nazari is a step toward forming an inclusive government, which is demanded by the international community. Acting Minister of Economy Qari Din Mohammad Haneef the ministry needs professional figures and people who are not corrupted. " The ministry of economy is place where it needs for professional and technical persons. We try to recruit professional faces here," said Qari Din Mohammad Haneef. The Taliban on Saturday appointed Abdul Latif Nazari as Deputy Minister of Economy. Nazari is a Ph.D. holder and has been a university lecturer in Kabul. (ANI) New York [US], December 27 (ANI/Xinhua): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday mourned the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, calling him a towering world figure for peace. "I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an unwavering voice for the voiceless," said Guterres in a statement. "Archbishop Tutu was a towering global figure for peace and an inspiration to generations across the world. During the darkest days of apartheid, he was a shining beacon for social justice, freedom and non-violent resistance." Archbishop Tutu's relentless determination to build global solidarity for a free and democratic South Africa was fittingly recognized by the Nobel Committee in its decision to award him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. As chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he made an immeasurable contribution to ensuring a peaceful, yet just, transition to a democratic South Africa. His great wisdom and experience were always communicated with humanity, humor and heart, said Guterres. Archbishop Tutu was a steadfast champion of multilateralism and had important roles, for example, as a distinguished member of the United Nations' Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention, and on a High-Level Fact-Finding Mission to Gaza in 2008. In recent decades, Archbishop Tutu continued to fight passionately for action on many of the critical issues of today: poverty, climate change, human rights and HIV/AIDS, among others, he said. "Although Archbishop Tutu's passing leaves a huge void on the global stage, and in our hearts, we will be forever inspired by his example to continue the fight for a better world for all," said Guterres. (ANI/Xinhua) We can all agree that our jobs can be exhausting, yes? Between juggling meetings, managing employees and co-workers and executing your own duties, you can easily find yourself worn out. But, when you work in a toxic work environment everything is tenfold. (Stressed because your boss is stressed? Try having a boss who is literally screaming at you over Zoom.) That said, it can be difficult to decipher what constitutes a toxic job versus the ebbs and flows that come with being a working adult. Thats why we compiled a list of six sure signs youre in a toxic workplace. 1. Theres an abject lack of communication Good communication is the key to any successful relationship, and when it comes to making a company run smoothly, its the difference between toxic and nontoxic company culture. Improper communication means that people are often scattered or confused about expectations from leadership. Projects may seem complicated, stressful and difficult to execute either because there aren't enough hands on deck, or there are too many people who want to take the reins. You may also notice leaders talking down to employees in entry-level positions or taking immediate sides in conflicts, instead of allowing everyone to chime in and express their concerns. 2. Gossip culture is prevalent One big by-product of poor communication? Office gossip. After all, when theres no anchoring code of conduct, things can easily go from, Sally doesnt show up to work meetings to We heard Sally is late because she's dating Robert from tech. In addition to spreading false info, gossip can lead to cliques forming, which consequently means theres an exclusionist culture in place. People can lose their jobs, arguments arise more quickly and the office vibe becomes less Parks and Recreation and more Mean Girls. Not good. 3. Theres no room for growth We all do our best work when we know it counts for something. But if youre working for a company thats stuck in their decades-old routine and is resistant to new ideas, you can easily feel stifled. If you cant pitch new ideas or improve upon your skillset, that may be one sign. Its also good to take stock of the people you work with and evaluate whether or not theyve grown. If you notice that your cubicle mate has been in an assistant position for three years, yet she knows the business in and out, you may just be working for a company that doesnt support progression. Story continues 4. You cant create a work-life balance If your boss demands that your job come before your boyfriends birthday or Dads visit from Chicago a la Devil Wears Prada, then yes, youre in a toxic workplace. Of course, its important to give your all from nine to five (or whatever your prescribed work hours). But if youre constantly receiving emails, text messages or phone calls during your days off, and cant make plans with your loved ones because you may have to hop in a meeting, its time to reconsider. 5. Employees are unmotivated If managers are not communicating, not giving their employees room to grow and not compensating them appropriately for their hard work, odds are, morale is low. That can mean none of the old employees are willing to help new hires assimilate, everyone only interacts with members on their team and no one is willing to step up and do double duty during peak seasons. This may happen not just because theres no incentive to go above and beyond your daily duties, but also because everyone is already juggling so much, theres literally no room to add anything else to their plates. 6. Theres high turnover One tell-tale sign that something is wrong within the workplace is when employees come and go at breakneck speed. With so many people (especially millennials) prioritizing their wellness and mental health, no one is going to want to stay in a place that disrupts that. So, if you find that your co-workers are dropping like flies, its wise to analyze the culture. How to Cope with a Toxic Work Environment Unhappy as you may be at your job, leaving is not always an option. So, if you find yourself having to put up with toxic work culture, there are a few things you can try to make your experience better. For one, you can take a stab at building a circle of trusted co-workers, people you know will help you reach your goals and wont bring any unnecessary drama your way. You can also create boundarieswhether thats letting people know youre not into the gossip or making it clear that your personal time is not for work. Above everything else, make sure that you keep your professionalism and remain kind to people, hard as it may be. After all, its easy to get sucked into petty gossip or low morale, but staying focused on your long-term goals, upkeeping your work ethic and treating people well will never go out of style. (Just dont be afraid to simultaneously update that resume.) RELATED: 7 Tips for Dealing with a Toxic Work Environment An armed intruder was arrested on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day, police said. Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family were celebrating Christmas at the castle. Police guard the Henry VIII gate at Windsor Castle at Windsor, England on Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has stayed at Windsor Castle instead of spending Christmas at her Sandringham estate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. / Credit: Alastair Grant / AP Officers responded to reports of a security breach around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to police. Thames Valley Police Superintendent Rebecca Mears said in a statement that security protocols were initiated "within moments of the man entering the grounds." The suspect, a 19-year-old man from Southampton, did not enter any buildings, she said. He remains in custody and an investigation is ongoing. "The man has been arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon," Mears said. "We do not believe there is a wider danger to the public." The royal family typically spends Christmas and the New Year at Sandringham House in Berkshire, but cancelled those plans amid rising COVID-19 cases and opted to spend the holiday at Windsor Castle instead, according to the BBC. It was the second year the pandemic interrupted the royal family's traditional plans, BBC said. "This Christmas will be different to what so many of us had planned," the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said Saturday on Twitter. "From those who are alone or having to isolate away from loved ones, to the incredible people supporting our NHS and caring for those most in need we are thinking of you." On Christmas Day, Queen Elizabeth II delivered her annual Christmas message, during which she spoke about love and loss following the death of her husband, Prince Philip, who died earlier this year at the age of 99. "For me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year," she said. "They teach us all a lesson just as the Christmas story does that in the birth of a child, there is a new dawn with endless potential." Story continues And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisceIn her 2021 broadcast, The Queen reflects on the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, while looking ahead to her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. pic.twitter.com/IMf3aW4IxI The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 25, 2021 Minnesota community gifts memorial tree to grieving family Australia races to protect koala population ahead of wildfire season Nashville community remembers and rebuilds one year after bombing Employees at two Boston-area Starbucks locations began steps to form a union earlier this month, days after one store in upstate New York became the company's first union-represented cafe. Workers at stores on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston and Harvard Avenue in Brookline sent a letter to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson last week about their intent to unionize. We see unions as the best way to make Starbucks a place to have a sustainable career and a true partnership, the letter stated. We stand firmly in our belief that a union can provide our hard-working partners the justice and equality they deserve while also enriching the company, the letter added. Ash ONeil, a barista at Boston's Commonwealth Avenue store, told Yahoo Finance Live last week that We obviously were inspired by the baristas in Buffalo and to take initiative, collective action, to ensure that our voices are heard." They added that We all really feel that Starbucks is a great company to work for, and we just [want to] make it better by amplifying the voices of the partners on the ground." In the letter to Johnson, workers noted that understaffing a widespread issue amidst the service sector worker shortage has been a concern in stores throughout the Boston area, causing some store locations had to close or reduce hours earlier this year. Boston baristas 'a bit worried' Starbucks employees watch a screen as votes are counted on December 9, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. - The ballots have been cast and employees of three Starbucks cafes in New York state will learn Thursday whether they have created the first unions at outlets owned by the retail coffee giant in the United States. (Photo by Eleonore SENS / AFP) (Photo by ELEONORE SENS/AFP via Getty Images) A broad push to unionize has spread across the country, and engulfed one of the world's most recognizable coffee brands. In addition to Buffalo and Boston, more stores in Arizona and Seattle are seeking to organize with Starbucks Workers United, a branch of the Service Employees International Union. Ahead of the Buffalo vote, Starbucks lobbied hard to keep workers from unionizing. Dozens of executives flooded the stores with their presence, and held meetings trying to persuade workers to vote down the measure. Massachusetts workers are preparing for a similar campaign by Starbucks corporate. Story continues A regional director already sent out an email to workers in that area acknowledging their union petition, and are planning "listening sessions" with workers in early January. They basically said that they're going to create a space for us to ask one-on-one questions and for us to get all the facts from them, which we are a bit worried about because given what's happened in Buffalo, ONeil said. We're pretty certain that they're probably just gonna be giving us a lot of stuff about how bad unions are for us, the barista said. Kylah Clay, a barista at Commonwealth Avenue store in Boston, told Yahoo Finance that district and regional officials have come to the store "multiple times" to meet and greet with workers. With the vote coming up, "..we do expect to see them much more often now after the holidays, she added. Three more store locations in Buffalo are still waiting for their union elections to be scheduled, while three store locations tallied their votes earlier this month, with one outright winning their election. The second cafe store voted down the measure, while results of a third were still pending because of a challenge to the process. Last week, the union formally challenged the results at the two stores. A NLRB spokesperson said that the challenged ballots and unfair labor practices will need to be investigated, and that there may be a hearing on this in the coming weeks. Theres no timeline yet on when votes from the other stores will be scheduled, the agency added. Last week, Starbucks wrote a letter to all employees this week, insisting that the company would "bargain in good faith with the union that represents partners in newly-unionized Buffalo store. "Our hope is that union representatives also come to the table with mutual good faith, respect and positive intent," they added. We want an opportunity to meaningfully and actively participate in our workplace. I think each store is unique and their needs are different for each Starbucks. But, ultimately I think we just want that chance to voice those needs, Clay told Yahoo Finance. Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @daniromerotv Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn One of his favorite photographs, this shows Dr. James Radford and his son, when he was a boy, on a fishing trip. Now retired, Radford is looking forward to more fishing and spending time with wife, Heidi, and their tree children. We hope that when we reach the end of our career, we can look back and say we accomplished the goals we set for ourselves. Dr. James Radford, an oncologist at Pardee Cancer Center, had two goals going into his profession: to never be bored and to leave thinking he had done something that wouldnt have been done or done as well if he had not been there. As he retires from a remarkable career, there is no doubt that he can check these boxes. Dr. Radford touched the lives of many people through his compassionate care and the development of the cancer research program at Pardee, which has given thousands of patients access to a large number of national and international clinical trials of new cancer therapies. During Radfords second year of college, his mother was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Though her treatment went well, her diagnosis came before medical oncology was a specialty and before families had someone available to answer their questions, provide other treatment options, or help patients learn how to deal with such a difficult life event. That experience made Radford want to be that person for others. Radford studied medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. He completed a residency in oncology and pursued a fellowship in hematology at the University of Iowa. He began his medical career in academic medicine, serving on the faculty at both Wake Forest University and the University of Minnesota. When he made the decision to pursue another field of medicine, he chose to be closer to his family in western North Carolina and moved to Hendersonville. Dr. James Radford Once in Hendersonville and practicing with Pardee, Radford developed Pardees Cancer Research Program and has remained the principal investigator for over 22 years. He said that creating the program felt like it was his duty and a way to make life better for people. It seemed like an obligation to the community, Radford said. Establishing this program was the one thing that I could do besides treating my individual patients, it was the one thing I could do to help move the field forward for my kids and grandkids and everyone else. Story continues The clinical trials programs at Pardee, through which patients are able to access a large number of national and international clinical trials of new cancer therapies, began in 1999 with only Dr. Radford and one research nurse, Karen Morris. Morris ultimately became the Cancer Research Coordinator for the program. Theyve since grown the program to four researchers while maintaining 50 to 55 open studies continuously since the programs inception. Under Radfords leadership and membership in the Southeast Clinical Oncology Research (SCOR) program, Pardees Cancer Research Program has allowed people in Henderson County and the surrounding areas to be enrolled in clinical studies among 20+ community cancer centers across the southeast. Typically, clinical trials at larger metropolitan hospitals were limited only to people with very complex cases. The reality was that these larger medical centers also needed access to patients with less complex cases - a stage two breast cancer, for example. Dr. Radford saw an opportunity in that he and his team had access to a large base of patients that scientists at other centers needed for clinical trials. With Radford's encouragement and guidance, Pardee was able to become a part of a cooperative cancer research group where major medical centers banded together to write clinical trials requiring more patients than any individual program would have. By participating in this cooperative research group, and later becoming a community clinical oncology program, patients benefit because they are able to participate in a clinical trial out of UCLA, for example, without traveling to do so. Likewise, the UCLA trial that needed 5,000 patients can now complete their research in two years instead of 20 years, with the addition of community cancer centers like Pardee now in the larger pool of hospitals. In 2009, Radford was honored for his research with the David King Community Clinical Scientist Award through the Association of Community Cancer Centers. Its one of his most cherished honors because Radfords goal all along was to make sure he made some difference on this earth. Though he will say that he only made a difference in hundreds of little ways, not in big ways, his patients and colleagues believe otherwise. Dr. Radford has been voted one of North Carolinas Best Doctors for Medical Oncology and Hematology every year since 2005, and he made the list of Best Doctors in America nine times. I am grateful to Dr. Radford for his innovation and leadership over the years and his work that has truly transformed cancer care for Henderson County. said Jay Kirby, president and CEO, Pardee UNC Health Care. He is beloved by his patients and admired by his colleagues at Pardee. He is going to be greatly missed, but he will leave knowing he has made an impact on our ability to connect our patients to clinical trials and further cancer research. I am thankful for his dedication to this community and wish him all the best in his retirement. Radford has left an incredibly valuable legacy in western North Carolina. Through his work over more than two decades, thousands of patients have recovered from cancer and lives have been saved. My patients are often kind enough to tell me, Im so glad you were my doctor, Radford said. Theyre telling me that I made a difference that I dont think someone else would have made and thats the real accomplishment in my career. Through his research alongside researchers all across the country, there is hope that in the future when a new cancer that hasnt been seen before pops up, it will be months instead of decades to develop a treatment that blocks or modifies that specific mutation and addresses that specific cancer. Radford is thankful for his time serving this community and grateful for the ways he has been able to move cancer research forward and foster relationships with his patients over the years. I will miss that moment when I walk into a patients room and say Hey, welcome back. How are things? He said he looks forward to fishing and spending time with his wife, Heidi, and their three children. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Retired cancer research pioneer leaves legacy in North Carolina Wisconsin sophomore Chimere Dike will assume the role of leader among a group of young and untested receivers after this season. LAS VEGAS Wisconsin wide receiver Chimere Dike made a successful transition from high school star to dependable college freshman in 2020. Although the sophomore from Waukesha North High School has one more game this season, a more demanding transition awaits in 2022. UW (8-4) closes the 2021 season against Arizona State (8-4) at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the Las Vegas Bowl. More: Several UW football players and staffers affected by latest COVID-19 wave on UW campus More: Bryson Williams parlayed his UW football scholarship into an opportunity to succeed away from the field, after the cheering stopped More: Even a season-ending injury can't break the bond these UW teammates have formed over the last three-plus years Seniors Danny Davis, Kendric Pryor and Jack Dunn will not be back next season, meaning Dike will be UWs most experienced wide receiver. No longer will he have the luxury of following the leader of several veterans. Rather, he will lead a room that should be laden with untested players. Is Dike ready for that assignment? He has been ready since his freshman year, wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted said. I have no doubt about his ability to lead and the things that he can do on the field. It is how he goes about his daily routine. How he prepares, how he studies. I think those guys will have no better person to learn from. I love that kid like he was my son. Dike was a two-time, all-state wide receiver at North. He won the Al Toon Award in 2019, given annually to the states top senior wide receiver. He left North with more than 3,000 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. Dike eventually became UWs No. 2 wide receiver as a freshman in 2020 because both Davis and Pryor suffered season-ending concussions. Dunn led the wide receivers with 28 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. Dike finished with 12 catches for 189 yards, an impressive 15.8-yard average, and a touchdown. Dike has been UWs No. 3 wide receiver this season, behind Davis and Pryor. Story continues Davis finished the regular season with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. Pryor has 31 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Sources told the Journal Sentinel a mix of players and staffers were affected by COVID-19 last week and it is unclear whether Davis and Pryor traveled to Las Vegas. Dike enters the bowl game with 18 catches for 242 yards and a touchdown. Ive said this since the start with Chim, quarterback Graham Mertz said. He is just different, the way he acts, the way he works. You could tell the day he walked in here he was mature for his age. He is more than ready for that role. Dike, who was more mature than most freshmen, is eager to lead in 2022. Obviously, there were things I learned as a freshman, he said. But I think even this year I was ready for it. But being able to grow with those older guys was big for me this year. I think going into next year I will have a lot of confidence and be able to be a leader in the room and be a guy the team can depend on in the receiving corps. Although the offseason will be long and any young player can emerge, the UW players and coaches have talked about the development and potential of Markus Allen. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder has played in two games this season and has two catches for 34 yards. Chim has done a great job of kind of taking him under his wing, head coach Paul Chryst said. Dike understands why such actions are critical. As a leader you definitely have to lead by example, he said. If youre not setting the standard and doing the things that you need to do and taking care of your business, it doesnt really build credibility. I try to lead by example but if something needs to be said, Im definitely willing to say it. Because I think the guys in the room have a lot of respect for each other and they understand were just trying to make each other better. 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: UW receiver Chimere Dike ready to assume role of leader Get on up, Charleston! It's Monday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in town. First, today's weather: Warm with sun and some clouds. High: 71 Low: 60. Here are the top 3 stories in Charleston today: The Charleston County Sheriffs Office lent a helping hand by donating bikes and toys to families in need at a non-profit organized after the death of a Lowcountry teenager. Earlier this week, CCSO visited Positive Vibes Ronjanae Smith Inc. in North Charleston to give away bikes and toys to underserved families in the Lowcountry. The Positive Vibes non-profit was organized after the death of 14-year-old Ronjanae Smith who was fatally shot at an outdoor concert in North Charlestons Deas Hill Community. (WCBD News 2) Despite a surge of the omicron variant across the country, Charleston International Airport saw more travelers for this Christmas holiday week than the past two years. Passenger numbers for the Christmas holiday were up an average of 112% over the same time last year, according to a spokesperson for the airport. Despite thousands of flights across the country being canceled, CHS only saw four cancellations on Christmas Eve. (Live 5 News WCSC) Santas sleigh had a few special deliveries to make Saturday morning for some unsuspecting Lowcountry residents. The Charleston Animal Society joined forces with Hendricks Automotive Group to surprise families with a new fur-ever friend. Any families who adopted a pet between December 17 and 23 were eligible to have their pets hand-delivered to them on Christmas Day; of 128 adoptions in that time span, six opted for the special delivery. (Live 5 News WCSC) Today's Charleston Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Charleston: Aquarium Aglow - South Carolina Aquarium (5:30 PM) Story continues From my notebook: The Charleston Fire Department was featured in The Daniel Island News for their commitment to serving the Lowcountry all year long, including over the holidays. (Facebook) All Charleston County Public Library branches will remain closed until Tuesday, Dec. 28 to observe the holidays. (Facebook) The Omicron variant represents over 60% of recent COVID cases sequenced at MUSC. (Facebook) More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Featured businesses: C.W. Electrical Construction Service Add your business here Events: Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Loving the Charleston 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 Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! See you all tomorrow morning for your next 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 Charleston Patch Jeff Capman and Dawn Furney, manager and owner, respectively, of Dawns Cafe, said employees at the were given a two-week, paid vacation beginning Dec. 20. Furney said staff members deserves the gift. Theres a steep cost to the gift Dawn Furney is giving her 10 employees at Dawns Cafe in downtown Colon. But the return, Furney said, is more than worth the expense. The gift? Furneys staff is receiving a two-week, paid vacation over Christmas break. Furney said she wishes she could do more, but she is confident her staff knows how important they are to her. So, Dawns Cafe is closed through Jan. 2. Those with school-aged children will be able to spend their entire Christmas break with their kids. One employee intends to take her family to Florida. Furney said the idea struck more than a year ago, during the initial pandemic shutdown. The eatery has had a steady stream of customers for breakfast and lunch, but business tended to slow by mid-afternoon and with the exception of the annual Magic Get-Together in August Dawns Care hasnt consistently drawn a major crowd for dinnertime. With take-out orders as the only option for much of 2020, a few of her employees stepped up. I had a small number of employees volunteer to cook on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the mornings so at least we could pay our monthly expenses as a business, Furney said. I gave them some cash for helping out, but their work and our take-out business was just enough to pay our monthly utility fees and keep the business going. Later in 2020, Furney had a meeting with her staff and an agreement was reached. First, Furney said she wanted to trim down the restaurants hours and be open for breakfast and lunch only, 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Next, she talked to staff members about a schedule modification. I said I will drop you all from five days a week to four days a week, so you work four on, three off, Furney said. I offered to give them a few dollars more (per-hour) in raises and then I told them about the two-week, paid vacation at Christmas. Although the restaurant was not open for in-person dining a year ago, she kept her promise as Christmas 2021 approached. She said there was a caveat to the offer, however. Story continues I added that to make this work for both sides, I need you to show up. I depend on you and I need you here, so please show up your four days a week, Furney said. If youre sick, and youre truly sick, OK. But please, please show up to work. I said, You do your part and Ill do my part. Dawns Care has been open post-COVID since February and it has defied the trend other restaurants and businesses nationwide are experiencing. Work attendance has not been an issue, her staff has a three-day break every week and the incentive of a two-week, paid vacation has created a positive work environment. She estimates the gift cost her about $10,000, not counting lost revenue from day-to-day operations. Nonetheless, Furney said her staff deserves the break. Truly they do. They work hard. Were a busy restaurant and sometimes its not such an easy job, she added. In fact, its brutal in the summer and sometimes they have to go six or seven hours before they can step away from the grill or leave the dining room just to have a quick smoke. Furney said staff members call her Ma. The gesture, she said, underscores that the crew is tight-knit and Furney is acknowledged as the matriarch of the diner. You have to show that appreciation, you just have to, she said. But you know what? It really isnt that difficult to be nice. Furney, who has owned Dawns for more than 13 years and previously worked 12 years at what was then M&M Grill, said she still follows advice offered by her former bosses who trained her. They told me, If you want good help, you have to pay good help and you have to treat them like family if you want them to stay, she said. That, of course, means more to me now since I am a business owner and its as true then as it is now. Furney said she plans to continue the two-week, paid vacation offer again next year. While the restaurant is closed temporarily, Furney is having some interior work done, including installation of new booths, professional carpet cleaning, a new grill hood and the addition of two six-foot grills. They replace side-by-side grills that were four feet and three feet. This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Employees at Dawns Cafe in Colon get a special gift: Two-week, paid vacation Archbishop Desmond Tutu addresses the opening ceremony of the One Young World World Summit at Old Billingsgate in London. (Sang Tan / Associated Press) Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of Cape Town who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his impassioned campaign against apartheid in South Africa while Nelson Mandela languished in prison, died early Sunday. Tutu, 90, died of cancer at a care center in Cape Town, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Trust said in a statement. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and had been hospitalized several times in recent years. A moral beacon in a deeply troubled land, the impish priest in the purple cassock stood for decades as an inspiring symbol of courage, dignity and hope in a nation that at times seemed doomed to civil war. His fervent pleas for peace and racial justice, along with his irrepressible sense of humor, were a constant balm to a country on the edge. Tutu held a unique place in apartheid-era South Africa, and he used his stature as an Anglican prelate to navigate violent crosscurrents. He wept at funerals for victims of apartheid, risked his life to stop violence by Black protesters, and defied death threats by white people for leading the international campaign to impose economic and cultural sanctions against the white minority regime. Then, after the success of the anti-apartheid movement, he served as a goad to the governing African National Congress, upbraiding leaders over corruption and failure to adequately address the nation's widespread poverty. With the exception of Mandela, who died in December 2013, few people have so influenced modern South Africa's turbulent history as the jovial archbishop, who often wore a T-shirt that read Just Call Me Arch under a jaunty fisherman's cap. He shrieked with joy when South Africans lined up peacefully to vote in the first all-race elections in April 1994. He giggled with glee when he raised the hand of Mandela, the long-imprisoned leader of the African National Congress, and introduced our brand-new president, out of the box to crowds in Cape Town the following month. Story continues Then, instead of leaving the limelight, Tutu became a moral guardian to what he proudly called the rainbow people of God. He didn't shy from slamming the new government or Mandela when he felt it necessary. Shortly after the 1994 elections, he publicly rebuked Mandela's government for having stopped the gravy train only long enough to get on. The president complained, but soon announced salary cuts for himself, his cabinet and Parliament. In the following years, one of Tutu's greatest contributions was leading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a statutory panel charged with investigating murder, torture, bombings and other crimes by Black and white people committed during apartheid, the former white minority rulers' system of segregation. As Tutu watched and often wept, perpetrators confessed to atrocities and victims forgave them in a wrenching process of national catharsis. To preside over an attempt at healing the nation, that is the most humbling honor of all, Tutu told The Times in June 1997. He also used his independent stature to lament the state of his country, speaking out against crime, corruption and the ANC's failures on AIDS and poverty. He believed that many South Africans were too intimidated to speak out. Weeks before the country's 2009 election, he criticized the ANC, warning the party, You are not God, and complaining that he was not looking forward to seeing Jacob Zuma become president. Zuma was later elected but resigned in 2018 after an administration marked by repeated corruption scandals. Tutu announced his retirement from public life in 2010. But he continued to speak out on social and political issues, offering support for same-sex marriage, assisted dying and human rights. In 2018, he condemned President Trump's decision to formally recognize the divided city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying "God is weeping." Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born Oct. 7, 1931, in a dirt-poor Black township outside the conservative white town of Klerksdorp, about 100 miles southwest of Johannesburg. His family soon moved to Muncieville, near Johannesburg, where his late father, Zachariah, was headmaster of the segregated high school for Black students. One of the things I found difficult about him was he drank, Tutu told a South African Broadcasting Corp. interviewer in 1997. He drank often. He was excessive. And then he would not be nice to my mother. Sometimes he beat my mother. He beat her up. And I really got very, very angry. His mother, Anetta, was an uneducated maid for a white family. Tutu recalled her as compassionate, gentle and caring, an abused woman who stood up for the underdog in any argument. Of all the people in the world, my mother was the greatest influence on me, he said. Tutu was a small, sickly child. He suffered polio as a boy, and it left his right hand shriveled and semi-paralyzed. As a teenager, he spent 20 months in the hospital for tuberculosis. He was so nearsighted that he was fired as a golf caddy when he kept losing track of the balls. He wanted to be a doctor, and was one of a handful of Black students admitted to medical school. But his parents couldn't afford the fees, so Tutu became an English teacher at his father's school instead. Tutu married a Muncieville woman, Leah Nomalizo Shenxani, in 1955. They were inseparable over the years and had four children. He is survived by her, their children and several grandchildren. Tutu quit teaching because the government had imposed Bantu education, which was designed to train Black students only as laborers for white people. I felt I couldn't be part of this, he recalled. He was ordained as a priest in 1961 after attending St. Peter's Theological College in Rosettenville near Johannesburg. He later insisted, usually with a twinkle in his eye, that he joined the clergy because he didn't know what else to do. It wasn't highfalutin, noble ideas, like I wanted to serve God or serve our people, he told SABC with a laugh. Which shows that God can use even the worst kind of instrument for his works. But Tutu's oratorical skills and powerful intellect were undeniable. In 1962, he won a scholarship to King's College in London. After five years, he was named chaplain at South Africa's University of Fort Hare. He soon returned to Britain with the World Council of Churches. He came home for good in 1975, when he became the first Black Anglican dean of Johannesburg. The then-unknown cleric emerged in the headlines in May 1976 when he wrote a public letter to the white prime minister, John Vorster. Tutu warned of his growing nightmarish fear that bloodshed and violence are almost inevitable if repression continued. Vorster ignored the warning, and Tutu was vilified in the white-run media. A month later, riots exploded near Johannesburg in Soweto, the country's largest Black township. It would take nearly 18 years and tens of thousands of deaths, but the Soweto uprising marked the beginning of the end of the apartheid era. But that was hardly assured. With Mandela and most other Black leaders in prison, and the African National Congress and other liberation groups banned, Tutu became the most prominent, public voice in South Africa to rail against the racism and oppression of minority white rule. His influence grew when he was elected the first Black general secretary of the South African Council of Churches in 1978. Soon after, he launched a campaign urging the international community to bring pressure to bear on the apartheid regime by imposing punitive sanctions. Black people already were suffering, he said, in response to concerns that sanctions would hurt them as well. It is better to suffer with a purpose, he explained. In 1984, the same year he won the Nobel Prize, he was named the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg. He became Archbishop of Cape Town, the head of the church nationwide, two years later. Tutu and members of his family were repeatedly arrested and harassed. His passport was confiscated and police followed him, even as he jogged each morning. I like to be liked, he told The Times. It was very, very painful to be hated.... Why did they hate me? Because I was in their view Ogre No. 1, Public Enemy No. 1. Because I was regarded as Mr. Sanctions. Tutu justified his political activism by describing the Bible as the most subversive document in history, citing Moses' leading of the Jewish slaves out of Egypt. He challenged the self-described Christian government over human rights abuses, and repeatedly broke the law by leading protests and boycotts. I'm not defying the government, he once explained. I'm obeying God. But Tutu angered some Black supporters when he also condemned township violence, especially mobs who killed suspected enemies by pinning them inside tires that were then set on fire, a gruesome practice known as necklacing. He was called a sellout, and worse. When Mandela was released from 27 years of imprisonment in February 1990, he spent his first night of freedom at the archbishop's residence in Cape Town. Tutu later repeatedly mediated as violence escalated before the 1994 elections. Even in the darkest days, Tutu said he never lost hope or faith. I never gave up, he told The Times. It was a matter of theology. Sometimes you wish you could whisper in God's ear, God, I know you're there. But could you make it a little more obvious?'" In his very active retirement, he led the Elders, a group of statesmen including Mandela and Jimmy Carter who used their influence to work behind the scenes for peace. He campaigned against AIDS and cancer, and never shied from controversial subjects. In 2009, Tutu characteristically brushed off attacks over his view that four white students facing criminal charges over a racist video should instead be forgiven. I always have people criticizing me. That's not new, he said. And I always end up being right. Drogin is a former Times staff writer. Former Times staff writer Robyn Dixon contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. File photo: Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu smiles as he celebrates his 86th birthday in Cape Town South Africa, 7 October 2017 (AP) Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa, has died aged 90. The cleric and social activist, who was described by South Africans and admirers around the world as the moral conscience of his country, died on Sunday in Cape Town. President Cyril Ramaphosa said Archbishop Tutu had helped bequeath a liberated South Africa. In 1984, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent opposition to apartheid. A decade later, he witnessed the end of that regime and chaired a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to unearth atrocities committed during that dark period. Here is a timeline of key dates in Desmond Tutus life: 1931 - Desmond Tutu is born in Klerksdorp, a town around 170 km (105 miles) to the west of Johannesburg. 1943 - Tutus Methodist family joins the Anglican Church. 1947 - Tutu falls ill with tuberculosis while studying at a secondary school near Sophiatown, Johannesburg. He befriends a priest and serves in his church after recovering from illness. 1948 - The white National Party launches apartheid in the run-up to 1948 national elections. It wins popular support among white voters who want to maintain their dominance over the Black majority. 1955 - Tutu marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane and begins teaching at a high school in Johannesburg where his father is the headmaster. 1958 - Tutu quits the school, refusing to be part of a teaching system that promotes inequality against Black students. He joins the priesthood. 1962 - Tutu moves to Britain to study theology at Kings College London. 1966 - Tutu moves back to South Africa and starts teaching theology at a seminary in the Eastern Cape. He also begins making his views against apartheid known. 1975 - Tutu becomes the first Black Anglican Dean of Johannesburg. 1980 - As general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Tutu leads a delegation of church leaders to Prime Minister PW Botha, urging him to end apartheid. Although nothing comes of the meeting it is a historical moment where a Black leader confronts a senior white government official. The government confiscates Tutus passport. Story continues 1984 - Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring about the end of white minority rule. 1985 - Tutu becomes the first Black Bishop of Johannesburg. He publicly endorses an economic boycott of South Africa and civil disobedience as a way to dismantle apartheid. 1986 - Tutu becomes the first Black person appointed as Bishop of Cape Town and head of the Anglican Church of the Province of Southern Africa. With other church leaders he mediates conflicts between Black protesters and government security forces. 1990 - State President FW de Klerk unbans the African National Congress (ANC) and announces plans to release Nelson Mandela from prison. 1991 - Apartheid laws and racist restrictions are repealed and power-sharing talks start between the state and 16 anti-apartheid groups. 1994 - After Mandela sweeps to power at the helm of the ANC in the countrys first democratic elections, Tutu coins the term "Rainbow Nation" to describe the coming together of various races in post-apartheid South Africa. 1994 - Mandela asks Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was set up to listen to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to perpetrators of human right violations under apartheid. 1996 - Tutu retires from the church to focus solely on the commission. He continues his activism, advocating for equality and reconciliation and is later named Archbishop Emeritus. 1997 - Tutu is diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has since been hospitalised to treat recurring infections. 2011 - The Dalai Lama inaugurates the annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture but does so via satellite link after the South African government denies the Tibetan spiritual leader a visa to attend. 2013 - Tutu makes outspoken comments about the ANC. He says he will no longer vote for the party because it had done a bad job addressing inequality, violence and corruption. 2013 - Dubbed "the moral compass of the nation", Tutu declares his support for gay rights, saying he would never "worship a God who is homophobic". 2021 - A frail-looking Tutu is wheeled into his former parish at St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town, which used to be a safe haven for anti-apartheid activists, for a special thanksgiving service marking his 90th birthday. 26 December, 2021 - Tutu dies in Cape Town, aged 90. Reuters Dec. 26LAKE ANDES One man has been arrested after a suspicious fire at the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center (NAWHERC) in Lake Andes left their building damage heavily damaged. Shortly after 4 a.m. on Dec. 20, first responders in Lake Andes were dispatched the NAWHERC at 809 High St. Upon arrival, the building's west side was engulfed in flames, and flames were exiting the roof to the north. After an hour of working to extinguish the fire, Lake Andes Fire Chief Rod Bergin told a Charles Mix County deputy that the fire appeared suspicious, and that he had contacted the State Fire Marshal to investigate. The Native American Community Board, which oversees the operations of the building, said nobody was hurt in the fire. Later, deputies returned to the scene after two juvenile females told firefighters they had witnessed suspicious behavior. The girls claimed that earlier that morning, they were sitting outside their house when they saw a man, unknown to them, in dark clothes and a ski mask walking along High Street toward the NAWHERC. It appeared to the girls that the man may have been carrying something in his pants. At approximately 6:30 a.m., deputies say Donavon Sully, 27, of Lake Andes, entered the Charles Mix County Sheriff's Office looking to speak with a deputy. An arrest affidavit for Sully says he told police he had been given a ride from a casino to the Gus Stop, gotten angry and blacked out. When he "came to," he was holding a gas can, and the leaves at his feet were on fire. He claimed he threw the gas can, put out the fire and left the area. During a formal interview, Sully initially stayed quiet. After a deputy informed him that his probation officer would be contacted, he began talking. Sully allegedly told police he was angry because a friend wouldn't answer his door. He walked to the NAWHERC and smoked a cigarette outside the building's west door. After some time, he said he stuffed a pair of black Converse shoes with paper, lit them on fire and placed them between a screen door and a storm door. Story continues After placing the shoes, Sully said he walked down an alley and lit a garbage can on fire, hoping it would burn down a shed. Elsewhere, he said he lit a dictionary on fire and placed it inside an electrical box next to a wooden post. As he continued walking away from the NAWHERC, he said he also started a leaf on fire near a propane tank, slashed a tire, lit a pile of leaves on fire and slashed a second tire. Authorities verified the details of Sully's story and arrested him, charging him with first-degree arson, reckless burning and intentional damage to property. Court documents make no mention regarding the extent of any damage resulting from the other fires. Rebuilding from the ground up In a fundraising page published by the Native American Community Board, organization leaders say the fire resulted in the loss of their physical office, equipment, documents, community radio studio, and food pantry. Archival photographs and taped interviews with tribal elders were also a loss. The board believes the fire will result in nearly $250,000 of unexpected expenditures to rebuild. "We are faced with the daunting task of literally rebuilding from the ground up. We have some very good insurance, but there will be costs beyond that coverage," the board wrote on their GoFundMe page. "We did not have business interruption insurance to pay employee salaries in the event of a disaster. Construction costs and the contents of the building will only be partially covered." The board says it is resolved to continue providing non-stop services to the fullest extent possible through temporary offices that will be established at their emergency domestic violence shelter. It hopes to resume programming on its community radio station in early 2022. The Native American Community Board is accepting donations to offset costs. Donors can give by mailing a check to the address listed on their GoFundMe page, or by donating through the internet. Suspect has extensive criminal record Sully's criminal record includes eight criminal entries, all of which resulted in convictions. In September 2013, Sully was convicted of domestic abuse through sexual contact and secret use of a camera to record a person's body. He was sentenced to 35 days in county jail, which he served in 48 hour increments. In September 2016, he was convicted of impersonating a police officer, for which he paid a $284 fine, and in June 2018, he paid a $166 fine for disorderly conduct. In September 2018, he was sentenced for three separate criminal violations in the same appearance. In one case, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, threatening a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest, which resulted in fines of nearly $750. In a separate case tried in the same court appearance, he was sentenced to pay another fine of $186 for refusing to leave property. The third case ordered he pay a $286 fine for failure to appear. Finally, in September 2020, Sully was convicted on charges of simple assault and assault committed by an adult confined in jail. He was sentenced to pay $563 in fines and spend three years on probation. In most cases, Sully's sentences included jail time credited for time served or to run concurrent with other cases. First-degree arson of which Sully was charged in the NAWHERC fire is a Class 2 felony, punishable by 25 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. South Dakota law qualifies reckless burning as a Class 4 felony and intentional damage to property valued between $1,000 and $2,500 as a Class 6 felony. If convicted on all charges, Sully faces 37 years in prison, a a $74,000 fine or both. He could also be sentenced to additional time and fines if he's found guilty of violating his probation across various cases. Sully is due in a Charles Mix County courtroom for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 4. He's currently being held in jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. Doctor Who fans are calling for Lydia West to be the next Doctor after her appearance on the Great British Bake Off Christmas special. West (previously Its A Sin and Years and Years) won viewers over when she and her Its A Sin castmates appeared on Bake Offs Christmas special yesterday (25 December). Journalist Morgan Jeffrey wrote: Watching #BakeOff and Id be happy if Lydia West was back on my telly on 25th December, 2023. (In a #DoctorWho Christmas special, as the Doctor, is what Im saying. Lydia West would be a great doctor, added another, while someone else wrote: Watching Lydia West on the Christmas Bake Off and honestly I want her as the next doctor now. Would not be mad to see Lydia West as the next Dr Who said a fourth person. The calls follow after Jodie Whittaker named West as the actor she most hopes to see star in Doctor Who. The Broadchurch star will be hanging up her sonic screwdriver next year after three series as the time traveller. The first of three specials marking the end of her run airs on New Years Day in 2022. The actor was asked who she thought should play the Doctor next and replied: If we had the power to choose, Im going to pick an actress who I think is really exciting and I think would be phenomenal, an actress called Lydia West. Lydia West and Olly Alexander would be my dream tardis companion duo - a young fun companion duo with a more uptight or grumpy doctor would be such a good dynamic Alfie (@a_lf_ie_) December 26, 2021 Watching #BakeOff and Id be happy if Lydia West was back on my telly on 25th December, 2023. (In a #DoctorWho Christmas special, as the Doctor, is what Im saying.) Morgan Jeffery (@morganjeffery) December 25, 2021 Wouldn't Lydia West make a great 14th Doctor? (well they all would) Mat Greenfield (@MatGreenfield) December 25, 2021 If I had the power! she clarified. Story continues West is among the bookies favourites to replace Whittaker as the Doctor and has previously said that it would be an honour to play the Time Lord. The 28-year-old has previously worked with Russell T Davies on Its A Sin and Years and Years. Davies will be returning as showrunner in 2023 following the exit of Whittaker and Chris Chibnall. Last night saw Its A Sin star Nathaniel Curtis named the winner of The Great British Bake Off Christmas special. Curtis beat out his co-stars West, Olly Alexander and Shaun Dooley to take home the top prize. The Daily Beast U.S. Department of JusticeA 22-year-old woman who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was drunk and driving in the wrong direction on Wednesday night when she killed a young mom and seriously injured another driver, authorities said.Emily Hernandez was driving west in the eastbound lanes in Franklin County, Missouri, just after 7 p.m. when she crashed into another car that spun into the median strip and struck cable barriers, police said. Both vehicles swerved to avoid each other, according to US President Donald Trump speaks on vaccine development in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, flanked by White House Coronavirus Task Force Deborah Birx and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci (AFP via Getty Images) Dr Anthony Fauci said he was stunned by video of former president Donald Trump being jeered by his own supporters after he revealed that hed received a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot. Speaking on ABCs This Week, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease told host Jonathan Karl that he was a bit dismayed by the Trump supporters reactions His followers booed him, which I was stunned by given the fact of how popular he is with that group, he said. That they would boo him tells me how recalcitrant they are about being told what they should do. Mr Trump drew his fans ire during an appearance in Dallas with ex-Fox News host Bill OReilly after he told OReilly that hed gotten a booster shot. The former president later told attendees at the event that his supporters were "playing right into their hands" by dismissing the efficacy of the shots and not letting him take credit for them. "Look, we did something that was historic, we saved tens of millions of lives worldwide. We, together, all of us, not me," Mr Trump said. "Take credit for it. Take credit for it. It's great. What we've done is historic. Don't let them take it away. Don't take it away from ourselves. Dr Fauci, who also serves as chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, frequently drew Mr Trumps ire during his presidency by contradicting numerous false statements which Mr Trump made during televised daily briefings in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The veteran virologist, who has led the NIAID since the Reagan administration, has since become a bete noire for Republicans looking to downplay Mr Trumps handling of the pandemic over the course of 2020. A recent report by the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis revealed that Mr Trump and his advisers pushed for a herd immunity strategy which would have let the coronavirus run rampant through American communities as they sought to prioritise Mr Trumps reelection campaign over the push to stop the spread of Sars-CoV-2. Nonetheless, Dr Fauci praised Mr Trump for his decision to encourage supporters to get vaccinated against Covid-19. I think that his continuing to say that people should get vaccinated and articulating that to them, in my mind, is a good thing, he said. I hope he keeps it up. Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning of a significant increase in COVID-19 cases following the holiday. The nation's leading infectious disease expert, 81, said Sunday on ABC's This Week that the United States averaged around 150,000 cases of the virus over the last seven days, and that "it likely will go much higher" in the coming weeks as the Omicron variant continues spreading rapidly. "Well, there's one thing that's for sure that we all agree upon, that it is extraordinarily contagious," Fauci told This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl. Data from the U.K. showed that the ratio of hospitalizations to cases was lower with the Omicron variant than other strains of the COVID-19 virus, according to Fauci. Additionally, the expert said both the duration of hospital stay and the need for oxygen "was lower" among patients. But Fauci still cautioned people from getting "complacent" about the virus with so many new infections arising. Unvaccinated individuals, he said, are still among the top concerns. RELATED: Times Square New Year's Eve Is Still Going Ahead But Will Be 'Scaled Back' amid COVID Surge "We're particularly worried about those who are in that unvaccinated class, that, you know, tens and tens of millions of Americans who are eligible for vaccination who have not been vaccinated," the doctor told Karl, 53. "Those are the most vulnerable ones when you have a virus that is extraordinarily effective in getting to people and infecting them the way Omicron is." Dr. Fauci Warns COVID-19 Omicron Variant Cases 'Likely Will Go Much Higher' After Holiday Surge ABC News/Youtube He continued, "So even though we're pleased by the evidence from multiple countries, that it looks like there is a lesser degree of severity, we've got to be careful that we don't get complacent about that because it might still lead to a lot of hospitalizations in the United States." Former President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the COVID-19 vaccines in an interview with conservative media personality Candace Owens that aired Tuesday. At one point, Owens suggested that more people have died from COVID-19 "under Joe Biden, than under you and more people took the vaccine this year." Story continues Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Oh no, the vaccines work, but some people aren't the ones taking it," Trump interjected. "The ones who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine. But it's still their choice. And if you take the vaccine, you're protected." Fauci said Sunday that he hopes Trump's supporters will listen to what he said in the interview. "We'll take anything we can get about getting people vaccinated," he told Karl. Dr. Fauci Warns COVID-19 Omicron Variant Cases 'Likely Will Go Much Higher' After Holiday Surge ABC News/Youtube But the doctor admittedly "was a bit dismayed" when Trump was booed by some of his supporters after he and former FOX News host Bill O'Reilly simultaneously revealed that they had received booster shots for COVID-19. "I was stunned by that," Fauci said. "I mean, given the fact of how popular he is with that group, that they would boo him, which tells me how recalcitrant they are about being told what they should do." RELATED: Donald Trump Again Offers Public Support for Vaccine: 'People Aren't Dying When They Take the Vaccine' He added, "I think that his continuing to say that people should get vaccinated and articulating that to them, in my mind, is a good thing. I hope he keeps it up." In the meantime, Fauci believes improving testing capabilities will "be very important" as the Omicron variant continues to circulate. "One of the problems is that that's not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested, but we're addressing the testing problem, and that very soon that will be corrected," Fauci said earlier in the interview. As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the CDC, WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here. A pair of DJI drones Ethan Miller/Getty Images The smartest insight and analysis, from all perspectives, rounded up from around the web: New restrictions on a key dronemaker show how serious the U.S. is about cutting its reliance on Chinese technology, said Bruce Einhorn and Todd Shields in Bloomberg. China's DJI Technology is "the world's top producer of unmanned aerial vehicles" and controls "more than half of the U.S. drone market." But the Treasury Department last week added DJI and seven other Chinese tech companies to a growing "blacklist," blocking it from receiving any U.S. investments. Though DJI is a private company, it "has become the poster child for a much wider national security threat" China's "ability to obtain sensitive data on millions of Americans," as "everything from cars to yoga mats to toilets are now transmitting data." Harnessing that information is viewed as a "key to dominating technologies like artificial Intelligence" and "exploiting weaknesses in strategic foes." The move against DJI echoes how the U.S. started its campaign against Huawei, China's leading phonemaker, said Gina Chon in BreakingViews. But "it was relatively easy to make" the Chinese telecom disappear from the U.S., because it was just making its first inroads. DJI is a different story. "More than 900 U.S. public safety agencies use its products," including the New York Police Department, making a commercial ban "unrealistic." The pressure to disengage, though, comes from both countries, said the Financial Times in an editorial. China pressured Didi to delist shortly after it "launched the biggest listing of a Chinese company since Alibaba in 2014," and has allowed a "slow unraveling" of property giant Evergrande, which defaulted on debts held by foreign investors. The moves seem to be part of "a bulwark" against "mistrusted foreign forces" as Beijing constructs a new "Fortress China." Story continues Fine let's shut our doors to China, too, said Henry Olsen in The Washington Post, even if it hurts corporate profits in the short term. U.S. companies are now "self-censoring anything that might offend the Communist Party of China." It was reported recently that Apple secretly agreed to a $275 billion deal in 2016 to buy more Chinese-made components in return for reduced Chinese regulatory pressure. That and "hundreds of other corporate decisions" have helped China design weapons systems "more sophisticated than our own." Our addiction to China's cheap goods is "endangering our national security." China is not a stable market for U.S. corporations, anyway, said Desmond Lachlan in The Hill. President Xi Jinping's recent "clampdown on the high-tech sector" in the pursuit of "common prosperity" threatens China's future growth. Meanwhile, the country's property sector is imploding. "One has to wonder whether the Chinese economy might prove to have clay feet." The U.S. still should fear China's technological gains, said Graham Allison and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, in The Wall Street Journal. Experts say it "could soon be the global leader" in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, 5G wireless, quantum computing, biotechnology, and green energy if it doesn't already hold the dominant position. The U.S. holds sway in aeronautics, medicine, and nanotechnology, but China has "emerged as a serious competitor" in these fields, too. Lawmakers are just "beginning to wake up to this reality." This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here. You may also like It's unrealistic to ban football. But it might not be ethical to watch it, either. Tweaking Harvard's admissions rules won't make America less elitist Solutions Crossword and Sudoku - Issue: December 24, 2021 Richard Eastman, right, smokes a joint inside Lowell Cafe on opening day in West Hollywood on Oct. 1, 2019. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Five years ago, California voters overwhelmingly chose to legalize the adult use of marijuana. The passage of Proposition 64 was supposed to replace the states vast illegal and quasi-legal medical marijuana market, in which virtually anyone could get their hands on marijuana, with a tightly controlled system of safe products, taxed sales and regulated commerce. In recommending Proposition 64 to voters, the Times Editorial Board argued that its better for public health, for law and order, and for society to treat marijuana more like alcohol and less like heroin as a legal regulated product for adults. And backers of the initiative said it would create a controlled market that allowed adults access to safe, regulated marijuana products while protecting children. The new government-overseen industry would reduce the environmental harm of illegal pot farms, lessen the power of criminal drug gangs and help repair damage from War on Drugs that disproportionately targeted Black and Latino communities. But today many of the promises of Proposition 64 remain unfulfilled. The black market is as big as ever, with roughly 75% of marijuana sales in the state coming from unlicensed sellers. Illegal pot farms are still degrading sensitive environmental habitat. Untested and unregulated cannabis products, including edibles and oils, still flood the market. And the pledge to help communities disadvantaged by the War on Drugs is still a work in progress. California, which was one of the first states to end prohibition, has become an example of how not to legalize marijuana. Proposition 64 fulfilled at least part of the proponents mission: Adult use of marijuana has been decriminalized and normalized. Prosecutors have cleared tens of thousands of marijuana-related convictions from individuals records. Pot shops were deemed essential businesses and allowed to stay open during the COVID-19 closures. Pop star Justin Bieber croons about getting his weed from California, and even traditional media companies offer cannabis gift guides. Story continues But underneath that widespread acceptance is a big problem the vast majority of marijuana consumed in the state is not legal. It was always going to be a challenge transitioning to a regulated system; unauthorized and quasi-legal medical marijuana growers, manufacturers and sellers operated in the state for years. But even those in the industry have been surprised by the continued vibrancy of the black market, which is due, in part, to requirements, such as high taxes and local control, in Proposition 64. Now, the abundance of illegal pot makes it nearly impossible for California to do what the initiative intended. An imperfect initiative Even before election day, there were tensions and contradictions baked into Proposition 64. To appease local government and law enforcement groups, the initiative gave cities and counties the power to completely ban marijuana-related businesses in their jurisdictions. And thats exactly what two-thirds of localities have done. That doesnt mean people arent selling or buying marijuana in those communities they're just doing it illegally, using unlicensed shops or local dealers. Proposition 64 was also pitched as a cash cow for the state. The initiative imposed taxes on commercial cultivation and sales, and it allowed local governments to layer on their own taxes. The hope was that marijuana would bring in more than $1 billion of state tax revenue every year to pay for afterschool programs, job training, drug addiction treatment, environmental cleanup and other worthy services. (Cannabis tax revenues exceeded $800 million in 2020-21.) But the steep state and local taxes can add 50% or more to the price of products in a legal pot shop. When the cost of labor, product testing and packaging is factored, running a licensed business often doesnt pencil out especially when there are plenty of black market operators still producing and selling to customers, who may not know or care that theyre buying illegal pot. And that undermines another Proposition 64 goal to ensure marijuana products are tracked, tested, pesticide free and safe for consumers. This has real implications for public safety. In early 2020, authorities seized marijuana vape cartridges from illegal shops in Los Angeles that contained a dangerous additive blamed for an outbreak of deadly lung illnesses. Meanwhile, even as the large-scale licensed pot farms have grown in places like Santa Barbara and Monterey counties, illegal marijuana cultivation has continued to thrive, often to the detriment of the environment. In rugged Northern California coastal areas, illicit growers flatten hillsides, spray pesticides and divert streams just when salmon and other fish species are migrating in the late summer and fall. In the Southern California deserts, illegal marijuana plantations have stolen precious water supplies and trampled plants and wildlife. And environmental groups that backed Proposition 64 say they still dont know how marijuana tax revenue is being spent to repair environmental damage from illegal grows; the state hasn't been transparent in how the money is being used. Can this market be saved? There is still time to fix the system to achieve the promise of Proposition 64. But it will take a lot of work and committed leadership from state lawmakers and local elected leaders, many of whom have kept cannabis policy at arm's length. California can emerge from this marijuana mayhem by flipping the incentives. Its too easy and profitable to remain in the black market and too onerous and expensive to join the legal one. By easing licensing procedures or reducing taxes temporarily, and ramping up enforcement and penalties for illegal operators, the state has a better chance of coaxing fence-sitting operators to get licensed. Earlier this year the state consolidated cannabis industry regulation in one department to help speed up regulatory reform. But the work is challenging because Proposition 64 required a two-thirds vote by the Legislature to make significant alterations to marijuana laws. (In recent years, most states have legalized marijuana through legislative vote, not initiative, which makes it easier to adjust the laws going forward.) Plus, the state cant do it alone. Far too many cities and counties still ban cannabis businesses. Proposition 64 guarantees that right, which is why some advocates are floating the idea of another ballot measure to eliminate cities and counties' veto power over marijuana businesses. Local leaders have to acknowledge that refusing to recognize a now-legal industry is only encouraging the black market. Some localities are beginning to shift. Los Angeles County, for example, is considering revisiting its ban on pot shops in unincorporated areas. Transforming Californias marijuana market is going to take real political leadership, which has been lacking at all levels of government. Gov. Gavin Newsom bears a special responsibility. As lieutenant governor, Newsom led a commission to study marijuana legalization and he campaigned for Proposition 64 two years later. However, until recently, hes mostly shied away from marijuana politics. But theres now widespread agreement that Californias marijuana system needs an intervention to prevent the legal market from collapsing. Its time for Newsom and lawmakers to get to work to find the right balance that will help the legal, regulated market grow while protecting public health and the environment. We can't wait another five years to get this right. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Troy Black portrays Santa Claus as he visited children of Dawson Springs along with donated toys and gifts delivered by volunteers and members of Redemption City Church. Dec. 24, 2021 BREMEN, Ky. Santa Claus is used to working on the fly. This Christmas, he took a little detour on his way back to the North Pole when he heard the nice boys and girls of Bremen, Kentucky, ravaged by a tornado two weeks earlier, needed to know Santa still loves them. And so Art 'Santa Art' Hoffman loaded up his Prius sleigh with toys and trinkets, donned the bright red overalls he reserves for warm days and made the two-hour trek from Louisville to the tiny town in Muhlenberg County. There wasn't a plan other than spreading some much-needed cheer. Vivian Hardesty visits Art Hoffman, a retired public health official, who played Santa Claus at Nickolas Corner in Bremen on Christmas Day. The town is limited to about 200 people but had about 12 fatalities on the night of the tornado.Dec. 25, 2021 'I met Santa Claus' A professional St. Nick for more than four decades, Hoffman parked at Nickolas' Corner, a store and gas station on Bremen's Main Street. Some folks pulled over when they spotted Santa, and others Hoffman implored to come back with their kids. Harley Winn, 6, and Joshua Winn, 9, were surprised to see Santa in their town. They'd just been tracking his movements on the news channel the night before. "What did you expect?" he asked them. "That I was going to come down your chimney?" Santa gave them stickers declaring "I met Santa Claus" and coins officially placing them on the nice list. "This makes their day," stepdad Ryan Vick said. 'I need all the help I can get' Hoffman set off a half-mile down the road where roofers were busy installing new shingles on a wind-battered home. "Santa has come to see you," he told the surprised homeowner, 92-year-old Inez Burden. "I need all the help I can get," Burden replied. "Because you're on the nice list, I made sure the roofers came out," he said. Inez Burden visited with Art Hoffman, a retired public health official, who played Santa Claus in Bremen on Christmas Day. The town is limited to about 200 people but had about 12 fatalities on the night of the tornado.Dec. 25, 2021 Bremen proved to be so nice, Santa's detour will become Hoffman's planned pit stop next Christmas. 'They're still resilient' Two days earlier, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park looked a bit like Santa's workshop, as thousands of donations from First Lady Britainy Beshear's toy drive were up for grabs for families affected by the tornadoes. Story continues Volunteers in Team Kentucky T-shirts continually restocked the tables, piling them high with board games, Legos, stuffed animals, baby dolls, books and volleyballs. All around them, kids excitedly stuffed bags and boxes full of toys as Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You' played. Two-year-old Octavia Skipworth smiles as she gets a new dress on Christmas Eve afternoon by volunteers and members of Redemption City Church of Dawson Springs. Many kids in struggling families who live in public housing got Christmas a day early. The December 10 tornado destroyed most of Dawson Springs. Dec. 24, 2021 An upbeat Gov. Andy Beshear likened it to a scene from a movie or a miracle coming out of the darkness. "About 10 to 11 days ago, many of these kids were in a bathtub while their homes exploded around them, and today might be the first day that they've laughed," he said. "But they're walking around having the biggest Christmas imaginable. I can't tell you how many of them have gotten that gift that they really wanted the most and just seeing pure joy after everything they've been through is pretty special." Santa and Mrs. Claus -- Troy Black and Steely Vanlue -- look at the destruction in Dawson Springs as they ride on trailer to help give out donated toys to residents living in public housing on Christmas Eve afternoon. The December 10 tornado destroyed most of the small town. Dec. 24, 2021 Lynn and Donna Mayhew or Santa and Mrs. Claus to the kids at Pennyrile came in from Owensboro to hand out candy. As foster adoptive parents, they have a heart for kids. Surrounded by toys and with two days until Christmas, they saw happy, smiling children. "They're excited," Donna Mayhew said. "It kind of lifts your spirit. They're still resilient. They keep going. It's amazing just to see how much they're having fun today. It has to make them feel a whole lot better. Meredith Hyde, a Dawson Springs resident, attended with her 5-year-old granddaughter Alivia Fiveash, who gleefully snagged a stuffed dog. Hyde said Alivia goes lives in Dawson Springs and goes to school there, but was out-of-town for the storm. "She doesn't understand that we don't have a house anymore," Hyde said after encouraging the preschooler to choose some toys. "She still thinks it's the same as it was before she left." Sarah Carr, left, gets a hug from Steely Vanlue, portraying Mrs. Claus, as during a gift stop in Dawson Springs on Christmas Eve. Dec. 24, 2021 Alivia showed off her new puppy pillow, which she named Bella. "'Cause it's for my new room," she said. "'Cause Gigi's house is gone 'cause it's broken from the storm." Alivia said her trampoline is gone, but she's hopeful to get a new one hopefully in pink and a pink blanket with unicorns on it. Photos on her Gigi's phone showed what used to be Alivia's room, her old toys covered in the shattered glass of the windows. "There is fun to be had," was emblazoned on one of the walls. Hyde said her family will be OK. They'll rebuild their home. There is still more fun to be had. Reach Tessa Duvall at tduvall@courier-journal.com and 502-582-4059. Twitter: @TessaDuvall. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Santa Claus vs. tornado: St. Nick finds kids in rubble-strewn Kentucky Dr Ramphela Mamphele, co-ordinator of Tutu's office, said the family was resting and had made peace with the fact they should "let him go", adding "we cannot expect a man who's given so much of his life to be there forever." Speaking of the Archbishop's last moments, Mamphele said Tutu was "very frail in the end." In Cape Town, locals laid flowers as they said goodbye to one of the icons of the struggle against apartheid in the country. At the city's St. George's cathedral, where Tutu had been a regular fixture, flowers were laid next to his photograph. Flight cancellations that bedeviled United States travelers as the Christmas weekend started continued Sunday, but had little effect at Southwest Florida International Airport. The COVID-19 Omicron variant was blamed for upending holiday plans for tens of thousands of travelers and, according to the FlyteAware tracking website, placed cancellations in double digits at a number of major airports. As of shortly after noon on Sunday Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta reported 82 canceled flights, Dallas-Fort Worth International had 56, Boston's Logan International had 43, William P. Hobby in Houston and O'Hara in Chicago both had 40 and Miami International had 32. The Lee County Port Authority held an open house to celebrate the Phase 1 Construction Completion of its new Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. The tower will now be handed over to the FAA so the equipment can be installed. Related: Phase 1 of its new Airport Traffic Control Tower at RSW is complete More: Some thong wrong: Florida man's lingerie mask gets him kicked off United flight Meanwhile, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) was reporting nine canceled flights Sunday from Delta, JetBlue, United and Frontier. RSW had 15 canceled flights Saturday and four flights were already canceled for Monday. Tampa and Jacksonville both had eight cancellations on Sunday. More than 700 flights entering, leaving or flying within the U.S. were called off Sunday, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday. Delta, United and JetBlue have blamed the omicron variant of the Coronavirus for staffing shortages that forced cancellations. This was unexpected, United spokesperson Maddie King said of omicrons impact on staffing. COVID-19 latest: Florida has its first cases of the omicron variant Globally, airlines scrapped about 2,200 flights as of Sunday morning, down from more than 2,800 from the day before, FlightAwares data showed. The site does not say why flights are canceled. JetBlue scrapped 10 percent of its flights Sunday. Delta canceled five percent and United canceled four percent, according to FlightAware. The three airlines canceled more than 10 percent of their scheduled flights on Saturday. Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: RSW sees few flight cancellations while Miami has more than 30 scratches The trial of a former Trump appointee working in the State Department who is accused of assault against police during the Capitol riot has been set for September. Federico Klein is one of the hundreds of rioters arrested for allegedly participating in the 6 January attack on the Capitol. At the time of the attack, Mr Klein was a member of the US State Department, appointed to his position by then-President Donald Trump. Mr Klein resigned his position two weeks after the attack and was arrested in March after several witnesses, including a former co-worker, saw his picture on an FBI wanted poster and alerted the authorities. The former Trump appointee was originally charged with allegedly obstructing police officers by using a police shield to prevent them from securing the Capitol's entrance. New charges were added in August when video evidence suggested he allegedly used the shield to assault Capitol police with the shield. That indictment alleged that Mr Klein was "Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers and Aiding and Abetting." Investigators believe that Mr Klein was among the first Trump supporters to breach the Capitol, and accused him of inciting further chaos inside the building, calling for "fresh people" to fill the halls. Mr Klein was offered a plea deal by prosecutors over the summer, but he rejected that offer, calling it "unreasonable." In video evidence of Mr Klein's participation in the attack, he is allegedly shown pushing his way to a Capitol police shield wall and attempting to grab a shield from one of the officers. He then goes to grab a nearby metal pole to continue the attack. What seems to have occurred is, Mr. Klein did something that is wholly inconsistent with the conditions that he is under, DC District Court Judge John D Bates said. He committed a violation, and its a serious violation, because he put himself in the position of not being able to comply with the conditions he himself requested. Story continues The judge said in light of the video evidence available against Mr Klein, he has an "uphill battle" ahead of him. His case, as well as those of several co-defendants, has been set for 26 September, 2022. More than 700 people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot. Earlier this month, a Robert Palmer, 54, of Largo, Florida, received the harshest sentence yet of any January 6 defendants. He was charged to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to spraying a fire extinguisher at police and then throwing the empty canister at police. As investigators continue to arrest riot participants and prosecutors continue to push for convictions, the January 6 Congressional committee has continued to demand bank records and testimony from individuals involved in the planning and funding of the attack. Cleveland Clinic Mercy staff caregivers help a COVID-19 patient last week in the Canton hospital's intensive care unit. CANTON The 24-bed Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital intensive care unit has been at capacity, filled mostly with COVID-19 patients. The hospital allowed The Canton Repository to visit the ICU last week to see what's it's been like amid a record COVID surge across Ohio. On Tuesday, Mercy ICU Director Laura Miller received a letter from one of the unit's first COVID-19 patients, who had managed to recover. His success story, she said, is a bright spot in an increasingly challenging environment. We've seen so many deaths in the ICU [and] we're just not used to that, Miller said. That's not how we operate; we usually get to send them on their journey and watch them get better. I think that's what's crushing our soul is not being able to save them. Laura Miller, intensive care unit (ICU) director, talks about the recent surge of COVID patients being treated at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton. 'Worst moment in the pandemic yet': COVID Q&A with Mercy Hospital President Dr. Tim Crone On Tuesday, 19 of the patients in the ICU were battling COVID-19. Nine were on ventilators, with an additional three on ventilators in the critical care unit, which takes on patients when the ICU is out of room. People come to the ICU, we fix them, they get better, and we get them out. And there's just so few of those, Miller said. COVID-19 death data is a lagging indicator, as it takes time to determine and report cause of death, but state data indicates that throughout the fall and winter surge, death rates have been consistently elevated. The mortality level in the Mercy ICU is taking an emotional toll on the healthcare workers. Dr. Salman Khan, one of the ICU physicians, said the past month has been especially rough. The mortality level in the Mercy ICU is taking an emotional toll on the healthcare workers. Dr. Salman Khan, one of the ICU physicians, said the past month has been especially rough. They had lost two patients on Dec. 17, followed by another Tuesday morning. The deaths are hitting younger populations compared to last year, Khan said, and the virus is tearing through families. The man who died Tuesday morning, he said, was related to another patient who died of COVID-19 weeks earlier. It's harder for these families as well, Khan said. So it becomes a little challenging emotionally. Story continues He said that on average, they are now seeing more deaths among the late 40s- to early-50s age range. In the ICU, health providers are used to seeing a bit of everything. In normal times, they operate at about 75% capacity and do not see nearly the deaths theyre currently contending with. Those deaths, they say, are in large part due to lack of vaccinations. Majority of ICU COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated The COVID-19 vaccines available have been proven to stave off the most severe complications hospitalization and death of the virus. As a result, Khan said, 90% of the patients in the ICU with COVID-19 are those who are not vaccinated. The small number of vaccinated who make up that remaining percentage, he said, are already immunocompromised, those fighting cancers or on immunosuppressant drugs and for whom the vaccine isn't quite as effective. They've been at inordinate risk throughout the entirety of the pandemic, particularly as community health protections like masking and social distancing have fallen by the wayside. I think the hardest part was a year ago at this time, we finally had hope, because we had a vaccine, and so for us, that was the answer, Miller said. We had spent the first part of the year battling something that we had no answers to. And then we finally had an answer on how we could stop it and it just didn't happen. Throughout the Mercy ICU, patients can be seen lying on their stomachs the prone position to allow for better lung expansion while on to ventilators. They'll remain in the prone position for 16 hours before a team of eight health workers rotate them to their backs. On Tuesday, a group of nurses from other parts of the hospital floated into the ICU to help with this and other care tasks. In the instances where the care team cant lift a patient, the hospital rents three proning machines to help. Its not a comfortable process, Miller said, which is why most of the patients are sedated and on pain medications. "It's very sad when there are those patients who are facing death and say I really should have gotten that vaccine," Miller said. Underlying it all is the sense that many of these cases were preventable. It's just so hard to watch, when, from our perspective, a lot of it didn't have to be this way, Miller said. Tammi Monter, ICU patient care coordinator, instructs staff from other areas who came to help the ICU staff. This is not the same COVID pandemic as last year Last winter, the nation saw an at-the-time unprecedented surge in COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations. Vaccinations were just available to front line workers, and it would be months before there were enough doses for the majority of the country, let alone the possibilities of pediatric shots and boosters. A year later, those hospitalizations and case counts are on track to be worse than ever for Northeast Ohio. Much of the reason, health officials say, is due to the apparent changing nature of the COVID-19 virus. In the last few months, the Delta variant, believed to spread more rapidly and result in more severe complications, has taken over as the dominant strain. And public attitude has shifted. While spring 2020 saw a sense of community around combating the virus and a prevalent feeling that were all in this together, divisive attitudes quickly surfaced, from those denying the virus existence to those fighting against public health measures like masks and social distancing. A year ago, the community was very much behind this. And now people are so divided that there's a lot of hostility towards what we're doing here in trying to save lives, Miller said. Different world inside a hospital Ohio saw the highest daily COVID-19 case count of the entire pandemic last week, with 12,502 cased reported on Tuesday, 12,864 more on Wednesday and more than 15,000 Thursday, and Northeast Ohio saw pandemic-record hospitalizations last week, with more than 800 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Cleveland Clinic system alone. But for much of the public, theres a disconnect between the depth of the ongoing crisis and day-to-day lives. Activities that may have been shut down last year community events, performances, gatherings in restaurants and bars have returned this season. Masking, once a mandate, has in many cases been reduced to a personal decision. It is a totally different world here than out there, Miller said. And sometimes, after being in here all day, you want to be able to go into that world out there where none of this exists. But you just can't. It's always there. And it's sad to me that the whole world hasn't seen what this really is. Cleveland Clinic Mercy staff caregivers help a COVID-19 patient last week in the Canton hospital's intensive care unit. COVID-19 brought with it, in addition to more than 28,000 deaths in Ohio alone, major burnout in the healthcare system. The Mercy ICU team works 12-hour days and sees significant tragedy. We had a rough day (Dec. 17). We were talking, and I said the only reason I show up to work was because of this ICU, because my nurse practitioners, my colleagues, and my nurses, you keep going, Khan said. That really helps. The ICU staff is close, Khan says, and has a lot of trust in one another. That closeness is necessary on the hard days. The level of mortality in the Mercy ICU is taking an emotional toll on the healthcare workers. Dr. Salman Khan, one of the ICU physicians, said the past month has been especially rough. Long before the pandemic, it was clear that the country was heading toward a nursing shortage. Miller said the estimate was that a crisis would hit in 2020 and that estimate was without the backdrop of a global pandemic. Khan said the hospital has been comparatively fortunate to not have the levels of staffing shortages that other systems are seeing. With surgeries put on hold throughout the Cleveland Clinic system, nurses from other parts of the hospital pick up the extra work in the bustling ICU. Surging misinformation about COVID treatment options Another change from last year, Khan said, is the level of misinformation and mistrust that medical workers hear from patients and families. While last year the dominant falsehoods denied or downplayed the impacts of COVID-19, Khan said, he and his team now work to dispel myths about everything from vaccines to treatment options. We have those folks who actually say, out loud when they come in the ICU, say they're 'the anti vax' and they don't believe in COVID," Khan said. "They want the medications which are not approved right now by any major society guidelines let alone the Cleveland Clinic Healthcare system, and they want those medications, but they will refuse the medications which are approved." In cases where patients refuse the approved treatments, Khan said, the medical practitioner's role is to educate. He said that about one-third of the time, they can convince somebody to try one of the treatments, which often coincides with the patients worsening condition. In cases where patients cant be convinced, its a matter of meeting them where they are and keeping them as comfortable as possible, he said. Amid the surging hospitalizations, high mortality rates and the knowledge that, like last winter, this will once again get worse before it eases up, the entire Cleveland Clinic system sent out a plea last week begging the public to get vaccinated, wear masks and stay home when feeling ill. Were just trying to keep up and provide the best care we can, Miller said. Reach Sam Zern at szern@cantonrep.com or 330-580-8322. On Twitter at @sam_zern. This article originally appeared on The Repository: In the Cleveland Clinic Mercy ICU, COVID-19 is taking more lives On Dec. 28, 1846, the territory of Iowa became the 29th state in the Union. Exactly 175 years later, Iowa will celebrate the anniversary of its statehood with one commemorative event happening in Iowa City. John David Thompson will read selections from his latest Iowa-themed book of poetry at the Old Capitol in the Senate Chamber at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Inside the grand chamber, Thompson will recite poems about topics ranging from Iowa inventions to the 31st president of the United States, native son Herbert Hoover, accompanied by live music from pianist Lyle Stirling. The in-person event is free to attend, and the Iowa Library Association will also send out a livestream for those who want to experience it virtually, according to Thompson. More: Distinguished Iowans reflect on 175th statehood anniversary John David Thompson will read selections of poetry at the Old Capitol's Senate Chamber on Dec. 28 to celebrate Iowa's 175th anniversary. Thompson said he was excited about the opportunity to do this performance at the Old Capitol, noting the importance of the setting in state history. It's going to just be an energy just to be in that building and walking among it with other Iowans and just celebrating the state with poems and music, he said. In honor of Iowa being the 29th state admitted to the Union, Thompson will read 29 poems, beginning with one titled "December 28, 1846." Stirling will perform music written by Iowa composers, including 76 Trombones by Meredith Wilson. It is such a great thing, just to be in that place and play that piano, he said. It's going to be an event to always remember. More: 'Gratitude with Dogs Under Stars,' by Iowa poet laureate Debra Marquart as state marks 175th anniversary Stirling grew up in Waterloo with a piano in his family home. He said his mother would play and sing while his family stood around it. He taught himself to play, and pursued music in college. Thompson and Stirling have been friends for years, and he asked Stirling to perform during the poetry reading. It's really wonderful to hear him read, said Stirling, who now lives in Bloomfield. That's the best part of what's going to happen, is him reading his poetry. Story continues A longstanding love for Iowa in the form of poems Lyle Stirling poses for a photo inside the Old Capitol, Dec. 11. Stirling is a pianist who will play live music to accompany John David Thompson's poetry readings on Dec. 28. Iowa Poems 175: Poetry to Observe Iowas 175th Birthday is Thompsons third book of poetry about the state. It all began years ago, when Thompson traveled through all 99 counties in Iowa. He then wrote a poem for each county and published that in 99 Voices, 99 Lives: County Poems of Iowa. Thompson said his academic passions as an adult were history and poetry. That realization came to him while he was taking an Iowa history class. He wrote a few poems and included them in the appendix of a research paper. His professor, at Des Moines Area Community College, John Liepa, encouraged Thompson to keep writing and fusing Iowas history into the poems. Thompson had always wanted to travel the state, and when he completed graduate school, the timing was right. So he set off on his statewide journey. Thompson, who considers himself a research poet, worked with librarians to learn more about each county, especially helpful when he was stuck or didnt have an idea of what to write about. He also used Iowa newspapers for ideas, often getting more contemporary ones, he said. The project took about two years. More: Iowa is about to turn 175. How much do you know about our state's history? Test yourself with our quiz. Thompson grew up in southern Iowa, so seeing the difference in landscape in northeastern Iowa was a breathtaking experience for him, with the poems from that area influenced by those sights. But Thompson also loved the cities in Iowa, from Davenport to Des Moines to Sioux City. In determining which previous works to include in Iowa Poems 175, which is a mixture of old and new verse, Thompson relied on the feedback of families, friends and audiences. But Thompson has made a conscious decision to diversify his content, writing poems about Iowa people, places or things. I like the idea of my readers flipping pages and wanting to just read one and flip and read the next and not necessarily know, except for it's going to be Iowa-themed, exactly what's going to be on the next page, he said. Within Iowa Poems 175 is a section called 10 Iowa Inventions that Changed the World, based on an article in the Iowan Magazine. Thompson wrote a poem for each one. That really gave me confidence as far as a founding base for this Iowa Poems 175, Thompson said. It was one of the first new ... projects that I did for the book. By 2019, Thompson had 10 new poems for "Iowa Poems 175" and a deadline in two years. He wrote poems for each historic house in Des Moines, from the Jordan House to the Salisbury House. There is also the poem Thompson wrote about the Wave where Hawkeye football fans at Kinnick Stadium turn towards the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital to wave at patients that will be read at Old Capitol on Tuesday. Lyle Stirling and John David Thompson pose for a photo with Thompson's collection of poems, "Iowa Poems 175." Thompson will read some of these poems at the Old Capitol Dec. 28. Thompson, who lives in Pella, said that even as a child, being an Iowan meant a lot to him. He was raised on a farm but said he wasnt much of a farmer. So he's grateful for the opportunity to do something permanent for Iowa, like write poems. I just feel like it's sort of my life's purpose as a professional, other than teaching, is to write these books about Iowa in the form of poetry, Thompson said. Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Celebrate Iowa's 175th anniversary at Old Capitol poetry reading event Dale Weeks family believes he was an indirect victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. The retired Iowa school superintendent died in late November, nearly a month after he was diagnosed with sepsis, a dangerous, blood-borne infection unrelated to the coronavirus. His daughters think he might have survived if hed been admitted immediately to a large medical center, where he could have received advanced testing and prompt surgery. But he stayed for 15 days at Newtons relatively small hospital because the bigger facilities said they couldnt spare a bed for him, his family says. Iowas short-staffed hospitals have been jammed for months with patients, including people severely sickened by COVID-19. Its infuriating that people who are not vaccinated are clogging it up, said Jenifer Owenson of Des Moines, who is one of Weeks four children. Weeks lived in the southern Iowa town of Seymour. When he began feeling ill, he thought it might be a side effect of a flu shot and a booster shot of coronavirus vaccine. On the night of Nov. 1, he went to the hospital in nearby Centerville, where staff determined he had sepsis. They told my dad and his wife right away they had no beds, Owenson said. The staff called around for hours, seeking an open hospital bed. At first, the closest one they could find was in Illinois. Then, by midday the next day, they found a spot at the MercyOne hospital in Newton, 80 miles north of Centerville. He was taken there by ambulance. Dale Weeks, center, died on Nov. 28. In this 2019 photo, he is surrounded by his children, Jenifer Owenson, Julia Simanski, Jill Weeks and Anthony Weeks, and his wife, Roberta Weeks. Owenson said the Newton hospital's staff did the best they could for her father, including giving him intravenous antibiotics. But when his infection failed to resolve, the family repeatedly asked if he could be transferred to a more advanced hospital. We kept being told he was on a list of degrees of severity, and his number had not come up, she said. He was aware of the situation, she said. He was extremely frustrated. He was like, Why cant something be done? On Nov. 17, after 15 days, he was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals by ambulance. Doctors there determined on Nov. 25 that he needed surgery to clear out a severe infection of an artery near his stomach, where years earlier hed had a stent installed to repair an aneurysm. Story continues More: A year after the first COVID shot, nearly 1.8M Iowans are fully vaccinated. But more work remains to end the pandemic They said he really had no choice. He needed to have this surgery, or he would die in a few days, said Owenson's twin sister, Julia Simanski of Ankeny. The Nov. 26 surgery lasted 17 hours, but Weeks continued to struggle, his daughters said. A surgeon told the family it was one of the worst infections shed ever seen, they said. A second, shorter operation didnt reverse his decline. His kidneys and intestines were failing. He died Nov. 28 at age 78. Representatives of the hospitals declined to comment on Weeks case, but they acknowledged the frustration caused by hospital crowding. In addition to an increased number of COVID-19 cases and spread of the delta and omicron variants, hospitals across the country are dealing with traumas and experiencing multiple types of illness, MercyOne spokesperson Marcy Peterson wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register. This demand is coupled with a reduced number of staff to care for patients. These challenges can strain available resources and contribute to delays in care or other complications for patients. She noted that unvaccinated people make up a large percentage of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Wednesday that nearly 82% of people hospitalized in Iowa for COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated, including 88% of those in intensive care. Overall, 30% of Iowa adults are not fully vaccinated. Laura Shoemaker, a spokesperson for the University of Iowa Hospitals, said her facility is often close to full. Even prior to the pandemic, it was not uncommon for us to operate at 90-95% capacity on average, she wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register. For perspective, we have 860 beds and as of today we have 780 inpatients. That number goes up and down continuously by the hour as patients are discharged and new patients are admitted. She noted that to address such crowding, the University of Iowa recently gained approval to build an additional hospital in North Liberty. More: Iowa hospitals brace for omicron wave even as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients drop Weeks was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a former math and science teacher and principal who served as schools superintendent in the Mingo, Woodward-Granger and Seymour districts before retiring in 2007. He will be remembered by many as a kind, loyal, and humble person, his family wrote in his obituary. He could be counted on to offer help, say yes to a request for a favor, and assume the best in others. His family will never know whether the pandemic indirectly shortened his life. They understand he might have died even if hed been admitted immediately to a large medical center. Still, Simanski said, I think it would have given us a fairer chance. Tony Leys covers health care for the Register. Reach him at tleys@registermedia.com or 515-284-8449. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowan dies after 15-day wait for a hospital bed amid COVID surge DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has banned the entry of travellers from Britain, France, Denmark and Norway for 15 days as part of curbs following the discovery of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the Middle East's worst-hit country. State television said on Sunday a similar ban imposed in late November on travellers from South Africa and seven neighbouring countries was also extended for 15 days. Health authorities also indefinitely halted land travel to neighbouring Turkey, a popular tourist destination, the broadcaster said. Iran, the pandemic's epicentre in the Middle East, has reported just 14 confirmed Omicron cases so far but media reports said detection kits were not widely available and officials have warned of a possible rapid spread within weeks. The country has suffered 131,400 deaths in five waves of COVID-19 infections since February 2020. Nearly 51.3 million of Iran's population of about 85 million have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) "If I don't call you back, it's because I will be in England," Shakar Ali said in his last message to his family as he attempted to cross the Channel from France to Britain. But the inflatable boat he took along with around 30 other irregular migrants would never reach British shores. Nearly a month after at least 27 of those migrants drowned, families of 16 of them finally got some closure on Sunday as their bodies arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan. The remains arrived before dawn at the airport in the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Arbil, where dozens of men, women and children had gathered. Among the mourners, some embraced and black-clad women wept while others showed pictures of their lost kin. Clutching his cane to his chest, an elderly man with a white beard showed a photo on his phone of his son Afrasia, who was just 24 years old. The November 24 tragedy has been described by the International Organization for Migration as the largest single loss of life in the English Channel since the UN agency started recording data in 2014. The plain wooden coffins were placed in ambulances that transported them to their hometowns of Darbandikhan, Qadrawa, Ranya and Soran. A woman sobbed as she pressed her face up against a window pane. Close by, two teenagers appeared similarly shaken. One of them rested his head against a casket, bidding his final farewell. - 'Each time he failed' - In the centre of Ranya, hundreds gathered in a mosque to honour the three victims from the Kurdish town. The bodies were washed in the traditional Muslim way. The crowd filled a large prayer hall, and in the heavy silence, the murmurs of funerary prayers could be heard. Shakar Ali, 30, left his home two months ago, making the long trip via Turkey, Greece, then Italy, before his Mediterranean journey ended in France. "He attempted the crossing to Britain seven times," his older brother Shamal said. "Each time, he failed." Story continues Three years earlier, Shakar, who had a degree in petroleum geology, was searching for a job. "He was unemployed until his departure," his brother, a teacher, continued. He blamed the recent tragedy on the lack of job opportunities, as well as the policies of the authorities in the autonomous Kurdistan region. "Because of this, hundreds of families have lost a child." At the cemetery in Ranya, the young man's shrouded body was lifted on the shoulders of the men of the family. A crowd gathered as the body was lowered into the grave. The youngest of the family, Ramyar, recalled his last conversation with his brother. "He told us 'We have started the crossing. If I call you, it means the coast guard has arrested us'," the 20-year-old recounted. "'If I don't call you back, it's because I will have arrived in England'," he continued. - 'Bride of the sea' - Initially set to arrive on Friday, the repatriation of the 16 Iraqi Kurdish victims was postponed twice. Among the 26 bodies identified in France were 17 men and seven women aged between 19 and 46, as well as a 16-year-old and a seven-year-old child. In addition to the 16 Iraqi Kurds, the victims also included an Iranian Kurd, a Somalian, four Afghans and an Egyptian. Only two survivors were found, an Iraqi Kurd and a Sudanese national. French investigators are still trying to establish a clearer picture of what happened during the disaster. They have been investigating reports that the passengers had telephoned both French and British emergency services, appealing for help when the vessel began sinking. At the airport in Arbil, the family of young Baran hung a banner on the back of a moving ambulance that carried her body back to her hometown of Soran. On the banner alongside a smiling picture of the young woman it said "Bride of the sea". Maryam Nuri Hama Amin -- known as "Baran" to her family, a name meaning "rain" in Kurdish -- was only in her 20s when she set off on the trip. She was one of the first Kurdish victims to be identified from the disaster. She was planning on joining her fiance, who was already in Britain, in the hope of seeking a "better life" there, her father had told AFP shortly after the tragedy. While the tragedy was the worst recorded in the Channel, at least 30 people have died this week alone in three shipwrecks off the coasts of Greek islands. Among the survivors were Syrians, Egyptians and Iraqis. str-tgg/jsa/dv Israel's government on Sunday approved a $317 million plan to double the Jewish settler population in the Golan Heights, 40 years after it annexed the territory captured from Syria. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's cabinet voted in favour of the plan that aims to build 7,300 settler homes in the region over a five-year period, during a meeting held at the Mevo Hama community in the Golan. It calls for 1 billion Israeli shekels to be spent on housing, infrastructure and other projects with the goal of attracting roughly 23,000 new Jewish settlers to the area, seized during the 1967 Six Day War. "Our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights," the right-wing Bennett said ahead of the meeting. He was forced to leave the meeting after his 14-year-old daughter tested positive for the coronavirus, putting him into isolation, but a vote on the programme went ahead after a delay. - 'No change' in US policy - Around 25,000 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights, along with about 23,000 Druze, who remained on the land after Israel seized it. Israel annexed the territory on December 14, 1981, in a move not recognised by most of the international community. Former US president Donald Trump, widely viewed as pro-Israeli, granted US recognition to Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in 2019. "The Golan Heights are Israeli. This is self-evident," Bennett said. "The fact that the Trump administration recognised this, and the fact that the (President Joe) Biden administration has made it clear that there has been no change in this policy, are also important." Shortly after Biden took office in January, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested there were legal questions surrounding Trump's move, which Syria condemned as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty. But Blinken indicated there was no thought of reversing course, especially with the Syrian civil war continuing. Story continues Bennett claimed that after a decade of conflict in Syria, international calls to restore Syrian control of the Golan were muted. "Every knowledgeable person in the world understands that it is preferable to have Israeli heights that are quiet, flourishing and green as opposed to the alternative," he said. Bennett leads an ideologically disparate eight-party coalition that counts on support from left-wingers. Some in his cabinet, notably from the dovish Meretz party, have vocally opposed plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory also occupied by Israel since 1967. Roughly 475,000 settlers now live in the West Bank in communities widely regarded as illegal under international. Bennett is a the former head of a settler lobbying council who opposes Palestinian statehood. But he argued that unity on the Golan plan demonstrated that Israeli control of the area was a matter of "national consensus." "The Golan Heights, the need to strengthen, cultivate and live in it, is certainly a principle that unites everyone here," he said. Israel and Syria, which are still technically at war, are separated by a de facto border at the Golan Heights. alv-mib/bs/it TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will compensate companies to keep secret patents with potential military applications under proposed legislation, the Nikkei reported on Sunday, without citing sources. The patents under review in the proposed economic security legislation will include technology that can help develop nuclear weapons, such as uranium enrichment and cutting-edge innovations like quantum technology, the financial daily said. The Prime Ministers Office, the Cabinet Secretariat and Japan Patent Office were not immediately available for comment outside business hours when contacted by Reuters. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last month pledged that he will make the nation's economic security a policy priority https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-panel-urges-govt-launch-88-bln-university-fund-2021-11-08. His government will give compensation of roughly 20 years of licensing income to the companies falling under the legislation, the Nikkei said. The framework of the legislation will be released as soon as next month, the report said, with cabinet approval scheduled for February and expected application of the measures in the fiscal year from April 2023. (Reporting by Nishit Jogi in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Dan Grebler and William Mallard) Its the day after Christmas, but Im not ready to let the holiday pass just yet, especially since today is Sunday and its still the holiday weekend. Besides, in Christian tradition, on the days following Jesus birth, word was still spreading that the Christ child was born. Angels had appeared to shepherds that night with the message Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Those words, from the New Testament book of Luke, are shared in many sermons at this time of year. They also were recited by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Perhaps you watched that classic with family and friends this holiday season. In the scene, Linus is explaining the true meaning of Christmas: Hope for a future. Hope for grace through the challenges of life. Hope for a rescue from despair. Hope motivated the wise men to follow the star hovering over the place where Jesus was born. These men are often depicted as kings presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Bible doesnt state that there were three wise men, only that there were three gifts. There could have been more visitors. Perhaps they were kings. Maybe they were curious scholars who studied the stars. Don't miss: Hey Rudolph, make way for a piebald buddy More Lisa: This holiday season, plan to live in the moment Their visit most likely would not have been to the manger, even though most nativity scenes include the wise men. These wise men from the east probably were from Persia and came to Bethlehem to worship the baby. Its fitting that we give gifts at Christmastime because these men brought gifts. Their gifts were valuable and certainly appreciated by Jesus parents, Joseph and Mary, who soon after fled to Egypt to avoid King Herods decree to kill all children ages 2 and younger. Herod did not want to be dethroned by an infant. Story continues Gold would prove valuable to purchase needed items. Frankincense and myrrh are resins used as incense, perfumes and essential oils. Those would have been valuable for the journey from Bethlehem to Egypt. The holy family stayed in Egypt until Herod died and then returned to their homeland, this time settling in the region of Galilee, in the town of Nazareth. Thus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but was called a Galilean, and Jesus of Nazareth. I never tire of reading the biblical account of Jesus birth and the challenges His parents faced in those early years. It certainly makes me want to ponder the story, and the star or the angel on top of the Christmas tree long after Christmas Day is past. May the story give you and your family hope throughout this season. Merry (day after) Christmas! Lisa Tedrick Prejean writes a weekly column for The Herald-Mail. Send email to her at lprejean@localiq.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lisa_Prejean. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Lets not let go of Christmas just yet Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin from Maryland speaks during a Senate hearing on December 7, 2021. Alex Brandon/AP Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland called for unity among Democrats to move Biden's Build Back Better agenda forward. "I think we can reach that sweet spot. Look, a lot of us are gonna be disappointed," Cardin said on Fox News Sunday. Democrats were issued a blow when Sen. Joe Manchin said he would not support the spending bill. Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin on Sunday called for unity and compromise among Democrats as they try to push President Joe Biden's Build Back Better social spending plan forward. "We are prepared to move. We just need to make sure we have unanimity in our caucus. And that's what we're working on, and we will start on that next week when we return," Cardin, a Democrat in office since 2007, said on "Fox News Sunday." The social spending plan faced a blow earlier this month when West Virginia's Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said he would not support the current $2 trillion version of the bill. The White House issued a scathing rebuke of Manchin, as did several other Democrats. Manchin, the White House, and other members of Congress are renegotiating the bill to find a compromise. The White House said on Wednesday said it would continue conversations with Manchin, while Biden the day before said he and Manchin were "going to get something done," Reuters reported. "I think we can reach that sweet spot. Look, a lot of us are gonna be disappointed, but we're not gonna let perfection be the enemy of getting something done," Cardin said Sunday. "I think we'll be pragmatic about it, but we want to make sure it deals with the issues that we're facing in our in our communities," he added. After shooting down the current version, Manchin had suggested a $1.8 trillion counter-offer, which excluded several key components such as monthly child tax credit checks to families. He also indicated support for a wealth tax, The Washington Post reported, even though he previously had publicly opposed such a proposal. Story continues Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell invited Manchin to join the Republican party, suggesting he may feel more comfortable in the GOP. Cardin rebuked such notions on Sunday. "The Democratic Party is proud of having a broad tent," Cardin said. "There's absolutely room in our party for Joe Manchin and Elizabeth Warren and everyone in between." The Senate is in recess until January 6 next year. Read the original article on Business Insider Happy Monday, people of Miller Place-Rocky Point! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note. First, today's weather: Turning cloudy. High: 37 Low: 33. Here are the top three stories in Miller Place-Rocky Point today: An 18-year-old from Bay Shore was charged with DWI for striking the two pedestrians on Saturday. Luis Trujillo, 67, of Islip was killed and and Veronica Deleon, 47, of Brentwood, was seriously injured. The driver's name was not released. (Subscription: Newsday) Restaurants in Patchogue joined together on Christmas Day to donate and serve hot multi-course meals to over 500 families in need. It was the 13th year the event was held. (News 12) Looking for somewhere to take the kids this break? Comsewogue Public Library, at 170 Terryville Road, in Port Jefferson Station will screen Elf on Dec. 27, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation on Dec. 28, Its a Wonderful Life on Dec. 29 and Miracle on 34th Street on Dec. 30. Advance registration is required. (tbrnewsmedia.com) Today's Miller Place-Rocky Point Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Miller Place-Rocky Point: School of Rock, 4837 Nesconset Hwy, Port Jefferson Station, "Build Your Own Guitar Workshop," 11 a.m. From my notebook: Gov. Kathy Hochul's office has reported that Long Island has a COVID-19 positivity rate of 13.05 percent, the highest rate in New York . On Thursday, more than 8,200 new infections were reported in Nassau and Suffolk. (News 12) French bulldogs are the most-stolen dog breeds. Two recent publicized cases of French bulldogs being dognapped on Long Island ended with the dogs being recovered but according to statistics only 10 percent of 2 million dogs that are stolen per year in the U.S. are found. (Subscription: Newsday) A family in New Hyde Park found a creative solution for Christmas gatherings during a COVID-19 surge. Crista LaRock of New Hyde Park recorded a video from the family's Christmas Eve dinner table with her sister wrapped in a plastic bubble. (ABC 7 News) Story continues More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: New Years Eve Gala in the Grand Ballroom (December 31) Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Announcements: Behind The Scoreboard Horses Can Guide The Blind (Details) Add your announcement Loving the Miller Place-Rocky Point Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at MillerPlace-RockyPoint@Patch.com Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! Jackie This article originally appeared on the Miller Place-Rocky Point Patch Kristie Cere a client at Tri-County Human Services New Beginning in her apartment she shares with three other women in Lakeland, Fl., Friday, December 17, 2021. Cere is almost finished with the program. Polk has multiple treatment centers for people suffering with mental health issues. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER LAKELAND Some of Kristie Ceres former friends might not recognize her today. The 35-year-old brunette has an easy smile, clear eyes, clean skin, dresses modestly, and talks about her love of Jesus and gratitude to God. I work at Chipotle on South Florida and so I go to work for eight-hour days and Sundays, I go to church, Cere said. I'm part of the welcoming team at Grace City and really grateful for that. It has been a very long road filled with self-care and the hard work of facing the inner demons of mental illness and addiction from where she was a year ago: the Polk County Jail on the latest possession of methamphetamine charges, along with driving with a suspended license. I have lived a long life of drug and alcohol addiction, said Cere. You know, on paper it looks like crime, but it's always been the addiction. Now she's getting the help she has needed for decades in a program that is one of the success stories in Polk County. Related: Mental health in Polk County and Florida: Read every story in our series Early addiction Kristie Cere a client at Tri County Human Services New Beginning talks about her experience in Lakeland Fl. Friday December 17 2021. Cere is almost finished with the program. Polk has multiple treatment centers for people suffering a mental health issues.ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER Her addictive personality showed up as shoplifting and skipping school at an early age, which turned into smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. I used to get a really big adrenaline rush from that, Cere said. I mean, I liked doing it, I liked the thrill of doing stuff I wasn't supposed to and not getting caught. I loved it and I fed off that. And then she started using hardcore drugs when she attended Lake Wales High School. I started using, before methamphetamine was crystallized meth, I started using crank when I was 15, said Cere, referring to powder methamphetamine. According to serenityhousedetox.com, crank is a deadly ticket to despair. It causes intense mood shifts, from positive and happy moods to dark, violent, and angry ones. Using crank causes high blood pressure and rapid breathing. Crank causes paranoia for many people using it. They also scratch and pick at their skin. They suffer burns on lips and fingers from smoking it, abscesses, or other sores from injecting and they age very quickly. Meth mouth is one terrible effect of crank, leading to lost teeth and damaged oral structures," the Serenity House website states. Story continues "I would go to school high on meth and take alcohol with me to school and things like that, Cere said, now adamantly taking responsibility for her actions. The only times she stopped was when she was pregnant and when she was in jail or prison. I mean the second I walked out the door, and I was able to do it, I did it. I kind of made this really unhealthy lifestyle out of it very quickly without even realizing it and it just consumed my whole life and everything that I believed in," she said. "I knew I was a good person. I just didn't know how to stop doing the things that I was doing. Law enforcement run-ins Her first run-in as an adult with law enforcement in Polk County came when she was 25 for misdemeanor shoplifting from a Dollar General Store in Lake Wales. It escalated in 2014 to grand theft and burglary when she and a man she met at a homeless shelter broke into an old roommates Winter Haven house and stole her washer and dryer, microwave, 55-gallon aquarium, two bicycles and some lawn equipment. Cere pleaded guilty and spent more than a year and a half in prison. In November 2019, she was spotted repeatedly driving around a Winter Haven neighborhood. An officer approached her and she said she was looking for a friend, but he discovered that she was driving with a suspended license and, when he searched her car, found a baggie containing .3 grams of meth. She was found guilty and placed on community control, but later violated her probation in late 2020. She was sitting in jail, facing three years in prison and knew something needed to change. I was never offered any help throughout my addiction until I, for the first time, asked for it, Cere said. In December, I remember sitting in jail and I was just so, I was so tired of living like this. I knew I wanted help, I knew I wanted something different, I just didn't know how to go about doing it. By the way: Help can be found in hospitals and inpatient care centers New Beginning She talked to her public defender, Carmelita Lall, about getting help. The director of New Beginning Women, Sheila Perdue, went to the jail and interviewed Cere for the program, asking her about her addiction and the things that she has been through in her life. The next month, she was moved to the East Lake Parker Drive facility, a complex of townhomes, which serves as an office and homes for the participants. Four women share one townhome, with a maximum capacity of 14 in the New Beginning Women program. A mobile home serves as a community center for group therapy sessions and meals. There is also a playground, donated by Publix Charities, for when the women are gradually allowed to have visitation with their children. I prayed so hard about it and God gave me exactly what I asked for and I just, I'm so grateful, you know, for the power of prayer and somebody believing it, somebody greater than me believing in me for me to be here, Cere said. Tri-County Human Services Tri-County Human Services New Beginning Transitional and Treatment Centers is another one of the success stories and solutions to the mental health crisis in Polk County. The separate men's and women's facilities provide them with the social tools and life skills to re-enter the community and maintain a lifestyle free from drugs and alcohol. The center also addresses any untreated mental health issues. It usually lasts 8-10 months. They undergo: Group and individual therapy Case management Daily living, life, and coping skills groups Vocational development groups Linkage to employment Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings Family reunification Services like yoga, Bible study and other activities Nelda Jackson, Tri-County residential program director, said they concentrate on behavior to end the cycle in and out of the court system. What she would do is she would exit probation, immediately use, show up at her probation officer - of course she's going to test positive, Jackson said. So we have that vicious cycle in the revolving door, so we really do address the criminal activity and criminal behavior (and) criminal thinking in this program. Behavior Adjustment Cere agreed that her behavior needed adjusting. Well, turns out, I thought drugs was just the main problem in my life, Cere said. I really, really thought that if I could just stop drinking and doing drugs, my life would be absolutely perfect and then it turns out that I take me wherever I go. So, you know, the character defects started showing, the behavior, the addict behavior, started showing. So that was definitely something that I had to work through. She also had to deal with the trauma she has endured as a female drug addict, the manipulation and violence she went through, and also the manipulation she exerted on others, including her own family. "I really had a lot of issues, a lot of mental issues that I had to deal with and to kind of reframe my mindset and how to live a positive, healthy life, she said. Kristie Cere a client at Tri County Human Services New Beginning dabs at a tear as she talks about what she put her mother and son through as an addict and person suffering with mental health issues in Lakeland Fl., Friday, December 17, 2021. Cere is almost finished with this phase of the program. Polk has multiple treatment centers for people suffering with a mental health issues. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER Cere has been diagnosed as having general anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead of figuring out where she would get her next bag of meth and how to pay for it, her days are now filled with structure, chores, therapy, work and church. Each day, Cere gets up, makes her bed, gets dressed, puts on some make up, and goes to work, therapy or church. From Wednesday through Saturday, she works at Chipotle, on Sundays she goes to Grace City Church, Mondays, she and the other residents clean house and do group therapy and Tuesdays is nap day and another session of group therapy. There is curfew for residents that can be adjusted depending on where they are and what they are doing - for instance if Bible study is running late at church. But Cere has to be home by 6 p.m. because she is on community control and wears an ankle monitor. The cost of Ceres care is estimated at $30,000, most of which is covered by a grant from the county through a special half-cent sales tax. Cere paid about $2,000 out of pocket for her care. I slowly, gradually would watch my life change, like I started making good choices on my own, even when nobody was looking, Cere said. "I've learned how to budget my money and be responsible. I paid my entire way here by myself, nobody helped me, and that's a big thing for me. I found, in my addiction, to be kind of codependent towards men to take care of me, you know, and I had an opportunity to have help and I chose not to, and I'm really glad that I did that 'cause my self-esteem has gone through the roof being self-sufficient. The cost is high because it requires counselors to be on hand at all times, Jackson said. All of my supervisors work so hard, Jackson said. Residential is 24/7 and we're on call all the time, so it's a very interesting, different kind of world. In residential, we become a family. Cere said she has needed help at all hours and appreciates the support of staff and the women around her. It's so cool to have such a strong group of women back you up and believe in you, Cere said. It really helps when you know somebody that's had 13 years of sobriety is telling you now, I'm so proud of you I see the changes that you're making. Continuum of care Jackson said many of their clients come into the program through detox services, a medically guided withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs. We have a really exciting continuum of care in Tri-County because a lot of people, most of our people, do start at detox and if I just looked at women services alone, because that's kind of what we're capitalizing on now, we have three different residential facilities located across Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties that treat women, Jackson said. In addition, there is step-down program, where they continue to get treatment and receive group therapy. There is also a transitional living facility, with apartments where mothers and children can begin a reunification process. And there is a sober living facility, where five women live together and support one another. Many times that gap has happened between them and family members, so they're able to go there and build an extended family and it's a lot of support for them, Jackson said. Tri-County's total revenue and expenditures is about $18.4 million, with the funding coming from the county, state and federal programs. New Beginning Women and Men is funded by a sales tax through the county, which provides $3.9 million for NB and also jail treatment programs. Adult and Adolescent Substance Abuse treatment programs cost $7.4 million, while adult and adolescent mental health cost nearly $2 million. In 2021, New Beginning treated 67 men and 32 women. Program Revenue Detox $1,248,208 Florida Center $2,316,212 Adolescent Mental Health $381,606 Adult Mental Health $1,581,186 Adolescent Substance Abuse $1,118,806 Adult Substance Abuse $6,312,793 U.S. Housing and Urban Development $79,447 DUI Program $496,690 County Funded Programs, including new beginnings and jail programs $3,904,408 Medical/Support Services $948,768 Fundraising $20,991 TOTAL $18,388,124 Reuniting families Cere is hoping the reunification program with family members is something in which her mother and 13-year-old son would want to participate. She said it has been at least four years since she has seen her son and her mother wont speak to her, which she said she understands. I was such a monster in my addiction I was such a horrid (person), Cere said, becoming emotional talking about it. I manipulated people that didn't deserve it. I took advantage of people, especially my mom. You know, I just put her through it. I put my mom absolutely through it, and I finally was able to forgive myself for that." Cere said she hopes her family sees her differently, now. "I'm a product of what recovery could be for somebody and if I can do it anybody can do it," she added. "I'm truly sorry for the hurt that I've caused in their life and I hope that they can forgive me and know that I mean it this time and I'm gonna do better and I'm doing better. And I will not, I will just, I won't stop fighting for them. A year into the program and now Cere is someone helping the new women who have arrived. She sat in on a group therapy session about a week ago during which they discussed cognitive fusion and diffusion a fancy way to say recognize your thoughts and change the negative ones. One technique they use to change their thinking involves distracting their minds by concentrating on something outside of themselves. They name: Five things they can see Four things they can hear Three things they can touch Two things they can smell One thing they can taste Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time, Jackson explained. Cere said she likes to put her feet on the cold floor when she does this in order to engage her brain and senses. "Im learning how to do it and learning how to help people, Cere said. I'm a positive role model for the other girls here, you know, that are struggling to stay, that don't have any obligation to be here, that are, like, every day it's a fight or flight, whether they wanna stay or they wanna go. I'm able to encourage them. Her next step is a sober house in Winter Haven after the New Year, where she will have more freedom, but still live in a structured environment with four other women trying to maintain their sobriety. It will have a curfew, rules and chores, and is walking distance to AA and NA meetings. "I'm really excited I'm really blown away that I made it this far, Cere said. I'm actually for the first time in my life, I'm super proud of myself and just (have) an attitude of gratitude. A suggestion for the sheriff Cere also had a suggestion for Sheriff Grady Judd and the jail: She'd like them to make inmates aware of the programs offered to help people off drugs and to find a path out of mental illness. I spent a lot of time in jail and, you know, they don't offer help to people and I've learned, spending so much time in jail, all these girls have mental health problems or addiction problems, she said. I think it would be really, really cool if, you know, maybe a group of people or somebody could come in there, into the jails, and talk to these girls and tell them about these programs and that there is a better way. You know, I would even be more than happy if I would be allowed to go back in there and come right back out but I would absolutely do it, you know, share my testimony. Judd said some changes have been made in the jail since Ceres last visit. We now put the programs on the kiosk...that they use to text and communicate, Judd said via text. Thanks for the heads up. More: Polk County Jail is home to more mentally ill people than hospitals or treatment centers Cere said she doesnt want to blame her childhood or anyone from it for the choices she has made. That kept me in my addiction for a long time I am the way I am because my childhood, because this, because that. I am the way I am because I chose to be, you know, it was me, you know, it was just things that I needed to work on inside me to change, Cere said. She added that years ago she thought that this was the way she was, the way she was always going to be, and that she would be stuck in this lifestyle forever. Through New Beginning, she said she realized that wasnt true. There is a better way. I never in a million years thought a person like me could ever change, Cere said. I'm so grateful for God and so grateful for this program. This program has changed my entire life. There is a better way, you know, you don't have to live like that. You don't have to do the things that you're doing." Cere said theres a light at the end of the tunnel. "You just have to make that first initial step," she said. "You can't keep saying, Well, I'm going to go to rehab after, at the first of the year. I'm gonna go after this, I'm gonna go after that. You have to do it right now and the help is available. These people they devote their whole entire lives to help us, and that's just they're angels. They're, you know, Gods own angels. To get help If you are in immediate crisis, Polk Countys Peace River Center offers a 24-Hour Emotional Support and Crisis Line: 863-519-3744 or toll-free at 800-627-5906. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Mental Health: New Beginning Women helps people overcome mental illness, addiction Midlife was once considered a time to enjoy the fruits of ones years of work and parenting. That is no longer true in the U.S. Deaths of despair and chronic pain among middle-aged adults have been increasing for the past decade. Todays middle-aged adults ages 40 to 65 report more daily stress and poorer physical health and psychological well-being, compared to middle-aged adults during the 1990s. These trends are most pronounced for people who attained fewer years of education. Although these trends preclude the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19s imprint promises to further exacerbate the suffering. Historical declines in the health and well-being of U.S. middle-aged adults raises two important questions: To what extent is this confined to the U.S., and will COVID-19 impact future trends? My colleagues and I published a cross-national study in mid 2021, which is currently in press, that provides insights into how U.S. middle-aged adults are currently faring in relation to their counterparts in other nations, and what future generations can expect in the post-COVID-19 world. Our study examined cohort differences in the health, well-being and memory of U.S. middle-aged adults and whether they differed from middle-aged adults in Australia, Germany, South Korea and Mexico. US is an outlier among rich nations We compared people who were born in the 1930s through the 1960s in terms of their health and well-being such as depressive symptoms and life satisfaction and memory in midlife. Differences between nations were stark. For the U.S., we found a general pattern of decline. Americans born in the 1950s and 1960s experienced overall declines in well-being and memory in middle age compared to those born in the 1930s and 1940s. A similar pattern was found for Australian middle-aged adults. In contrast, each successive cohort in Germany, South Korea and Mexico reported improvements in well-being and memory. Improvements were observed in health for each nation across cohorts, but were slowed for Americans born in the 1950s and 1960s, suggesting they improved less rapidly than their counterparts in the countries examined. Story continues Our study finds that middle-aged Americans are experiencing overall declines in key outcomes, whereas other nations are showing general improvements. Our cross-national approach points to policies that could could help alleviate the long-term effects arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Will COVID-19 exacerbate troubling trends? Initial research on the short-term effects of COVID-19 is telling. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the fragility of life. Seismic shifts have been experienced in every sphere of existence. In the U.S., job loss and instability rose, household financial fragility and lack of emergency savings have been spotlighted, and children fell behind in school. At the start of the pandemic the focus was rightly on the safety of older adults. Older adults were most vulnerable to the risks posed by COVID-19, which included mortality, social isolation and loneliness. Indeed, older adults were at higher risk, but an overlooked component has been how the mental health risks and long-haul effects will likely differ across age groups. Yet, young adults and middle-aged adults are showing the most vulnerabilities in their well-being. Studies are documenting that they are currently reporting more psychological distress and stressors and poorer well-being, compared to older adults. COVID-19 has been exacerbating inequalities across race, gender and socioeconomic status. Women are more likely to leave the workforce, which could further strain their well-being. Changing views and experiences of midlife The very nature and expectations surrounding midlife are shifting. U.S. middle-aged adults are confronting more parenting pressures than ever before, in the form of engagement in extracurricular activities and pressures for their children to succeed in school. Record numbers of young adults are moving back home with their middle-aged parents due to student loan debt and a historically challenging labor and housing market. A direct effect of gains in life expectancy is that middle-aged adults are needing to take on more caregiving-related duties for their aging parents and other relatives, while continuing with full-time work and taking care of school-aged children. This is complicated by the fact that there is no federally mandated program for paid family leave that could cover instances of caregiving, or the birth or adoption of a child. A recent AARP report estimated that in 2020, there were 53 million caregivers whose unpaid labor was valued at US0 billion. The restructuring of corporate America has led to less investment in employee development and destabilization of unions. Employees now have less power and input than ever before. Although health care coverage has risen since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, notable gaps exist. High numbers of people are underinsured, which leads to more out-of-pocket expenses that eat up monthly budgets and financially strain households. President Bidens executive order for providing a special enrollment period of the health care marketplace exchange until Aug. 15, 2021 promises to bring some relief to those in need. Promoting a prosperous midlife Our cross-national approach provides ample opportunities to explore ways to reverse the U.S. disadvantage and promote resilience for middle-aged adults. The nations we studied vastly differ in their family and work policies. Paid parental leave and subsidized child care help relieve the stress and financial strain of parenting in countries such as Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Research documents how well-being is higher in both parents and nonparents in nations with more generous family leave policies. Countries with ample paid sick and vacation days ensure that employees can take time off to care for an ailing family member. Stronger safety nets protect laid-off employees by ensuring that they have the resources available to stay on their feet. In the U.S., health insurance is typically tied to ones employment. Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic over 5 million people in the U.S. lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs. During the pandemic, the U.S. government passed policy measures to aid people and businesses. The U.S. approved measures to stimulate the economy through stimulus checks, payroll protection for small businesses, expansion of unemployment benefits and health care enrollment, child tax credits, and individuals ability to claim forbearance for various forms of debt and housing payments. Some of these measures have been beneficial, with recent findings showing that material hardship declined and well-being improved during periods when the stimulus checks were distributed. I believe these programs are a good start, but they need to be expanded if there is any hope of reversing these troubling trends and promoting resilience in middle-aged Americans. A recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concluded that paid family leave has a wide range of benefits, including, but not limited to, addressing health, racial and gender inequities; helping women stay in the workforce; and assisting businesses in recruiting skilled workers. Research from Germany and the United Kingdom shows how expansions in family leave policies have lasting effects on well-being, particularly for women. Middle-aged adults form the backbone of society. They constitute large segments of the workforce while having to simultaneously bridge younger and older generations through caregiving-related duties. Ensuring their success, productivity, health and well-being through these various programs promises to have cascading effects on their families and society as a whole. [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Frank J. Infurna, Arizona State University. Read more: Frank J. Infurna receives funding from the National Institute on Aging and previously from the John Templeton Foundation. The content is solely his responsibility and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies. [This story previously aired on July 4, 2020.] In 2018, "48 Hours" first reported that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had talked for the first time about their investigation into the drowning death of iconic actress Natalie Wood 36 years ago, calling her husband, actor Robert Wagner, a person of interest. "As we've investigated the case over the last six years, I think he's more of a person of interest now," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant John Corina says of Wagner in an interview with "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty. "I mean, we know now that he was the last person to be with Natalie before she disappeared." Actress Natalie Wood and her husband, actor Robert Wagner, enter a reception celebrating the first issue of Look Magazine in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1979. / Credit: AP Photo/Huynh Wood drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in California in November 1981 after she went missing from the Splendour, her family's yacht. Also aboard that night were Wagner, Captain Dennis Davern, and Wood's friend and fellow actor, Christopher Walken. Her death was originally ruled an accident, but investigators reopened the case just over six years ago. Rumors of foul play have long surrounded Wood's mysterious death. At first, the three men aboard the boat -- Wagner, Walken and Davern -- told detectives that they assumed Wood, famously terrified of dark water, took off in a dinghy and went ashore. Over time, however, Wagner and Davern's accounts have shifted, a red flag to the investigators. Investigators say Wagner has refused to speak with them since the case was reopened. Corina tells Moriarty he doesn't believe Wagner has told the whole story. "I haven't seen him tell the details that match ... all the other witnesses in this case," Corina says of Wagner. "I think he's constantly ... he's changed the -- his story a little bit. ...and his version of events just don't add up." Walken has spoken with investigators. Was it an accident or something more? "We have not been able to prove this was a homicide. And we haven't been able to prove that this was an accident, either," says Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Detective Ralph Hernandez. "The ultimate problem is we don't know how she ended up in the water." Story continues THE INVESTIGATION Natalie Wood was, in life, one of Hollywood's most alluring actresses. In death, she still reigns, but now as one of its most enduring mysteries. Charles Osgood |CBS News report: Actress Natalie Wood is dead at 43 the apparent victim of a drowning accident of Santa Catalina Island in California. In 1981, Wood's death was quickly dismissed as an accidental drowning. But rumors and allegations of foul play, fueled in great part by the boat's captain, Dennis Davern, have never gone away. Dennis Davern: I just didn't want my whole life to go by without having the truth come out. So in 2011 30 years after Wood's death Davern and more than 700 others signed a petition addressed to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department outlining what they considered flaws in the original investigation. Lt. John Corina [to reporters in 2011]: It was already determined to be an accidental drowning, but the information we received made us want to take another look at the case. About nine months after the investigation was reopened, there was another stunning announcement. The Medical Examiner's Office changed the manner of death from accident to undetermined, triggering an avalanche of news coverage and unleashing a flood of new leads. Lt. John Corina: because of the press conferences we had we found a lot more clues, a lot more evidence, a lot more witnesses. Det. Ralph Hernandez, left, and Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spoke publically about the Natalie Wood Investigation for the first time to For more than six years, veteran Homicide Detective Ralph Hernandez and Lieutenant. John Corina have doggedly pursued this case. Lt. John Corina: Six years later, we've-- followed up on all the clues, over 100, 150 clues we've followed up on. Talked to a lotta people. These detectives even travelled to Hawaii twice to comb the Wagner's yacht for clues. It was docked there by its new owner. 2012: L.A. County homicide detectives investigate Natalie Wood family boat in Hawaii "48 Hours" showed up in Hawaii, but the detectives wouldn't talk then and refused to speak for six years. Then, for the first time, spoke publically about evidence they uncovered and there was a lot to tell. Erin Moriarty: Does that evidence lead you to believe that whatever happened to Natalie Wood was not an accident? Lt. John Corina: It does. It actually confirms my suspicions even more that -- what was originally reported isn't exactly what happened. Natalie Wood's autopsy report / Credit: Los Angeles Coroner's Office They point to the numerous bruises on Wood's body that were photographed and noted in the autopsy report. It's some of those bruises and where they were located that played a big part in convincing a medical examiner to change the manner of death. Erin Moriarty: Why are all these bruises suspicious to you? Det. Ralph Hernandez: Because she looked like the victim of an assault. Feb 1, 2018: Natalie Wood's drowning death probed as 'suspicious death" sheriff official says Another red flag: the story the three men on the boat -- Captain Dennis Davern, actor Christopher Walken and Robert Wagner -- told the original investigators. LT. John Corina: It didn't fit the smell test, you know? it didn't make sense. All three men told police that they assumed Wood had left the Splendour on the yacht's dinghy, despite the late hour and stormy weather. Lt. John Corina: That didn't even make any sense to me. Why would Natalie Wood, this big movie star try to go out on a dinghy in the middle of the night in her socks, in her pajamas at midnight, in rough seas. That story also makes no sense to Natalie's younger sister, actress and former Bond girl, Lana Wood. Erin Moriarty: Is there any possibility that she would get in that boat, and leave? Lana Wood: No, no not with a gun to her head. Natalie Wood reportedly had never operated the dinghy on her own and there was her well-documented lifelong fear of "dark water." Natalie Wood: [From "Biography"]: I've always been terrified, still am, of water, dark water, sea water. Lana Wood: When I think of her in that water, in the dark, in the cold and the one thing that she feared was water and that's where she finishes her life? Sam Kashner | Vanity Fair contributing editor: I know it's a cliche, but she really was America's sweetheart. Sam Kashner: America had grown up with her. She was the little doubting girl in "Miracle on 34th Street" and then, she was running with that sort of troubled pack in "Rebel Without a Cause." And then, of course, that incredible performance in "Splendor in the Grass" She was in "West Side Story" and "Gypsy" and some of these great iconic films of the early '60s. By the time she was 18, Wood had her first of three Academy Award nominations. In 2008, Robert Wagner, also known as R.J., talked about Natalie on "CBS Sunday Morning." Robert Wagner ["CBS Sunday Morning"]: She was so gifted. She was a very, very fine actress. And people loved her. You know they adored her. He recalled their first date when Natalie was just 18 and R.J. was 26: Robert Wagner ["CBS Sunday Morning"]: I started taking her out after that. And it led -- one thing led to another, and a year later we were married. Erin Moriarty: Was Natalie in love with R.J. when they first got married? Lana Wood: She was madly in love with him. He was the perfect golden boy. Actress Natalie Wood and actor Robert Wagner cut their wedding cake after their wedding in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 28, 1957. / Credit: AP Photo But the pressures of living under Hollywood's relentless scrutiny weighed heavily on the marriage, says close family friend Mart Crowley. Mart Crowley: They were hounded by the press. They were presented as the ideal couple. Far beyond what any normal human being could live up to. And now, these investigators say they've tracked down stunning new evidence that Wood and Wagner may have been more human than anyone knew -- allegations that Natalie fled the couple's house one night, in fear for her life. A new witness -- a former neighbor who says he was 12 years old at the time remembers late one night, he was awakened by somebody banging on the door. It was Natalie Wood. Lt. John Corina: she was so afraid of him she ran to a neighbor's house yelling he's gonna kill me. And looking for help and looking for safety. And so a neighbor took her in. According to the witness, Wood stayed the night and returned home the next morning. But so far, that's the only episode of alleged violence investigators have found. After just four years, the couple's first marriage came to a bitter end, and Wood began dating Hollywood heartthrob Warren Beatty. Robert Wagner ["CBS Sunday Morning"]: His career was on fire. And -- our relationship was gone. And why not? He was in love with her. Wagner admitted that Wood's stardom and his own insecurities probably tore them apart. Robert Wagner ["CBS Sunday Morning"]: It was basically my inadequacy that didn't -- that didn't make it work. It made me feel very sad, and very broken hearted. And -- I felt, you know, I had failed in the relationship. And I never thought that I'd ever get it back again. Mart Crowley: Both of them were besotted with each other. After they got divorced ,they went on to other partners and had children, but those marriages didn't work out and eventually they found each other again and got back together and got married a second time. Erin Moriarty: How did you find out she was going back with R.J.? Lana Wood: A dinner party family only. R.J. was there in the living room. And she announced that, you know, "R.J. and I are going to be remarried." "Wow." And all she did was she looked down, and she said, "Sometimes, it's better to be with the devil you know than the devil you don't." Wagner sees it differently. Robert Wagner ["CBS Sunday Morning"]: We felt that we had found something that was so precious to us, and it was, that-- we did everything in the world we could to protect it. They remarried, had a daughter named Courtney and were together for nine years until that final fatal voyage to Catalina Island. TENSION ABOARD THE SPLENDOUR On a miserable cold and rainy Friday in November 1981, the Splendour departed Marina del Rey with Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Captain Dennis Davern and one of Hollywood's hottest young actors, Christopher Walken. Sam Kashner: As soon as Chris Walken walked up the gangplank to the Splendour in his peacoat with the collar turned up, Robert Wagner took an instant dislike to him Chris was fresh off winning the Academy Award for "The Deer Hunter." Walken was now shooting a film with Wood and there were rumors of an affair. Dennis Davern: You could see a little bit of jealousy from Robert Wagner It just kept getting more tense every minute of the day. Lt. John Corina: He felt that Natalie was paying way more attention to Christopher Walken than she was paying attention to him. The Splendour / Credit: Dennis Davern When the Splendour docked at Catalina Island, Wood, Wagner and Walken went ashore to the town of Avalon and began drinking heavily. "48 Hours" spoke to Dennis Davern in 2011. Dennis Davern: The jealousy was under the surface until there was so much drinking that it started to come out and it was obvious. Once back on the Splendour, Davern says the tension escalated. And now, for the first time, investigators say they have a new witness corroborating Davern's account. That Friday, someone on a nearby boat claims to have been close enough to see and hear a fight between the couple. Det. Ralph Hernandez: Natalie, to this witness, appeared to be the aggressor in the argument, appeared to be intoxicated. Robert Wagner appeared to try and walk away from -- from the argument. At the point that he's walking away, she actually fell down to one knee. Davern says the couple was fighting over whether to move the Splendour to the other side of Catalina Island. Lt. John Corina: He wanted to move the boat at night. But she didn't want him drivin' the boat at night. It's kinda dangerous to do that, especially when it's so rough out there and rainy. Dennis Davern: Natalie said she wasn't gonna stand for this and would I take her to shore. Wood had Davern take her on the dinghy to Avalon, where she desperately tried to get off the island. Mart Crowley: She did indeed call me on Friday night. She said, "Can you come and get me?" (laughs) And I said, "What?" Lt. John Corina: She couldn't get a boat or a flight outta there because of the weather and the time of night so she had to spend the night there. Unwilling to return to the Splendour that night, Wood got two hotel rooms -- one for her, one for Davern -- and then reportedly spent the night crying on Davern's shoulder. Sam Kashner: She poured her heart out to him about how she was feeling And according to Dennis, about some of the difficulties in their marriage that it was becoming increasingly harder for her to deal with his professional jealousy. Erin Moriarty: And what did Dennis tell you about that night? Lana Wood: That she was furious that she was talking about leaving him. Erin Moriarty: Leaving him, not just leaving for the weekend? Lana Wood: No, leaving him, divorcing, leaving. Lt. John Corina: He felt that if she had le -- gone back to the mainland that night, she was so angry, she woulda divorced Wagner the next day. The next morning, Saturday, Wood had a change of heart. Dennis Davern: She decided, "Well hey, let's-- let's go back to the boat and let's -- let's see if we can smooth everything over here and I'll make a nice breakfast." Davern says things did get better, at first. Natalie even agreed to let Wagner move the yacht to the other, far more desolate side of the island. But by that evening things were once again tense, says Davern, when he and Wagner joined Walken and Wood who had already gone ashore and were drinking at the bar. Dennis Davern: When R.J. and I walked into the restaurant, and he saw Natalie and Christopher sitting at the bar laughing and having a wonderful time, he started to really, really heat up. Lt. John Corina: According to other people who were there-- at thebarat the restaurant they described him as irritated, he was tense. And according to Davern, Natalie and Walken were kind of ignoring him. They didn't really acknowledge him the whole time and they were just kinda havin' a good time by themselves, partying and drinking. Witnesses say all four were so drunk that when they left, the restaurant manager alerted the harbormaster. Lt. John Corina: He calls the harbormaster and says, "Hey, you know, Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood are comin' your way. They're really intoxicated. Make sure they get back to their boat OK." They got back safely, but things were about to turn ugly. Lana Wood: Everything that I've heard from Dennis Natalie's temper was surfacing. R.J.'s certainly was. It got out of hand in the worst way possible. FINAL HOURS For more than 38 years, the sea has kept her secrets about the night Natalie Wood died -- secrets these investigators believe can be uncovered. But with all the shifting stories, witnesses with failing memories or long dead, Detective Hernandez knows time is running out. Erin Moriarty: Why does a case that is now really more than 36 years old matter? Det. Ralph Hernandez: Because somebody died. And no matter what, ultimately, that's our job -- to find the truth. Dennis Davern, left, with investigators in Hawaii / Credit: CBS News Hernandez and his partner, Kevin Lowe, now retired, brought their key witness, Dennis Davern, all the way to Hawaii where the boat was docked. And there Davern reenacted his version of events. They spent a full day photographing, measuring and researching. Det. Ralph Hernandez: We wanted to take Dennis Davern there just to see what-- you know, kinda jog his memory and see what details and, again, get his perspective. Davern is a crucial but problematic witness. After initially telling police one thing, he changed his story, sold it to tabloid magazines and collaborated on a tell-all book. But Davern claims he was motivated by his conscience, not greed. Dennis Davern: I really don't just want money. What I really want is to give Natalie a voice. Erin Moriarty: You find him credible? Lt. John Corina: I find his story and -- his version of events when he talked to us -- everything fit. Makes more sense of what happened and is corroborated by other people. SATURDAY, NOV. 28, 1981 | AROUND 10:30 P.M. Davern told investigators that problems between Robert Wagner and his wife, building for two days, exploded when they returned to the Splendour after dinner. Wood, by then in her flannel nightgown and warm socks, joined Walken, Davern and Wagner in the salon the living area of the boat. Dennis Davern: Natalie puts on the kettle to have a cup of tea. I light a couple candles. I opened a bottle of wine. Natalie and Christopher continued to giggle just having fun. And then Robert Wagner, out of the clear blue, picked up the bottle of wine and smashed it. Lt. John Corina: It breaks and goes everywhere. And he yells at Walken, "What are you tryin' to do, f--- my wife?" and everything just kinda stops. Dennis Davern: Natalie, she said, "I cannot take this" and she went into her room. According to Davern, Walken also went to his room. Dennis Davern: Then R.J. went into Natalie and R.J.'s room started arguing, yelling things being thrown about. At that point, Davern also leaves and goes up to the bridge at the top of the boat, says Corina. Lt. John Corina: He hears them arguing. The arguing's gettin' louder. And he hears a lot of -- thumping. He says it sounds to him like there's a physical fight goin' on inside there, to the point where he's so concerned, he he -- walks back down and he knocks on the door. Lt. John Corina: And -- Robert Wagner opens the door and he says he has this look -- crazed look on his face and he says, "Is everything OK, boss?" And he's, like, "Go away." he looked so angry, he says, "I was worried about my own safety, that I just -- I left. I went back up to the bridge." Davern told investigators that his line of sight was blocked by the boat's rain shield, but he heard everything. Dennis Davern: The fighting continued. And then to the back of the boat. I was concerned that something really bad was going down, because the fighting, the arguing was so intense. Until 2017, Davern was the only person to put both Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood outside on the back of the boat arguing Saturday night before she died. Lt. John Corina [to reporters in 2011]: We have received information, which we thought was substantial But after the press conference reopening the case, investigators got a huge break. Two new witnesses told detectives they not only heard the fight, one of them says she saw it. Det. Ralph Hernandez: Saw figures on the back of the Splendour, a male and a female, whose voices they recognized as being Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood arguing in the back of the boat. Erin Moriarty: And how credible are these new witnesses? Lt. John Corina: They're very credible. They have no reason to lie. And their story matches what Dennis Davern says. Like Davern, both witnesses say the argument stopped suddenly. Dennis Davern: And then all of a sudden there was nothing -- complete silence. Nothing but the sounds of a rough sea on a cold, dark November night, says Corina. Lt. John Corina: No one saw anybody go in the water. Nobody heard a splash Nobody heard anything. They just heard the argument and then silence. There was one woman, in the months following Wood's death, who said publically that she heard a woman calling for help. But Corina now thinks she was mistaken. And Davern says 10 minutes after the fight ended, he finally went back downstairs. Lt. John Corina: Robert Wagner's now in the stateroom. And he sees Robert Wagner is crying. And he says, "Natalie's gone. She's missing." Corina says Robert Wagner then tells Davern to go search the boat for her. Lt. John Corina: He can't find her anywhere. He comes back out and tells him, "I can't find her." Robert Wagner tells her (sic), "Oh, the dinghy's now missing as well." Corina and Hernandez think it's possible that someone could have untied the dinghy while Davern searched the boat. Dennis Davern: I didn't untie it. Christopher didn't untie it. I don't think Natalie would have untied it. Davern says Wagner refused to call for help. Lt. John Corina: And Robert Wagner tells him "Maybe she just went into town I think to -- go to a bar or something." Dennis Davern: I said to Robert Wagner, "Maybe I should turn on the searchlight." He said, "Don't do that." Lt. John Corina: He says, "Well, maybe we should get on the radio and call somebody." Robert Wagner says, "No, we don't wanna call anybody. Let's just wait and see if she comes back." According to the story Davern told investigators, Wagner then breaks out a bottle of scotch, and the two men sit drinking while more than an hour passes. Dennis Davern: Before you know it, we're oblivious And, it's time. We have to call somebody. She's gone. Erin Moriarty: By Robert Wagner's own statement, he knew she was missing by around midnight, but no callno call for help is made till 1:30? Lt. John Corina: Right. And when he did make that call for help, it wasn't for, "Hey -- need to search the water for her." He asked people in town to search for her in town. When they finally convinced Robert Wagner, "Hey, you need to call the Coast Guard." And -- kinda he -- almost reluctantly, he said, "OK, yeah, w -- I guess we better call 'em." Erin Moriarty: And what do you make of that? Lt. John Corina: Well, if your wife is missing and the dinghy's missing, I'm gonna go look for her. I wanna find her right away. I'm gonna be worried about her, especially in seas like that it's dark out. She doesn't like the water. She doesn't like to swim There's no reason for her to get in that dinghy to go anywhere. Years after Natalie Wood's death, Dennis Davern, the captain of Splendour, changed his story about what happened that night, sold it to tabloid magazines, and collaborated on a tell-all book. In 2011, he told Lt. John Corina: If she wanted to go somewhere, she would ask Dennis Davern to take her somewhere, like she did the night before when she wanted to go into town. He did. That's his job. Lt. John Corina: It didn't make any sense, the story Robert Wagner was telling. And it still doesn't make any sense to me, that -- to say that she would get in the dinghy by herself and just -- and take off. Dennis Davern: She didn't even know how to start it. Lana Wood: She wouldn't do it. In a nightgown? She didn't get the mail in a nightgown. After the Coast Guard was finally called about 3:30 a.m., over three hours after Natalie Wood was reportedly last seen alive, the search went into high gear. Wagner's friend, Islander Doug Bombard, jumped in his boat and joined in the hunt. At 7:44 a.m., he says he saw something red bobbing on top of the water. Doug Bombard: It was about this far from shore where I found the body The body was just basically hanging in that jacket. That jacket was buoying her up she had a cotton nightgown on, and her hair was floating as you can imagine. When authorities arrived, Bombard headed to the Splendour to break the news to his friend -- a moment Robert Wagner later recalled in the audio recording of his 2008 memoir, "Pieces of My Heart:." Robert Wagner [audio book]: Doug pulled up and got out of his boat. "Where is she?" I asked him. Doug looked at me. "She's dead, R.J..." My knees went out; everything went away from me." Dennis Davern: I remember people coming on the boat saying that they had found Natalie Wood floating, that she had drowned. I just couldn't believe it. SHIFTING STORIES News of Natalie Wood's sudden death at the age of 43 quickly spread across the globe. Family friend Mart Crowley will never forget getting the call. Mart Crowley: When I picked up the phone it was R.J. and he just screamed into the phone. "She's gone." Lana Wood: I just couldn't believe it. I just couldn't Things like that don't happen. And they don't happen to my sister, my family. And they don't happen to Natalie Wood it's not real. But it was all too real for Dennis Davern. Soon after the movie star was found floating face down in the waters off Blue Cavern Point, Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken left the island in a police helicopter , leaving Davern the grim task of identifying Natalie Wood's body. Dennis Davern: Robert Wagner asked me if I would identify her body, 'cause he didn't want to. It was the eeriest feeling I've ever had my life, to look at her laying there, lifeless. It was so disturbing. Lt. John Corina [to Moriarty]: You would think he'd wanna stick around and identify his wife and make sure her body was taken care of That would be maybe what I would do. maybe he's different. Corina understands that grief can do strange things to people. But that doesn't explain why, according to Davern, Wagner immediately came up with a story and told the men on the boat to stick to it. Dennis Davern: Wagner was very serious about having the stories being the same Dennis Davern: It was kinda like, "Here we are, OK, Dennis, Christopher, me, this is what it is. You got it? That's what it is. OK? OK?" "OK if all the stories are the same there's really not much to investigate." Davern says he now regrets going along with it, but Corina says he understands how it could have happened. Lt. John Corina: You gotta understand Davern back then people mischaracterize him as the captain of the boat. He's not the captain of the boat. He's the caretaker of the boat. Robert Wagner's the guy who pays him that's his meal ticket. if you look at Robert Wagner's statement at the time, they almost parrot each other. All three men told the original detective, Duane Rasure, that they thought Natalie had taken the dinghy ashore. The detective told "48 Hours" in 2011 that he believed them. Det. Duane Rasure: I didn't doubt anything Robert Wagner told me. Christopher Walken he basically told me the same story. It was pretty well confirmed. They assumed that she got in that Zodiac and went ashore. There was no mention of a fight. Det. Duane Rasure: I saw the shattered glass in disarray and I questioned Robert Wagner about that and says it happened sometime during their travels just due to rough seas. I had no reason to question him any further. Detective Rasure, who has since died, only interviewed Wagner one more time. It was the day after Natalie's funeral at the actor's bedside with his attorney present. Det. Duane Rasure: When I interviewed Robert Wagner, there was no indication of any jealousy, no problems. there was no sign of foul play in my mind. Coroner Thomas Noguchi agreed, saying, "It is a tragic accidental drowning." Two weeks after the actress's death, the case was officially closed. But Davern says his nightmare was just beginning. Dennis Davern: I felt like I was a prisoner. Davern says Wagner insisted he move into his guest house in Beverly Hills. Dennis Davern: I was to stay indoors at all times, not communicate with anybody. Eventually, Davern left California for the East Coast, but was never able to escape the past. Dennis Davern: I think he was in a way hunted down by his own conscience He really seemed like a hunted man. In the early 1990s, Lana Wood says a tormented, seemingly inebriated Dennis Davern started calling her. Erin Moriarty: What, specifically, did he tell you? Lana Wood: He said, "It wasn't an accident." And he said, "It was ugly." Lana Wood says she didn't want to believe it at first. Lana Wood: I didn't wanna think that. But there are so many things that are just facts. She has since become one of R.J. Wagner's harshest critics, going so far as to publically accuse him of foul play. Erin Moriarty: Do you think she was pushed in the water? Lana Wood: Yes. Erin Moriarty: Do you believe it was her husband R.J. Wagner? Lana Wood: Absolutely. Yes. Like Davern, Lana Wood -- who has a long, bitter history with Wagner -- has been accused of exploiting Natalie's death for money and attention something she denies. Lana Wood: It's just time for the truth It's time to stop the lies and the deception and the finger-pointing. It's just not right. Erin Moriarty: Do you think Robert Wagner has ever told the truth of exactly what happened? Lt. John Corina: I haven't seen it. I haven't seen him tell the details that match all the other witnesses in this case. I think he's constantly changed his story a little bit. And his version of events just don't add up. Robert Wagner has never conceded that he and Wood had a fight on the boat that night. But in his memoir, he did come clean about smashing that wine bottle -- the one he originally told the police broke in rough seas. Again, Wagner reading from his book: Robert Wagner [audio book]: Walken and I got into an argument. At one point, I picked up a wine bottle, slammed it on the table and broke it into pieces. Natalie was already below decks at that point. In Wagner's version of the story, he didn't smash that bottle in a jealous rage as Davern claims, but in an argument with Walken over Wood's career. In fact, he says she wasn't even in the room. Robert Wagner [2008, "CBS Sunday Morning" ]: I looked below. I saw Natalie was doing something with her hair. She was gonna go to bed. And she shut the door. And Chris and I were still talking. Robert Wagner [2008, "CBS Sunday Morning"]: When I went down below, she wasn't there. The dinghy was gone and I looked around for her, and I couldn't -- I didn't know where she was Originally, Wagner told the detective he thought Natalie had taken the dinghy and gone ashore. But that like so many other details -- has changed to what is now called the "the banging dinghy theory." Robert Wagner [audio book]: Natalie was in the master cabin and heard the dinghy banging against the side. She got up to retie it. She slipped on the swim step on the stern and was either stunned or knocked unconscious and rolled in the water. The loose dinghy floated away. My theory fits the few facts we have. Dennis Davern: That story is 100-percent false. Dennis Davern: The dinghy really wasn't banging because it was tied off with two lines, securely to the boat. Lt. John Corina: The reality is what does the evidence show? she wouldn't go back and -- that's not her. That's not her job. she would never go worry about the dinghy. She's gonna tell Dennis Davern, "Hey, can you go tie that dinghy down? It's making noise." That's his job. Six years of investigation, four new key witnesses. Two determined investigators with a lot of questions for Robert Wagner. Lt. John Corina: As we've investigated the case over the last six years, I think he's more of a person of interest now. I mean, we-- we know now that he was the last person-- to be with Natalie before she disappeared. PERSON OF INTEREST For the first time in the more than 36 years since Natalie Wood drowned off Catalina Island, investigators called her husband a person of interest -- but they stopped short of calling him a suspect. Feb. 1, 2018: Investigator calls Robert Wagner a "person of Interest" in Natalie Wood's drowning death Det. Ralph Hernandez: We have not been able to prove that this was a homicide. And we haven't been able to prove that this was an accident either. Det. Ralph Hernandez: The ultimate problem is we don't know how she ended up in the water. The statutes of limitations have run out on all crimes except one: murder. And to prove murder, there has to be evidence that someone intentionally put Natalie in the water; falling in by accident wouldn't count. Det. Ralph Hernandez: If people knew that Natalie Wood was in the water and they didn't save her. They could've saved her. And they didn't save her. Would that be enough to bring charges in this case? No. That's not. believe it or not there is no duty to act. Actor Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood on board the Queen Elizabeth II in April 1972, after a hectic storm at sea. / Credit: AP Photo/Steve Wood Robert Wagner: [2008, "CBS Sunday Morning"]: Believe me, believe me, if she had called out or she had made any-- noises, or if we'd a heard anything, we were three of us there. We would have done something. Nobody heard anything. But investigators remain troubled by the evidence they do have: the witnesses who talk about a fight on the back of the boat, and the number and locations of fresh bruises on Natalie's body. Det. Ralph Hernandez: I think I've been a cop long enough to see those appear to be assaultive in nature. Could the bruises have instead come from a drunken fall? Perhaps. But investigators think the circumstantial evidence -- the fight, the alcohol, the jealousy -- may suggest another scenario Det. John Corina: Someone can get so enraged, they can't control their anger. Like a crime of passion, it just happens. And they didn't mean for it to happen. And then later on, they're sorry about it. But it's too late. Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood in her final film, For his part, Christopher Walken has remained largely silent through the years. He was asked about the case during an Oct. 12, 2012, appearance on "CBS This Morning." Gayle King | "CBS This Morning" co-host: I have to ask you about Natalie Wood. They just reopened the case. What's your recollection from that night? Chris Walken: I stopped talking about that 30 years ago, and there's so much information, books and internet Anything you want to know, just go look. He did, however, interview with the new investigation. Lt. John Corina: I'm not gonna go into what Christopher Walken said. what he told us was in confidence, at least for now. Investigators did tell "48 Hours" that Walken is not a person of interest. Despite several attempts to re-interview Robert Wagner, including a trip to Aspen where Wagner lives with his wife, actress Jill St. John, the investigators say the actor has refused to speak with them. Lt. John Corina: Robert Wagner, of course, we wanna talk to him and get his side of the story and try to clarify things. He's, you know, refused -- time and time again to talk to us. One part of Robert Wagner's story has never changed. He continues to insist Natalie Wood's death was an accident. But there is a part of him that blames himself. Robert Wagner [2008, "CBS Sunday Morning"]: When you're in love, you're responsible for the other one. She's responsible for me and I was responsible for her. And, you know, this accident that occurred -- I wasn't there. I wasn't there for her. And that's always within me. In February 2021, Robert Wagner turned 91. This past July, Natalie would have been 83 a sad milestone for those who loved her. Dennis Davern: It really does pain me, to this day, to know that she is gone when she really had a whole life in front of her. Lana Wood: I was 35 when Natalie died, and I am now 71. Before my life is over, I would like to put Natalie's to rest by knowing the truth. By speaking out, Lt. Corina and Det. Hernandez are hoping new witnesses will come forward -- either someone who saw something, heard something or was told something. Someone who will help answer the question once and for all: how did Natalie Wood end up in the water. Like any cold case, they intend to work it until it's solved. Det. Ralph Hernandez: We're not ever gonna close it until we get to the truth. "48 Hours"' requests to interview Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken were declined by their representatives. This fall, Lana Wood published "Little Sister: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood." HAVE INFORMATION? Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Produced by Liza Finley, Judy Rybak, Ryan Smith and Alec Sirken. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Susan Zirinsky is the senior executive producer. Minnesota community gifts memorial tree to grieving family Australia races to protect koala population ahead of wildfire season Nashville community remembers and rebuilds one year after bombing Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator and curator of the New York Timess 1619 Project, said she did not understand this idea that parents should decide whats being taught in schools, during an appearance on Meet the Press on Sunday. Im not a professional educator. I dont have a degree in social studies or science. We send our children to school because we want them to be taught by people who have an expertise in the subject area. And that is not my job, she continued. Hannah-Jones, who has promoted the integration of the controversial 1619 Project into public-school curricula, also decried the outsized voice of white parents in education policy, though she didnt offer any examples. The comments echoed Democrat Terry McAuliffes infamous gaffe during a September gubernatorial debate in Virginia. McAuliffe had declared that I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. Discussing McAuliffes position on Sunday, Hannah-Jones lamented that he was panned, for it, but defended him, arguing thats just the fact. Ironically, Hannah-Jones also submitted that schools should teach us how to think, not what to think, a common refrain of McAuliffes opponent, Republican governor-elect Glenn Youngkin who relentlessly attacked McAuliffe for the gaffe on the campaign trail. Hannah-Joness interlocutor, Meet the Presss Chuck Todd, concurred with her that at the end of the day, this politicizing of this, its clearly been weaponized. More from National Review BRUSSELS (AP) Thousands of Belgian performers, cinema operators, event organizers and others joined together Sunday to protest the governments decision to close down the countrys cultural life to stem the spread of the surging omicron variant. Waving posters reading "The show must go on" or No culture, no future, the crowd demonstrated peacefully despite the pouring rain, accusing the government of unfairly targeting the culture industry with the new virus restrictions. Under the measures, which took effect Sunday, events like Christmas markets are allowed to continue, despite their boisterous, chaotic gluhwein (mulled wine) parties, and restaurants and bars are allowed to stay open with some new restrictions. Even the scientific committee advising the Belgian government had not asked for the culture industry closures, leaving virologist Marc Van Ranst to ponder that in Belgium gluhwein beat culture. Scores of movie theaters and other venues disregarded the closure order, according to state broadcaster RTBF. A brass band accompanied Sunday's demonstration at the Mont des Arts in Brussels, the symbolic spot which spawned Belgian independence in 1830, and prominent cultural figures took to the stage to air their grievances. Organizers urged participants to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Authorities estimated 5,000 people took part and it ended peacefully. Under the new rules, indoor public activities are strictly limited, shopping is curtailed and sports fans wont be allowed into stadiums and indoor venues. The Belgian government shied away, however, from a full lockdown like that imposed in the neighboring Netherlands for the holiday season. After almost two years of forced closures and limited openings, the culture sector had hoped its efforts, including special air quality meters in halls, separated seats and limited visitor capacities, would allow it to escape the brunt of the virus restrictions. Story continues The Belgian measures come despite a steady decline in COVID-19 hospital admissions in recent weeks. The government said the fast transmission of the omicron variant made it necessary to take preventive measures. __ This story corrects the site of the protest to the Mont des Arts, not the Place de la Monnaie. ___ Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/coronavirus-pandemic. For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But as Warren Buffett has mused, 'If you've been playing poker for half an hour and you still don't know who the patsy is, you're the patsy.' When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy. In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like MHM Automation (NZSE:MHM). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, unless its owners have an endless appetite for subsidizing the customer, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else breathe its last breath. Check out our latest analysis for MHM Automation MHM Automation's Improving Profits In the last three years MHM Automation's earnings per share took off like a rocket; fast, and from a low base. So the actual rate of growth doesn't tell us much. As a result, I'll zoom in on growth over the last year, instead. Like a firecracker arcing through the night sky, MHM Automation's EPS shot from NZ$0.019 to NZ$0.037, over the last year. Year on year growth of 100% is certainly a sight to behold. I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. The good news is that MHM Automation is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 2.5 percentage points to 4.9%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. MHM Automation isn't a huge company, given its market capitalization of NZ$41m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength. Story continues Are MHM Automation Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? I always like to check up on CEO compensation, because I think that reasonable pay levels, around or below the median, can be a sign that shareholder interests are well considered. For companies with market capitalizations under NZ$294m, like MHM Automation, the median CEO pay is around NZ$451k. MHM Automation offered total compensation worth NZ$373k to its CEO in the year to . That comes in below the average for similar sized companies, and seems pretty reasonable to me. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. Does MHM Automation Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? MHM Automation's earnings have taken off like any random crypto-currency did, back in 2017. With rocketing profits, its seems likely the business has a rosy future; and it may have hit an inflection point. Meanwhile, the very reasonable CEO pay reassures me a little, since it points to an absence profligacy. So MHM Automation looks like it could be a good quality growth stock, at first glance. That's worth watching. We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 1 warning sign for MHM Automation that you need to be mindful of. Of course, you can do well (sometimes) buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But as a growth investor I always like to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Morning, Tulsa! Here's everything you need to know to get this Monday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing around Tulsa today. First, today's weather: Mild with some sun. High: 62 Low: 49. Here are the top 3 stories today in Tulsa: The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus was discovered in sewage samples collected in Tulsa last week. Researchers from the University of Oklahoma say that the amount detected in the sample suggests the variant has been in the state for at least two weeks, but they do not know how many Omicron cases the sampling represents. The samples were taken from wastewater that was collected last Friday at the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. (KOKI FOX 23) A local group is offering facade grants to bring life to businesses along Route 66. The Tulsa Route 66 Main Street organization is granting up to $1,000 to recipients in order to renovate their stores' exteriors and improve the image of the historic street. Only two grants are left for this award cycle, and businesses have until Dec. 31 to apply. (kjrh.com) The Tulsa Police Department arrested three men accused of driving stolen vehicles in two separate incidents on Thursday. The men were found sitting inside the stolen vehicles on Admiral Place and 31st and immediately arrested by officers. Police also found forged Oklahoma titles and stolen credit cards in one of the vehicles. (News On 6) Today's Tulsa Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Tulsa: Jazz Night At Hodges Bend (7:00 PM) From my notebook: Tulsa Police Department officers responded after someone left five puppies in a zipped duffel bag on the counter at a gas station. (Facebook) The Tulsa Oilers took on the Wichita Thunder in Kansas on Sunday at the INTRUST Bank Arena. (Instagram) The US National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for southeast Oklahoma and warned that visibilities will be reduced to a quarter-mile or less at times. (Facebook) Story continues More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Loving the Tulsa 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 Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around. Katarina Betterton About me: Katarina loves to read and write. Her hobbies include cooking her grandmothers recipes, learning new languages, and crafting. She and her husband live with their mutt, Ledger, and Shiba Inu, Mikasa, who are both way too cute for their own good. This article originally appeared on the Tulsa Patch Megan Rose Whats a single mom supposed to do when faced with a medical emergency? Or the parent struggling with mental health or addiction who wants to seek treatment but has nowhere safe to leave their children? Or the parent who lost their job due and has no one to care for their child while they seek employment? It takes a village to raise a child and, unfortunately, many families dont have good options or safe people to turn to during difficult seasons of their lives. As a result they suffer alone until problems become too much to bear, and the state must intervene by removing their children from their care and putting them in foster care. Take Miquetta and Eric, a Sarasota couple who came to us during the pandemic. Shortly after moving to Florida, they began struggling to make ends meet. Shelters were full. Miquetta took a leap of faith and called Better Together. The Ammirati family volunteered to care for their 2-year-old son while Miquetta and Eric worked and stabilized their familys finances. Today their family is doing well; theyre together and theyre still friends with the Ammiratis. In Sarasota and Manatee counties combined, nearly 500 children are living in foster care, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. The government doesnt have the best track record; it is struggling with an overwhelming number of children in a foster care system that doesn't have the best reunification rate. As a USA Today investigative report detailed in 2020, the state foster care system continues to fail children it is supposed to protect. We believe the best way to fix this broken government system is to get upstream by preventing child neglect and abuse at a community level, so that government intervention isnt needed. Our model at Better Together in the state of Florida works. This is how we do it: We empower families in crisis by connecting volunteer helpers to those in need of support. Our model is voluntary, privately funded and prevents the need for foster care. It has served more than 3,200 children since 2015 across Southwest Florida with positive outcomes for children, families and the state. Story continues Nearly all of the children we serve 98% reunify with their parents. While the average length of separation for a child in Florida foster care lasts 501 days and costs $30,000 per year in tax dollars, the average stay for a child in Better Families is only 41 days and costs $1,200 per year in private donations. When parents fall into crisis, our trained and fully screened host families welcome children into their homes while mentoring parents toward stability. They provide friendship and guidance to parents as they work to find a job, housing, child care, treatment and more. Its rarely just one thing that pushes people into crisis; there are usually several causes. For nearly 80% of the parents we serve, this includes job loss. Our program gets to know the whole family to figure out exactly what those barriers to stability are, and how we can best help remove them. We pair parents with host families located as near to them as possible to allow children to keep attending their school, seeing friends and contacting parents daily. Everything is voluntary, and the parents never lose legal custody of their children. After families are reunited, our volunteers keep in touch and remain available for last-minute child care, advice and more. With the peace of mind of knowing their children have safe places to sleep and food to eat, parents can focus on getting their lives back on track. As one father explained it, My son needs his dad healthy, and Im grateful to have this gift of time, to do what I need to do, to be the best dad to [him]. We provide support, but these parents work hard. We have a saying in our program: The parents must be doing at least 51% of the work. This is how we get results, even with the toughest of families. Foster care is a necessary last resort for children who are in immediate physical danger. The Florida Department of Children and Families has an important role to play when the needs of children and families exceed the capabilities of the community. But for loving households that have temporarily spiraled out of control due to things like social isolation, addiction, illness or joblessness our program provides another way. And with more than 240,972 investigations of abandonment, abuse and neglect during FY 2018-2019, the state Department of Children and Families can use the help. Our Better Families program works in partnership with the department to free up resources and allow child welfare workers to focus on what they do best: respond to substantiated allegations of child abuse and protect children in danger of harm. Nearly 60% of our referrals come from the department and law enforcement. Shevaun Harris, the secretary of the state Department of Children and Families, is among the many state leaders now providing Better Together with incredible support as we expand our services across the state. We are in this together. Elected officials have a responsibility to urge the community to provide and participate in preventive services like Better Together's "Better Families" program to keep children safe and to keep families intact to the maximum possible extent. Members of the faith community can join a growing number of churches that have already created ministries to promote volunteering with Better Together to become host families and mentors or to support those who are by providing meals, diapers and other material support. Everyone can do something to prevent child abuse and support vulnerable families. Together we can keep children safe and reduce the number of children in foster care by half. Join us. Megan Rose is the CEO of Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping children out of foster care by strengthening families through work and relational support. Learn more at www.BetterTogetherUS.org. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Better Together is keeping families united by making them stronger Todays word is over, which, according to our buddies at dictionary.com, means something that is completely finished, defeated or dead. As in: 2021 is almost over. (And it is. Trust me. It looks kinda gray. Its been shaking a lot. I give it about five days.) Sometimes, we want things to be almost over, like in 1964, when I was 9 years old and my father took me to see a rerelease of the 1959 Charlton Heston epic Ben-Hur. I had no idea what the movie was about. (I was 9 and bored stiff.) All I remember is that about 75 hours into it, I screamed, IS THIS THING ALMOST OVER? As I recall, everyone in the theater heard me. Men turned around. Women turned around. Even Charlton Heston glared at me. But, I was over it. Over is also used perhaps even overused as a prefix. Through the years Ive been described as overzealous, overbearing, overwhelming, overwrought More over-words are rushing into my head as I write this, including one that helped define my 2021. I am drumroll, please oversubscribed. And, in all probability, you are, too. Bill Ervolino Every day, I get an overload of texts and emails from companies I have done business with at one time or another, and these messages are all filled with useless information. Im sure you get these things. And Im sure you know that at the bottom of these messages, you can find the phrase To unsubscribe, please click here. Pay no attention. Ive clicked a few times. And nothing really happens. I do subscribe to the online editions of four newspapers (this one included), and I still get some magazines delivered to my home but thats OK. Ervolino: Hate to clean? Bill Ervolino has the solution I like to read. I also like to shop. From home. Have you ever bought items on the Home Shopping Network or QVC? They offer subscriptions, too. But they use the phrases auto-ship and auto-delivery, respectively. When you buy their vitamins, or skin care products, or big, fat frozen steaks, they offer you the option to have more delivered to your home every month, every three months, every six months, or whatever time frame suits you. Story continues Do you want a new vacuum cleaner every month? Sure! Who doesnt? I had a mouse in my house back in 2004 and called an exterminator, who put down traps and talked me into going on a plan. He would come back every three months to check the traps and put down new ones and Id be billed for these visits automatically. And that was great. Over the course of 17 years, he caught five mice and it only cost me $32,000. Which brings us back to television, currently the worst offender. I still subscribe to cable please dont ask me why which is part of a bundle that includes my land-line phone (which I never use) and my internet service. But I hardly ever watch cable because I also subscribe to the streaming services Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime and I know there are others, but I forget their names. Its like having 12 kids. (My mother only had two, and she always got our names confused.) Each of these services charges a few dollars a month. And others, like YouTube (which is presently free, with commercials), have begun hinting that, for a few dollars a month, all those interruptions will go away. I hate to say when I was a kid, because it makes me sound like an old man. But When I was a kid, there were seven channels and there was always something I wanted to watch. Today, there are thousands of programs at my fingertips every minute of the day and I can never decide what Im in the mood for. Last week, I had an hour to kill, so I turned on the TV. Then, I scrolled and scrolled and spent almost the entire hour looking for something to watch. Cable appears to be passe. (How many Friends reruns can you watch?) And the Big Three networks have become a snore. Ive enjoyed my many subscriptions this year, but cash-wise, they add up. My TV services alone come to more than $350 a month in New Jersey. (Plus another $150 for the bundle at my apartment on Long Island.) Thats $500 a month! Its overload. Overkill. So, after mulling it over, Ive decided to scale back my subscriptions in 2022. And I mean it! Although, I still havent subscribed to Apple TV and everyones telling me I have to get it if I want to see the new Macbeth movie, and The Morning Show and Ted Lasso. And its only $4.99 more a month! So...? 2021 is almost over and so, apparently, is my sales resistance. Have a happy New Year. Over and out. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Streaming services: Bill Ervolino done with Netflix, Hulu Trooper Herman Brown Aurora Lewis, 6, shows the hole where the trach tube was placed. She continues to inspire in her battle with brittle bones disease. Ten waterfront cabins were built at Sterling State Park in 2021. A beloved Michigan State Police trooper losing his battle to COVID, an inspiring story about a miracle child fighting a rare disease and some nefarious activity in Monroe County were part of this year's top 10 digital stories of the year. Between Jan. 1 and mid-December, more than 50,000 stories were posted on The Monroe News website. Those stories generated more than 5.1 million views with roughly 12,150 views per posted story. Here are the top 10 digital stories and the number of page views for 2021 1. "The heart and soul of the Monroe post" Mar 29. Michigan State Police Trooper Herman Brown loses battle with COVID; 33,244. 2. Public interest growing in UFO sightings, Feb 01; 31,072. 3. 'A miracle': Mother-daughter bond unbroken by brittle bones. The inspiring story of Aurora Lewis who was born with the rare genetic affliction called brittle bone disease; 27,612. 4. Crystal Waters: 680 acres in county open soon for public hunting, fishing May 17; 25,282. 5. Two charged in love triangle shooting death. A man and woman were charged in the shooting death of a Newport man that occurred at the Pleasantville Mobile Home Park, May 10; 22,126. 6. Monroe County COVID-19 coronavirus data, Feb 09; 20,985. 7. Monroe Man charged in shooting death of wife. A Monroe Township man accidentally, but with criminal negligence, shot his wife to death, Apr 13; 19,990. 8. Two riding lawn mowers, 9 power washers stolen from Tractor Supply, May 29; 19,563. 9. Do research before taking vaccine, Jun 27; 18,936. 10. New cabins debut at state park, May 25; 18,568. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Passing of Trooper Brown was digital's top story of 2021 Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has voiced concerns over unvaccinated footballers (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire) Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has echoed Jurgen Klopps concern over signing players not vaccinated against coronavirus. Liverpool manager Klopp has been outspoken, insisting players should get jabbed amid the rise of Premier League coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant. Klopp has said he would think twice about signing unvaccinated players and fellow German Rangnick has now reiterated those worries and its potential impact on any United dealings during the January transfer window. I think it could be a consideration and I fully understand what Jurgen said, Rangnick stated as United prepare to end an enforced 16-day coronavirus break at Newcastle on Monday. This is an issue the clubs seriously have to think about. If you sign a player knowing from the very first day that he has not been vaccinated, you have to be aware he might not be available. Not only for 10 days, but this could happen regularly in Covid times. (PA Wire) Rangnick cited the absence of Bayern Munichs Joshua Kimmich as evidence that unvaccinated players should be jabbed as soon as possible. The Germany international, who said in October he was not vaccinated against Covid-19, suffered a lung problem following coronavirus infection and has been ruled out until the new year. You had the example of Joshua Kimmich, who was extremely hesitant at the beginning and I think in the meantime he has realised it might be a good idea to get vaccinated, Rangnick said. He caught Covid and still has some problems with his lungs. #FCBayern will be without Joshua #Kimmich for the remainder of 2021. https://t.co/Jh5VnKVCcP FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) December 9, 2021 I think this is an issue where of course everybody can, and should have, his free will but in football, especially at this level we are playing at, we need to try to convince our players to get vaccinated. Story continues As I said it may not just happen once, it could happen several times in the future and therefore it should also be in the interest of players to be vaccinated. But in the end its a decision that each club has to take by themselves and find the best possible solution. United last played on December 11, a 1-0 win at Norwich which saw Rangnick claim a second successive league win since taking charge at Old Trafford. (PA Wire) The former RB Leipzig and Schalke boss is confident United can carry on where they left off despite having to close their Carrington training base for four days due to the coronavirus outbreak. We did a lot of work in between preparing video footage, and we have started to show this to the players from Tuesday, said Rangnick, who is only without injured midfield Paul Pogba at Newcastle. Physically they look good. The energy level was high at training, all the players were fully engaged and everybody was on board. So Im not worried about the physical state the team is in, they seem to be extremely fit. Ralf has made a new addition to United's backroom team #MUFC Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 22, 2021 Its also important for each game to have all the players not only available but in the best possible physical state. It could also happen that we rotate from one game to next, especially when you play every three days. It will not be so easy to decide not only on the first XI but also the eight players on the bench. Rangnick has confirmed newly-appointed assistant coaches Chris Armas and Ewan Sharp and sports psychologist Sascha Lense are contracted until the end of the season. He added those deals could be extended depending on what might happen in the summer over the managerial situation. The dollhouse before Samatha Marulli decorated it. The finished dollhouse was sold by Samantha Marulli at You, Me and the Sea store in Essex, Conn. Real estate developer Samantha Marulli and her son were visiting her parents in Connecticut over the summer when she stumbled upon an old dollhouse that belonged to her niece in the basement. That dollhouse became the inspiration for a new hobby of putting new life into old dollhouses. "Id never worked with miniatures, let alone wallpapering, glue sticks, box cutters, saws, but it started with one little room," she said. Marulli refurbished the dollhouse with new wallpaper, baseboards, paint and furniture. When redecorating a dollhouse, she approaches it from the same perspective as office buildings she would acquire. During her tenure as a senior leasing agent at her father's company, she would assess the aesthetic of the building and lay out a plan to transform the building's personality. She soon discovered a world for collectors and artists who design and renovate dollhouses as a hobby. "There is a sentimental side to it, as most of these collectors have been handed down these exquisite dollhouses from loved ones that have passed on. They are extremely passionate about every aspect of the hobby," she said. Her inspiration for her designs is her childhood. Marulli remembers her family eating all of their meals together and a time before cellphones. The kitchen from the Abilene Manor house designed by Samantha Marulli. "My siblings and I truly made a lot of commotion in the house. It was a dream with teenagers and babies running around. I wish this generation could experience what it's like to use their imagination and actually interact with their siblings, parents, friends and surroundings. We are growing so far apart from each other as a human race even living under the same roof," she said. Once she renovated the first dollhouse, she sold it online. The most surprising aspect of Marulli's hobby has been discovering that there is a demand for dollhouses. She created a second house for You, Me and the Sea, a store in Essex, Conn., which sold. Named the "Sea House," Marulli decorated it in the style of coastal living. Story continues A dollhouse room in the Sea House designed with a coastal living theme by Samantha Marulli. Abilene Plantation is the latest dollhouse Marulli is working on. "I saw a woman post a dollhouse she no longer wanted on Facebook. I clicked on the picture and I was in love," she said. Her decorating skills have evolved as she has become more daring with her designs and working with battery-operated lightings, she said. Bedroom from the Abilene Manor with pieces handmade by Samantha Marulli. Although, Marulli has received requests for specific dollhouse models, she prefers to create her own designs. From not knowing anything about the dollhouse world to falling in love with it, reading books on how to build and level, its become a special hobby for Marulli. "It feels good to create something, take something that was neglected and bring it back to life, then, sell it to someone who is a collector and will love it or to a child who will make memories with it and pass it down within their family," she said. Samantha Marulli, her husband Paul, and their son Alfie. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach resident redesigns dollhouses Week 16 was always forecast to be a highly profiled rookie quarterback matchup coming into the 2021 season. No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence and his Jacksonville Jaguars will meet No. 2 pick Zach Wilson and his Jets Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Itll be the first time since the 2015 season when two rookie quarterbacks, who were the No. 1 and the No. 2 overall picks, will face each other the same year they were drafted Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota battled in Week 1 of that year. Mariota won that matchup and threw four touchdowns to lead the Titans to a 42-14 victory over the Buccaneers. Its also only the fourth time in the common-draft era that quarterbacks drafted first and second overall will face each other as rookies. Lawrence and Wilson were both highly touted prospects coming into the NFL. Lawrence was considered a cant miss prospect and Wilson was compared to Aaron Rodgers (also his favorite player). Despite the high praise, both of their rookie seasons revealed just how difficult playing quarterback as a rookie in the NFL is, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lawrence is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 14 and has thrown only nine touchdowns. And Wilsons first year resume so far includes just six passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 56% of his throws completed, which is the worst in the NFL. Its a good reminder for yall because we do tend to celebrate the anomalies like the [Justin] Herberts of the world, Robert Saleh said. But as far as rookie quarterbacks, this is usually what happens. They struggle. Even through the poor play, both quarterbacks were able to flash the elite talent that convinced their respective teams to draft them in the first place. Lawrences high point was in London against the Dolphins in Week 6, when he threw for 319 yards and a touchdown to clinch the Jags first win of the season. And Wilsons electric play making against the Titans in Week 4, when he threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns, produced one of the best rookie performances from the 2021 class. Story continues But Sundays matchup, however highly anticipated for the two talented rookie QBs, will show just how much harder their tasks are amid the NFLs ongoing battle with COVID-19, which seemed to hit the Jets hardest over the last week. The Jets were blitzed by a rash of new COVID-19 positives, leaving Wilson without his head coach and 19 other players who tested positive during the week. Saleh tested positive on Wednesday and was not cleared to return. He designated tight ends coach Ron Middleton to take over head coaching duties against the Jaguars. Starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will also not be available Sunday. Wilson also will be without his remaining starting pass catcher, Jamison Crowder, whos dealing with a calf injury. He was already without his starting receivers in Corey Davis and Elijah Moore. But Saleh remained bullish about Wilsons mindset during these trials. He is in such a great place mentally, Saleh said. I wish you guys could be there every day when we have all these conversations from Week 1 until now, hes in such a great head space. I think hes really understanding the concept of keep the main thing, and the main thing is him doing his job to the best of his ability, having great tempo, great footwork, great eye placement, and getting the ball where it needs to go and whatever the result is, it is. Is it a little bit more difficult because of the lack of continuity with all the different pieces coming in and out of the lineup? Yeah, its difficult, but at the same time, his job is to do his best. Sundays receiving corps will center around Denzel Mims, Braxton Berrios and Keelan Cole. Its challenging, really just the connection of being able to just throw to these guys, Wilson said. But really, I just got to control what I can control and just go through the plays as I know, just try and handle it all the best I can. Luckily for Wilson, the Jaguars are 27th in points allowed per game (26) and own a porous pass defense. Opposing QBs have been able to complete 70% of their passes (highest in the NFL) with a passer rating of 101 (fifth highest) against the Jaguars. So while hell be without his top three receivers, the Jaguars pass defense might make watchers forget Wilson is without his best receivers. COVID-19 also hit the Jets defensive and special teams, sidelining: Michael Carter II, Foley Fatukasi, John Franklin-Myers, Justin Hardee, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Sharrod Neasman, Blake Cashman, Ashytn Davis, Jonathan Marshall, Noah Dawkins, Lamar Jackson, Tanzel Smart, Jeff Smith and Hamilcar Rashed. Thats seven key contributors and two special team aces Gang Green will miss. The good for the Jets is special team standouts Hardee and Jeff Smith were activated off the COVID-19 list on Friday, the only players activated off the list expected to play on Sunday. Its hard, but it isnt hard, Middleton said of the challenge. You can only control the things you can control, and you have no control over whos going to pop or who youre going to have. You just have to work the ones that you have and prepare with the ones that you have. Tomorrow isnt promised to you. Live for the day and take advantage of it, of the opportunity and situation that youre in right then. The Jaguars are expected to be without three starters Sunday. Standout pass rusher Josh Allen, receiver Laviska Shenault and guard Ben Bartch were placed on the COVID list. Allen leads the Jaguars in sacks with 5.5 and Shenault Jr. is second on the Jaguars in receiving with 544 yards. Russia has withdrawn over 10,000 troops from the Ukrainian border as it prepares to enter security discussions with the Biden administration in the new year. The Russian military has said that the troops have returned to their permanent bases after participating in "months-long drills" near the border. Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a thumbs-up as he attends a foundation-laying ceremony for the third reactor of the Akkuyu nuclear plant in Turkey, via a video link in Moscow, Russia, March 10, 2021. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS "A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorized units ... has been completed. More than 10,000 military servicemen ... will march to their permanent deployment from the territory of the combined arms' area of drills," Interfax quoted the army as saying. PUTIN DEMANDS US ASSURANCES ON SECURITY AS RUSSIA COMPLETES HYPERSONIC WEAPONS TEST Western nations worried for the past few months over the troop buildup, which totaled around 100,000 troops at its peak in November. Some nations started to caution that Russia might be in the middle of preparing to invade the Ukraine in a similar fashion to its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Putin has repeatedly denied such plans, instead claiming the U.S. and its European allies had instead tried to whip up fears of invasion in order to justify their own troop movements on the other side of the border. PUTIN BLAMES WEST FOR TENSION WITH UKRAINE, EXPERTS DIVIDED ON INVASION THREAT Putin urged the Western nations to make pledges to limit expansion and activities ahead of the longer discussions he will engage in with President Biden in January. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes part at a commemoration ceremony at a monument of Heroes of Heavenly Hundred, activists who were killed during the anti-government protest the Euro Maidan revolution in 2014, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in November 2021. (STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images) "You must give us guarantees, and immediately now," he said regarding a proposal Russia handed to the United States this month in a move to defuse tensions over Ukraine. Putin claimed the U.S. had responded positively to the security proposal and said he was hopeful about negotiations next year in Geneva, Reuters reported. "We are also prepared to discuss them [security guarantees] on the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] platform. I hope this initial positive response and the announcement that this work could possibly start in the near future, during the first days of January, would enable us to move ahead," Putin said. Hello, neighbors! I'm here with a brand-new Sachem Daily. First, today's weather: Sun yielding to clouds. High: 37 Low: 33. Here are the top three stories in Sachem today: An 18-year-old from Bay Shore was charged with DWI for striking the two pedestrians on Saturday. Luis Trujillo, 67, of Islip was killed and and Veronica Deleon, 47, of Brentwood, was seriously injured. The driver's name was not released. (Subscription: Newsday) Restaurants in Patchogue joined together on Christmas Day to donate and serve hot multi-course meals to over 500 families in need. It was the 13th year the event was held. (News 12) Gov. Kathy Hochul's office has reported that Long Island has a COVID-19 positivity rate of 13.05 percent, the highest rate in New York. On Thursday, more than 8,200 new infections were reported in Nassau and Suffolk. (News 12) Today's Sachem Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Sachem: The Nutcracker, CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Hwy, Oakdale, 3 and 7 p.m. From my notebook: French bulldogs are the most-stolen dog breeds. Two recent publicized cases of French bulldogs being dognapped on Long Island ended with the dogs being recovered but according to statistics only 10 percent of 2 million dogs that are stolen per year in the U.S. are found. (Subscription: Newsday) A family in New Hyde Park found a creative solution for Christmas gatherings during a COVID-19 surge. Crista LaRock of New Hyde Park recorded a video from the family's Christmas Eve dinner table with her sister wrapped in a plastic bubble. (ABC 7 News) Looking for somewhere to take the kids this break? Comsewogue Public Library, at 170 Terryville Road, in Port Jefferson Station will screen Elf on Dec. 27, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Dec. 28, It's a Wonderful Life on Dec. 29 and Miracle on 34th Street on Dec. 30. Advance registration is required. (tbrnewsmedia.com) Story continues More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Announcements: Behind The Scoreboard Horses Can Guide The Blind (Details) Add your announcement Job listings: Loving the Sachem Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at Sachem@patch.com Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon! Jackie This article originally appeared on the Sachem Patch Dec. 26The smell of bacon wafted through the air at Schenectady City Fire Station 1 Saturday afternoon. Just before the strips got too crispy, firefighter James Raucci pulled them off the stove, patted some of the grease off and chopped it up into tiny bits to go in mashed potatoes. Raucci was the station's cook for the Christmas Day shift's feast. He's one of the many guys who cooks at the firehouse so, since he was working the holiday, he said he'd step up to the plate and prepare the food for the nine-member crew. So, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Raucci started in the produce section at the Altamont Avenue Price Chopper in Rotterdam. He grabbed grapes, asparagus and other items, then moved on to getting some shrimp and cheeses for Saturday afternoon to tide the guys over until dinner. The cheese board also included sliced meats that Raucci picked up Wednesday from Capri Imports Italian Deli on Broadway. "I like to stay local and shop in the city when I can," he said, recalling how his mom used to buy lunch meat from Capri. "The little places in the city aren't going to last long." He also stayed local for the main course, a 21-pound prime roast, which he bought from the Avon Market on Van Vranken for $217. Normally the shift spends about $20 per person to cover meals for the day. However, they pitch in extra at the holidays to make the meal special since they can't be home. "You have to replace some of that holiday magic," Raucci said. The holiday shift can be hard, said Deputy Chief Doug Faulisi. It can be busier too, Fausi said, with more serious medical calls from people who wait too long to call for help. There's also more responses for mental health calls. Within five and a half hours on shift, the crew had already responded to five calls. That was a lull time, said Lt. Stan Wilgocki, who was working his final Christmas shift at the station. He's set to retire in March after spending 20 years with the department. Story continues Faulisi said, while he was assigned the Christmas Day shifts, others pick them up so firefighters who have kids are able to spend the day at home. So when the guys are able to sit down to a meal together, it helps take some of the stress off from the day and it brings a little of the Christmas joy into the station. "We're a second family," said Wilgocki. Wilgocki said his last Christmas shift has been a little bittersweet because there is a lot of comradery among the members of the station. Firefighter Mike Stanley agreed. He too was working his last Christmas shift before retiring after 22 years. He said, "there's mixed emotions." For Ed Harasiemowicz III, it will be the first of many holidays he works. Faulisi said it was only Harasiemowicz's second shift at the station. He just became a firefighter, following in his father's footsteps, who retired in April 2020. Although the crew can't spend the entire day with their families, it's made easier when some of them stop by the station. Faulisi's wife and two daughters stopped by in the morning to wish the crew a "Merry Christmas" and bring them a little gift. Firefighter Mark Karl's family also stopped by, his kids showing off some of the gifts they got to their dad. Others, like Wilgocki, video message their families. A smile spread across his face as he chatted with his wife as she visited with his children and his nephew. "That's really one of the blessings today," he said about technology. "In some ways, it makes it easier." Many of the crew members moved in and out of the kitchen throughout the afternoon, checking in on the cooking, while also still continuing to do their normal day-to-day duties, be it cleaning or other chores. Faulisi said meals on holidays or just any day can be hard when they get a call. If someone who is cooking leaves, another member will watch the food. If they all go, they shut everything off. Occasionally that ruins the meal and the department decides just to get pizza instead, he said. Thankfully that didn't happen. Around 5:45 p.m., the crew happily sat down and ate the meal, with the members calling it a success. A parent hugs a child as others come to pick up students from the Meijer store in Oxford, Mich., following an active shooter situation at Oxford High School on Nov. 30. Dr. Dana Harris is a retired administrator with the Richmond County Public Schools. Whenever we witness or hear of a school shooting, it is typically followed by a chain of questions and concerns: How could such a thing happen? Why doesnt the government do more to stop these shootings from occurring? What protocols did school personnel have in place? Why didnt the parents see the signs? It is clearly incomprehensible to understand how anyone regardless of their age, color, school, relationship or grievance could shoot a child or youth, especially on school grounds. The brutality of their actions is beyond words. Such a tragedy is any parents worst nightmare. Unfortunately, on Nov. 30, school bells were replaced by police sirens after a mass shooting by a 15-year-old suspect who fired more than 30 rounds, leaving four students dead and seven people seriously injured at an Oxford High School in the Detroit exurb of Oxford Township, Michigan. More about the tragedy: In just 5 minutes, a gunman turned a normal day at Oxford High into a nightmare The attack was the deadliest US school shooting since eight students and two teachers were slain in May 2018 at Santa Fe High School in Texas, according to a CNN tally. There have been 48 shootings this year on K-12 campuses, 32 of them since Aug. 1. In 2021, there were at least 138 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 28 deaths, and 80 injuries nationally. When it comes to how Americas children are exposed to gun violence, gunfire at schools is just the tip of the iceberg. Every year, more than 3,000 children and teens are shot and killed and 15,000 more are shot and injured. Gun violence and school shootings have become such a pervasive issue that it is viewed as an American epidemic. It has risen to the forefront of public consciousness. Gun violence is an urgent, complex and multilayered problem that requires evidence-based solutions. The data over the past several years reveal that gunfire on school grounds takes on many forms and mirrors the overall problem of gun violence in this country. Perhaps the most disturbing effects of school shootings is the feeling of on-going danger that permeates the school building where these horrific acts occurred. Students remain traumatized, the schools climate deteriorated, and the overall school community profoundly damaged. Story continues For the last 20 years, our students, educators and parents have lived with the reality of school shootings. The failure of our leaders to address the root causes of school gun violence from all angles is having lasting consequences for millions of American children. We need meaningful legislation - actions to keep our schools safe. It is high time that our leaders adopt a comprehensive approach that provides school communities with the tools they need to intervene and prevent school-based gun violence. Students should feel safe to talk to each other and to staff. The school should be a secure place where there is shared trust and respect, ongoing dialogue and mutual relationships across the entire school community. More on school shooting threats: Amid alleged TikTok school shooting threats, here's what we know about app's response Addressing the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing and mental health needs of children and youth exposed to gun violence is a complex process that requires proper identification of those exposed. One of the most proactive ways and approaches that have proven most effective is by implementing more prevention programs in schools to address students needs. School-based programs such as bullying and suicide prevention, conflict resolution and anger management are initiatives that may possibly promote transparency and active engagement schoolwide. Empowering teachers and law enforcement to intervene when students show disturbing signs that they could be a danger to themselves, or others is also critical. Children have a basic developmental need to feel that the world is a safe place. Building a cohesive and supportive school environment is the first step. Health care providers could furthermore serve as a vital resource by determining young patients who are most at risk. Establishing close partnerships with specific, local mental health providers, would not only elicit clear communication but could also serve as an encouraging avenue to more consultations, and referral pathways for students who are most vulnerable. Dana Harris Policies and programs that identify and provide treatment for all persons suffering from a mental illness should be a national priority. And for parents of school-age children, safe gun storage at home is paramount. Parents should be more aware of what is happening in their childs life and what they may have in their possession. Active parental engagement is imperative, more at home. And when parents discover that their child is struggling, they should reach out to school officials and local authorities immediately. School shootings are not inevitable, but they are preventable. Mass shootings that occur in schools are rare events relative to other gun violence. Nonetheless, mass casualty events in schools continue to pervade every aspect of the school, family, and community life. For these reasons, practitioners and policymakers must act quickly because each school shooting feeds the series for the next one, causing devastation far beyond that which is measured in lives lost. Each person has a role to play, be it screening for exposure to violence, mitigating the impact of violence through emotional support or preventing violence through community activism and policy initiatives. Only when all facets of society recognize the true negative impact that exposure to violence has on the well-being of children, youth, families and communities, and actively work to address this problem, will substantive change take place. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: To prevent school shootings, a wide array of solutions are needed The son of an animal hoarder dropped off nearly 500 parakeets to Detroit Animal Welfare Group, which operates a shelter on a 25-acre farm in Macomb County's Bruce Township. The son of an animal hoarder dropped off nearly 500 parakeets to a southeast Michigan rescue shelter shortly before Christmas, and plans to return later with at least 50 more birds. Kelley LeBonty, director of the Detroit Animal Welfare Group, which operates a shelter on a 25-acre farm in Macomb County's Bruce Township, said in an interview Saturday that the son called to say he was coming to surrender 60 to 80 parakeets that were at his father's house. But when the son arrived at the shelter late Thursday night, he actually had 497 parakeets in his pickup. "He had them all in seven cages," LeBonty said. A very tight fit. They were kind of on top of each other and smothering each other. ... They were very very stressed. They were barely moving. We had to get them out and into different cages." The son said his father kept the birds in the cages in one room of his house, and had been spending $1,200 a month to feed the birds, LeBonty said. "His son said that he just wanted to breed a few of them, and it got out of control," LeBonty said. The problem is birds breed easily. And then you just have more babies and more babies and more babies if you dont control the situation." More: Royal Oak police seize wandering 50-pound African cats and ship them to sanctuary, chief says More: Troopers spot 9 illegal trophy bucks while investigating domestic complaint While some of the parakeets appear to be healthy, others have foot problems and eye problems. "They havent seen a vet yet because obviously it is Christmas, but definitely some of them are pretty sick," she said. Another Romeo-area animal rescue group took about 220 of the parakeets, she said, and other groups are coming Sunday to take in more. The parakeets' health will be monitored for two to four weeks before they are eligible for adoption. LeBonty said Detroit Animal Welfare Group is lucky that someone last month donated four large bags of parakeet food. Story continues I said, 'We dont get that many parakeets, I dont know if I need that food,' " she recalled. "But I took it, and here we are. So I guess it was meant to be. The son of an animal hoarder dropped off nearly 500 parakeets to Detroit Animal Welfare Group, which operates a shelter on a 25-acre farm in Macomb County's Bruce Township. The total number of rescued parakeets could soon exceed 500. According to LeBonty, the son said that he planned to return to the shelter after Christmas with more parakeets from his father's home. He said around 50," LeBonty said. "But before he told me 60 (parakeets), and he came in with about 500. While law enforcement often gets involved in severe animal hoarding cases, particularly those involving cats or dogs, LeBonty said her group has not contacted authorities about the father's parakeets. She declined to identify the city or township where the father lives. "They reached out to us for help, and thats a step in the right direction," she said. "Now these birds can be in a proper home and get the care they need." The shelter is in need of food and other supplies to care for the birds.To donate, or to inquire about adoption once the birds are ready, go to: facebook.com/DetroitAnimalWelfareGroup. Contact JC Reindl at 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hoarder's son drops off 500 parakeets at shelter before Christmas Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty Images Its easy to miss the Archiginnasio, lost as it is amidst the earthen red labyrinth of porticoes, churches, and Renaissance palazzi that make up Bolognas sprawling centro storico. But follow the arcaded street left of the Basilica of San Petronio until you reach a gap in the porticoes where a passage leads inwards to a wide courtyard. This is the unassuming entrance to one of Italys greatest libraries, and the latest selection for Beast Travels once a month series on the Worlds Most Beautiful Libraries. The Archiginnasio is the largest library in the region of Emilia-Romagna, boasting some 850,000 volumes, 2,500 incunabula, 15,000 16th century tomes, 8,500 manuscripts, 7,500 magazines and a vast archive of letters, prints and drawings, much of it handwritten or from the early days of print. The origins of the Archiginnasio are tied to those of Bolognas university, the oldest in the world, founded when fraternal student organizations began hiring teachers from the local ecclesiastical schools to teach them subjects outside the church canon. These informal schools gradually united to form the University of Bologna in 1088. In the mid-16th century, it was decided to consolidate them into one building, called the Archiginnasio. The job of designing this new university hub was given to local architect Antonio Morandi, better known by his nickname Il Terribilia, allegedly bestowed upon him because Giorgio Vasari found his vivid zoomorphic motifs terrifying. Work began in early 1562 and the building was inaugurated on 21 October 1563. Like much of the architecture in Bologna, the Archiginnasio is distinguished by its red color, its porticoes, its inner courtyard, and its intricately decorated loggias. Two stairways lead to the upper floor, which hosts the library, reading rooms and anatomical theater. Anatomical theater? Yes. Built in the mid-16th century, its a sublime fusion of Renaissance aesthetics and medical functionalism, with a series of wooden pews rising amphitheatrically around a central white slab, from where professors would dissect cadavers in front of inquisitive students. The wall is decorated with wooden sculptures of famous physicians, both ancient (Hippocrates, Galen) and modern (Gaspare Tagliacozzi, a pioneer of rhinoplasty, who is depicted holding a nose in his hand) while two beautifully grotesque statues of skinned humans hold up the canopy above the professors chair. The whole thing is utterly spectacular and unforgettable. Story continues A three-euro ticket gains you access not just to the anatomical theater but to the Stabat Mater room, formerly the Humanities school. Its a bibliophiles dream, full of centuries old books arranged in rustic cabinets with such nostalgic genres as mineralogy and military art. A locked gate allows you to peer through towards the librarys archival room, with its intimate, colorful frescoes and seemingly endless corridor of leather bound books. Hall V in Archiginnasio municipal library, walls decorated with coats of arms that celebrate the history of the Learning, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. DeAgostini/Getty Images The rest of the building is free to wander around. Take some time to appreciate the coats of arms that flood all the available wall space. There are some 6,000 of them, making it the largest wall heraldic complex in the world. Each one contains the name of a student, where he came from, and his family crest. In some sections, they are clustered together like mushrooms, in others they seem to blossom and flow in a never-ending tapestry. Amidst this colorful sprawl are substantial artworks by Lionello Spada and Giovanni Valesio honoring local professors and clergy, and several overtly religious sculptures (Bologna was the second most important city in the Papal States, and the church made damn sure you knew it). The whole interior ensemble is littered with Renaissance detail, Baroque expression, and trompe-l'il playfulness. Oh, and see if you can spot the bell, inscribed 1604, that was rung to signal the beginning and end of lessons. Its on the southwest corner of the inner courtyard. In 1803, the University was moved to a new building and in 1838 the Archiginnasio assumed its principal function as the citys library, absorbing thousands of tomes that became available to them due to Napoleons closure of the citys religious orders. The collection was then expanded through acquisitions and donations from eminent Bolognese personalities, such as the Prime Minister Marco Minghetti, the Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti, and Laura Bassi, the first woman to become a salaried university professor. Though much of the building is open for wandering, accessing the library itself is a slightly enigmatic affair. The transparent door teases a long corridor leading to a grand reading room, but a sign firmly states No sightseeing allowed in the library. This is meant to be a place for serious study only, not a place to live out your dark academia fantasy for the day. Should you manage to convince the ladies at the front desk of your studious intentions, you will be asked to hand over a piece of ID for a key and then directed to the locker room to deposit everything except your most necessary items. No bags are allowed inside, no food and no drink. I was even sent back for trying to take my laptop case in. You could hide a rare book in there, I was told. The main reading room is a vast chamber of banquet tables, above which sit even more heralds with an eclectic mix of human and animal iconography. Several of the tables are dotted with esoteric signs, such as one informing you that it is reserved for consulting books before 1831. Tough luck, if the book you wish to consult is from 1832. Further on, the rooms billow one after the other like turning pages, each room redolent with the pleasures of human knowledge and the miasma of history. Theres the scroll room with its musky black cabinets, then the arts room, where the bookcases pile twenty meters into the air, arranged in a circular formation, with rickety ladders stoically offering their services, and finally the foreign literature room, which also contains several more desks for studying. The sensation of studying here at the Archiginnasioat the intersection of history, high art and cultureis a strange mixture of cozy and thrilling. At 7 p.m., the library closes and its time to step out into Bologna again. If you dont fancy wandering home, students like to congregate in the nearby quadrilateroa grid of claustrophobic streets home to bars, food markets and shops selling tigelle, the local flatbread sandwich usually filled with mortadella and squacquerone cheese and washed down with a glass of lambrusco. A nice nightcap then, to complement the experience of Bolognas mysterious, seductive, one-of-a-kind library. 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. Anti-coup protesters clashed with Sudan's security forces near the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum Sudan's security forces have been accused of using excessive violence during protests against military rule in the capital Khartoum. A doctors' union allied to the protest movement said 178 demonstrators were injured on Saturday, and has accused security forces of using live bullets. Sudanese authorities, meanwhile, said some 58 police officers had reported injuries during the demonstrations. They added that more than 100 people had been arrested in the capital. The pro-democracy demonstrations on Saturday saw thousands of protesters approach the presidential palace for the second time in a week, waving flags and chanting slogans against the military. They were met by a heavy security presence, and tear gas was used to disperse the crowds. There were also demonstrations in a number of other cities, including Port Sudan where there were reports of people being arrested and beaten. Activists planned a series of street protests for Saturday - exactly two months since generals launched their takeover. Last weekend, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched through Khartoum demanding civilian rule be restored after the military coup on 25 October. More than 100 people were injured in clashes with police in last week's protests. The security forces were also accused of sexually abusing more than a dozen women and girls. Coup leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has defended October's military takeover, alleging that the army acted to prevent a civil war because political groups had been inciting civilians against the security forces. He has said he remains committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023. However it is unclear how much power the new civilian government will have, as it will be subject to military oversight. The general has also warned that protests could impede a smooth democratic transition. Pro-democracy activists accuse the military of stealing the revolution that led to long-serving ruler Omar al-Bashir being ousted in 2019. The Hill Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) confirmed in a new interview that she told Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during the Jan. 6 riot "Get away from me, you f---ing did this," as the lawmakers were being escorted away from the protesters who had stormed the Capitol building.Cheney confirmed the interaction during an interview with The New York Times's Michael Barbaro for "The Daily" podcast that was published on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the deadly... U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on Sunday warned that the pandemic has had dire mental health impacts on American youth. Speaking to CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union, Murthy talked about the advisory he issued earlier this month about the urgent need to address the countrys youth mental health crisis, which existed before 2020 but has only been worsened by the ongoing pandemic thats impacted nearly every aspect of childrens lives. Im so concerned about our children because there is an epidemic, if you will, of mental health challenges that theyve been facing, and its partly because of the pandemic, he said. Weve seen, certainly, that many children have lost loved ones during this pandemic 140,000 kids lost a caregiver. We know that their lives have been turned upside down. They havent been able to see friends as often as they would, and thats taken a toll. Murthy said that his advisory outlined the pandemics impacts on the mental health of American youth and families, but also the mental health challenges that existed among these groups for years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health struggles were the leading cause of disability in young people, with up to one in five children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%, to more than one in three students. Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among American youth ages 10 to 24 increased from 6.8 to 10.7 per 100,000, and early estimates from the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics suggest more than 6,600 people in the same age group died by suicide in 2020. Early clinical data from the CDC shows that in early 2021, emergency department visits in the U.S. for suspected suicide attempts were 51% higher for adolescent girls and 4% higher for adolescent boys compared to the same time period in early 2019. Story continues In his advisory, Murthy noted that the pandemics negative impacts most heavily affect marginalized youth, such as disabled children, kids of color, LGBTQ youth, children who are either homeless or in low-income households, kids in rural areas, youth in immigrant households and children stuck in the juvenile justice system. Pandemic-related safety measures that reduced in-person interactions has also made it more difficult to recognize signs of child abuse, mental health concerns and other challenges. The surgeon general said that the long-term implications of the pandemic on children are still being written and its something we can shape actually by the actions that we take today. You know, I think about this not just as surgeon general or as a doctor, but as a dad. You know, I have two small kids. Theyre 5 and 3, and Ive seen the impact of the pandemic, you know, on them. And parents across the country have as well, he said. In the days since our advisory was issued on youth mental health, Ive heard from so many people around the country who have said, Ive been worried about my child. Ive seen them struggling, what do I do? And the reason we issued this advisory is because there are steps we can take. The advisory included recommended actions for families, schools and governments, as well as health care providers and media and technology companies. Murthy stressed that one of the most important things parents can do is to help break down the stigma of mental health struggles, and reassure children that its OK to ask trusted adults for assistance. Read HuffPosts guide on what parents need to know about how to talk to children about mental health struggles and suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. The Taliban has eliminated two elections commissions and a government department dedicated to peace, according to a new report. Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban-run government, said it had dissolved the war-torn country's Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaint Commission, The Associated Press reported. The Taliban found the election infrastructure "unnecessary institutes for the current situation in Afghanistan," Karimi said. Separately, the Taliban also announced it had done way with the country's Ministry for Peace and Ministry of Parliamentarian Affairs. The commissions had been in charge of supervising elections across the country from presidential to provincial council contests. It had previously shut down the Women's Affairs Ministry, AP reported. The Taliban took control of the Afghan government after U.S. troops pulled out of the country earlier this year. The international community has not officially recognized the country's government under Taliban rule fearing it could return to its harsh practices from 20 years ago, the AP noted. Then & Now If your newspaper arrived extra early the morning of Dec. 17, 1966, that's because the news carrier was in a hurry to get to the theater. Nearly 3,000 newsies from the region may have had the same idea. The annual Christmas party for young carriers of the Worcester Telegram and The Evening Gazette separate but affiliated papers at the time was held at the theater shown in this week's Then photo. The newspapers' circulation department rented out the theater and treated the youngsters to a stage show and cartoons on the big screen it was a Saturday morning, after all. It was common for the newspaper to reward the carriers with prizes and promotions. Getting the printed newspaper into the hands of readers was dependent on the young carriers going door to door by foot or bike. How else would readers get the news? The photo above shows the carriers shortly before the doors were opened. It was likely a mad dash for the best seats. Many carriers arrived early. The Gazette reported that Raymond Baltramaitis showed up at 6 a.m., the first newsboy in line. See Monday's Telegram & Gazette, and telegram.com, for the answer. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Then & Now: Do you know where this is? Happy National Fruitcake Day Raleigh! First, today's weather: Warm with clouds and sun. High: 65 Low: 56. Rent this space! Are you a local business owner or marketer in Raleigh? We'd love to start showcasing trusted businesses who can solve problems for our amazing local readers. Click here to learn how it works. Here are the top five stories in Raleigh today: A young child had to be taken to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle on Christmas night. The incident was reported just before 10:10 pm, and the 2-year-old was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh for treatment. Police have not released details regarding where the child was when struck, or the toddler's condition. (CBS17) Although RDU had a relatively smooth day on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day was impacted by nationwide cancelations. It was uncertain if the impacts were a result of COVID or the weather, but as thousands went through RDU, the impacts were felt. (WRAL) The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) has issued an Amber Alert for three missing children. The children are believed to have been kidnapped by Orlando Qwantrel McNair Sr., and they are believed to be headed towards Raleigh. (abc13) With weather in the low 70's, locals enjoyed time in downtown Raleigh on Christmas Day. Some of those people were enjoying some fresh air following family time, and others were taking some of their time to serve food to those in need. (abc11) Christmas Day tends to be the slowest day for births as many opt to schedule planned cesareans or inductions on other days, but Triangle hospitals gave special welcomes to the first Christmas babies. (abc11) Today's Raleigh Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Raleigh: Story continues From my notebook: It's National Fruitcake Day , and although I haven't found any Raleigh fruitcake makers, we can still keep it in NC with Southern Supreme Fruitcake & More! If you've already started stripping down your tree, just a reminder that Wake County has seven locations to dispose of live trees. (Wakegov) More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Loving the Raleigh 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 showcased in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at raleigh@patch.com That's it for today! See you all tomorrow for another update. CJ Fullford This article originally appeared on the Raleigh Patch Fitz Kettler Fitz Kettler was born June 21, 2019, without a functioning immune system. Babies with his condition, commonly known as "bubble boy disease," rarely survive to toddlerhood. Routine colds and germs prove lethal. But Fitz was seemingly cured before his first sniffle. He became one of the first babies anywhere to get a specific diagnosis within days of birth and an experimental therapy several months later that appears to have worked. He's now a "permanently happy," extremely cute and very typical 2-year-old, who loves to run barefoot, mop the floor and assert his independence. "Fitz do it!" is his favorite phrase. His story offers a glimpse into the future for rare inherited diseases. Like Fitz, a newborn could be diagnosed shortly after birth, or even before, with effective treatment begun in time to prevent irreversible damage the only evidence of illness a note in a medical chart. A heel stick a day after his birth showed that Fitz Kettler had inherited a rare form of a disease leaving him without an immune system. Gene therapy has given him a shot at survival. The medical advance doesn't mean an end to all rare diseases. Not every one of the 7,000 known childhood conditions is caused by a simple glitch in a gene. And even if a genetic fluke can be reversed shortly after birth, the child might already have lost brain or muscle cells, requiring extensive, ongoing therapy to participate in daily activities. In the coming years, scientists hope to end a number of illnesses that have caused misery for generations sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, PKU and a host of lesser known conditions at least in places and among people who can afford state-of-the-art care. CHOOSING HOPE The fifth in an occasional series exploring how scientific advances are transforming care for rare diseases. "It's a wonderful time in gene therapy," said Harvard geneticist George Church, a pioneer in genetic sequencing and editing. For decades now, most newborns have been pricked on the heel on their first or second day of life, and their blood spot screened for as many as 50 different diseases, depending on where they live. Story continues For some conditions, like PKU, short for phenylketonuria, such early identification means the child can avoid eating protein, which would otherwise devastate their developing brain. For others, like sickle cell, early knowledge means starting medications and helping parents prepare for the pain crises to come. As important as these early indications are, they haven't, until recently, led to completely different trajectories or cures. That's the promise of gene therapy. Sequencing in record time First a newborn with a life-limiting disease has to be identified. California has screened newborns for severe combined immunodeficiency, better known by its acronym SCID, since 2010. Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego has been working to speed up its genetic screening to reassure parents or give them the worst news of their lives. "The genome is a gateway to knowing the precise cause of a child's illness and thereby getting them the appropriate therapy," said Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, president and CEO of Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine. Daniel and Christina Kettler were overwhelmed by their son's fatal diagnosis. Kingsmore's team earned itself a spot in Guinness World Records in 2018 when it sequenced a baby's genome in a record-breaking 19.5 hours. A year ago they did even better, diagnosing a child with thiamine metabolism dysfunction syndrome 2, a potentially fatal seizure disorder, 17 hours after obtaining a blood sample and 13 hours after initiating sequencing. The 5-week-old had come to the hospital crying inconsolably. A decade earlier, his parents had lost their 11-month-old daughter, whose never-diagnosed disease had started the same way. The boy's seizures could have been triggered by any of about 1,500 conditions. The quick diagnosis allowed the hospital to determine the cause and start treatment. Six hours later, his seizures had stopped and he was "alert, calm, and bottle feeding," according to a case study published in June. "After a further 24 hours passed without seizures, the patient was discharged. He is now thriving at 7 months of age." "That's our goal: We try to turn around our results in a day or two or three days," Kingsmore said. "For the sickest kids, we want them to get a diagnosis immediately, before the doctors start trying alternate therapies." He is now building up a genetic database of at least 10,000 babies with rare diseases, sequencing samples from the sickest children in 70 hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. The project Tipping Point 10,000 project aims to train providers to use genetic information and build evidence to persuade payors that rapid whole genome sequencing should be standard-of-care for newborns hospitalized with diseases of unknown cause. Getting kids out of intensive care units and home faster saves money as well as families' emotional distress. Rady has been charging $8,500 per child for the sequencing but is trying to get the price below $5,000, Kingsmore said. In the next year or two, he hopes to develop a $200 test that could be used by hospitals around the world to rapidly diagnose 600 known rare diseases in newborns. In the meantime, FedEx packages arrive every morning at Rady with genomic samples from babies. The staff quickly classifies them into those that need rapid testing, because the child is hospitalized but stable, and those that need ultra-rapid speed, because "we need an answer today," Kingsmore said. "There are those odd cases where even a day can cost a child's life or their brain function." The gene therapy decision When Christina Kettler picked up the phone the day after leaving the hospital with her first child, she was impressed by the personal attention from her doctor. But it wasn't a postpartum check-in. His heel stick showed a problem. The doctor insisted the Kettlers pack a bag and rush to Rady Children's to be placed into an isolation room. Before Fitz was 8 days old, doctors confirmed not only that he had SCID but exactly which of about 20 different forms of the disease. His, Artemis SCID, was among the rarest, with the worst outcomes. Fitz's bone marrow cells were engineered in a lab and reinfused, hoping to provide him with a functioning immune system. It was all very confusing to the new parents, who had never heard of SCID or genetic sequencing. They were so overwhelmed they could barely follow what doctors said. The diagnosis was fatal. "It was just really difficult to wrap my head around that," Kettler said. "I'm looking at my baby who looks as perfect as can be." They were given the option of a bone marrow transplant to give him healthy immune cells, and a match was quickly found. But Fitz's form of SCID meant a transplant was likely to help for only a limited time. The Kettlers decided instead to join a gene therapy trial that might or might not save him. "I wanted his life to be worth something and to matter, and if he could help other kids down the road with this same condition that was how I decided on the gene therapy trial," Kettler said. In May 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapy to treat a rare inherited disorder, spinal muscular atrophy or SMA. Children with the worst form of SMA slowly lose control of their muscles and never learn to roll over or crawl. They are unable to swallow, eventually require ventilation to breathe and usually die before their second birthday. The first 10 babies to receive high doses of the gene therapy, Zolgensma, now marketed by Novartis, have survived toddlerhood and preschool and are now kindergartners and first graders. None needs mechanical ventilation. The ones who got the drug the earliest had the best outcomes. But the drug isn't a cure-all. Children still need aggressive physical therapy, and some are still tethered to oxygen. Not all can walk on their own. Two-year-old Stella Lackey, of Phoenix, was born with a fatal muscle-wasting disease. She received gene therapy when she was 5 weeks old and continues to get physical and occupational therapy to build her strength. Stella Lackey was about 1 month old when doctors in Phoenix confirmed her parents' worst fears. She had SMA1 and was already losing muscle control. Zolgensma had been approved six days earlier, and she was given the therapy at 5 weeks. She will continue to get physical and occupational therapy as long as possible, her mother Samantha Lackey said. Stella uses a wheelchair but sits on her own, eats solid food, doesn't need supplemental oxygen and recently rolled fully over for the first time. Lackey was so devastated by the diagnosis that at first she couldn't even cry. Tears came for the first time when Stella's nurses were overcome with emotion as they watched her become the first baby in Arizona to receive Zolgensma. "Three weeks (earlier), we thought we were going to lose our baby, that there wasn't any hope," Lackey said, choking up at the memory. "Now, I have a 2-year-old, who is turning 3 in May, who is the most independent, ferocious, sassy toddler that I could have ever imagined." She has since argued successfully to get the disease added to Arizona's newborn heel stick tests. If Stella's disease had been caught a few days instead of weeks after birth, she might have had a different trajectory. Still, the number of inherited diseases that can be treated with gene therapies remains quite limited. Biotech executives talk about developing gene therapy "platforms," but knowing how to treat a disease requires a deep understanding that isn't often transferrable to the next. "Right now, on rare diseases, you have to approach them as one-offs, and there's just not enough money in the world to be able to get very far with those disorders that are, many of them, extremely rare," said Dr. Francis Collins, longtime director of the National Institutes of Health, who is stepping down at the end of this year. The NIH's Common Fund has been supporting efforts to better understand and address challenges with gene therapy. "Part of it is about delivery," Collins said. "And part of it is about designing the gene editors to be ever more clever, so that you can go and change a single letter of the code without leaving any footprints." Finding, fixing problems before birth For 30 years, surgeons have operated during pregnancy to close gaps in the backbones of fetuses with spina bifida. Fetal heart surgeons regularly stitch up holes that don't belong. Someday, it may be possible to address other genetic defects before birth. Several researchers are studying the possibility of conducting gene therapy on fetuses. One of the goals, according to a paper published in February 2020, is "ultimately, the ability to treat diseases in which irreversible pathology begins prior to birth." Russell Kirby, an epidemiologist specializing in maternal and child health, said he's optimistic about the idea of fetal gene therapy over the long term but skeptical at the moment. He and several colleagues wrote a critique of the approach earlier this year. Even after fetal surgery, children born with spina bifida have lingering health problems, Kirby said, probably because scientists don't fully understand the condition and all its ramifications. Most research tracks whether a fetus who had heart surgery lived or died, not the long-term outcomes of children with congenital heart defects. "We need to let our scientific and clinical trials processes play out and make sure we really understand both," said Kirby, a professor at the University of South Florida School of Public Health. Many birth defects, probably more than half, remain poorly understood. Some genetic diseases are evident in only some of the cells, which would make it harder to diagnose and correct before birth, or even to know if they need correcting, he said. But it's now feasible to identify genetic disorders early in pregnancy, simply by analyzing the mother's blood. Stephen Quake, a professor of bioengineering and applied physics at Stanford University, developed the technology that finds fetal DNA in the bloodstream of the mother a proverbial needle in a haystack. "It's possible to diagnose pretty much any genetic condition before birth," Quake said. "The question is, what are you going to do about it?" In children born with an inability to process certain foods, "diagnostics are going to be pretty powerful," he said. In other conditions like Down syndrome, in which the child has an extra chromosome in every cell, there's no easy fix and people with the condition can lead fulfilling lives. In recent years, Quake and his colleagues have developed a method for analyzing the RNA from the fetus. If DNA is a cell's rulebook, RNA is what turns that book into actions. But RNA is much smaller a sentence on one page so it was harder to separate from the mother's bloodstream. Quake's been using this fetal RNA to help diagnose dangerous conditions like preterm delivery, which affects 10% of all births, and preeclampsia, which can be fatal for both mother and child. The same technology used to identify unusual conditions is now offering insights into frequent ones, Quake said, "transforming the field of diagnostics from looking for genetic disorders, which are very rare, to things that are very common." Although he helped invent the tools that enable gene therapy, Harvard's Church says the most effective way to solve genetic diseases is to prevent them from happening at all. Church has financially backed two dating apps, hoping genetics can help steer people away from a match that could lead to children with an inherited lethal disease. This isn't eugenics, Church insisted. He's not trying to limit genetic diversity, just eliminate a few people out of billions from a woman or man's choice of a mate. He compared the idea to the accomplishments of Dor Yeshorim, an organization that helped dramatically reduce the deadly disorder Tay Sachs from the Jewish population by discouraging matches between carriers. This approach could also save huge amounts of money, Church said. It costs nothing for people not to meet. Every child born with a severe rare disease in the U.S. requires more than $1 million in medical care. Genetic counseling also carries far few risks than gene therapy. "That's the reason I'm excited about it," Church said. "You can really solve 1,000 different genetic diseases with the same tool." Waiting pays off, for now Christina Kettler, a marketing contractor, was over 40 when she and her husband, Daniel, a construction engineer, decided they wanted children. With donor eggs and his sperm, the embryos were checked for common genetic defects before implanting. Such embryonic reviews typically look only for common diseases, they now know. After rushing Fitz to Radys isolation room in late June 2019, the newborn and his parents stayed there for six days, and then isolated at home for another month. On Aug. 4, the family drove to the University of California, San Francisco, where they would live, again in isolation, for four months, as Fitz became the seventh child to participate in a gene therapy clinical trial for Artemis SCID. Doctors harvested his bone marrow. In a lab, scientists corrected the genetic mistakes in his stem cells. Fitz was cranky but nothing worse during his two days of chemo on Aug. 27 and 28. The toxic chemicals were meant to make room for the treated cells to become established and build an immune system. The next day, a milky white liquid containing the corrected cells was infused into his tiny body. It took all of 20 minutes. "The transplant itself feels a little anticlimactic," Christina Kettler said. Fitz Kettler Then the waiting began. "Three months of waiting. And waiting. And waiting." Kettler chronicled their hopes and boredom for family members and friends. In early December, Fitz was cleared to go back home to San Diego to isolate again. A few months later, COVID-19 struck, and everyone else understood what the Kettlers endured for months. "I think the world knows better now that fear of going to the grocery store, but that's how we were living 8 months before the pandemic hit," Kettler said. "Not trusting people, not knowing if they were safe or not to be around. It's just exhausting." Fitz did well every step of the way in the trial. "He had no issues with chemo, surgery he never had any issues with anything," said his mom. The Kettler family Now Kettler is back to imagining a future for their toddler. "He's such a character. I can't wait to watch him grow up," she said. "He has the best sense of humor." He also has had his first cold and his first live vaccine both cause for celebration. "His immune system handled it beautifully. I'm so proud of him and his man-made immune system," Kettler said. "We are over the moon!" She's also 17 weeks pregnant, with an embryo carefully screened for SCID. It's a good idea for Fitz to have a sibling, Kettler said. In case he ever needs a bone marrow transplant, his little sister might be able to help. No one knows whether the gene therapy will last forever. Fitz will stay in the trial until he's about 17. But for now, Kettler is thrilled and thankful. "I'm so grateful that these scientists, these researchers are making these things happen. The future is here. It's now, and it's saving lives." Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. More in this series This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The future of gene therapy could cure rare diseases in the womb Morning, people of Westhampton-Hampton Bays! I'm here with your Monday copy of the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily. First, today's weather: More clouds than sun. High: 38 Low: 27. Here are the top three stories in Westhampton-Hampton Bays today: Gov. Kathy Hochul's office has reported that Long Island has a COVID-19 positivity rate of 13.05 percent, the highest rate in New York. On Thursday, more than 8,200 new infections were reported in Nassau and Suffolk. (News 12) The name of the man killed in a Christmas home invasion in Southampton was released. Steven Byrnes, a 53-year-old man, was found shot on Roses Grove Road. (Patch) The Riverhead-based African American Educational & Cultural Festival will host its Second Annual Virtual Spirit of Kwanzaa Celebration: Seven days and Seven Principles from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The celebration is virtual and takes place every night at 7 p.m. (RiverheadLOCAL) Today's Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Westhampton-Hampton Bays: All ages roller skating, 102 3rd St., Greenport, 6 to 9 p.m. From my notebook: North Fork Brewing Co. in Riverhead will have a Holiday Trivia Night Tuesday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Subscription: Newsday) Nextdoor Neighbor, Lynn Ave, HB: " My husband, a local artist is looking for an affordable studio space, one that is suitable for doing marble sculptures ." (Nextdoor) French bulldogs are the most-stolen dog breeds. Two recent publicized cases of French bulldogs being dognapped on Long Island ended with the dogs being recovered but according to statistics only 10 percent of 2 million dogs that are stolen per year in the U.S. are found. (Subscription: Newsday) More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Featured businesses: Story continues Events: New Years Eve Gala in the Grand Ballroom (December 31) Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31) Add your event Announcements: Behind The Scoreboard Horses Can Guide The Blind (Details) Add your announcement Loving the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at Westhampton-HamptonBays@Patch.com Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday. I'll see you soon! Jackie This article originally appeared on the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch At this fall's inaugural Eradicate Hate conference, held just 10 months after the Jan. 6 insurrection showed how deeply hateful ideologies pervade U.S. society, experts in violent domestic extremism discovered something surprising: hope. After years of frustration and alarm, several experts agreed they could be on the cusp of establishing ways to deter people from extremism and pull individuals out of hate groups. The new approaches come as President Joe Biden has prioritized tackling homegrown extremism after years of denial under former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, far-right extremists have been cowed by criminal prosecutions stemming from the insurrection, as well as pioneering civil lawsuits that hit them where it hurts: their bank accounts. Doors are open, in ways they haven't been before, to try to more directly confront these threats, said Jared Holt a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab who researches extremism. There's all kinds of tools at our disposal that we can use to fight this stuff, and there's a political will to do so right now," he said. "So, as long as people can maintain a clear vision and momentum against it, Im hopeful of what we can accomplish in the next year. White supremacists lose major lawsuit:Jury awards plaintiffs $25 million in lawsuit against white supremacists behind violence at Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' rally Proud Boys at anti-vax protests: With Trump in the rearview mirror, Proud Boys offer muscle at rallies against vaccine mandates, masks Two new efforts stuck out to experts. Moonshot, a company based in London, has figured out how to leverage the much-maligned algorithms that govern social media and online ad platforms, using them not to sell products, but to redirect users who are headed down hateful paths. And the Polarization and Extremism and Research Innovation Lab, or PERIL, in Washington, D.C, working with the Southern Poverty Law Center, has developed interventions that it says turn would-be extremists away from the movement and help parents and caregivers stop young people from embracing hateful ideas. Story continues Members of the Proud Boys march in Manhattan against vaccine mandates on Nov. 20, 2021 in New York City. The U.S. still faces significant challenges in battling violent, homegrown extremism, experts say. The movement is in constant flux, with threats from white-supremacist-friendly groups such as the Proud Boys, unauthorized militia groups such as the Oath Keepers, and people radicalized by conspiracy-laden movements like QAnon. But the people tasked with understanding and countering those groups believe there is light on the horizon. We finally have resources: skilled hands like PERIL and Moonshot who are getting at efforts to de-radicalize people and draw them out of groups, said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. The Biden administration has said that they've got to tackle anti-government white supremacy, and we've never seen that before. We've seen agencies say this is a threat, but we've never seen a whole-of-government effort. Members of the Oath Keepers on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. The District of Columbia has filed a civil lawsuit seeking harsh financial penalties against the far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over their role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Moonshot: Going where government cant The U.S. government has always faced a dilemma in tackling domestic extremism: It isnt supposed to monitor people based on their ideology, nor should it track movements simply because their views are offensive to most people. Law enforcement agencies are not allowed to target extremist groups unless they have broken the law or are about to. But theres nothing to stop private companies, organizations or individuals from monitoring hateful and extremist content. Organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have teams of researchers to monitor and expose hate groups and individual extremists. Now, one company is taking things a step further. Moonshot, a tech startup founded in 2015, has pioneered an effort to redirect individuals who search for extremist content online, by presenting them with alternatives meant to slow or stop them from developing extremist ideologies. To do this, Moonshot employs the same targeted marketing that sells products. Working with the Anti-Defamation League, Moonshot compiled keywords and phrases associated with extremism. The company bought advertising on Google and other platforms that deliver targeted ads to people who search for particular terms. Peter Cvjetanovic (right) and neo-Nazis, white nationalists and white supremacists encircle counterprotestors at the base of a statue of Thomas Jefferson after marching through the University of Virginia campus with torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 11, 2017. If, for example, someone Googles "great replacement theory, Moonshots advertising would provide that person with videos, news stories or academic papers about how the racist theory has long been discredited. We're just using the same commercial advertising tools that are available to any big brand to Coca-Cola, to Adidas, any big brand that's trying to reach their customers, said Vidhya Ramalingam, Moonshots founder and CEO. Its just that for us, the customer base, so to say, is people who are at risk. The company also has been working with Facebook to evaluate the effectiveness of the social media giant's "Search Redirect" effort, which is a similar initiative on the platform. When users search for hateful content on Facebook, the platform redirects them to alternative content that counters extremist narratives. Those methods alone "will not solve all the problems with social media algorithms," Alex Amend, a company spokesman, wrote in an email. "Weve consistently called on companies to do more in terms of demonetizing and deplatforming harmful accounts." Don't tell people they're wrong; just provide help A January report from Moonshot and the Anti-Defamation League showed promising results from a three-month, nationwide pilot program in the run-up to the 2020 election. The company recorded about 56,300 high-risk searches and showed alternative ads about 34,000 times, the report states. People engaged with the ads more than 1,300 times and watched more than 2,000 hours of video created by credible third parties, the report says. Besides redirecting people to content that counteracts extremist messaging, Ramalingam said Moonshot is working on ads offering help like mental health counseling. QAnon demonstrators rally on Aug. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. Based on research, we know that these audiences are more open to receiving offers of help than they are open to being challenged on their ideology, Ramalingam said. If you offer services, it offers the chance to take it from an online interaction into something that's long-term and sustained. Holding Moonshot accountable Though extremism experts think Moonshot's work is exciting, several said theyre worried about the data being gathered by the for-profit company. Courtney Radsch, an author and expert on the intersection of technology and civil liberties, said Moonshot should be open to scrutiny given that the company is receiving federal government funding while doing work the federal government cant do. While the development of Moonshot's "Redirect Method" wasn't itself funded by the government, the current version tackling would-be extremists is funded through a violence and terrorism prevention grant from the Department of Homeland Security. I think the biggest issue is their linkages with governments," Radsch said. Does that data get used for anything else? Is what they are learning being used to better sell products? The data that they collect, do governments have access to it?" Amend said the company does not collect personal information about the people it aims to help. He pointed to the company's annual external human rights audit as evidence that Moonshot operates as transparently as possible, and he said the company adheres to European privacy guidelines. Were targeting searches, not individuals. We dont know who these people are, Amend said. We dont want Big Brother. We dont want people getting spied on. Seven minutes to gain immunity against propaganda While Moonshot has been working to reach potential extremists before they descend into online rabbit holes, researchers at PERIL and the Southern Poverty Law Center have taken a low-tech approach. We're asking a different question, which is not can you interrupt radicalization, but more, can you teach people to recognize propaganda for what it is?" said Cynthia Miller-Idriss, PERIL's director. Can you inoculate people against propaganda in a kind of digital literacy way? Over the last 18 months, Miller-Idriss team has been working on 10 projects to create materials that provide a counternarrative to the propaganda spread by extremist groups. Researchers have, for example, created a guide to help parents and other caregivers understand and act on early signs of radicalization. PERIL says its research shows this simple tactic has proven extraordinarily effective. A white supremacist with a Nazi tattoo leaves Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Va., Aug. 12, 2017. Miller-Idriss group surveyed more than 750 parents and caregivers who read their 13-page guide to extremism. After studying the guide for just seven minutes, "participants significantly improved their knowledge and understanding of extremism and youth radicalization in ways that make it more likely they would act appropriately," Miller-Idriss wrote in a USA TODAY opinion column in May. More than 80% of the study participants told researchers they were definitely or probably prepared to talk to young people about online extremism and to intervene with people interested in extremist ideas, the researchers concluded. 'Nobody likes to find out they're being manipulated' The PERIL team created a series of short videos meant to turn people away from extremist ideas. The approach builds on research from post-World War II Germany. Rather than attack the messages spread by extremists, the videos and other materials seek to teach people the insidious methods employed by extremist recruiters and propagandists. The theory is that young people are more likely to react to being told that they are being manipulated and lied to than they are to criticism of extremist messaging itself, she said. People march during a "Save the Children" rally outside the Capitol on Aug. 22, 2020, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some of the hundreds of rallies around the country decrying human trafficking and pedophilia were linked to social media accounts promoting the QAnon conspiracy. Miller-Idriss equates it to talking to teenagers about tobacco or fast food. Seventy years of public health research has shown that it's more effective to teach people about how they're being manipulated by disinformation or false advertising or propaganda than it is to try to come at them with facts, Miller-Idriss said. Nobody likes to find out they're being manipulated, especially not teenage boys, right? she said. We're not going to tell you you have to act differently or think differently. But we want you to have the full picture of information that there are people out there trying to manipulate you, and when they use these kinds of tactics, just think twice about it. The changing fight against extremism While several experts expressed optimism about the climate for battling extremism in the United States, none believe the threat has waned. Organized hate groups may be battered and bruised by lawsuits and indictments, but their supporters havent suddenly had a change of heart, said Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism. I think we're in an interesting moment where there's a lot of hope a lot of thinking of solutions, a lot more mechanisms than in the past four or five years. But you also have the other side regrouping, and with a similar level of support, Segal said. I feel like the challenges have gotten harder in some ways. Segal and other experts expressed concern about the mainstreaming of hateful narratives, misinformation and disinformation. He cited a recent video by Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson that misrepresents the events of Jan. 6 as an example of how fringe ideas are being pushed by media figures and politicians with massive audiences. Thats a recognition of how deep this is in our culture, and that the responses are going to need a whole different set of skills and even ambitions, Segal said. This is not the same fight against extremism as it was 20 years ago. Capitol riot misinformation persists: False claims continue to circulate on Facebook This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White supremacist propaganda is difficult to combat, but there's hope FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) When Republicans reclaimed the governors mansion and the House of Delegates after November elections in Virginia, Democrats were left only with a narrow 21-19 majority in the state Senate to block the GOP agenda and protect the raft of progressive legislation they passed in the last two years. And with Republicans also winning the lieutenant governor post, which can cast the tie-breaking vote in the state Senate, the GOP needs to win over only a single centrist Democrat to claim the necessary majority to advance legislation. That puts Democratic senators like Chap Petersen, a moderate from northern Virginia with a history of bipartisan cooperation, in an unusually powerful role as the Legislature prepares to convene next month to consider a two-year, $158 billion budget proposal and Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkins Day One agenda, which includes a series of tax cuts, a promise to roll back liberal education reforms, and a host of other issues. Petersen, for his part, is rejecting the notion thats hes in a position to play a Joe Manchin-type role in Virginia, as a centrist senator who holds sway over whether the governors legislative agenda can move forward. At the end of the day, Im a part of a team, and that team is the Democratic caucus, he said. Theres gonna be issues where I step out. Itll be done after careful thought. He did say, though, that on issues of taxes and education, he may well be prepared to break with Democratic orthodoxy and support parts of Youngkins plans. For example, Petersen said hes interested in a tax cut that would help working families. Specifically, he cited a proposal to increase the standard deduction on Virginia income taxes, which Petersen said is a means to cut taxes from the bottom up and benefit working families. Cutting taxes for working families that to me is the most Democratic issue of all, Petersen said. It also meshes with part, but not all, of Youngkins tax-cutting plan. Another issue where Petersen might align with Youngkin is education. Petersen already bucked large elements of his own party last year when he teamed with another Democrat who sometimes finds himself at odds with his party, Sen. Joe Morrissey, and Republican Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant on legislation to ensure in-person instruction for public school students in the current school year. Petersens strong support for in-person instruction intertwines with a major theme of Youngkins campaign. Petersen and Youngkin have also expressed concerns about changes to the admission standards at Fairfax Countys elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The changes eliminated standardized tests as a major determinant of who is granted admission; critics say the changes obliterate high academic standards in the name of equity and diversity. Theres probably been a couple issues where I have challenged the party orthodoxy, he said. The potentially pivotal role that Petersen could play in Youngkins agenda is not lost on the governor-elect. Youngkin called Petersen a few days after the November elections to introduce himself, Petersen said, and the two had a friendly conversation. A Youngkin spokesperson declined to discuss his outreach efforts to Petersen, but Youngkin in recent public comments said generally that he is encouraged not only by the leadership of the Republicans but also the bipartisan support on a number of fronts. Democratic Majority Leader Richard Saslaw expressed little concern about defections in a brief phone interview. A lot of this has been overhyped, he said. Weve got to see what they (Republicans) are going to put in, and then well look at it as a caucus. Petersen, a bow-tied lawyer from Fairfax, has been in the General Assembly for the better part of 20 years. He knocked off a Republican incumbent in the House of Delegates in 2001, and served two terms before a failed run for lieutenant governor. He then ran for state Senate in 2007, knocking off another GOP incumbent. Over those 20 years, Fairfax County has become far more liberal, but Petersens moderate outlook has found a home in the state Senate, which has avoided huge ideological shifts even when party control of the chamber flips. I may have been a Joe Manchin type, but I was one of a few Joe Manchins in the Senate. I mean, the Senate defeated a number of House bills that we thought were overreaching, but thats kind of our role, he said. The House of Delegates tends to swing between extremes, and then the Senate tends to be the more moderate body. At the same time, he said he was proud to support significant legislation advanced by Democratic majorities the last two years, including voting rights bills, and criminal justice reform, including abolition of the death penalty. I dont think of myself as a centrist, he said. I just try and think of myself as somebody who thinks independently. As omicron tightens its grip, the mayor of Washington, D.C., Monday declared a state of emergency. Once again, masks are required indoors in such places as churches, gyms and grocery stores, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also required in restaurants and bars in the nations capital, as they are in New York and Los Angeles. I think were all tired of it. Im tired of it, too, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, announcing the mask mandate will last until Jan. 31. But we have to respond to whats happening in our city and whats happening in our nation. The mayor is correct. Whats happening is nearly three-fourths of the new coronavirus cases in the United States are now from the highly transmissible omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Coronavirus daily case totals are at their highest level since last summer. There is no statewide mask mandate in Virginia, but the Virginia Department of Health recommends masks be worn indoors in communities with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission. More than 800,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19. Public health officials knew the coronavirus mutates and new variants were likely. Still, fast-spreading omicron caught nearly everyone by surprise last month. Much remains unknown, including whether the illness omicron causes is less severe than the delta variants, and what the long-term effects of even a mild case may be. The first death in the United States related to omicron was announced Monday. The victim was an unvaccinated man in his 50s with an underlying health condition in Houston, authorities said. So, while we all feel coronavirus fatigue, we find ourselves on the verge of another New Year having to rally again to fight an insidious, unpredictable virus. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who died this year, once said you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might wish you had. Its wrong that Americans have had to stand in line for hours for coronavirus tests, as they have in some parts of the country. Other nations have long been able to supply their residents with free, at-home test kits. The Biden administration is now rushing to make available, starting next month, 500 million free, rapid, in-home coronavirus test kits. The government is opening more testing and vaccination sites, deploying military medical teams to overwhelmed hospitals, and plans to expand hospital capacity. These are important changes that remind us we are not in the same place we were a year ago. Last year during the holidays we glimpsed the hope of vaccinations as the end of the pandemic. This year, we known the pandemic is still with us, and we are lucky if all we must endure are its inconveniences. Mask and vaccination mandates cannot be partisan when the virus is bipartisan. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, who both are vaccinated and boosted, tested positive for COVID-19, as did Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and a cancer survivor. Breakthrough COVID-19 cases are common. President Joe Biden, 79, sat near someone on Air Force One the other day who later tested positive. Most breakthrough cases seem to be mild, which is why Biden is urging every eligible American to get fully vaccinated and boosted. And yet, when former President Donald Trump said Sunday in Texas he had received a booster, some in the audience booed. Thats a sad commentary on the misguided, ill-informed, anti-vax crowd. Fortunately, there are no plans for lockdowns or a widespread return to remote schooling. We are learning to live with uncertainty. Wearing an effective mask, such as the N95, getting vaccinated and boosted, and tested if we feel sick or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 are steps all of us can take to protect ourselves and others. Those who feel their personal liberty is abridged by mask mandates can do something about it: They can stay home, off public transportation and out of public places. As much as we Americans dont like rules or mandates, especially rules that change, we must live in the real world. We all want the pandemic to end. We also want our families, friends and ourselves to be around next year. Be vigilant. Marsha Mercer writes from Washington. You may contact her at marsha.mercer@yahoo.com. You dont have to look far to find evidence of Wadas centuries-old connection to whaling. Visitors to the town on Japans Pacific coast are greeted by a replica skeleton of a blue whale before entering a museum devoted to the behemoths of the ocean. At a local restaurant, diners eat deep-fried whale cutlet and buy cetacean-themed gifts at a neighbouring gift shop. At the edge of the water stands a wooden deck where harpooned whales are butchered before being sold to wholesalers and restaurants. In 2019, when Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) the body that had effectively banned whaling in the late 1980s Wada rejoiced at the prospect of a return to commercial hunting and at a popular reconnection with a source of food that had sustained coastal communities for 400 years. But here and in other whaling towns in Japan, the resumption of killing whales for profit for the first time in more than three decades has offered little cause for celebration. While condemnation from conservation groups has eased in the three years since Japans fleet exited the Antarctic, the countrys whalers face other obstacles: ageing fishermen and vessels, mysterious changes in cetacean behaviour possibly linked to climate change, and a stubborn refusal among Japanese people to eat enough whale meat to make killing them a profitable venture. While Japan skirted the IWC ban by conducting limited scientific hunts in the Antarctic, it had long argued that only a return to commercial whaling would guarantee a stable supply of affordable meat and ignite a revival in consumption. Record-setting tornadoes, along with record-setting straight-line winds, left a trail of damage across the central U.S. and five people dead: three in Kansas, one in eastern Iowa and a fifth in Minnesota. With at least 42 tornadoes occurring in Iowa, the outbreak ranks as the most on any day of any year in Iowa, including peak tornado season, said Justin Glisan, state climatologist. Records date to 1950. Its astounding to have an outbreak like that any time of year, but for it to occur in December is unheard of, Glisan said. In Neola, a tornado caused significant damage to the towns two major employers, a grain bin and a feedlot service company, which has required them to temporarily relocate operations, said Mayor Karla Pogge. Like others, she was stunned by how quickly the weather changed. It got real dark, started pouring rain and there was a loud noise. Then, all of a sudden, it brightened up outside, she said of her experience two blocks from where the tornado hit. We are very lucky that it hit on the edge of town, she said, because it was devastating. On the other side of the river, that day Derek McMains couldnt shake a feeling of dread. In the 14 years he and his family had lived on their rural homestead outside Plattsmouth, Nebraska theyd never left to escape a storm even though their living quarters lack a basement. But last Wednesday afternoon felt different. Ill never be able to explain it, he said. It was still a nice day. Wed been outside doing chores, but I felt funny, like something weird was going on. ... I said, We just have to get out of here. About a half hour after the family McMains, his wife, his daughter, his niece and their two dogs took shelter in a neighbors basement, a tornado bearing 125 mph winds barreled through their property. It was one of dozens of tornadoes on a record-setting Dec. 15. The tornado demolished most of the large farm building where the McMains lived, knocked down trees and fences, fatally injured a horse and pet sheep and left several other horses hurt. Rated at an EF2 intensity, which is strong, it was one of at least 90 tornadoes to touch down in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin that day. In Nebraska, the states largest farm insurer said Dec. 15 will go down as the companys biggest December storm loss in 130 years of keeping records. Its astounding to have an outbreak like that any time of year, but for it to occur in December is unheard of, Glisan said. In Nebraska, at least 27 tornadoes occurred, all within a three-hour time span. To understand how unusual it is to have that many December tornadoes in Nebraska, consider that only five tornadoes in total are known to have occurred in the state in all Decembers combined since 1950, said Taylor Nicolaisen, meteorologist with the weather service. (In Iowa, a total of six had occurred in all Decembers since 1950.) In eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa, the outbreak likely set a daily record for the most tornadoes on any date, said Brian Smith, warning coordination meteorologist for the Valley office of the weather service. And the tornado outbreak vaulted the month to second for any month in that area, he said second only to June 2008, when 29 occurred in the midst of peak tornado season. The line of twisters continued to astonish as it moved northeast. Wisconsin tied its record for most ever December tornadoes. Minnesota recorded its first ever December tornado and then experienced at least 17 more. Meteorologists are still analyzing damage tracks to determine how many tornadoes actually occurred. Likewise, a record number of hurricane-strength straight-line wind gusts was reported as the storm system traveled more than 650 miles across the country, generating the first ever December derecho. (Hurricane strength is anything of 75 mph or greater, and a derecho is a powerful, long-lived wind storm.) On Dec. 15, there were 63 such hurricane-strength gusts recorded at sites across the central U.S., including a 93 mph gust near Lincoln. The damage could have been much worse. For the most part, the tornadoes traveled through rural areas, including multiple strong tornadoes that each cut damage paths of 15 to 30 miles. State Farm Insurance received 1,420 claims from homeowners in Iowa and 540 in Nebraska, according to spokesman Benjamin Palmer. Its hard to say what ended up causing more of the damage, the tornadoes or the straight-line winds, said Jeremy Wesely, meteorologist with the Hastings office of the weather service. It was a December day to remember. Across the tornado-stricken states, families, friends, neighbors and strangers have been gathering to clean up. Despite the widespread storms, only a handful of injuries were reported, all believed to be minor. Emergency officials attributed the lack of serious injuries to people heeding warnings. Im not quite sure we dodged a bullet, said Chad Korte, chief deputy director for Cass County (Nebraska) Emergency Management, a county where two strong tornadoes touched down. We gave residents as much heads up as we could, and everybody got to shelter, which definitely helped. No one was seriously injured or killed. There would have been some significant injuries if people had stayed outside and not hunkered down. The storms sped along at an average speed of 60 to 65 mph, and some storms were estimated to be moving in excess of 80 mph, according to the weather service. The speed of the system was a blessing and a curse, said Brian Barjenbruch, science and operations officer at the National Weather Service office in Valley. Yes, the speed of the storm caught some people unaware. But while winds and tornadoes were widespread, the overall speed of the system lessened damage, he said. Any tornadoes would have battered a property for only two to five seconds, he said. In contrast, some tornadoes are stationary, he said. And while the speed of the storms fueled the strength of the straight-line winds, they were in and out before they could cause even more significant damage, he said. Slower-traveling storms would have had lesser winds, but they would have lasted longer and caused more damage, he said. Its a Catch-22, he said. That helps explain why last weeks storm caused less damage than the historic windstorm on July 10 that toppled trees, blocked roads and left a record number of homes and businesses in southeast Nebraska without power. The strongest of the July winds lasted 15 to 20 minutes, according to the weather service. In contrast, the strongest gusts with the Dec. 15 storm lasted less than a minute, Barjenbruch said. Another likely reason that the damage was less severe this month is that trees had fewer leaves, so they were less likely to be buffeted by the wind. IOWA FALLS (AP) Two Iowa State Patrol troopers were justified in an Iowa Falls shooting that left one man dead, according to a review of the death released Wednesday by the Iowa attorney generals office. The review by Special Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown found that troopers Corey Smock and Jeremy Schaffer were entirely legally justified in their actions that ended in the death of Jared Risius, 35, on the morning of Dec. 8 in Iowa Falls. The shooting happened after Iowa Falls officers attempted to help a woman who reported a man was trying to stop her vehicle. Officers saw the man, later identified as Risius, strike the womans sport utility vehicle with his car, and after the vehicles stopped they ordered Risius out of his vehicle. Officers said they believed he was armed and potentially dangerous to people nearby. After police said Risius refused their orders, several troopers responded and also ordered Risius to leave his vehicle empty-handed. Concerned he might try to leave in the SUV, Smock fired a shot later found to have hit Risius in the right arm. Later, when Risius appeared to be preparing to begin driving, Schaffer fired a shot that hit him in the head, killing him instantly. Risius,of Eldora, was found to have a loaded, sawed-off shotgun. The attorney generals office says it considers the investigation closed. Once again, the death of Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses may have been greatly exaggerated. Although, to be fair, in this case the Iowa caucuses prestigious perch may have won only a stay of execution, but not a commutation. A report from Politico this week suggests national Democrats may at the very least put a pin in their effort to pull the plug on Iowas first-in-the-nation caucus status. Iowas enviable perch in the nations quadrennial presidential nominating process is always under fire, but that fire was doused with gallons of gasoline in February of 2020 when a new computer program developed to report the Democratic caucus results failed miserably on caucus night. In the weeks and months that followed, it became clear that Iowa Democrats would face the fight of their lives to keep Iowa first in the nation. The sharks have been circling the Iowa caucuses for decades; now there was blood in the water, and a very real possibility that the state would not be first come 2024. The new report from Politico suggests that national Democrats debate over what to do with the Iowa caucuses may be postponed, as the consensus appears to be the party has bigger fish to fry. Democrats on the national partys leadership committees told Politico they believe the party should focus on the midterm elections and the nationwide battle for majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as supporting and promoting President Joe Bidens agenda. An intraparty squabble that would inevitably emerge from any discussion over Iowa and the national primary schedule would not serve the party well for the time being, the report cites national Democrats as saying. So it may be that Iowas first-in-the-nation spot will remain safe, at least through the coming year. And even after next years midterm elections and as the calendar flips again to 2023, its not difficult to envision a scenario where, once again, national Democrats decide it is better to focus on bigger issues for 2024, like working to get Biden re-elected. If they dont want to have an intraparty kerfuffle playing out in public leading up to the midterm elections, why would they want such a thing while theyre trying to keep the White House? And so it could be that, yet again, inertia proves to be Iowas biggest ally in remaining first-in-the-nation. So often its not that everyone agrees that Iowa should be first, its that nobody agrees on who else should be. Iowas own Jeff Link, a Democratic political consultant, said as much in that Politico report. There have been threats of varying degrees since the 80s, and usually what happens is right after a caucus theres a lot of energy to do something different, and then the reality sets in that then you have to get 49 states to agree on what the alternative is, and that becomes difficult, and its harder to change it than it is to leave it as it is, Link told Politico. That said, Iowa Democrats would be well-served to not rest on any laurels. As was said at the top of this piece, the Politico report suggests a stay of execution, not a commutation. (Iowa) may still be f-ed, one anonymous and apparently colorful Democratic National Committee member told Politico. The real question is whether its f-ed in 2024 or 2028. The sharks may move on to other prey, but be assured they will keep circling. And they will be back. Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter at @ErinDMurphy. 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. Funds now starting to flow from Congress recently passed infrastructure law should bring a new Lee Bird Field passenger terminal closer, Airport Manager Sam Seafeldt said Friday. The North Platte Regional Airport will get $1.01 million in the five-year bills first year, as will airports in Grand Island and Kearney, the Grand Island Independent has reported. Seafeldt said the North Platte Airport Authority will bank those funds, along with expected future aid from the infrastructure bill, toward projects envisioned in the airports pending 20-year master plan. Top on the plans list is a passenger terminal just east of the existing 1952 terminal, though Seafeldt cautioned that the Federal Aviation Administration has to approve first the master plan and then a new terminal itself. But Lee Birds first award from the FAAs new Airport Infrastructure Grant program will accelerate what we have scheduled here in the next five years and possibly beyond, he said. The FAA is awarding $22.2 million to Nebraska airports in the initial year of AIG, one of three new airport aid programs under the under the bill President Joe Biden signed in November. North Platte Planning Commission members Tuesday will review their proposed updates to city residential zoning regulations after considering a replat next to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. The panels last 2021 meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chamber, 211 W. Third St. Residents who dont attend may watch remotely on the citys YouTube channel. Commission members have discussed over several meetings how to adjust the number and types of residential zoning districts and permitted and conditional uses within them, Planning Administrator Judy Clark said in a memorandum. No action will be taken at Tuesdays meeting, but the evenings discussion is expected to be the last before the panel formally considers changes to propose to the City Council, she said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A current draft of the updates, among other things, would reduce the number of residential districts from four to three while establishing new suburban residential and mobile home residential districts. Planning Commission members also will discuss proposed regulations governing recreational vehicle parks, accessory dwelling units and nonconforming uses within the various residential districts. The Christmas Spirit took hold of one lucky boy earlier this month, and he was eager to spread his cheer. Jacob Boller, a sixth-grader from Clear Lake, was getting home from school on a chilly December day, when he spotted money from the corner of his eye. Melinda, Jacob's mother, heard her daughter yelling "it's not fair!" from inside their home. Jacob had found a $100 bill on the ground. At first, Melinda was surprised, she didn't believe it was real. Father Josh Boller joked about the cash, "first thing I did was look in my wallet to make sure I hadn't lost any of mine." Naturally, they took it to the bank. Not to deposit, but to make sure they weren't being tricked. But Halloween tricks are over, and the Christmas bill was real. "We went to the police to see if it was anyone's (money,)" Jacob recounted their next step. The police told him nobody had called about a missing bill, and after asking around, Jacob pinned it on the fridge and waited for somebody to call. For eight days, that bill was stuck on the fridge. Nobody ever claimed it. After waiting the appropriate time, Jacob's parents told him it was his money, and he could spend it however he wanted. Assuming no significant changes in global wind patterns, increases in evaporation and moisture will mean more moisture is transported from dry areas to wet areas and into the storm tracks at higher latitudes. Global warming could also potentially change the global circulation pattern, causing a shift in the worlds wet and dry regions. Mountains, moisture and the east-west divide These dynamics are also affected by local conditions, such as the shape of the land, the types of plants on it and the presence of major water bodies. The western U.S., with the exception of the West Coast, is dry in part because it lies in the rain shadow of mountains. The westerly wind from the Pacific Ocean is forced upward by the mountain ranges in the West. As it moves up, the air cools and precipitation forms on the windward side of the mountains. By the time the wind reaches the leeward side of the mountains, the moisture has already rained out. As the wind descends the mountains, the air warms up, further reducing the relative humidity. After that week of uncertainty, he was finally able to reach his family and has since stayed in contact with them. For a while he said nothing was important. He slept on the floor, didnt have any furniture in his apartment and didnt pay attention to classes. After a month he believed the situation was a little bit better and his family was safe so he started studying again. He spoke with a friend about how to get furniture and he directed him to Alsup. Im really grateful of the university, Michael and other people that are working with internationals, he said. They were with me and didnt want me to be alone at that hard time. Different world Jiajia Liu, 22, is from Guizhou, China, and is a senior journalism major at Auburn University. I chose Auburn because I wanted to experience a massive college with its own culture, and Auburn has a unique culture, she said. Liu said that coming here is a completely different world, right down to the way people drive their cars. Though there are disposal sites for the short term, if the sector is set to grow, the U.S. will need to find long-term solutions, and fast. In September this year, the go-ahead was given for the construction of a dump in West Texas that will act as a disposal site for nuclear waste for around 40 years. For years the U.S. federal government has been saving to invest in a long-term nuclear waste disposal solution. But despite collecting the funds, no clear plan has been made. As we see certain states developing new nuclear projects it begs the question, where will the waste be dumped? At present, the U.S. government is sitting on a $44.3 billion fund for the construction of a nuclear waste disposal facility. Starting in the 1980s, the fund was aimed at finding a safe solution for the containment of the waste, but to date, nothing has been established. After suggesting three potential sites between 1982 and 1987 the government made plans to create a site in the Yucca Mountain in Nevada. In the meantime, the U.S. created interim storage sites but failed to take action on a long-term solution. In 2002, President George W. Bush approved the Yucca Mountain site only for it to be rejected by Barack Obama, who cut funding for it in the 2010 budget. In 2014, a legal ruling stated that the government could no longer collect funding for the scheme, meaning the reserve has been sitting there collecting interest of around $1.4 billion a year and has started to be used for other purposes. While there is no established disposal site, the government continues to pay utility companies to store their nuclear waste. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stated that the current storage solution, mainly dry casks on current and former nuclear plant sites, will be effective for around 100 years, until 2086. At the beginning of the nuclear era, the U.S. was criticized for dumping its nuclear waste in the sea, being the first country to do so in 1946. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimated that over 55,000 containers of radioactive waste were dumped across three sites in the Pacific over a period of 24 years. Although this practice stopped in 1970, eyes have been on America ever since to ensure it disposes of its energy waste safely and effectively. While some nuclear powers continue to dump their waste in the ocean to this day. The debate was raised again this month in Massachusetts as energy firm Holtec proposed a plan to dump nuclear waste, recovered during the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, in Cape Cod Bay. Following wide-scale campaigning from concerned citizens and environmental organizations, the company eventually backtracked on its plans. Related: U.S. Exchanges Eye Indian Tech And Energy As Chinese Companies Get The Boot But this raises questions around how nuclear companies plan to dispose of their waste without a viable long-term solution at the federal level. Diane Turco, Director of Cape Downwinders, stated, "Holtec's decision-making process is motivated by profit, only. This was the cheapest, fastest way." In September this year, the go-ahead was given for the construction of a dump in West Texas that will act as a disposal site for nuclear waste for around 40 years. A license was granted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the building of a facility that can store up to 5,000 metric tonnes of nuclear fuel rods as well as 231 million tonnes of other radioactive waste. This comes despite clear opposition from the state. Earlier that month Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill banning the storage and transportation of high-level nuclear waste through Texas, with environmental groups also fighting the project through legal action. Meanwhile, the government seems to have kept its eye on Yucca Mountain for a long-term solution, much to the dismay of local citizens. The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has been steadfast in its opposition to the potential development. And the federal Department of Energy (DoE) has acknowledged the barriers to the project, requiring state authorization to increase the amount of waste entering the state. Even President Biden stated his opposition to the Nevada site development earlier this year. The various political administrations of the past 20 years have been back and forth with support and opposition for the Yucca Mountain disposal plan. As mentioned before, Congress cut funding for the development when it appeared no progress was being made. Despite the clear opposition, to date, the government has come up with no other site proposal. However, the DoE is now pushing for consent-based siting, starting with a request for information. It is approaching various state powers to understand their opposition to constructing a nuclear waste disposal site and asking for a volunteer state for the project. But with the controversial example of Nevada, it seems unlikely that any state will offer its land for this purpose. With plans for new nuclear projects - even Bill Gates is getting a piece of the action - the government is once again feeling the pressure to establish a viable long-term solution for nuclear waste disposal. And as the country moves away from fossil fuels towards cleaner alternatives interest in nuclear projects are increasing and the energy industry is expecting the government to act. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Despite the groundbreaking 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the largest guerilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC Spanish initials) there are fears that conflict is escalating once again. Colombia, which is Latin Americas third-largest petroleum producer and the worlds largest manufacturer of cocaine for nearly a century, has been caught in a simmering low-intensity asymmetric conflict that reached boiling point during the 1980s. The primary flashpoint for the civil conflict, which currently engulfs Colombia and failed to end with the 2016 FARC peace accord was the April 1948 assassination of Liberal Party leader Jorge Gaitan in Bogota. That sparked the Bogotazo, days of violent rioting that swept across Bogota resulting in up to 3,000 deaths, which eventually evolved into a vicious 10-year civil war between the Colombian Liberal and Conservative parties known as La Violencia. While that brutal struggle ended in a 1958 power-sharing agreement between Colombias leading political parties, it sowed the seeds for the current low-intensity multiparty asymmetric conflict. In 1964 the Colombian Communist Party formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC Spanish initials) after a military attack on the community of Marquetalia, a Communist peasant enclave established during the of La Violencia. That event saw the communist FARC emerge as the most powerful left-wing anti-government armed group during the conflict. The guerillas eventually cut ties with the Colombian Communist Party and increasingly relied upon kidnapping, extortion, and cocaine trafficking to fund their operations. Prior to these events, which cast Colombia into what appears to be a never-ending low-intensity asymmetric multiparty civil conflict, oil was discovered in 1918 at the La Cira-Infantas field in the Middle Magdalena Basin near the city of Barrancabermeja. Even after additional petroleum discoveries in the Middle Magdalena Basin, it was not until the giant Cano Limon, Cusiana, and Cupiagua oilfields were discovered between 1983 and 1993 that Colombia embarked on becoming a major oil producer. Those mega discoveries and a notable increase in foreign energy investment, as well as petroleum production, occurred despite violence surging because of the tremendous influx of profits from the booming cocaine trade. Even the tremendous escalation of violence, homicides, kidnappings, and attacks on energy infrastructure which escalated in the late-1980s, lasting well into the early 21st century, had little material impact on Colombias hydrocarbon sector. By 1991 Colombia was pumping over 400,000 barrels per day, more than double its output in 1985, despite becoming the worlds murder capital with a homicide rate of 84 intentional killings per 100,000 people. That was more than eight times greater than the U.S. which reported 9.8 homicides per 100,000 head of population, 7-times higher than neighboring Venezuelas murder rate of 12 and 8-times larger than Ecuadors 11 homicides per 100,000 people. Heightened insecurity and violence remained a persistent problem in Colombia, even after the collapse of the Medellin and Cali cartels, as the FARC and National Liberation Army ELN (Spanish initials) ramped-up operations as vast revenue flowed in from the drug trade. By 2000, after President Andres Pastranas peace negotiations with the FARC had failed, the leftist guerillas controlled a 42,000 square mile territory in southeastern Colombia and kidnappings had surged to a record high of 3,500 for the year. Even those events failed to have any material impact on Colombias oil boom. A combination of soaring oil prices and rapidly improving internal security during the early 2000s, because of Plan Colombia and President Alvaro Uribes military campaign against the FARC, saw foreign energy investment and hence crude oil production growth. During 2003 when Brent averaged $28.83 per barrel, a 15% increase over 2002, Colombia pumped an average of 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day. When Brent had soared to over $140 per barrel during 2008, annual petroleum production averaged 600,000 barrels daily and kept growing to peak at a yearly record of just over 1 million barrels per day by 2013. Since 2016 Colombias petroleum output has been in terminal decline impacted at first by the late-2014 oil price crash, sharply rising violence, and finally because of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the 2017 demobilization of the largest leftist guerilla group the FARC, after a 2016 peace agreement was struck with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos, has done little if anything to arrest Colombias production decline. That in part can be blamed on current President Ivan Duques reluctance to fully implement the peace deal, contributing to an increase in violence and civil unrest in regional Colombia. Related: Southeast Asias Oil And Gas Output May Never Recover To Pre-COVID Levels During 2020, the crisis-driven Andean nation only pumped on average 781,300 barrels of crude oil per day as the COVID-19 pandemic, related national quarantine lockdown and sharply weaker oil prices impacted investment as well as production. More worrying, is that despite the pandemic lockdown ending by September 2020 and energy investment increasing, average petroleum output only reached 734,231 barrels per day for the first 10 months of 2021 which is 6% less than the full year 2020. That disappointing decline occurred because of heightened civil unrest with anti-government protests sweeping across Colombia during late- April 2021 lasting into May and early-June 2021. Falling crude oil output can also be attributed to rising insecurity in regional areas, where petroleum industry operations are concentrated, fueled by a marked uptick in violence related to the activities of illegal armed groups and cocaine production. It is the cocaine trade that is an enduring problem for Colombia. The tremendous profits that the trade generates are responsible for fueling what is a near-perpetual low-level asymmetric conflict where only the illegal armed actors change as the various groups fragment and reform. Estimates vary, but Colombias government believes the civil conflict has claimed up to 260,000 lives and displaced at least 9 million people. According to the UN Colombias cocaine production during 2020 increased by 8% compared to a year earlier, despite a 7% decrease in the volume of land used for coca cropping and an 18% increase in seizures. The scale of massive profits generated by cocaine is highlighted by former finance minister Juan Carlos Echeverrys estimate (Spanish) that the drug trade generates $8 to $12 billion annually, which is equivalent to 5 to 4% of Colombias gross domestic product. Using Echeverrys numbers the cocaine trade is contributing the same amount, if not more, to Colombias GDP than the oil industry which based on DANE data (Spanish) for the first 3 quarters of 2021 was responsible for 3% of GDP. Rising security risk and rural violence, which is mostly fueled by the vast profits generated by the cocaine trade, is a key deterrent to attracting onshore oil investment in Colombia. A combination of security risks and mature assets saw Occidental Petroleum, in October 2020, sell its Colombian onshore petroleum assets in an $825 million deal, although the company retained its offshore exploration blocks. Despite the risks associated with operating in onshore Colombia, the Andean countrys 2021 bid round found some success. Seven companies made offers for 30 of the 53 blocks (Spanish) on offer with initial investment expected to exceed $148 million. Five of the offers came from national oil company Ecopetrol or its subsidiaries and 21 from intermediate energy companies with existing operational presence in Colombia, Parex Resources, Frontera Energy, and Canacol Energy. This indicates that Colombia is struggling to attract foreign onshore energy investment because of the heightened security risks coupled with high breakeven prices and elevated carbon content of the sour heavy crude oil produced. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: For some time, doctors have been using coils of tiny wires, or a combination of coils and mesh tubes called stents, to fill and block off aneurysms. In the right patient, the technique can be a less-invasive alternative to the other common treatment: surgically opening the skull and placing a small metal clip across the neck of an aneurysm. All are part of an ongoing evolution in the treatment of aneurysms. But Smiths aneurysm was whats known as a wide-necked aneurysm, a type that makes up between 26% and 36% of brain aneurysms, according to a January 2020 review in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. As the name suggests, such aneurysms have a wide opening. Coils literally can fall out, Jani said. Smith, a mother of five, said she knew she also had the option to monitor rather than treat her aneurysm. But it was large enough that not treating it was not the best option, she said. Even during the month and a half between her diagnosis and the procedure, she said, she felt like a ticking time bomb. Her 9-year-old named the bulge Professor Umbridge after the evil, pink-garbed, bureaucrat-turned-headmaster in the Harry Potter series. Cynthia Bailey was not in denial in March 2020. The Hillside Elementary School principal understood what a pandemic meant. Schools, where hundreds of students and staff work closely together every day, would be forced to close. Still, she wasnt prepared for what came next. Three consecutive school years have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Full remote learning at the end of the 2019-20 school year morphed into teachers simultaneously teaching in-person and remote students in 2020-21. Along the way, workers in school districts across the Omaha metro area have overhauled their operations and worked long hours to meet new demands. Custodians sanitized surfaces according to enhanced cleaning protocols. In kitchens and parking lots, nutrition workers and other staff formed human assembly lines to package and pass out thousands of to-go meals. Teachers taught students who were prepping food in restaurants and watching virtual classes on their phone because their families needed the extra income. Then teachers organized help sessions outside normal hours to catch students up. Its not like somebody said, Look, heres the model. This is what youre going to have to do. We just got it put in our laps, and then we had to figure it out, Bailey said. We continue to try to figure it out. For their work educating, feeding, comforting and caring for students and their families throughout the pandemic, The World-Herald honors all school workers. They are the newspapers Midlanders of the Year for 2021. Some educators say this school year has been the hardest yet. Labor shortages have left school districts scrambling to hire everyone from teachers to security guards. Supply chain disruptions have made lunch shipments unpredictable. And heated debates over masks, sex education standards and critical race theory have transformed once-dull school board meetings in Nebraska into skirmishes in a national culture war. Westside Community Schools Superintendent Mike Lucas said one of the biggest sources of angst for educators right now is simpler than all of that they are worried about their students. I dont think the average reader or Joe Public really understands how much great educators care about their kids, he said. When you see your students suffering, that is way worse because thats a helpless feeling, Lucas said. I think thats a lot of what is drowning teachers this year. Everybodys been through a lot, but teachers care so much about those kids that its negatively impacting many of them. Jared Wagenknecht, president of the Papillion La Vista Education Association, said it has been a tough year. The thing that has kept us going is the hope that lies in the yet-to-be-realized potential of our students, he said of educators. We know that the future is in their hands, and so weve done our best to ensure that they are ready. Bailey said that at her school in the Westside district, her staff care about what happens to kids, and the kids know it. You see it everywhere. Teachers. Educational assistants. Cafeteria workers. Custodians. Every single person in this building has a mission, Bailey said. Which is to find effective and powerful ways to meet the needs of all learners. Administrators As Bailey walked around her school on a Friday in early December, she talked to every staff member she saw. How has your day been? Are you feeling better? Bailey led visitors past staff members who were carefully helping young students sound out words. Through a window, she looked in on a sixth grade class that was so silent and on task that she knew better than to open the door and ruin it. They could do their job quite easily without me on any given day, but I cannot do anything without them, Bailey said of her staff. These people are the reason that we are successful in what we do. And I am here to support, support, support. I will do anything that I can. While this school year is the most normal one yet, it has come with its own set of challenges. Bailey gave the example of current second graders. Those students had part of their kindergarten year taken away when the pandemic started in March 2020. Then first grade was in a hybrid setting, with some students in the classroom and others at home. Now in second grade, all of the students are back in the classroom, but many lack communication skills, stamina and persistence they would have learned in the previous grades. And its every grade level really, Bailey said. Theres no grade level that was more deeply impacted. I just think we see it more with our younger ones because we havent had a chance to shape those kids. Sometimes that manifests in unlovable behaviors from students. Bailey said shes usually concerned about the behavior of 3% of her students. This year that number is 7%. Staff at Hillside are also seeing a lot of anxiety among students. At the beginning of the school year, some students had extreme anxiety and were afraid to remove their masks to eat lunch in the cafeteria. Parents were allowed to come to the school and eat lunch with those students outside at a picnic table. Now Bailey has to remind students to put their masks on after lunch. For Bailey, the focus is not just on test scores because great test scores can sometimes just be a reflection of a students socioeconomic status. A good test score is important and an indicator of how a student is doing, but thats not the end-all and be-all, she said. When you are educating children, the end goal is to have a citizen who understands how to negotiate, how to be in a work environment, how to have polite conversation, how to get things done, she said. Its all of those things. That often means supporting families outside the classroom. Its really important for us as a society to understand that schools are no longer just reading, writing and arithmetic, Bailey said. Schools are the place to support families. And I didnt necessarily ask for that, but that is the reality of it. Bailey said families come to schools for help when they dont have enough to eat or need help getting eyeglasses for their students. And school workers have to be ready to help. If not us, then who? Bailey said. Who is going to do that work? Counselors As a school counselor, Kat Turco works with whatever comes through the doors of Wildewood Elementary School. It could be a family in need of help. It could be students dealing with a problem at home. Or it could be working with another districts counselor to understand how to help a new student successfully settle into the Ralston Public Schools. Since the pandemic, more families have turned to schools like Wildewood for help. Turco said these are often families that have never had to access community resources before and often dont know where to start. If Turco can help a family get free coats, then that family can put more money toward things like their rent or mortgage. We want them to always realize thats what were here for, and if we dont know the answer, were certainly going to find somebody to help us find the answer for them, she said. Knowing the disruptions the pandemic created, Turco and her colleagues anticipated that students would be lagging behind in developing some academic and social skills, like how to have a disagreement with someone and resolve a conflict. Those things that we naturally just assume happen, schools work really hard in lessons that were doing and opportunities to walk students through it instead of just saying stop and fix it, Turco said. To help students, Turco uses data points from things like social emotional assessments to better understand how to help individual students. After noticing that the schools sixth graders didnt have as many leadership skills because of interrupted school years, Turco created a program that has them work with younger students in the building. The sixth graders greet other students in the morning, help the younger students at lunch and visit with them about friendships, or play with preschoolers on the playground. They transitioned quickly, Turco said of the sixth graders. Everyone wants to help now. Turco expects that it could take a few years to work on social emotional growth, but like academics, some students will be behind and then suddenly be where they need to be. Until then, Turco said she knows that her co-workers in Ralston wont give up. It is not for the weary to be in education, she said. You come every day. Theres always that hope that today the lesson that Im doing is going to click for somebody. Food service workers It was 3 a.m. on the first day of the 2021-22 school year when the Millard Public Schools finally received the deliveries they needed to serve lunch at about five schools. Justin Wiley, Millards general manager of food services, and his staff were at schools to accept the deliveries and get everything ready for the students arriving in just a few hours. In a normal year, the district would get its deliveries three days before the first day of school. This year, Wiley said supply chain disruptions, a crippled transportation industry and a shortage of drivers have created problems all school year for the people in charge of feeding students. The district has run out of disposables from silverware to trays. Its hit or miss, Wiley said of the supply chain. We ran out of hamburger patties last week. We have them this week. We almost ran out of pizzas a few months ago, but thankfully, thats come back. Staffing shortages have also created problems. In early December, Wiley said he was down 20 positions out of 173. And he expected more resignations and retirements. Applications are coming in, too, but the hiring process takes awhile, and new staffers are having to learn quickly on the job. Every day is a puzzle of how to make it work, Wiley said. The challenges come after Wiley and his staff completely revamped their operation to offer to-go meals after schools shut down in March 2020. When schools closed, Wiley instructed his staff to blanch food like broccoli and bell peppers so they could be frozen and used later. Staff then began figuring out how they would safely offer to-go meals at 10 school sites. They were up and running in a matter of days. Wiley said he initially thought that they would give away 1,500 to 1,600 meals a day. By the first week of April, the district was giving away 7,000 to 8,000 meals a day and 13,000 on the weekend. Cars would line up, hold up their fingers to indicate how many meals they needed, and the staff would have it ready to go. At Millard South High School, five or six stations were going at the same time. All of a sudden, everybody needed it, Wiley said. Youd see everything from Chevy Cavaliers to Cadillac Escalades pulling through the line. The meals were also a connection to some of the districts most needy families. Millard spokeswoman Rebecca Kleeman said that when those families came through the food line, staff could see the students, talk to them and make sure everything was all right. When COVID-19 cases shut down an elementary school earlier this school year, Wiley was able to take what he had learned earlier in the pandemic and quickly offer to-go meals to those families. The principal thought that the school would need 13 to 20 meals a day. The district ended up serving 50 to 60 meals a day. It just goes to show you that theres a need out there, Wiley said. In total, Wiley said Millard has served about 885,000 curbside meals. Across Omaha, staff members like Denise Hall were part of assembly lines to pack breakfasts and lunches for Omaha Public Schools students at the beginning of the pandemic. From March through September 2020, OPS staff served 423,045 breakfasts and 421,996 lunches through the districts Meals2Go program. Starting in October 2020, curbside meals were still available, but district officials didnt have a breakdown of how many were distributed. Hall is proud that she could be there to help feed students when they needed her. Sometimes, that meant standing outside in the rain to hand out meals. We did what we had to do, she said. But Hall is happy to have the students back in school. The Mississippi native is a cook at Lewis and Clark Middle School. She makes sure that all the food is ready, hot and looking good when the students come through the lunch line. Hall feels proud when just the sight of the food elicits oohs from the students. What makes her job special and fun are the different types of students and personalities coming through her lunch line every day, Hall said. Some are just really bubbly, and then some kind of lay back and dont want to say anything, she said. Theyll point to their food because they dont want to say anything. Thats fine. Ill make it fun with them. They point, I point, too. Halls day starts a little before 6 a.m., when she arrives and turns the ovens on. Things rarely slow down from there. The staff serves breakfast while planning and preparing for lunch. After lunch, they clean up, and Hall is normally done about 2:30 p.m. I love it when we dont have any leftovers, Hall said. Oh, I love that. Everybody from the first kid to the last kid, they got everything. Hall is excited to go to work every day. In an interview earlier this month, Hall said that she was looking forward to winter break but that she knew by the end of it, she would be ready to get back to the kitchen. Im not crazy, she said. I just love my job. Teachers Music is back in the halls of Wilson Focus School. John Gruber, a blue surgical mask pulled up just enough to reveal his mouth, played a trombone next to a Christmas tree as students entered for a new day of classes in early December. A few students danced past the music teacher. Others beelined toward their classrooms, some giving teachers hugs and high-fives. Gruber, who has been a music teacher with OPS for more than two decades, started playing trombone in the hallways six or seven years ago. He wanted his students to see someone using an instrument outside of class. Now he does it for joy. Not everything is happy right now, Gruber said. I, and I think other people, are just really striving for something that can withstand the weight of what theyre going through. Gruber hopes that the music can help in some small way. Last school year, Gruber had to stop playing in the hallways, and his elementary students, many learning to play instruments for the first time over video calls, couldnt show off their new skills in concerts. Earlier this month, Gruber, who travels among multiple elementary schools, was putting on six concerts in four days. Gruber is happy to have students back in school and to be able to teach them in person. He said it was extremely difficult to help students when he couldnt see exactly how they were holding instruments or dealing with internet glitches. I dont think theres anything that couldve prepared me for all the adjustments that I had to make as a teacher to make things work in those environments, Gruber said. It just took a lot of time, thought and energy and probably some tears, too. Over at Westsides Paddock Road Elementary School, first grade teacher Kerri Palmesano shed tears, too, as she struggled with simultaneously teaching kids in her classroom and remote students during the 2020-21 school year. She worried that her students werent getting everything they needed. I remember going home and just sobbing because it wasnt whats best for kids, Palmesano said. And my principal had to talk me through it and say, But it is. Were keeping kids safe. That is whats best for kids. Carla Rohwer, an Elkhorn Public Schools elementary teacher and president of the Elkhorn Education Association, said the hybrid teaching model split the teachers attention between the roomies and the zoomies. She said it was like doing two teaching jobs at the same time. Rohwer said everyone wants life to be back to normal this school year, but the pandemic is still among us. She said there are still unknowns and uncertainties as teachers deal with changing procedures and protocols. And teachers continue to spend evenings and weekends working on planning and grading. Theyre made of grit, Rohwer said. Were all doing the best we can, and were working the hardest weve ever worked. Palmesano said that through three pandemic school years, she has realized that she has to make the most of every opportunity with her students. Whether its teaching the ch sound, how to disagree with a friend or to put periods at the end of sentences. Every moment we have with these kids counts, she said. We have to make the best of every day. <&rule> 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. Take a look at the number of Nebraska students enrolled in home-school for the 2021-22 school year and how it compares to previous years. Omaha police and some metro school districts are dealing with an uptick in school threats this school year. Though none have materialized in the metro area, police say rumored threats often originate on social media and spread like wildfire from around the country to local schools. Several of them have occurred in other states on social media like Snapchat or Instagram and made it all the way up to Omaha, said Omaha Police Sgt. James Shade. I dont recall seeing that before where theres a specific school threat in a specific city but it spreads so far on social media, and people are assuming its real. Omaha police didnt provide the number of reports they have received this school year, noting that there are often dozens of duplicate reports for a single threat, said Lt. Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department. National reports of rumored shootings and bomb threats are shared through social media, such as the most recent TikTok challenge for a school shooting day on Dec. 17. The challenge included vague, anonymous posts warning that multiple schools would receive shooting and bomb threats. Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19, as the nation's travel woes extended beyond Christmas, with no clear indication when normal schedules would resume. More than 700 flights entering, leaving or flying within the U.S. were called off, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday. Delta, United and JetBlue have blamed the omicron variant of the coronavirus for staffing shortages that forced cancellations. Meanwhile, snow and cold continue to blanket the western and northern United States, setting up hazardous post-Christmas travel conditions Sunday and into the final week of 2021. Across the West, "travel will remain dangerous and is discouraged, especially along mountain passes where long duration closures are likely. Dangerous avalanches are also likely in the Sierra Nevada, Washington Cascades, Northern Rockies, and Wasatch," the Weather Prediction Center said. Hunt introduced a bill last session to eliminate the requirement that a physician be present when a medical abortion is performed, to allow such abortions to happen via telemedicine. It didnt make it out of committee. She said she could see an abortion ban passing, but only if at least one or two moderate state senators want to turn the whole session into an abortion fight. Shes focused on issues such as the workforce shortage. But shes ready to go on defense. Mark my words: If we get an abortion ban, Im going to make the whole session about that. I would rather block an abortion ban than get anything else done, Hunt said. Because were not gonna get more workers, were not gonna solve any of our other problems if this becomes an authoritarian state that people dont want to live in. Access to voting has also been a subject of legislation in other states over the last year, following the 2020 presidential election and former President Donald Trumps ongoing campaign to undermine its results. Sgt. Aaron Hanson, the legislative liaison for the union, said his organization is working with Brewer to find a compromise that respects the rights of law-abiding gun owners but doesnt create loopholes for criminals. We have seen unintended consequences result from well-intentioned legislative efforts in other states and we dont want to repeat that in Nebraska, Hanson said. In the past, hes pointed out that gun laws differ in Omaha as compared to areas like the Sandhills. For instance, you can openly carry a firearm legally across the state, but in Omaha, a concealed carry permit is required to do that. Gun rights are a hot-button issue, the kind of a controversial issue that some legislators would rather avoid weighing in on during an election year. That means there will likely be maneuvering to keep the bill from reaching debate by the full Legislature, and from senators taking a vote on the issue. Brewer said he will get a priority designation for his proposal, increasing the chances that it will be debated, and has at least 25 supporters for his bill a majority of senators, but short of 33 needed to fend off a filibuster. He thinks senators should weigh in on the issue ahead of the 2022 elections. In September, the board indefinitely postponed development of the standards. Penner is far from the first Twitter user to have their account mistakenly suspended by the San Francisco-based company. Earlier this year, Twitter suspended the account of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene twice in the span of about three weeks due to errors. The Georgia Republican, who has in the past promoted violence against Democrats and conspiracy theories about QAnon and the 9/11 attacks, was unable to post to her account for multiple hours in April due to what Twitter said was a mistake by one of its automated systems. That came roughly three weeks after Greenes account was suspended for about 12 hours in what the company also said was a mistake. In 2016, Twitter accidentally suspended the account of company co-founder Jack Dorsey. That mistake came as Twitter suspended the accounts of several prominent members of the alt-right in an apparent crackdown on accounts tied to hate speech or threats of violence. While Thunder Valley will ultimately decide what to do with the site, Maisch said Thursday that he is hoping leaders and donors in Nebraska will embrace the idea of establishing a health center there. My intent was to find a tribally-led entity that could help transform Whiteclay from a place of death and destruction into a place of hope and healing, Maisch said. Its the best insurance policy we have to keep the beer stores from returning to Whiteclay. Establishing a center for rehabilitation work would be a good thing for Whiteclay, an unincorporated village that sits just south of the state line, said Lou Abold, who operates Abes New and Used Store in the village. Catering to a Christmas rush of shoppers prevented Abold from making more comments on Thursday. The village now includes a Family Dollar store, as well as a nursing home, grocery store and take-out restaurant. Lack of substance abuse treatment centers, and lack of staff for them, has been cited as a problem for the reservation. Some of the events Nebraska volunteers hosted this year include: Legal Issues as You Age; segments on the Nebraska Passport program and Nebraska Wines; Tips for Downsizing/Rightsizing; a two-part program on Cyber Safety and Online Fraud; a Virtual Quilt Display series with the Hastings Museum; and fitness sessions including Qigong for Balance and Building Core Strength. AARP recently hosted a blockbuster six-week Tech Talk series that drew over 3,000 participants. It was very interactive, with many questions from attendees. Some of the topics covered were streaming TV options, smartphone photo editing, cloud storage, online buying and selling, and technology and travel. Webinars on getting ready for Social Security and Medicare are also in high demand for those approaching retirement. AARP Nebraska is currently offering virtual events only. These will continue to be an essential way to reach the 50-plus population even after AARP resumes in-person gatherings. With virtual events, we can reach our members statewide with programming like we never have before, Szwanek said. It has opened up a whole new world of possibilities to connect with a larger segment of our nearly 200,000 members in the state. CARBONDALE Southern Illinois University officials will rely on testing rather than a period of remote classes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus following the holiday break. Classes are set to begin Jan. 10 and SIU Carbondale officials have told students, faculty and staff that they must complete a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of returning to the campus. Those fully vaccinated against the coronavirus also must be tested, The Southern Illinoisan reported. People who have not been vaccinated will have to be tested weekly. Other universities in Illinois have opted to begin the spring semester remotely amid concerns that the holidays and omicron's arrival in the state will cause widespread cases. Illinois State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago previously announced that classes will be remote for the first two weeks of the spring semester. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign plans one week of online instruction. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A demagogue is a person or group of people who try to stir up the public by appeals to emotion or prejudice to gain them over quickly and to gain power. We have in this country and have had many for years, people who desire and act on situations to take advantage for their own benefit. In some cases it has worked and in other it has not. In 2021, as the new federal administration has taken national power, demagogy has raised its ugly head again, even higher than before. Many examples could be identified. An example; in recent months as several court cases have been decided, i.e. Wisconsin, the decision to acquit has apparently caused some to argue injustice and unfairness in the jurys verdict. These demagogues wish to continue disunity in the country by publicly exclaiming their opinions were paramount to the jurys findings. These same people probably never watched the court proceedings nor read the facts of the case, but yet spun their own opinions to the general public. Even in our own community, several individuals and groups espoused opinions that counter the jury decision only to continue fanning the flames of disunity in our country. I believe it is way past time to express opinions and dialogue to help bring the country together and to strengthen unity rather than continue the course we are on today. We will always need to deal with different opinions on certain subjects, but they do not have to lead to or cause disunity in all things. Some may say this concept is naive and unattainable, but I believe, its implementation and practice is needed to save our great country. Dale Traxler, Bloomington Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Gambias former leader Yahya Jammeh should face prosecution for murder, torture and rapes, according to a new report by a commission established after he fled into exile five years ago. The long-awaited report released late on Friday recommends that a special international court be set up to try Jammeh and others in West Africa, but outside of The Gambia. Over a period of 22 years, starting from July 22, 1994, Yahya Jammeh and co-perpetrators committed very serious crimes against the people of The Gambia, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commissions report said. The commission was set up in January 2017 by President Adama Barrow, whose election in 2016 put an end to more than 20 years of dictatorship. The report, which is based on years of witness testimonies, had already been presented to Barrow, but its posting online on Friday marked the first time the complete findings were made public. Gambian Justice Minister Dawda A Jallow said the government was committed to the implementation of the report, but would not release a paper before May on how it plans to go forward. Reed Brody with the International Commission of Jurists said he expected pressure to now mount on The Gambias leader to deliver justice without further delay for victims who have already waited five years, and in some cases much longer. There is still a lot that needs to be done, but I wouldnt be surprised if we see Yahya Jammeh in a court sooner rather than later, said Brody, who also played an instrumental role in bringing former Chadian President Hissene Habre to trial at a special court in Senegal. Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia for 22 years, lost the 2016 presidential election, but he refused to concede defeat to Barrow. He ultimately took exile in Equatorial Guinea amid threats of a regional military intervention to force him from power. It remains unclear whether Equatorial Guinean authorities would extradite Jammeh should criminal charges be filed. The truth commission was mandated to establish an impartial historical record of abuses committed from July 1994 to January 2017. The former leader went into exile in Equatorial Guinea in 2017 after Barrows election victory, but retains considerable support in the country. More than two years of hearings that led to the report documented human rights abuses and horrors that occurred under Jammehs rule. Human rights groups say arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and summary executions became the hallmark of the regime. Testimonies made by perpetrators before the truth commission confirmed that some killings were done at Jammehs direction. The commission report also said Jammeh had raped women, including Fatou Jallow, who later testified before the panel and published a book earlier this year about her ordeal. Jammeh denies any wrongdoing. 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 " " Jawana Norris, Mari'yam Floyd, and Kamaria Hakeem take part in a Kwanzaa celebration at the Pauline Robinson Library in Denver, 2008. Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post via Getty Images In late December, the holiday season is in full swing. Christians are celebrating Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus. Jews are observing Hanukkah, which celebrates the reclamation of their holy temple in Jerusalem. These holidays are joyful celebrations in which families and friends come together to share food and gifts. People of African descent have their own December celebration in which they gather with loved ones to reaffirm the bonds of family and culture, as well as to share food and exchange gifts. It is called Kwanzaa, and, although it is relatively new compared to other holidays, it has become an important facet of practicing African culture on other continents. Advertisement In this article, we will look at the roots of Kwanzaa, discover the significance of its symbols and learn about the unique traditions that make up the Kwanzaa celebration. Previous finds at Cliffs End Farm. Credit: Wessex Archaeology A major new study of ancient DNA has traced the movement of people into southern Britain during the Bronze Age. In the largest such analysis published to date, scientists examined the DNA of nearly 800 ancient individuals. The new study, led by the University of York, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Vienna, shows that people moving into southern Britain around 1300800 BC were responsible for around half the genetic ancestry of subsequent populations. The combined DNA and archaeological evidence suggests that, rather than a violent invasion or a single migratory event, the genetic structure of the population changed through sustained contacts between mainland Britain and Europe over several centuries, such as the movement of traders, intermarriage, and small scale movements of family groups. The study finds evidence that the new migrants became thoroughly mixed in to the Southern British population in the period 1000875 BC. Networks The researchers say the origin of these migrants cannot yet be established with certainty, but they are most likely to have come from communities in and around present-day France. The Middle to Late Bronze Age was a time when settled farming communities expanded across the landscapes of southern Britain, and extensive trade routes developed to allow the movement of metal ores for the production of bronze. These new networks linked wide-ranging regions across Europe, as seen from the spread of bronze objects and raw materials. Contacts The study's lead archaeologist Professor Ian Armit, from the University of York, said: "We have long suspected, based on patterns of trade and shared ideologies, that the Middle to Late Bronze Age was a time of intense contacts between communities in Britain and Europe. "While we may once have thought that long-distance mobility was restricted to a few individuals, such as traders or small bands of warriors, this new DNA evidence shows that considerable numbers of people were moving, across the whole spectrum of society." Some of the earliest genetic outliers have been found in Kent, suggesting that the south-east may have been a focus for movement into Britain. This resonates with previously published isotope evidence from archaeological sites like Cliffs End Farm, where some individuals were shown to have spent their childhoods on the Continent. Celtic languages The new DNA evidence may also shed light on the long-standing question of when early Celtic languages arrived in Britain. Since population movement often drives linguistic change, the new DNA evidence significantly strengthens the case for the appearance of Celtic languages in Britain in the Bronze Age. Conversely, the study shows little evidence for large-scale movements of people into Britain during the subsequent Iron Age, which has previously been thought of as the period during which Celtic languages may have spread. Professor David Reich, from Harvard Medical School, said: "These findings do not settle the question of the origin of Celtic languages into Britain. However, any reasonable scholar needs to adjust their best guesses about what occurred based on these findings. "Our results militate against an Iron Age spread of Celtic languages into Britainthe popular "Celtic from the East' hypothesisand increase the likelihood of a Late Bronze Age arrival from France, a rarely discussed scenario called "Celtic from the Centre.'" Lactase persistence A further unexpected finding of the study is a large increase in the frequency of the allele for lactase persistence (a genetic adaptation that allowed people to digest dairy products) in Bronze Age populations in Britain relative to the Continent. Co-senior author of the study Professor Ron Pinhasi, a physical anthropologist and ancient DNA specialist from the University of Vienna, said "This study increases the amount of ancient DNA data we have from the Late Bronze and Iron Age in Britain by twelvefold, and Western and Central Europe by 3.5-fold. "With this massive amount of data, we have for the first time the ability to carry out studies of adaptation with enough resolution in both time and space to allow us to discern that natural selection occurred in different ways in different parts of Europe. "Our results show that dairy products must have been used in qualitatively different ways from an economic or cultural perspective in Britain than they were on the European continent in the Iron Age, as this was a time when lactase persistence was rising rapidly in frequency in Britain but not on the Continent." Although the new DNA evidence sheds most light on Britain, the data also indicate population movements between different parts of continental Europe, confirming what archaeologists have long suspectedthat the Late Bronze Age was a period of intense and sustained contacts between many diverse communities. The study, "Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age," is published in Nature. More information: Nick Patterson et al, Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Nick Patterson et al, Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04287-4 In this image taken by doctoral student Heru Handika and provided by Louisiana State University, shows a field camp from which scientists and students worked to collect shrews in April 2018 on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. A decade of trips to a dozen mountain and two lowland areas on the island enabled the group to identify 14 newly recognized species of shrews in one genus on the island, tripling the previously known total. Credit: Heru Handika/Louisiana State University via AP Louisiana researchers have identified 14 new species of shrews on an Indonesian island where seven in that genus were previously known. There were so many and some look so similar that after a while Louisiana State University biologist Jake Esselstyn and his colleagues began hunting for Latin words meaning "ordinary." "Otherwise I don't know what we would have named them," said Esselstyn, who also named the seventh known species of the pointy-nosed insect-eating mammals on the island of Sulawesi. That's why shrews whose species names mean such things as "hairy-tailed" and "long" have been joined by "Crocidura mediocris," "C. normalis," "C. ordinaria," and "C. solita"the last of those meaning "usual." The 101-page paper will be "super valuable for all current and future students of mammal biodiversity," said Nathan S. Upham, assistant research professor at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences and lead creator of the American Society of Mammalogists' online Mammal Diversity Database. He was not involved in the study, which was published Dec. 15 in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History and also involved researchers from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Museums Victoria in Australia, and the University of California. This image taken by associate professor Jacob Esselstyn and provided by Louisiana State University, shows an area where shrews live about 1.5 miles up Mt. Gandang Dewata on May 2, 2012, in Sulawesi, Indonesia. A decade of trips to trap shrews in 14 parts of the island enabled scientists led by Esselstyn to identify 14 new species of shrews in one genus on an island where seven were previously known. Their research was published Dec. 15, 2021 in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. (Jacob Esselstyn/Louisiana State University via AP0 It's been 90 years since this many new species were identified in one paper, Esselstyn said. The 1931 paper by George Henry Hamilton Tate identified 26 possible new species of South American marsupials, but 12 were later found not to be separate species for a total of 14 new ones, he said. Esselstyn led a decade of trips to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi to collect the animals, which are relatives of hedgehogs and moles. All weighed less than a AA battery, ranging from about 3 gramsjust over one-tenth of an ounce, or about the weight of a pingpong ballto about 24 grams (0.85 ounces). The largest species had bodies averaging 95 millimeters, or about 3.7 inches long. At the start, he was hoping to clarify how the six species then known in the genus Crocidura had developed. "I was interested in questions about how shrews interacted with their environment, with each other, how local communities were formed," he said. But he quickly realized that species had been sorely undercounted. In this image taken by Heru Handika and provided by Louisiana State University, shows researchers from LSU, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Museums Victoria in Australia, and the University of California in a camp on Mount Torompupu in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Dec. 2, 2017. A decade of trips to collect shrews on the island enabled scientists at LSU and other institutions to identify 14 previously unknown species of shrews, tripling the number of shrews in that genus on the island. Credit: Heru Handika/Louisiana State University via AP "It was overwhelming because for the first several years, we couldn't figure out how many species there were," he said. Five had been identified in 1921 and a sixth in 1995. Esselstyn's team identified the seventh species, the hairy-tailed shrew, in 2019. For this paper, they examined 1,368 shrews, more than 90% of them collected by Esselstyn's group, which trapped the animals on a dozen mountain sites and two in the lowlands of Sulawesi. The island is shaped rather like a lower-case letter k with the top of the stem bent sharply eastward. That odd shape has contributed to species diversity, Esselstyn said. "There are consistent boundaries between species ... whether you're looking at frogs or macaques or mice. It suggests some sort of shared environmental mechanisms." Researchers have found at least seven such zonesroughly, the island's central mass, the three "legs" of the k, and three zones on the long bent neck. This image taken by doctoral student Heru Handika and provided by Louisiana State University, shows some of the terrain on Oct. 30, 2016, through which scientists and students trekked to collect shrews on Mt. Bawakaraeng in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The mountain was among 14 sites on the island where a decade of collecting trips allowed the team to identify 14 new species in one genus on the island. The article published Dec. 15, 2021, tripled the known total. Credit: Heru Handika/Louisiana State University via AP In this image taken by Kevin Rowe of Museums Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, and provided by Louisiana State University, a shrew, one of 14 species newly identified on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, crawls around. A team led by an LSU scientist named this species Crocidura pallida because it has pale feet. Credit: Kevin Rowe of Museums Victoria/Louisiana State University via AP Genetic analysis may indicate how long ago or recently similar species split apart and whether they've been in regular contact with each other since then, Esselstyn said. "It's a difficult problem. But I think we can do it now that sequencing genomes is relatively low-cost," he said. "A few years ago we couldn't have done it but it's relatively feasible now." Explore further Researchers make major discovery in the animal kingdom 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. GLENS FALLS A fire at 69 Cooper St. on Friday night displaced eight residents, according to the Glens Falls Fire Department. The fire occurred in the first-floor kitchen of the apartment house. Fire personnel said that first and second floor of the building had smoke, fire and water damage. Volunteers from the Northeastern New York chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to the 13 people impacted by the fire. According to a news release, the Red Cross provided financial assistance for necessities such as food, shelter and clothing to six adults and seven children. The children were between 1 year old and 16 years old. "Warren County volunteers also offered health services and emotional support, as well as stuffed animals for the younger children," according to the release. Fire officials said they were able to save the Christmas gifts that were inside the building while putting out the fire. Jay Mullen Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 3 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BALLSTON SPA A Malta man is expected to receive 3 years of probation after admitting to boating while intoxicated on July 4 on Saratoga Lake and fatally striking a man who was jumping off the boat. Blake A. Heflin, 20, pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court on Wednesday to misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and boating while intoxicated. The incident took place just before 7 p.m. An investigation determined that Heflin and other underage youths were at a drinking party hosted by adults in the area of Sandy Bay. The group departed on Heflins pontoon boat and traveled south on Saratoga Lake. Witnesses observed passengers jumping off Heflins boat. One of those passengers, 20-year-old Ballston Spa resident Ian Gerber, jumped off the starboard side as it was moving. Heflin turned the boat away from Gerber while he was in the water, which caused the propeller to fatally injure him, according to a news release from Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen. The investigation also revealed that a second boat in the area may have struck Gerber when he was in the water. The operator of that vessel cooperated in the investigation. Five passengers on the pontoon boat all acquaintances of Heflin and Gerber provided statements claiming that the pontoon was not involved. The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office was assisted in the investigation by state police, boating experts, a forensic pathologist and an outside biomechanical expert. The investigation concluded that Gerber was struck by the pontoon boat and a second boat when he was already in the water. Heggen said in a news release that the passengers on the pontoon boat provided conflicting information and their statements differed from what they initially told police. The only eyewitnesses to the event refused to cooperate with the investigation. She said that the case presented a unique set of circumstances that made prosecution extremely difficult and that her office cannot force these people to tell the truth. The ultimate goal was for Heflin to admit responsibility, Heggen said. This incident was entirely avoidable had defendant Heflin and those around him made better choices that day. This tragedy would not have occurred if the defendant had not been drinking and had the parents of individuals in the water intervened. Defendants choice to consume alcohol while underage and to operate his boat while in an intoxicated condition, ultimately led to the tragic death of Mr. Gerber. Heflin will be sentenced on March 23. In addition to probation, his boat operating privileges will be revoked for at least one year. 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. Rising costs and a lack of workers are among some of the top issues faced by local businesses and economic development officials, but they remain optimistic heading into 2022. Glens Falls Mayor-elect Bill Collins described the citys economy as cautiously good. He touted the sales tax revenue increasing throughout the entire year. Current Mayor Dan Hall said that the sales tax increased in each quarter, with a 5.7% increase in the third quarter. Collins said that when the pandemic broke out, the city was anticipating a decrease of close to 30% to 40%. He believes that the city was in a better position that some other cities thanks to the previous leadership of Hall and mayor Jack Diamond. With the way that the city has been living conservatively and not cutting services but cutting manpower and making sure that we have a healthy fund balance, we probably were well positioned for this, Collins said. The citys economy Jeff Flagg, the citys economic development director, attributed the citys improved position to receiving a substantial amount of money through the American Rescue Plan Act. Collins said that the first installment of roughly $6 million came this year, and the second wave of around $6 million will be coming in 2022. Some of the money has gone to local businesses, nonprofits and water infrastructure projects like the recent work that was done on Dix Avenue. We plan on doing more of that next year, Collins said. Collins didnt want to paint a glorious picture due to the number of people struggling and suffering with health or financial troubles. Were using some of this money to alleviate as much of that as we can, and to help get us through this tough time, Collins said. Flagg said that the citys Downtown Revitalization Initiative is still moving forward. The biggest holdup over the past two years, according to Flagg, is the cost of materials and the cost of getting the same jobs done. Collins and Flagg both stated that it is not possible to build something today for the same cost as in 2017. Flagg said, in some cases, it can cost up to twice as much. The cost of materials has just gone through the roof, he said. The city is currently in the process of receiving estimates for work involved with the DRI, and Collins said that the costs they have been seeing are significantly higher than they were previously. Collins said that one thing the city is looking into is rehabbing buildings to create residential spaces for people in and around the city. Flagg said more housing is needed. However, there is not much room for the city to grow. Because the city is small in terms of area, he said officials have to think about things like quality of life and the amount of open space within those confines. Collins said that the city has struggled to hire some entry level positions, and as a result Glens Falls is looking at ways to be more competitive in the employment market, including increasing the base salaries for workers. The workforce Michael Bittel, president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce said that 2021 was a difficult year for the area. Every person and business that Bittel has heard from has told him the same thing. The number one non-COVID concern across the board is trying to find workers. Its been very tough in New York, and especially in this region, to find employees, Bittel said. We hope that theyll come back sooner rather than later. According to Liza Ochsendorf, Warren Countys director of employment and training, the countys unemployment rate is 3.9%. She said that figure only includes those who are looking for work. There are a variety of reasons why there is a workforce shortage. Ochsendorf attributed it to the fact that people did not return to the workforce after extra unemployment ended months ago. She also stated that child care is still a challenge, thanks to the pandemic, and that many local jobs are considered risky by many since they are public-facing jobs. Workers are looking for flexibility, fair wages, family friendly policies and positive work cultures where workers feel valued, she said. Amanda Metzger, marketing director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are already worried about a labor shortage for the 2022 tourism season. Over the past two years, Metzger said the area has seen a lot of new visitors, which has made things difficult for local businesses. She said that campgrounds in the area have told the chamber that their advanced bookings for 2022 are surpassing what they had throughout 2021. And last year was a banner year for them, she said. So the message that were getting out to people is if youre planning on coming to the Lake George region in 2022, make your bookings ahead of time. With the influx of visitors, Metzger said the need for more workers has become more apparent. If the area isnt able to secure workers through the J-1 visa program, the chamber and local businesses have to get creative to bring workers from other areas, such as downstate. Metzger said it is possible for someone to work at a campground in Lake George while living on location. Some of the campgrounds you can actually live there while you work here, she said. There is also a section of Lake Georges website dedicated to advertising positions that are available in the area. People can find those listings at www.lakegeorge.com/jobs/lake-george-region. The webpage is the result of a collaborative effort between ARCC and LGRCC in an attempt to fill the openings. We can market to visitors all we want and thats been very successful as a collaboration in our region with the county tourism, us and other entities but if we dont have the workforce to meet that demand then that creates a major challenge, Metzger said. With all of the challenges still facing communities locally, Bittel believes that the businesses locally will continue to do their best to thrive in this climate. What I do have the utmost confidence in is that our businesses want to continue to do the right thing protect their employees and their customers. They are all working so hard to supply our region with the highest quality goods and services, Bittel said. Jay Mullen is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls, Warren County and crime and courts. You can reach him at (518) 742-3224 or jmullen@poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 2 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. One of state Assemblyman Matt Simpsons priorities for the new legislative session is to establish connections with Democrats in the Assembly majority, many of whom represent downstate districts. I want to understand the other members issues, said Simpson, R-Horicon, who will begin his second year in office in January. To that end, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, chairwoman of the Assembly Social Services Committee, has accepted his invitation to visit the Glens Falls area in the spring to tour local programs that provide services to the homeless, and to conduct a public hearing about poverty in the local region. Simpson said in a telephone interview that he hoped to do that in March, provided that the COVID-19 surge is alleviated by then. Simpson spoke about his legislative priorities for the new session that begins Jan. 5. Simpson, the ranking Republican on the Social Services Committee, said he invited Rosenthal after the committee held a public hearing Dec. 14 about homelessness in New York City. He realized that the way services are provided in urban areas is much different than in small cities, such as Glens Falls, and in towns in the Adirondacks. Simpson said he also hopes to make similar connections to increase mutual understanding of how issues such as broadband access and affordable housing differ in upstate from downstate. Simpson also hopes to gain Democratic support for legislation he recently introduced to establish a state tax credit of up to $5,000 for independently owned restaurants, bars, hotels, food trucks, stores and similar vendors that use ingredients or sell products made with grain, fruits and vegetables grown in New York or with dairy products made from New York milk. Simpson said the legislation resulted from conversations with area farmers and brewers about ways to offset price competition against large corporate suppliers from out of state. It just seemed like a common-sense solution, he said. The tax credit would be based on the percentage of purchases a vendor makes from in-state growers and producers, according to Simpson. Those who make 5% to 9% of their purchases from in-state suppliers would be eligible for a $1,000 tax credit. Also, 10% to 24% of purchases from in-state suppliers would qualify for a $2,000 tax credit, and 25% or more would qualify for a $5,000 tax credit. State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Simpson also recently introduced legislation to require local school boards to establish policies and procedures for parents and guardians to view video footage taken on security cameras inside school buses when the parents or guardians child has been a victim of physical harm, harassment or bullying on a school bus. Simpson said the legislation stemmed from a constituent who contacted him. The woman had difficulty getting a school district to allow her to view video footage from an incident, and then was only allowed to view portions of the footage. If theres an issue, I think the parents are entitled to look at the entire footage of that along with administrators, he said. Simpson co-sponsored legislation that Assemblyman Robert Smullen, R-Johnstown, recently introduced to replace a statewide broadband strategy with regional broadband districts that could seek state funding to implement regional plans. Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, and Stec introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Simpson recently introduced a companion bill to legislation Stec introduced in the Senate to amend the state Constitution to allow for impeaching a former state official for impeachable acts committed while in office, and, if impeached, prohibit the officials from taking public office again. Simpson said the states continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of recent climate change legislation will be major issues in the coming session. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Warren County reported 82 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 72 additional cases on Saturday, along with 59 recoveries. Health Services is monitoring 546 active cases, with 533 of those involving mild illness. Of the cases reported on Saturday, 12 are hospitalized. There are two vaccinated patients who are critically ill, and the remainder have moderate illness. Eight of the twelve who are hospitalized are unvaccinated. There is one individual moderately ill outside of the hospital. There were 30 additional breakthrough cases reported on Saturday. That brings the total number of breakthrough cases to 1,991, or 4.3%, of the 46,533 fully vaccinated county residents. As of Saturday, the county has 781 residents under mandatory quarantine or isolation because of COVID-19 exposure. Warren Countys seven-day average for test positivity stood at 9.3%. The countys vaccination rate was reported to be 72.4% as of Saturday, with 78.2% of county residents receiving at least one dose. Warren County Health Services will hold the following free COVID-19 vaccination booster/first dose clinics in the coming days, with registration required through online links posted at https://warrencountyny.gov/covidhub/ unless otherwise noted. Tuesday, Warren County Municipal Center, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Moderna booster and second doses. (Registration link posted.) Tuesday, Jan. 4, Warren County Municipal Center, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Moderna booster doses. (Registration not yet open.) Tuesday, Jan. 11, Warren County Municipal Center, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., vaccines to be determined. (Registration not yet open.) Washington County Washington County reported a total of 99 new COVID cases over a two-day period 54 on Thursday and 45 on Friday. There were 70 new recoveries of active cases on Thursday, with 12 current cases hospitalized. Of the new cases added, eight had been fully vaccinated. Four received the Pfizer series and four received the Moderna series. Friday saw 49 new recoveries of active cases, with eight people hospitalized. Of the new cases added, seven had been fully vaccinated. Two received the Pfizer vaccine series. Two received the Moderna series and three received the J&J vaccine. Washington County did not release a COVID update on Saturday. Statewide In its most recent update, the state reported that the seven-day positivity rate was 10.18%. As of Friday, there was a total of 878,736 vaccine doses administered in the past week. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the next update would be reported on Sunday. Thanks to vaccines and boosters, our fight against the pandemic is going better than last Christmas, but we still must ensure were taking the proper precautions to keep each other safe this holiday season, she said in a news release. Jay Mullen is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls, Warren County and crime and courts. You can reach him at (518) 742-3224 or jmullen@poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 2 Sad 3 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Callahan said the alumni network provides critical support to people currently enrolled in recovery programs as well as for the alumni themselves. He noted that he has been to Lighthouse twice over the last two years, having experienced a relapse in 2020 when the pandemic began. The alumni network helps him and others who have also battled against addiction keep moored to their recovery programs. I was lucky enough to find some people to help me out, so the least I can do is try and help somebody else, Callahan said. And thats the beauty of helping somebody else, it keeps me in tune with my own recovery. For its efforts to treat addiction, Lighthouse won several awards. On Dec. 14, the program received a NJBIZ 2021 Business of the Year Award, in the 101+ Employees category. On Nov. 1, Lighthouse received a 2021 Best of the Press award from The Press of Atlantic City, as voted on by Press readers. A short period of possible minor wintry winter will turn to rain late in the day, one of many storm systems that will pass through this week. Well start with Monday and then get into the rest of what will be a busy week. Some sunshine will start the day. Low temperatures will range from the upper 20s inland to around 32 on the islands. That sky will quickly go from sun to clouds, though. A warm front will near, but not cross, the region from the south. Between 2 and 4 p.m., precipitation will begin from west to east across the state. Until about 6 p.m., the potential for very minor snow will exist. This likelihood will end first at the shore and in Cape May County, ending last in inland Ocean County. With no measurable December snow in South Jersey, this could be our shot to break that streak. If youre up for a weather lesson, Ill explain whats happening (if not, jump down a few paragraphs). Between 2 and 4 p.m., most of the atmosphere will be below freezing. The exception will be at the surface and the first couple hundred feet above it. So, snow falls from the clouds. It will try to melt to rain in those lowest layers. However, it should be too little to late for most. The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantee on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATOs principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to launch security talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns. Putin said the talks with the U.S. will be held in Geneva. In parallel, negotiations are also set to be held between Russia and NATO and broader discussions are expected under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In remarks broadcast Sunday, Putin said Russia submitted the demands in the hope of a constructive answer from the West. We didn't do it just to see it blocked ... but for the purpose of reaching a negotiated diplomatic result that would be fixed in legally binding documents," Putin said. He reaffirmed that NATO membership for Ukraine or the deployment of alliance weapons there is a red line for Moscow that it wouldn't allow the West to cross. Humans have a natural tendency to experience losses, even perceived ones, with far more intensity than they experience gains. In that context, its understandable that the endemic label smacks of failure rather than victory. After all, Americans arent comparing their feelings about a future of endemic COVID-19 to their wildest fears back in March 2020. Instead, the reference point that thing which lent hope before it was snatched away is more recent. For some, it might have been a Wall Street Journal headline from February 2021: Well Have Herd Immunity by April. Or the joys of May when even the most prudent among us were going maskless and gearing up for Hot Vax Summer. Or perhaps some believed President Biden in June when he said, Were closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus. As the saying goes, unrealistic expectations are premeditated resentments. Now here we are, eyeing the possibility of endemic COVID with dismay and disappointment rather than with unbridled optimism that, someday, well have wrestled this fearsome foe to a draw. What our nations collective mental state needs now is a healthy dose of perspective. For that, here is a trio of useful reminders: Military food insecurity is an AP phony story It is true that many military families are eligible to receive food stamp assistance, but only because the non-taxable portion of their incomes is not considered for eligibility. The lowest paid member of the armed services, if he or she resides with their spouse in off the base residential housing in the Atlantic City area, receives a total annual compensation in excess of $47,000, approximately 60 percent of which is not taxable. This is in addition to 30 paid days leave per year, free medical care for both the member and their family, a retirement plan, and a host of other benefits including tuition assistance, specialty pays, tax free shopping at military exchanges and commissaries and more. Additionally, if deployed to a combat zone, all monthly military pay is tax free and the member receives combat pay, a family separation allowance and temporary duty per diem. The member is also provided with $400,000 SGLI life insurance at modest cost. None of these facts are included in the article. Fueled in large part by financial losses during the moratorium, landlords have started raising their rent to help recoup their income. According to Realtor.com , within the 50 largest metro areas, median rent in March 2021 increased by just 1.1% over the prior 12 months to $1,463 per month. But in November, median rent surged by a record 19.7% over the past 12 months to $1,771. This translates to an additional $291 per month increase in rental costs. November marked the fifth consecutive month where annual rent growth reached double digits. Realtor.com expects rents to increase a further 7.1% for the full-year 2022. For many Americans, the rising cost of rent is expected to create an affordability problem, especially for low-income groups. But even the middle class will feel the sting. With the national inflation rate at a 39-year high of 6.8%, the rising cost of other basic necessities will place tremendous strain on American pocketbooks. Mark Grywacheski is an expert in financial markets and economic analysis and is an investment adviser with Quad-Cities Investment Group, Davenport. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Any prices or quotations contained herein are indicative only and do not constitute an offer to buy or sell any securities at any given price. Information has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee that the material presented is accurate or that it provides a complete description of the securities, markets or developments mentioned. Quad-Cities Investment Group LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. The major investment study ended in 1998, and it was determined that something needed to be done about the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge. However, they looked at other avenues before deciding a new bridge was needed. "It was an iterative process, where you could see that there was interest, there was a need, there was a lack of capacity..." Bulat said. "It wasn't until after [the study] it was determined it really needed to be reconstructed." Unlike in the 1930s, getting approval and funding for a new bridge over the Mississippi River took more than just drafting bills and asking for approval. From 1999 to 2005 they conducted an environmental impact study to show what sort of footprint doing away with one bridge and adding another would have on the local ecosystem. This is where the mussels came in. The study found a freshwater mussel bed right in the construction zone, containing three different federally endangered species. In the end, divers relocated around 140,000 mussels. Factors like water level changes, businesses and other structures that would have to come down, and ensuring the waterway would remain navigable also went into the study. There's an old weather adage that's been passed over cups of coffee and glasses of beer for nearly a century: "It's not a drought 'til it breaks your heart." Today, the hearts of thousands of Montanans have broken across the bare back of one of one of the worst droughts in Montana history: farmers trying to balance their books after a paltry harvest, stockmen paying too much to feed already skinny cattle, outfitters and fishermen prevented from landing a fish because the streams were either too warm or too dry, conservationists and recreationists of all types who watched Montana's forests burn and its prairies shrivel. On Dec. 15, 2021, every county in Montana was identified as experiencing some level of drought, with a third of the state is in the grips of a "D4" or "exceptional" drought, a designation the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to occur in any one location just once every 50 to 100 years. The entire state is, on average, 4.66 inches behind in annual precipitation. The only years that have been drier were 1931, 1919 and 1952 , the Great Falls Tribune reported. There have been longer droughts, both in the first half of the 1930s and again in the early 2000s, and isolated portions of Montana have withered under more extreme stretches of heat and dryness for limited periods of time, but according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in only three of the past 127 years have Montanans as a whole endured such bone dry conditions. "Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1D4) in Montana lasted 307 weeks beginning on May 16, 2000, and ending on March 28, 2006," the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) states. "The most intense period of drought occurred the week of November 23, 2021, where D4 affected 33.10% of Montana land." "It's been quite a year," said Michael Downey, supervisor of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) Water Planning Section. "I've been in Montana for 27 years, and I've never seen anything like this." A DROUGHT LIKE FEW OTHERS Within living memory, a few years stand out for their damaging drought conditions. Among them are 1988, 2012 and 2017. Downey notes that those harsh years were characterized by intensely hot, dry summers, but late-season rains shortened those drought's impacts albeit too late for that year's growing season. "A large-scale drought event occurred in 2012, which was unique in that it followed a devastating flood across the Missouri River Basin in 2011," the NIDIS explains. "The upper Missouri River Basin was hit again in 2017 with a flash drought that was characterized by a rapid decline in soil moisture, low spring rainfall, high temperatures and above-average wind speeds. Agricultural losses alone totaled in excess of $2.6 billion dollars." 2021 has been different, and has the potential to be more damaging. "In 1988, we saw really good moisture come in September and October, which is really similar to 2017 when we had a really dry, hot summer," Downey explained. "2017 was kind of a one and done, and by 2018, we were out of the drought. We have not had that wet fall this year. In fact, we had an extremely dry fall." "Although short-term rain events may begin to replenish near-surface soil moisture, it can take months or multiple seasons to percolate into deeper subsoils, into groundwater aquifers, and to recharge reservoirs," a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advisory states. "It will be important to see how winter precipitation develops, in addition to the timing of melt and quantity of spring precipitation, to fully understand what conditions might be moving into next year's growing season." Much of the current drought's impacts are attributed to the often referenced "La Nina" weather pattern. La Nina develops when sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean are consistently cooler than average for an extended period of time. These cool waters affect the location of the jet streams, which impacts weather in North America. According to NOAA, some of the most notable impacts of La Nina typically occur in winter. "For the Missouri River Basin states, the typical winter La Nina pattern leads to increased chances for below-normal temperatures across the upper Basin," a NOAA report from November 2021 explains. "The northern Rockies may also have increased chances for above-normal snowpack." Unfortunately, that's not always the case. In early August of this year Arin Peters, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, noted that 2020 was also a La Nina year, but the abundant precipitation expected that winter never materialized. "That didn't really pan out as far as precipitation sometimes does with La Nina," Peters said. Thus far, the La Nina pattern of 2021 has returned the same disappointing outcomes. According to NOAA, snowpack depths across much of Montana are currently less than 60% of their normal values for this time of year. As of Dec. 15, 2021 the snowpack across most of Montana was either non-existent or near historically low levels. "When we look at the snowpack in general, not too deep," said climatologist Justin Glisan, a representative of the Northern Plains Climate Hub. "We are seeing a below-average snow water equivalent within that basin-wide percentage. Of course, this is early within the snowfall season so we do have time to go, but these are relatively low compared to where we are at this time of year." While 2021 may end up being one of the driest years on record, it didn't start out that way. "The year actually started out above normal for precipitation," explained Jim Brusda, chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Great Falls. "We started out the year a little bit below normal, then this past May, Great Falls had 4.38 inches of rain. It was actually 1.87 inches above normal and we made up our deficit. Then the faucet turned off, and that's where the problems began." Brusda pointed to a 10-week period between the end of May and mid-August when most of Montana received almost no precipitation whatsoever. "It was also very warm," he added. "It was comparable to 2007, which was a very warm year. We had a few wet days in August and a few wet days in September, but since then, we haven't had any significant amounts of precipitation. So it hasn't been a whole year of dryness, it's just been the past six months that have been really dry." According to Downey, the second half of 2020 was a lead-in to the harsh drought conditions of 2021 "If you look back to when this drought started, it really goes back to June of 2020," Downey said. "Down in southwest Montana, we had moderate drought conditions and about 30% of the rest of the state was abnormally dry. In January 2021 across a lot of the state, we were abnormally dry and did have severe drought conditions in parts of the state." Abnormally high winds have also contributed to the current severe drought conditions. "Part of the reason why the dryness was so bad in November and December was the wind," Brusda said. "We've had numerous windy days and the wind was very strong. We had a couple inches of snowfall in November, but it just melted off and dried up. So the grass went dormant with the couple of cold days that we had. You combine that with the very strong winds and the low humidities - it just remains dry." TIMING IS EVERYTHING The severity of any drought is not just a function of how much or how little precipitation an area gets. The timing of the rains, snowpack accumulation, and how quickly the snowpack melts off all interact to mitigate or worsen a drought's overall impacts. Solid rains in September do little to improve fall crop yields. A big snowpack in February doesn't add a whole lot to irrigation and summer time stream flows if it all melts off by May. "Effective precipitation" is the key phrase, and timing is everything. According to Dr. Lance Vermeire, range ecologist at Fort Keogh, forage production across the state is predominately determined by precipitation received during the months of April and May, and the growing conditions experienced during the months of May and June. In an interview with the Prairie Star, Vermeire noted that in 2021 precipitation was low and temperatures were warmer than normal during this crucial time. "It's important to keep in mind that by the first of July, 90% of forage production in Montana is already complete," Vermeire told the Prairie Star. "Timely rain in June, July, and August can help keep range grass green, but they don't do much for actual growth. The same theory applies to fall rains. While late-season moisture will soften the grass and replenish water reserves, on average it does little to initiate forage growth." Heat and high winds have made things worse. Not only has 2021 been the fourth driest year in recorded history, it has also been the sixth warmest since 1895, averaging 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the mean year-round daily temperature of 46 degrees. And that points to the real driver of exceptional drought conditions in Montana over the past century. NIDIS data from the past 127 years shows that annual precipitation levels across the state have remained remarkably stable. There have been both dry and wet years, even extended periods of drought or flood, but overall, Montana has maintained a fairly consistent statewide average of 18.65 inches of precipitation annually. The average temperature in Montana on the other hand has been trending progressively warmer since the 1970s. Six of the eight warmest years on record have occurred over the past 15 years. One of the most dramatic impacts of rising temperatures has been a dramatic increase in wildland fire activity across the western United States. A June 2021 report published by the National Academy of Sciences notes "the average warm season burned area in the western United States during 2001 to 2018 was about 3.35 million acres, nearly double (+98%) that of the previous period of 1984 to 2000 (1.69 million acres)." According to a National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) report, "the area burned by wildfire during the 2020 warm season reached 8.8 million acres, more than five times the average during 1984 to 2000." Recent devastating wildfires across Montana this winter provide additional evidence that drought and warmer temperatures are on the verge of creating a year-round wildfire season in the state. "We've seen significant wildlife potential for December," said Justin Glisan of the Northern Plains Climate Hub. "Most of ... Montana has large precipitation deficits going back several months. We have soil moisture that's telling us something, we have snowpack that's telling us something and they're converging on these drought conditions." A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE All this may seem overwhelmingly pessimistic, but there are things that can and are being done to better prepare Montana for a warmer if not drier future. "If you look at the projections in looking at climate change, we've got a drier future ahead of us," Downey said. "There is data showing some places in Montana actually getting more precipitation, but part of the problem is when we get it. At the end of the year we could have had average rainfall, but still experience serious drought because of when it came." Montana has recently begun an in-depth revision of its statewide Drought Management Plan, with the goal of providing communities and individuals with information and resources to effectively respond to and mitigate the impacts of drought. Understanding past drought conditions and improving monitoring are going to be key elements of the state's updated drought management plan. The update was announced in October and is scheduled to be completed in early 2023. "This is way overdue," said Downey, who is one of four DRNC planners for the new Drought Management Plan. "Our last official Drought Management Plan was done in 1995, and the metrics that we use to measure drought have changed. I think that getting this new drought management plan is going to get people more resources, and will generate new policy and program recommendations that, hopefully, the state legislature can take up. Hopefully, we can really make some progress on this front." Downey said many Montana ag producers are already incorporating an improved understanding of soil health into their own drought management plans to help maintain productivity on drought-stressed fields. Increased utilization of marginally productive upland acreages and off-stream water development projects are also playing a role. Montana's cities and towns also have a role to play. "If you look at where most domestic water at the community level is used ... often up to 60% to 70% of that water (during the hot summer months) is used for lawns and trees and things like that," Downey noted. "I think we can do a lot better in terms of that water use. That really adds up. Grass is really resilient and it will go dormant, so instead of keeping your grass green, keep your shrubs and trees alive." "Communities also need to look at where they get their water at, and to develop alternative sources of water. For municipalities that rely on a watershed, what happens in the case of a large fire in that watershed? Have you developed your alternative supplies so you can make that switch?" No matter how detailed the planning, there is only so much that can be done to offset the impacts of extended and severe drought. Downey acknowledges that there may come a point when some ag producers may have to face the cruel reality of being "droughted out." Even under these extreme circumstances the state has options to help victims of drought to move forward. "Part of our problem is that here in Montana, unlike some other states, is that we haven't created emergency funds to help people dealing with drought," he observed. "Is it time to have that conversation? How do we put together a network that gets people through this? Then the question becomes, well where do we get the money? I certainly don't have an answer, but I do think that engaging in this planning process is going to bring up some of those questions and hopefully provide some answers and generate some ideas." "There once again, we tend not to think about these things until we're in the middle of a drought, and then it's too late," Downey added. The DNRC is actively seeking public comment and input in the formation of Montana's new Drought Management Plan. To learn how you can get involved in this multi-agency, stakeholder-driven effort to make Montana more drought resilient, log on to the Montana Drought Plan Information Hub at dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/water/drought-management. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 What should you do? Sensei counsels that every company should have an incident response plan for what to do if hit. In the plan, the most important thing is to have an experienced data-breach lawyer on call. That person will know the rules of engagement, have ongoing relationships with relevant governmental organizations, and may be familiar with some ransomware groups. Above all, dont be a soft target. Harden your systems and organization against a ransomware attack. Back up your data into a secure place. Keep software patches up to date. Do cybersecurity training for employees. Using multi-factor authentication of computer-system users. The federal agency says it will consider how well your company steeled itself against a ransomware attack in judging whether to sanction your company if it unwittingly pays ransomware to an embargoed entity. It also says it would be more lenient with ransomware victims who promptly report attacks to appropriate law-enforcement, such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (part of the Department of Homeland Security), the local FBI field office, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the local U.S. Secret Service office. To paraphrase a hit song from the Temptations, you better get ready, cause here they come. If you dont, you may end up like another Temptations hit, a ball of confusion. Meantime, they learned Franklin had been trained as a therapy dog who had visited hospitalized children, nursing homes and retirement communities, so they asked Linas if shed like to bring him to the office. She did, and it couldnt have worked out any better. It didnt take long for Franklin to make himself at home and to learn his way around. He generally stays with Linas in her office during the day he was napping under her desk as we spoke by phone though he goes along when she runs errands. He knows his way around the courthouse and is known to make a tour of various offices as he apparently keeps track of who has the best snacks. Every single morning when he walks in the front door he races around the hallway as fast as he can because hes so excited to be here, Skipper said. Its hysterical to see. We love it. I wish every employee was as excited to come to work as Franklin is. Franklin, who will turn 6 in January, has become something of a star in the office, having been titled pawmonwealth attorney, which also happens to be the handle of his Instagram page. The latest coronavirus surge has caused cases to rise so rapidly in Virginia that the line depicting the states single-day increase of 8,756 infections on Christmas Eve was nearly vertical. Fridays report was the second-highest number recorded by the Virginia Department of Health throughout the pandemic. The first was in January 2021, when the commonwealth announced a nearly 10,000-case increase. Deaths are a lagging indicator for the severity of a surge. The deadly aftermath of last winters surge was not fully known until March. But on Friday, the state recorded an average of 30 deaths per day, which translates to at least one person dying from COVID every hour. Last Christmas Eve, the average number of people dying was 34. The most deaths reported in a single day during the latest wave was 66, or nearly three deaths per hour. VDHs dashboard for cases and deaths does not update over the weekend, which means residents will not know what those metrics looked like on Christmas until Monday. But the recent escalation of coronavirus infections has already surpassed the delta variants swell, which began in July and peaked at almost 4,500 in September. Gwendolyn Peters, 67, said she was shocked to receive a court summons this summer. Commonwealth was suing her for $1,000 for anesthesia during a lumpectomy for breast cancer in 2019, according to court records. This is the first time I have ever been in this situation, she said, sitting in the Chesterfield court with half a dozen other Commonwealth defendants. Because patients typically have little or no control over who puts them under, Brown said, anesthesiologists face less risk to their businesses and reputations than other medical specialists do in using aggressive collections tactics. The specialty is often one of the worst offenders because they dont depend on their reputation to get patients, she said. Theyre not going to lose business because they engage in these really aggressive practices that ruin their patients finances. The average annual deductible for single-person coverage from job-based insurance has soared from $303 to $1,434 in the past 15 years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Deductibles for family coverage in many cases exceed $4,000 a year. Coinsurance the patients responsibility after the deductible is met can add thousands of additional dollars in expenses. FLOYD An emotional, two-hour sentencing hearing in Floyd County Circuit Court last week, with strong testimony from sheriffs department deputies, sent Samuel Wayne Hale to prison for 30 years with another 53 years hanging over his head for trying to kill them. On June 14, Hale admitted his guilt to three counts of attempted murder, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in commission of a felony related to an incident that occurred in October 2019. Commonwealths Attorney Eric Branscom asked Judge Mike Fleenor for a life sentence on Dec. 14, which Virginia law permits when the victim is a police officer, but Fleenor sentenced Hale to 60 years for attempted capital murder with 45 years suspended, 20 years for malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer with eight suspended, and three years for using the firearm. The deputies involved in the shootout, their wives and families, and county Sheriff Brian Craig testified at the hearing, describing incidents and fear in emotional accounts that brought tears and horrible memories. Deputy Floyd Harman described Hale opening fire on him on Oct. 11, 2019, after he attempted to stop a flatbed pickup with farm use plates in an area where construction equipment was stored. One shot grazed Harmans finger and narrowly missed his head. Harman reported shots fired and that he was hit and other deputies responded, including Todd King and Richard Turman, who told their accounts. Family members testified to the emotional toll such an incident takes. In most cases, the night was the first time these deputies had come under fire. Branscom said the hearing was one of the more emotional sessions hes seen as a lawyer and prosecutor. The prosecutor said Hale fired multiple shots from a .357 revolver and deputies returned fire, but the incident finally ended when Hale surrendered to a state police negotiator and task force. While Hale did not testify in the hearing, he was overheard at the end saying he did not intend to hurt anyone, even though many of his shots hit police vehicles close to the deputies and his shots did wound Harman. Sheriff Craig told of the emotions and concerns that hit the department from the shooting. Harmans wounding was the second shooting attack on a deputy. In 2016, investigator Rusty Stanley was hit by a shotgun blast while helping investigate a domestic disturbance. Defense attorney Ryan Hamrick asked Fleenor for a sentence of no more than 10 years. Virginia does not allow for parole in such sentences, and Hale must, under current rules, serve at least 85% of his sentence, which will put him in his 60s before any chance of leaving prison. Fleenors sentence places Hale on probation for 10 years after his release with the remaining 53 years of prison time remaining. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Roanoke Area Ministries Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which is supported by The Roanoke Times Good Neighbors Fund, has been accepting applications for help with rent, prescriptions and utilities only online. Thats sometimes been a problem for those who have difficulty utilizing the internet. But for parents of children enrolled in Total Action for Progresss Head Start and Early Head Start programs, its been an easy transition. Darlene Bannister, a family development specialist with TAP, has been helping Head Start families apply for aid for many years. The difference now, she said, is that instead of accompanying her clients to RAM, she helps with the application and the supporting paperwork at her office, then personally delivers it to RAM. A lot of our families dont have access to a computer, she explained. Bannister said she directs her clients to RAM because aid is given based on need, rather than on strict income guidelines. So if a family that wouldnt qualify for regular social services programs needs assistance, they can get it. RAM also typically has funds later in the year than most charities, but Bannister said Sometimes RAM runs out of money, too. When that happens, the charity has to find grants elsewhere. Even then, she said, Theyre not covering the full rent. Bannister has heard that some people thought the stays on eviction during the pandemic meant they didnt have to pay their rent. But I didnt see that with our families, she said. Head Start also offers access to food pantries, money management education, classes for pregnant women and lead-abatement grants for older homes. We dont offer them a handout, we offer them a hand up, she said. Bannister said the TAP Head Start programs are free to families that meet the federal poverty guidelines. Most of her clients work, she said, though they are among the working poor and cannot otherwise afford childcare. At the moment, she said, there are openings in TAPs 3- and 4-year-old classes, despite the fact that in the United States, there is an ongoing child care crisis. with day care workers choosing to stay home rather than risk exposure to the coronavirus, and some parents unwilling to have their children cared for in a group setting. Everyone is being pushed to the limit right now, Bannister acknowledged. Because children are now being regularly tested for COVID-19, Bannister said, more cases of respiratory syncytial virus are being discovered as well. Its not a new infection, she said, and is often dismissed as a mild cold. But it can be very serious for the very old and the very young, and children often bring it home from day care. Recently, she said, she helped three generations of a local family find enough grant money to secure a three-bedroom home. The mother of the family was making pretty good money, Bannister said, but was also responsible for taking care of her parents and her children. After the entire family came down with COVID-19, she said, she couldnt work for months. Some of the assistance they received came from The Good Neighbors Fund. The extra federal money has made life easier for many families, she said. This year, for the first time in the 37 years she has been working for Head Start, nearly all of the fathers are involved with their families. Im so proud of them, she said. There are more than weve had for a long, long time. Bannister chalks up this new turn of events to fatherhood education programs and support and mentoring from form local churches. It also doesnt hurt that in the past few years, rules have changed governing programs that afforded more benefits to mothers if the fathers werent around, and some of those include new COVID relief programs. Bannister is a big supporter of Head Start. In fact, her own children went through the program over 40 years ago. When she was 20, she said, she was a single mother and subjected to domestic violence. Like the families she works with today, she turned to TAP and the Head Start program. My children could have been a statistic, she said. Now theyre doing great. Bannister said she is grateful for the role RAM plays in allowing TAP to continue to help local families. There are not a whole lot of other places they can go to, she said. All of the 5,000 refugees from Afghanistan who were being housed at the Quantico Marine Corps Base have been resettled into new homes, the base announced this week. In a press release issued by the Marine Corps base, officials said the Department of Defense, working in support of the Department of Homeland Security, had completed temporary support efforts for Operation Allies Welcome, which spanned almost four months at Quanticofrom Aug. 29 to Dec. 22. Task Force Quantico provided temporary housing and support services for approximately 5,000 relocated Afghans aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, the release said. Task Force Quanticos mission has concluded as of Dec. 22, with the departure of its last relocated Afghans. Quantico was among at least six military installations in the country to provide temporary housing for the nearly 45,000 Afghans who successfully fled their county before U.S. forces completely withdrew Aug. 30. Other bases in Virginia involved in the resettlement included the Army National Guard installation at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, about 60 miles southwest of Richmond, and Fort Lee, an 8-square-mile U.S. Army post about 25 miles south of Richmond. Officials at Fort Lee announced in mid-November that all of the refugees there had been resettled. As of last week, about 4,500 refugees of the more than 10,000 Afghan refugees who arrived at Fort Pickett in August remained at the base. James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com JAMES CITY COUNTY In April Stringfields new home there are no furnishings yet. They will come soon enough. The walls and floor lay bare, except for the small Christmas tree that sits in the corner of the living room. It is a testament to a holiday season she will not forget: It is the first Christmas she and her 13-year-old son Azayveon will celebrate inside their new home. While it will serve as a lasting memory for them, the community will remember them as the first family in the world to own and live in a 3D printed home. As Stringfield made her way to the podium under the makeshift tent in her new backyard during her homes unveiling, she choked back tears as she addressed the growing crowd. Despite the December chill, more than 200 people, most shuttled into the Forest Heights neighborhood on buses, came out Tuesday to commemorate the historic event: the completion of the first 3D-printed home in the country. Looking out across the many faces in the crowd, half seated and the others standing, Stringfield said it has been a long road filled with hard work and determination to this moment a moment that she is eternally grateful. Its hard work raising a son but I think Im doing a good job of trying to show him if you believe in something, you keep trying and trying and trying and you can do it, Stringfield said. I just want to thank everybody for making my dream come true. The celebration kicked off Tuesday morning as Stringfield welcomed her family, friends and community into her newly constructed home for a commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour. Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, the organization that facilitated the build, joined the 3D-printing company Alquist 3D along with numerous local and state officials including county Board of Supervisors Mike Hipple, Jim Icenhour and John McGlennon, and Del. Amanda Batten R-James City County, and Del. Marcia Price D-Hampton, at the celebration. According to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg CEO Janet Green, the project is a culmination of numerous community partners coming together to make the first 3D-printed home in the country a reality for a deserving family. This is the first 3D-printed owner-occupied habitat home in the nation, Green said. We are excited with every Habitat home because we are selling homes to deserving families. Stringfield first got the news she would be receiving a Habitat for Humanity home early last year. But she had been waiting for much longer. For two years, she submitted applications before she was accepted. It couldnt have come at a better time. In the months to follow, Green, representing the regions Habitat for Humanity chapter, placed a call to Alquist 3D requesting they use their technology in James City County. According to Alquist 3D Founder and CEO Zach Mannheimer, after speaking with the organization, he knew it would be a perfect fit. So, the Iowa-based company packed up its 3D-printing equipment and headed to Virginia. In July, the company broke ground in the Forest Heights neighborhood joining 10 other Habitat homes. In August, the 3D printing process, with concrete poured into a machine and piped across a foundation in a continual motion, began. After 28 days, four weeks faster than regular stick model builds, the walls were constructed and volunteers got to work plastering walls, installing windows, flooring and lights. Through it all, Stringfield worked with contractors to design each aspect of the home from the paint colors to the flooring to the cabinets. Now, ahead of the holidays, Stringfield and her son will begin to move into their first-ever home following the commemoration. At Tuesday mornings event, Mannheimer addressed the crowd as to the significance of the build. We are so excited for where this is going to go from here, Mannheimer said. Virginia is the leader in 3D printing home construction, hands down, no one can take that away from you. Mannheimer anticipates this will be the future of home construction and in a few years, 3D printers will become a normal home item. As a result, the company installed a printer in the home so, if any of the fixtures break, the family will be able to print new materials. According to Mannheimer, the project cost less to construct because of cheaper building materials and fewer laborers. Additionally, the Stringfield family will see their utility bills lowered by half each year as it is energy efficient. For James City Countys Neighborhood Development Administrator Vaughn Poller, the new build is an exciting addition to the community and is bringing the county one step closer to bridging its affordable housing gap. Im really excited about the opportunity to be a part of this technology in housing and being on the cutting edge there, Poller said. But none of this would have happened without partnerships, that whats really vital. For more information, visit habitatpgw.org. There are 2.6 million children and young adults in Virginia. To keep our promise to children and create a society that values them as our most precious and vulnerable members, we must take a hard look at if we are living up to our commitments to provide equitable opportunities for them to thrive. The truth is that too many children in Virginia live in families who struggle to meet their basic needs. From 2008 to 2019 the number of children living in families that make less than $51,852 (or double the poverty line threshold) remained at 31%. Poverty thresholds are set each year by the U.S. Census and are used to determine the guidelines for eligibility for policy interventions and safety net services. Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin will face entrenched childhood poverty across the commonwealth when he opens the doors to the executive offices. And more than that, he will face economic uncertainties for families looking to return to work, find child care and afford basic expenses. Staying gainfully employed and being able to access food, housing, child care and health care is essential for families to survive, let alone thrive. Longstanding issues stemming from systemic racism and decades of disinvestment compounded by COVID-19 have weakened the safety nets we do have in place. Without family economic security, children are vulnerable to poor health, abuse, neglect, low birth weight and low school performance. Families that accessed additional financial resources like food benefits during the pandemic are beginning to feel more financially secure after a difficult 18 months. Historically, there are fewer reports of abuse and neglect in households where families are able to access additional financial resources and benefits; something thats critical in keeping children with their parents and family. Family economic security also affects the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and youth, often into adulthood. While the pandemic has been a catalyst for overdue conversations about mental health and prompted creative solutions such as telemedicine and expanding mental health support programming in schools the shortage of mental health providers and reimbursement for services continue to plague the system. Unfortunately, these are all ongoing issues for multiple administrations and leaders across both parties. And Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, immigrant, rural and urban families all experience these challenges differently. There will be new opportunities for Gov.-elect Youngkin to lead on childrens policy issues and to bring his priority initiatives to Richmond. His leadership and ideas will face similar challenges of previous governors and new challenges presented by the pandemic. We are calling on the new administration to build on campaign promises and implement the following initiatives that will improve the lives of children and families: 1. Promote efficient government by facilitating collaboration across state agencies. Kids and families do not live in silos the way state government and government programs are currently organized. Often, the division across agencies adds complexity for families and service providers. Previous governors appointed a Childrens Cabinet or cross-agency liaisons; a necessary approach to address the prevention of foster care or to improve childrens mental health services. We believe Gov.-elect Youngkin can enhance this model by adding parent and youth advisory committees to the Cabinet to include their feedback when identifying priorities and solutions. 2. Transform childrens mental health initiatives by providing leadership and creative solutions to long-standing problems. To fully recover from the pandemic, state leaders must step forward with robust plans to support childrens mental health that focuses on prevention, access to treatment and an increased workforce that works to keep youth from showing up in crisis in emergency rooms. 3. Pave a path for family economic stability beyond survival. Financial resources provide security families need to feed, house and care for children. If these resources expire, more families will be back on shaky ground if they were not able to secure high-paying jobs and child care resources. Virginias next governor should focus on outreach and collaboration to help families achieve stability such as providing benefit navigators and offering child care assistance when looking for work. In a partisan climate, the initiatives weve presented to support children and families do not need to be partisan. Instead of being the best Democrat or Republican, kids simply need the best leaders. With the help and input of families, we hope Gov.-elect Youngkin can help put more children on a solid path to prosperity. For a truly fresh approach to governing in Virginia, we believe prioritizing children first and foremost is where to start. Amy Strite is the CEO of Voices for Virginias Children, a nonprofit committed to improving and protecting the lives of Virginias children, youth and families. Learn more at vakids.org. " " Mitosis is the division of a single cell into two cells (as shown here), each with its own nucleus and the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis occurs when a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. Juhari Muhade/Getty Images In the beginning, you were just some genetic material. In order to make you, your biological mom and dad both had to participate in an effort to pitch in one gamete each a sperm cell and an egg cell, each with 23 chromosomes. Both of these sex cells contained everything needed genetically speaking to make a unique human, the likes of which has never been seen on this planet before. That's you. As you're probably aware, in order to make "you", and not "half Paul and half Diane," some complicated genetic juju had to go down the 23 chromosomes from each of your parents' gametes had to join forces to make your one-and-only genome (your complete set of DNA), which has been held in the nucleus of almost every one of your cells since you were a wee zygote, or fertilized egg cell. They just keep replicating this information again and again and again. Advertisement This process the one where your cells (the nuclei of which contain all 46 of those original chromosomes your parents gave you on day one) divide over and over to make new ones when the old ones get tired or damaged is called mitosis. Mitosis happens when you make new fingernail cells or even when you grow a cancerous tumor. Mitosis is such a workhorse you might not know it has a sister process called meiosis, which is equally important, but not as common. What's the Difference? "The key to understanding the difference between mitosis and meiosis is not in the steps, but in the final products of each," says Brandon Jackson, assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Virginia's Longwood University. "Mitosis results in two identical 'daughter' cells, each with two versions of every gene one version from each parent, just like every cell in the body. Meiosis results in four cells called gametes sex cells but each has only one version of each gene. This way, when sperm and egg fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote is back to having two versions of each gene." So, that's easy enough to remember: If cells are dividing, it's almost always through mitosis, unless the product is a gamete that's planning to meet up with another gamete to make a new organism. In this case, each cell can only have 23 chromosomes instead of the normal 46. So, some shuffling needs to happen in order to make sure each sex cell has half the chromosomes of a normal cell. It's difficult to describe the differences between the processes of mitosis and meiosis without using terms like 'homologous recombination' and "cytokinesis," which are confusing. It helps to stop thinking about cell division in terms of chromosomes for a moment and, start thinking about sentences. "Mitosis versus meiosis is my students' nemesis!" says Jackson. "But since DNA is a lot like words strung together to make sentences, we can use words to analogize these events." One exercise Jackson does in his biology classes involves taking two sentences and calling them "chromosomes." (For the sake of this article, we made Sentence 1 bold to make it easy to follow its path through the processes of mitosis and meiosis.) Both these sentences describe basically the same idea, but Sentence 1 (an egg cell, with 23 chromosomes) comes from the female parent (in bold), and Sentence 2 (a sperm cell, also with 23 chromosomes) comes from the male parent. Sentence 1: Imagine a rabbit hiding in the bushes. Sentence 2: Conceptualize a hare cloaked in vegetation. Both mitosis and meiosis start from here and duplicate the DNA, giving us two of each sentence. Imagine a rabbit hiding in the bushes. Imagine a rabbit hiding in the bushes. Conceptualize a hare cloaked in vegetation. Conceptualize a hare cloaked in vegetation. The next step of mitosis separates the duplicates, and then sorts them back out to create twin cells that each contain genetic material inherited from both mother and father. Those can later make duplicates of themselves that are pretty much exactly like the duplicates your red blood cells or liver cells made last year or 20 years ago. Imagine a rabbit hiding in the bushes. Conceptualize a hare cloaked in vegetation. Imagine a rabbit hiding in the bushes. Conceptualize a hare cloaked in vegetation. The first stage of Meiosis, (scientifically known as Meiosis I), takes the duplicated DNA that marks the beginning of the mitosis process, copies it, which results in two daughter cells, each containing with full sets of chromosomes and then shuffles them up like a deck of cards: Conceptualize a rabbit hiding in the vegetation. Imagine a hare cloaked in bushes. Imagine a rabbit cloaked in bushes. Conceptualize a hare hiding in the vegetation. The first step (scientifically known as Meiosis I) is when a single cell is copied resulting in two daughter cells, each containing a full set of chromosomes. Conceptualize a rabbit hiding in the vegetation. Imagine a hare cloaked in bushes. Imagine a rabbit cloaked in bushes. Conceptualize a hare hiding in the vegetation. The second step (scientifically known as Meiosis II) then separates the new daughter cells, putting each into its own cell, leaving four cells with different DNA in each. Conceptualize a rabbit hiding in the vegetation. Imagine a hare cloaked in bushes. Imagine a rabbit cloaked in bushes. Conceptualize a hare hiding in the vegetation. "Each sentence says the same thing, but with different versions of each word each version being an allele, in DNA speak," says Jackson. "Each allele is a mix of words from the male and female parents." Phew! Meiosis seems like a whole lot of work! Why go through the hassle when you could just do some quick mitosis and be done with it? "Variation!" says Jackson. "This is the first part of sexual reproduction, the point of which is to increase genetic variation, and this increases an organism's ability to continue to adapt to a changing world." Let's say the last gamete above (those are the "sentences" formed by meiosis) fertilizes another gamete that says, Consider a bunny disguised by weeds. That would make a new cell and organism with the following DNA profile: Conceptualize a hare hiding in the vegetation. Consider a bunny disguised by weeds. Not only is that different than our parent cell, the one we started with, but it's different than either of the grandparents. And if you have dozens of these sentences humans have 23 pairs of "sentences," after all and each sentence has thousands of words, every meiosis and fertilization event results in genetic combinations that have probably never existed. Which is, of course, why you're so special. Now That's Interesting Meiosis was first observed in sea urchin eggs in 1876 by the German biologist Oscar Hertwig. " " The floodgates of the Berenda Reservoir in Chowchilla, California, were completely dry June 21, 2021. Almost three-fourths of the Western U.S. is gripped by drought so severe that it' unlike anything recorded in the 20-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images By now, you've probably heard about the historic drought gripping the Western United States. Forecasts for wildfires, water shortages and bone-dry riverbeds abound. It's a scary situation, both for those living in the region and for those who don't. Whether you live in the Southeast or the Northwest, you might have a few questions about this megadrought and its impacts. If so, you're in luck that's what we'll be breaking down today. Let's start with the basics. Advertisement What Is a Drought? Though it may seem straightforward, it can be difficult to boil down to a simple definition there's no magic number, be it inches of rainfall or water levels, that signals when a drought begins or ends. "Drought can mean different things in different places," says Stephanie McAfee, an applied climatologist at the University of Nevada, Reno. "It can actually even mean different things to different people in the same place." But like many in her field, McAfee ascribes to a definition coined by the late climate researcher Kelly Redmond: Drought is "insufficient water to meet needs." By most accounts, the current drought in the Western United States has been ongoing since the early 2000s. While it might not be the longest drought the region has ever seen ( one in the 1200s lasted more than a century), it's one of the most severe. Water levels in the Colorado Basin and Lake Mead have hit new lows; Las Vegas didn't see rain for a record-breaking 240 days between April 20 and Dec. 17, 2020. "It's really dry," says McAfee. " " The tall bleached "bathtub ring" is visible on the rocky banks of Lake Powell at Reflection Canyon June 24, 2021 in Lake Powell, Utah. Lake Powell is currently at 34.56 percent of capacity, a historic low. The lake stands at 138.91 feet below full pool and has dropped 44 feet in the past year. The Colorado River Basin supplies water to 40 million people in seven Western states. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Advertisement The 'New Normal'? The drought has gone on long enough that climatologists are considering new terminology for it. Some have proposed labeling it a "megadrought" to convey the scope of the situation. Others argue that the megadrought moniker still doesn't do this event justice. "Something that we might be looking at is actually more like aridification," McAfee says. Aridification occurs when a region becomes permanently dryer. In other words, it marks a shift in the baseline for the amount of water that is considered "normal." As the effects of climate change play out, it seems that less rainfall in the Western U.S. might become the standard. "I think it's accurate to say that that area, at least statistically speaking, has been drying out," says Curtis Riganti, an atmospheric scientist at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska. "Connecting that to the dynamics of climate change I think makes sense." As they become increasingly common, you might be wondering: What are some of the dangers associated with severe drought? " " A tributary of the Sacramento River flows through a burn scar from the Carr Fire in Keswick, California. The largest reservoir in the California has plunged 400,000 acre-feet (the volume that would cover 1 acre to a depth of 1 foot) in April and May as the worst drought in decades grips the region, turning the area into a tinderbox. Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images Advertisement An Empty Lunchbox and a Full Tinderbox One of the most obvious risks is wildfire. We saw a series of horrific and devastating fires along the West Coast in 2020, particularly in California. This year, some areas of the Golden State have received as little as 11 percent of their typical rainfall to date, which could spark even worse burns than last year as the summer progresses. "We're already starting to see that crop up in some areas in June," Riganti says. Another concern is food production. Agriculture is incredibly important to the economies of many Western states, including California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona. Common crops in these states like almonds, wheat, avocados and apples require lots of water to grow well, which can lead to shortages of those crop in times of drought. That's devastating to those states' economies. And then there's ranching. With less rainfall in states like New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona, ordinarily lush grazing lands have suffered. "Ranchers have to bring water and food into specific areas for their cattle," says Erinanne Saffell, the assistant state climatologist of Arizona. It's contributed to a worldwide deficit in livestock feed. But it's important to remember that drought isn't just a West Coast thing, says Riganti. Other areas are in the midst of their own drought. "I've been getting reports of crops struggling in parts of the upper Midwest," he says, "Northern Iowa, Minnesota, parts of Michigan, and then even up into parts of New England are all experiencing various levels of drought right now." And that means everyone across the U.S. can expect to feel the effects of Western drought as it continues to ripple across rest of the country. For example, last year California wildfire smoke made it as far east as New York City and Boston, and potentially even impacted air quality in the Netherlands. On the economic side, smaller crop yields out West would likely drive up produce prices nationwide. " " The colors in the U.S. Drought Monitor map show experts' assessments of conditions related to dryness and drought as of June 22, 2021. The map focuses on broad-scale conditions, so local conditions may vary. U.S. Drought Monitor Advertisement Drought Mitigation Across the Nation Despite our best efforts, human beings can't control the weather (yet). But is there anything we can do to help mitigate the effects of drought? Yes, there is. First, don't waste water. Water conservation is crucial to easing drought stress. If you live in a drought-prone area, simple things like turning off the water when you brush your teeth, taking a shower instead of a bath, or watering your plants at night to reduce evaporation all help save precious H2O. Another one of the best ways to save water is to save electricity it takes 15 of gallons (56 liters) of water in the form of coolant or steam to generate a single kilowatt-hour of power. Second, pay attention to fire safety. "If there's a campfire ban in national forests, don't light a campfire. And if you're not allowed to shoot off fireworks for the Fourth of July, don't," says Riganti. Stick to cake rather than smoke bombs for your gender reveal party. Third, switch up your landscaping. Planting drought-tolerant species, like aloe, lavender, artemisia or cacti, can greatly reduce your lawn's water needs. Having a less thirsty lawn means you'll have fewer thirsty people, and it can look beautiful as well. Another trick? "Mulching and composting," says McAfee. These techniques help keep soil wetter for longer, and can even produce a cooling effect on the surrounding environment. Finally, if you live outside of a drought zone, consider buying less water-intensive foods. That could mean skipping out on almond milk, buying watermelon instead of apples, or opting for chicken instead of burgers at your next summer cookout. None of these actions will fix the drought, but taken together they can reduce the risk that it poses to many people. "It's kind of like earthquakes," says Saffell, "We can't forecast an earthquake, but we can keep people safe from the impacts of that earth-shaking event." Now That's Interesting On Aug. 17, 1891, "General" Robert G. Dyrenforth (who was not, in fact, a general) attempted to induce the heavens to rain on Midland, Texas, by exploding dynamite in the sky. The ensuing drizzle, witnesses later said, was likely a coincidence. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 31F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 31F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). BEMIDJI, Minn. Rachel Taylor kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the crow sewn onto a leather bag on the couch in the living room. "Oh, my baby," she whispered. She hugged the buckskin satchel filled with her son's ashes. Nearly a year ago, she opened his bedroom door and screamed so loud she woke the neighbor. Kyle Domrese was face down on his bed, one of more than 100,000 Americans lost in a year to overdoses as the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated America's addiction disaster. When he was 4, the medicine man had given him his Ojibwe name: Aandegoons "little crow." She traced the outline of the black bird on the sack. "Love you," Taylor said to the bag, as she does each time she leaves her home in this city surrounded by three Ojibwe reservations in remote northern Minnesota. As the pandemic ravaged the country, deaths from drug overdoses surged by nearly 30%, climbing to a record high. The drug crisis also diversified from an overwhelmingly white affliction to killing people of color with staggering speed. The death rate last year was highest among Native Americans, for whom COVID-19 piled yet more despair on communities already confronting generations of trauma, poverty, unemployment and underfunded health systems. Taylor's tribe, the White Earth Nation, studied the lives they've lost to addiction. "Their death certificates say they died of an overdose, but that's not right," one member of their study group said. These deaths were a culmination of far more than that: Despite their resilience, Native Americans carry in their blood 500 years worth of pain from being robbed of their land, their language, their culture, their children. In living people's memory, children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools with the motto, "Kill the Indian, save the man." "What they died of is a broken heart," the study says. For years, Taylor tried to break the cycle. Her grandmother was sent to a boarding school, where she was taught to be so ashamed of her Ojibwe language that she would only speak it once she'd eased the pain by drinking. Taylor had her daughter when she was 19 and her son a few years later. She'd lost custody of them for a couple years as she battled her own addiction. She told them she wished she could fix all the dysfunctional things that happened when she was using. "Then I thought, well, then my mom would have to go back and fix things, and then my grandma would have to go back, it would have to go on like that for generations," she said. Taylor had lived in more than 50 places before she turned 18, and faced sexual, physical and mental abuse. She prayed to her creator to spare her children, and told her son every day that she loved him. White Earth Nation too worked hard to save its people from addiction, and in many years lost no one to overdoses on the reservation. But then the pandemic arrived and proved too painful for some. Taylor and her son quarantined together at her home in Bemidji, a city of 15,000 people. He'd started abusing pills as a teenager when he got a prescription after having surgery for an infected finger. Then, consumed by the madness of addiction, he would smoke anything methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl that might quiet his anxiety and depression. The months of isolation dragged on, and he said it seemed like the pandemic would never end. He told her he felt like a bum. "He just gave up," she said. All around them, people were dying. The number of overdoses the regional drug task force investigated skyrocketed from 20 in 2019 to 88 last year, said Joe Kleszyk, its commander. Fifteen of those were fatal, triple the year before. This year, there's been 148 overdoses, and 24 of those victims died. The vast majority were Native American. When the American government forced Native Americans off their land, it signed treaties with tribes promising to provide for them necessities like health care. The dead from addiction prove it's never kept its word, said Sen. Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat. Indian health care has been underfunded for years. The national average for health care spending is just over $11,000 per person, but tribal health systems receive about a third of that and urban Indian groups even less, according to the National Council of Urban Indian Health. COVID-19 added another blow to this already stressed system. Smith introduced a bill this summer that would usher $200 million in grants to Indian organizations to bolster mental health and addiction treatment. It is stalled in Congress. "I'm sick of telling people that their kids are dead," Kleszyk said. In January, Rachel Taylor's heart began aching. "It was like my heart knew before I did," she said. "My heart was broken four days before he even died." On January 11, she opened his bedroom door. His skin was purple and ice cold. "Come back, my baby, come back," she screamed. The toxicology report said that he'd died of a combination of alprazolam, the drug in Xanax, and fentanyl. At first she put his ashes in an urn, but it was sharp metal. A friend made the buckskin bag that she could hug. The anniversary of his death is approaching on Jan. 11, and it is customary in her culture to return him to nature after a year of grieving. But every morning, she kisses his bag. He'd always loved to laugh, so Taylor teases it. "Keep an eye on the cat," she'll say. Then she tells the cat to keep an eye on him. "The medicine man says I have to let him go back to the Earth," she said. "But I don't think I'm going to be able to do that. He left me too soon." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 As has been the case with so many other school shootings over several years, this month's murder spree at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit might have been avoided if actions had been taken in the face of several obvious warning signs. Ethan Crumbley, 15, is charged with murdering four of his fellow students and wounding with intent to kill seven others. He has also been charged with terrorism. There were a series of signs leading up to this tragedy as there usually are that should have alerted people that Crumbley was a serious threat. He had displayed disciplinary problems for some time. On the day of the shooting, he was summoned to the school office after misbehaving. His parents were also called in, an indication that officials were taking this latest incident more seriously than previous ones. Oakland prosecutor Karen McDonald told CNN there is a strong possibility Crumbley had the gun used in the killings in his backpack when he met with school officials and his parents. Did no one think it unusual, if not suspicious, that Crumbley would bring the backpack with him, instead of leaving it in his locker or the classroom? Why didnt someone ask him to open the backpack and check its contents? Crumbleys parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with four counts each of homicide and involuntary manslaughter. James Crumbley reportedly bought the gun Ethan is charged with using in the murders and gave it to his son. Why would a father do that and why was the weapon not properly secured so it could not be taken anywhere without parental notice, permission and supervision, especially to school? Did Ethan ask his father to purchase the gun for him? What reason did he give? Did James Crumbley ask him? Why would a father give a gun to a son with a record of disciplinary problems? In a bizarre twist, the Daily Mail reported Jennifer Crumbley wrote then president-elect Donald Trump in November 2016, thanking him for his support of the right to bear arms and describing her sons struggles in school. She added that as a realtor she is grateful for the right to carry a gun because it (allows) me to be protected if I show a home to someone with bad intentions. In a search of Ethan Crumbleys cellphone, police found detailed descriptions of his wish to kill classmates. They say he also had a journal and in at least one social media post expressed elation that he had access to a handgun purchased by his father. Did no one else classmates, administrators or parents see or know about any of this? If they did, why was it not reported to authorities? How many times must we hear if you see something, say something before someone says something? Why must we always wonder after the fact why no one spoke up? At his arraignment, Crumbleys lawyer entered a not guilty plea. Ethan is said not to be talking to investigators. It is a sad commentary on the times in which we live that police officers are increasingly present outside and inside some schools and even churches. Will metal detectors be next? No parent should have to worry that sending their child off to school in the morning might be the last time they see them alive. What happened at Oxford High School was pure evil, but evil can be resisted and overcome if people are pro-active in their thinking. Its sad to think in these terms, but potentially much sadder and intolerable if we dont. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Meetings and events Top O' Morning Toastmasters Club, Mondays, noon to 1 p.m. Contact LeAnn Blankenburg, 712-870-1120, for meeting information. The Siouxland Ostomy Support Group, find us on Facebook. For more information and meeting times contact Dick Lindblom at 712-251-2453. Southside "South Bottoms" former residents, 6 p.m. potluck, second Wednesday of the month at Goodwill Industries cafeteria, 3100 Fourth St. Gert, 258-2227. Siouxland Metal Detecting and Archeology Club, 6:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the month in the Gleeson Room at 4510 Buckwalter Drive. Visitors welcome. Ray Turner, 712-899-2114. American Legion Post 64, 7 p.m. last Thursday of the month at 4021 Floyd Blvd. 712-258-3986. Marine Corps League, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Elks Club on TriView Ave. All marines welcome. For more information, call Cathy Moreno, 712-899-8441. Sioux City Chapter of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. 712-203-2052. Sioux City Duplicate Bridge Club, 12:30 p.m. Mondays (open); at the Senior Center. Mary 605-670-9613. Siouxland Fly-Fishing Club, 10 a.m. last Saturday of the month at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on Hwy 12. All interested in fly fishing; beginners welcome. Monthly programs provided. For more information, call Bob Gillespie, 712-251-9463, or Diana, 402-987-3945. Siouxland Coin Club, 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1915 Nebraska St. Bob, 255-4829. The Siouxland Pride Alliance, peer support group, 5:30 p.m. Fridays; potluck, 5:30 p.m. second Sunday of the month; business meeting. First Unitarian Church, 2508 Jackson. Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild, 7 p.m. second Monday of the month at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St, door #2. Visitors and new members welcome. Siouxland Sewing Guild, 6:30-8 p.m. first Thursday of the month at South Sioux Public Library, 2121 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City. For anyone interested in sewing. Denise, 402-922-1822. Sooland RC Modelers, 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Morningside Lutheran Church. Non-profit club that flies remote control aircraft. Anyone interested in RC is welcome. Retired Educators, 10:30 a.m. third Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Mid-Step Services for Handicapped, meal at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Confirmation Instruction and Midweek Lessons, 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Open to all kids 5 years old through 8th grade. Primetime (Potluck), 12 p.m., second Thursday of each month, at Whitfield United Methodist Church, 1319 W 5th. For more information call 252-3261 Tuesday-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Abundant Life Fellowship, 809 S. Alice St., in Sioux City will distribute food boxes after their 11 a.m. Sunday services. For additional information contact Pastor Bob at 605-205-0718 or Donna at 605-205-0719. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COVID-19 variant disrupts holiday travel but not shopping NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The latest COVID-19 variant is upending holiday plans for tens of thousands of travelers but it didnt do much damage to holiday shopping. Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19, as the nations travel woes extended beyond Christmas, with no clear indication when normal schedules would resume. But shoppers shrugged off the omicron variant, and holiday sales rose at the fastest pace in 17 years, according to one spending measure. Omicron is likely to slow the economys unexpectedly strong rebound from last years coronavirus recession by disrupting travel and discouraging some consumers from venturing out. The variant could also add more heat to already simmering inflation by forcing shutdowns at factories and ports, delaying shipments and driving up prices. A full reopening of the U.S. economy will be delayed yet again, said Robin Brooks, chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, a trade group of financial firms. Desmond Tutu, South Africa's moral conscience, dies at 90 JOHANNESBURG (AP) Desmond Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday at 90. South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourned the death of the man viewed as the country's moral conscience. Tutu worked passionately, tirelessly and non-violently to tear down apartheid South Africas brutal, decades-long regime of oppression against its Black majority that only ended in 1994. The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman used his pulpit as the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and later as the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, as well as frequent public demonstrations, to galvanize public opinion against racial inequity, both at home and globally. Nicknamed the Arch, the diminutive Tutu became a towering figure in his nations history, comparable to fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule who became South Africas first Black president. Tutu and Mandela shared a commitment to building a better, more equal South Africa. Upon becoming president in 1994, Mandela appointed Tutu to be chairman of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which uncovered the abuses of apartheid. Major storm dumps snow, closes mountain routes in California COLFAX, Calif. (AP) A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days. Authorities near Reno said three people were injured in a 20-car pileup on Interstate 395, where drivers described limited visibility on Sunday. Further west, a 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 80 was shut until at least Monday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line. The California Department of Transportation also closed many other roads while warning of slippery conditions for motorists. Expect major travel delays on all roads, the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada, said Sunday on Twitter. Today is the type of day to just stay home if you can. More snow is on the way too! The weather service issued a winter storm warning for greater Lake Tahoe until 1 a.m. Tuesday because of possible widespread whiteout conditions and wind gusts that could top 45 mph (72 kph). Despite supply issues and omicron, holiday sales rise 8.5% Holiday sales rose at the fastest pace in 17 years, even as shoppers grappled with higher prices, product shortages and a raging new COVID-19 variant in the last few weeks of the season, according to one spending measure. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards, reported Sunday that holiday sales had risen 8.5% from a year earlier. Mastercard SpendingPulse had expected an 8.8% increase. The results, which covered Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, were fueled by purchases of clothing and jewelry. Holiday sales were up 10.7% compared with the pre-pandemic 2019 holiday period. By category, clothing rose 47%, jewelry 32%, electronics 16%. Online sales were up 11% from a year ago and 61% from 2019. Department stores registered a 21% increase over 2020. France sees over 100,000 daily virus infections for 1st time PARIS (AP) France has recorded more than 100,000 virus infections in a single day for the first time in the pandemic and COVID-19 hospitalizations have doubled over the past month, as the fast-spreading omicron variant complicates the French governments efforts to stave off a new lockdown. More than 1 in 100 people in the Paris region have tested positive in the past week, according to the regional health service. Most new infections are linked to the omicron variant, which government experts predict will be dominant in France in the coming days. Omicron is already dominant in Britain, right across the Channel. Meanwhile a surge in delta variant infections in recent months is pushing up hospital admissions in France, and put ICUs under strain again over the Christmas holidays. More than 1,000 people in France with the virus died over the past week, bringing the country's overall death toll to more than 122,000. President Emmanuel Macron's government is holding emergency meetings Monday to discuss the next steps in tackling the virus. Some scientists and educators have urged delaying the post-holiday return to school, or suggested re-imposing a curfew. But France's education minister says schools should open as usual on Jan. 3, and other government officials are working to avoid measures that would hammer the country's economic recovery. 1st U.S. gay bishop remembers Tutu's generosity, kindness CONCORD, N.H. (AP) In 2008, when the Right Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire was excluded from a global Anglican gathering because of his sexuality, Desmond Tutu, who died Sunday, came to his defense. Gene Robinson is a wonderful human being, and I am proud to belong to the same church as he, Tutu wrote in the foreword to a book Robinson published that year. Robinson, who in 2003 became the U.S. Episcopal Churchs first openly gay bishop, said Sunday he has been trying to live up to those words ever since. It was quite surreal because I was taking grief from literally around the world, he said in a phone interview. There was probably at that time, and maybe still, no one better known around the world than Desmond Tutu. It was an astounding gesture of generosity and kindness. Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice, died at age 90. He was an uncompromising foe of apartheid, South Africas brutal regime of oppression against its Black majority, as well as a leading advocate for LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. After suicide bombing, Congo officials fear more attacks BENI, Congo (AP) Authorities in eastern Congo announced an evening curfew and new security checkpoints Sunday, fearing more violence after a suicide bomber killed five people in the first attack of its kind in the region. Beni Mayor Narcisse Muteba, a police colonel, warned hotels, churches and bars in the town of Beni that they needed to add security guards with metal detectors because terrorists could strike again. We are asking people to be vigilant and to avoid public places during this festive period," Muteba told The Associated Press on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Constant Ndima, the military governor of North Kivu province, said there will be a 7 p.m. curfew, as well as more road checkpoints. Officials initially said the death toll was six plus the suicide bomber, but they revised that figure a day later to five victims. Thirteen others remained hospitalized after the blast at the entrance to the Inbox restaurant on Christmas Day. Sarah Weddington, lawyer who argued Roe v. Wade, dies at 76 DALLAS (AP) Sarah Weddington, a Texas lawyer who as a 26-year-old successfully argued the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court, died Sunday. She was 76. Susan Hays, Weddingtons former student and colleague, said she died in her sleep early Sunday morning at her Austin home. Weddington had been in poor health for some time and it was not immediately clear what caused her death, Hays told The Associated Press. Raised as a minister's daughter in the West Texas city of Abilene, Weddington attended law school at the University of Texas. A couple years after graduating, she and a former classmate, Linda Coffee, brought a class-action lawsuit on behalf of a pregnant woman challenging a state law that largely banned abortions. The case of Jane Roe, whose real name was Norma McCorvey, was brought against Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade and eventually advanced to the Supreme Court. Weddington argued the case before the high court twice, in December 1971 and again in October 1972, resulting the next year in the 7-2 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Photos of aftermath of massacre in Myanmar fuel outrage BANGKOK (AP) Photos of the aftermath of a Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Myanmar that reportedly left more than 30 people, including women and children, dead and burned in their vehicles, have spread on social media in the country, fueling outrage against the military that took power in February. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles who were reportedly shot by government troops as they were fleeing combat. The accounts could not be independently verified. The international aid group Save the Children said that two of its staffers were missing in the massacre, which sparked outrage against the military that took power after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Save the Children said it was suspending operations in the region. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar said it was appalled by the barbaric attack in Kayah state that killed at least 35 civilians, including women and children. We will continue to press for accountability for the perpetrators of the ongoing campaign of violence against the people of Burma, it said in a statement. EXPLAINER: New easy-to-use COVID-19 pills come with a catch Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear. The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window. U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer's pill, Paxlovid, and Mercks molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer's was much more effective. A closer look: Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Another COVID Christmas brings anxiety, but also optimism Christmas arrived around the world Saturday amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that kept many families apart, overwhelmed hospitals and curbed religious observances as the pandemic was poised to stretch into a third year. Yet, there were homilies of hope, as vaccines and other treatments become more available. Pope Francis used his Christmas address to pray for more vaccines to reach the poorest countries. While wealthy countries have inoculated as much as 90% of their adult populations, 8.9% of Africas people are fully jabbed, making it the worlds least-vaccinated continent. Only a few thousand well-wishers turned out for his noontime address and blessing, but even that was better than last year, when Italys Christmas lockdown forced Francis indoors for the annual Urbi et Orbi ("To the city and the world") speech. Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of goodwill to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects, Francis said from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica. Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care and vaccines in particular are provided to those peoples who need them most. Space telescope launched on daring quest to behold 1st stars The worlds largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away Saturday on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South Americas northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky. What an amazing Christmas present, said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's science mission chief. The $10 billion observatory hurtled toward its destination 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) away, or more than four times beyond the moon. It will take a month to get there and another five months before its infrared eyes are ready to start scanning the cosmos. First, the telescopes enormous mirror and sunshield need to unfurl; they were folded origami-style to fit into the rocket's nose cone. Otherwise, the observatory wont be able to peer back in time 13.7 billion years as anticipated, within a mere 100 million years of the universe-forming Big Bang. On Christmas, pope prays for pandemic's end, peace dialogues ROME (AP) Pope Francis prayed Saturday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, using his Christmas Day address to urge health care for all, vaccines for the poor and for dialogue to prevail in resolving the worlds conflicts. Amid a record-setting rise in COVID-19 cases in Italy this week, only a few thousand people flocked to a rain-soaked St. Peters Square for Francis annual Urbi et Orbi ("To the city and the world") Christmas address. Normally, the square would be packed with tens of thousands of holiday well-wishers. At least they could gather this year. Italys 2020 holiday lockdown forced Francis to deliver a televised address from inside the Apostolic Palace to prevent crowds from forming in the square. Although Italy this week counted more than 50,000 cases in a single day for the first time, the government has not ordered another lockdown. The pope's Christmas Day speech gives him an opportunity to draw a global audience's attention to conflicts big and small. This year was no different. Francis lamented ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, newly flaring tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an unprecedented crisis" in Lebanon. We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters, he said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica as Swiss Guards stood at attention in the square below. Bidens mark Christmas with holiday calls to service members WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden marked his first Christmas in office by making calls to military service members stationed around the world, offering them holiday wishes and gratitude for their service and sacrifice for the nation. Joined by his wife, Jill, and their new puppy, Commander, the president on Saturday spoke via video to service members representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard, stationed at bases in Qatar, Romania, Bahrain and the U.S. As your commander in chief, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, thank you, thank you, he told the service members. Were grateful for your courage, your sacrifice, not only your sacrifice but your familys sacrifice. Speaking from a studio set up at the White House, Biden told them theyre the solid steel spine of the nation, and emphasized the truly sacred obligation the nation has to care for soldiers and their families. Jill Biden expressed empathy for the difficulties their families experience spending the holidays away from their loved ones, noting that the Bidens experienced the same when their son Beau, who served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, was deployed to Iraq. Queen recalls 'familiar laugh missing' in Christmas speech LONDON (AP) Queen Elizabeth II in her Christmas Day message shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate with friends and family, despite the grief caused by the ongoing pandemic. Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season with one familiar laugh missing, the monarch delivered her address beside a framed photograph of her arm-in-arm with Prince Philip, who died in April at age 99. On her right shoulder was the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch she wore in the photo a glittering statement pin that she also wore as a newlywed. Although its a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. This year, especially, I understand why. This festive season is the first since the monarch said goodbye to her husband of more than 70 years in a service in St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Coronavirus restrictions in place at the time meant that the queen sat alone a poignant reminder of how she would spend her life going forward. Despite her own loss, the queen said her family was a source of great happiness, noting that she had welcomed four great-grandchildren this year. Suicide bomber attacks bar in eastern Congo, killing 6 BENI, Congo (AP) A suicide bomber attacked a restaurant and bar Saturday as patrons gathered on Christmas Day, killing at least six others in an eastern Congolese town where Islamic extremists are known to be active. Heavy gunfire rang out shortly after the bomb went off, with panicked crowds fleeing the town's center. Saturday's attack marked the first known time that a suicide bomber has killed victims in eastern Congo, where an Islamic State group affiliate earlier this year took responsibility for a suicide bombing near another bar in Beni who had caused no other casualties. The latest violence only deepens fear that religious extremism has taken hold in a region already plagued for years by rebels. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the governor of North Kivu, said that security guards had blocked the bomber from entering the crowded bar and so the person instead detonated the explosives at the entrance. Save the Children says staff missing after Myanmar massacre BANGKOK (AP) Two members of the international humanitarian group Save the Children were missing Saturday after Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be women and children, fatally shot more than 30 and burned the bodies, according to a witness and other reports. Purported photos of the aftermath of the Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Mo So village, just outside Hpruso township in Kayah state where refugees were sheltering from an army offensive, spread on social media in the country, fueling outrage against the military that took power in February. The accounts could not be independently verified. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles. A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmars army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Save the Children said that two of its staff who were traveling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were caught up in the incident and remain missing." Flight cancellations snarl holiday plans for thousands NEW YORK (AP) Airlines continued to cancel hundreds of flights Saturday because of staffing issues tied to COVID-19, disrupting holiday celebrations during one of the busiest travel times of the year. FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, noted nearly 1,000 canceled flights entering, leaving or inside the U.S. Saturday, up from 690 flights scrapped on Friday. Over 250 more flights were already canceled for Sunday. FlightAware does not say why flights are canceled. Delta, United and JetBlue had all said Friday that the omicron variant was causing staffing problems leading to flight cancellations. United spokesperson Maddie King said staffing shortages were still causing cancellations and it was unclear when normal operations would return. This was unexpected, she said of omicron's impact on staffing. Delta and JetBlue did not respond to questions Saturday. According to FlightAware, the three airlines canceled more than 10% of their scheduled Saturday flights. American Airlines also canceled more than 90 flights Saturday, about 3% of its schedule, according to FlightAware. American spokesperson Derek Walls said the cancellations stemmed from COVID-related sick calls." European and Australian airlines have also canceled holiday-season flights because of staffing problems tied to COVID-19. For travelers, that meant time away from loved ones, chaos at the airport and the stress of spending hours standing in line and on the phone trying to rebook flights. Peter Bockman, a retired actor, and his daughter Malaika, a college student, were supposed to be in Senegal on Saturday celebrating with relatives they hadn't seen in a decade. But their 7:30 p.m. flight Friday from New York to Dakar was canceled, which they found out only when they got to the airport. They were there until 2 a.m. trying to rebook a flight. 'He-Man' artist and toy designer T. Mark Taylor dies at 80 LOS ANGELES (AP) T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. He was 80. The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday. He-man was the muscled frontman for toy manufacturer Mattels Masters of the Universe franchise, which would later spawn an animated series that became a staple for children. Kids squeezed in homework between scenes featuring the strapping cartoon hero as he battled sorcerers and other villains. He-Man was the epitome of hulking superhero warrior but also became an icon within the LGBTQ community, who saw parallels in the secret life of Prince Adam, He-Mans alter ego. As in the case of many creative endeavors, many hands shaped the franchise. Taylor has said the prototypes date back to his own childhood as he fantasized about being the next hero. He said he based the concept of He-Man on his vision of Cro-Magnon men, as well as Vikings. Rodgers sets team record as Packers hold off Browns 24-22 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Rasul Douglas and the Green Bay Packers pass defense didn't let the Cleveland Browns spoil Aaron Rodgers milestone day. Rodgers surpassed Brett Favre to become Green Bays all-time leader in touchdown passes, and the Packers intercepted Baker Mayfield four times in a 24-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. Cleveland nearly came all the way back from a 12-point second-half deficit before Douglas' second interception of the day sealed the game with 43 seconds left. We've got to do a better job of closing games out, Rodgers said. Our defense has closed out a lot of games, the last two weeks stopping that 2-point conversion (in a 31-30 victory at Baltimore) and Rasul coming up with that big pick. It's nerve racking, but winning is difficult in this league. Rodgers went 24 of 34 for 202 yards with three touchdown passes to increase his career total to 445. Favre threw 508 touchdown passes during his Hall of Fame career, 442 of them with Green Bay. But it was Green Bays defense that clinched this victory by sacking Mayfield five times and forcing him into his first career four-interception performance. All three touchdowns by the Packers (12-3) came after Mayfield interceptions. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) A former northwestern Indiana mayor is being allowed to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction on bribery and tax evasion charges. A federal judge ruled this past week that former Portage Mayor James Snyder had legitimate issues for appeal and could remain free on bond rather than surrender on Jan. 5 to begin serving a 21-month prison sentence. Judge Matthew Kennelly, who took just a few minutes during a teleconference call to issue his ruling, said if Snyders appeal was successful, it would throw out the prison term that he ordered for Snyder in October, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported. A jury convicted Snyder in March of taking a $13,000 bribe in 2014 in return for steering a $1.1 million city contract for garbage trucks from a trucking company. Snyder, a Republican, has maintained his innocence, testifying during his trial that the money was payment for consulting work that he declared on his income tax returns. Snyders attorneys argued that prosecutors didnt prove that Snyder and the trucking company owners made a quid pro quo agreement for awarding the garbage truck contract. Snyder, 43, won elections as mayor in 2011 and 2015. He was indicted on the bribery charges in 2016 and was removed from office in 2019 when he was first convicted in the case. A judge later threw out that verdict, ruling that aggressive tactics by prosecutors denied Snyder a fair trial. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COLFAX, Calif. (AP) A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days. Authorities near Reno said three people were injured in a 20-car pileup on Interstate 395, where drivers described limited visibility on Sunday. Further west, a 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 80 was shut until at least Monday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line. The California Department of Transportation also closed many other roads while warning of slippery conditions for motorists. Expect major travel delays on all roads, the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada, said Sunday on Twitter. Today is the type of day to just stay home if you can. More snow is on the way too! The weather service issued a winter storm warning for greater Lake Tahoe until 1 a.m. Tuesday because of possible widespread whiteout conditions and wind gusts that could top 45 mph (72 kph). Turbulent weather stretched from San Diego to Seattle. More than a foot (0.3 meters) of snow was reported near Port Angeles on Washington state's Puget Sound. Portland, Oregon received a dusting, but the city was expected to get another 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) by Monday morning, according to the weather service. In California, rockslides caused by heavy rain closed more than 40 miles (64 kilometers) of coastal Highway 1 in the Big Sur region south of the San Francisco Bay Area. There was no estimate for the reopening of the scenic stretch that is frequently shut after wet weather. The latest in a series of blustery storms hit Southern California with heavy rain and wind that flooded streets and knocked down power lines late Saturday. Powerful gusts toppled trees, damaged carports and blew a track-and-field shed from a Goleta high school into a front yard two blocks away, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. No injuries were reported. More than 1.8 inches (4.5 centimeters) of rain fell over 24 hours in Santa Barbara County's San Marcos pass, while Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo County recorded 1.61 inches (4 centimeters), the weather service said. Los Angeles International Airport said a storm-related electrical issue forced a partial closure of Terminal 5, causing post-Christmas passengers to divert to other terminals for certain services. Cancellations and delays are possible, so it will be important to check your flight status today if flying through Terminal 5, LAX tweeted. In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, crews were repairing a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rain late Thursday. The closure of the major route into the Big Bear ski resort area could last for weeks, officials said. The continuing storms were welcomed in parched California, where the Sierra snowpack had been at dangerously low levels after weeks for dry weather. But the state Department of Water Resources reported on Christmas Eve that the snowpack was between 114% and 137% of normal across the range with more snow expected. Up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) of snow was predicted at the highest elevations of the Sierra. Before Sunday, 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow already had fallen at Homewood on Lake Tahoes west shore. About a foot (30 centimeters) was reported at Northstar near Truckee, California, and 10 inches (25 centimeters) at the Mount Rose ski resort on the southwest edge of Reno. 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 LOS ANGELES (AP) T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. He was 80. The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday. He-man was the muscled frontman for toy manufacturer Mattels Masters of the Universe franchise, which would later spawn an animated series that became a staple for children. Kids squeezed in homework between scenes featuring the strapping cartoon hero as he battled sorcerers and other villains. He-Man was the epitome of hulking superhero warrior but also became an icon within the LGBTQ community, who saw parallels in the secret life of Prince Adam, He-Mans alter ego. As in the case of many creative endeavors, many hands shaped the franchise. Taylor has said the prototypes date back to his own childhood as he fantasized about being the next hero. He said he based the concept of He-Man on his vision of Cro-Magnon men, as well as Vikings. Mattel sold more than 70 million action figures from its Masters of the Universe collection which hit shelves in 1982 during the first 2.5 years of the brand, according to The New York Times. Taylor began his career with El Segundo-based Mattel in 1976 as a packaging designer, his family said. Mattel did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise featuring pizza-loving Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo spawned a long-running animates series, live-action movies and a catchphrase: cowabunga. While Taylor did not create any of the characters, his work as a designer helped propel them into iconic childhood images for many around the world, including action figures and costumes that flew off stores shelves. Terrell Mark Taylor who went by his middle name, Mark was born on June 5, 1941, according to California voter registration records. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, designer Rebecca Salari-Taylor of Ranchos Palos Verdes. I felt him say goodbye to this world as I held him in my arms for one final loving kiss, Salari-Taylor wrote in a Facebook post. Taylor's family said his father-in-law, Tony Salari, told the artist, If you can draw well, everything will be okay. Taylor took pinstriping commissions for hot rod cars as a teen in Redondo Beach in the early 1950s, his family said. He later attended the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. Taylor went on to work for the U.S. Department of Defense in Pasadena and contributed to projects for submarines, biological and technical sonar technology and seafloor mapping, his family said. Taylors toy work was featured in documentaries, including Power of Grayskull and The Toys That Made Us. If I was going to do a hero for today, it would be a female hero because its the time, because the heroes of our time are women. ... Us men had our day, Taylor told fans during an appearance at a He-Man festival in 2015. Calvan reported from New York. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Defense attorneys want to dismiss the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they described as egregious overreaching by federal agents and informants, according to a court filing. In the 20-page motion, which was filed Saturday night, defense attorneys allege FBI agents and federal prosecutors invented a conspiracy and entrapped people who could face up to life in prison. They're asking U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to dismiss the conspiracy charge, which would effectively knock down the federal government's case and other connected charges, according to The Detroit News. The request comes after developments and claims about the governments team, including the conviction of Richard Trask, an FBI special agent who was arrested on a domestic violence charge and later fired and convicted of a misdemeanor. Essentially, the evidence here demonstrates egregious overreaching by the governments agents, and by the informants those agents handled, defense attorneys wrote. "When the government was faced with evidence showing that the defendants had no interest in a kidnapping plot, it refused to accept failure and continued to push its plan. Five people are charged with kidnapping conspiracy and face a trial March 8 in Grand Rapids. They have pleaded not guilty and claim to be victims of entrapment. Federal prosecutors have argued the men were not entrapped. The government alleged the men were upset over coronavirus restrictions when they conspired to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat, even scouting her second home in northern Michigan. Messages left Sunday with the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Justice werent immediately returned. In January, a sixth man, 26-year-old Ty Garbin, pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year federal prison sentence. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Detroit News. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Staff members and guests at a homeless and transitional facility in South Dakota each received $100 bills for Christmas, thanks to an anonymous donor. The St. Francis House in Sioux Falls has 90 residents, one of whom is recovering from cancer and suffering from Parkinson's disease. Darrin Stringfellow said he was overwhelmed by the donation. I have saved a years worth of rent in four and a half months, working the two jobs, and theyve given so much more, a sense of worth, though, not just the monetary things and a warm bed, Stringfellow said. I feel like a complete human again. Nichole Barry, one of 30 employees at the house, said she teared up a little bit when she received the present. St. Francis House Executive Director Julie Becker said it was humbling to be selected by the donor and delivered a message when handing out the bills, KELO-TV reported. Please know that this donor wanted to let all of you know that you guys are all special people, okay? Becker said. Your circumstances do not define you. You are all here for a reason, and its all different, and everybody is working their plan to get on to a better way of life. She also asked them to continue paying it forward, such as putting a couple of bucks in the Salvation Army kettle or buying someone a cup of coffee. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, KELO-TV. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The forecast is calling for cold temperatures in Sioux City Sunday. It should reach a cold 42 degrees. Today's forecasted low temperature is 24 degrees. Partly cloudy skies are in the forecast. There is only a 24% chance of rain, but check the radar before you head outdoors. Sioux City could see periods of brisk winds today, with forecast models showing 21 mph wind conditions coming up from the East. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. For more daily forecast information, visit siouxcityjournal.com. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the cleric who became one of the most influential voices that ultimately helped bring down apartheid in South Africa and then pushed for reconciliation, died on Sunday in Cape Town. He was 90. His death was confirmed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who characterized Tutu as a patriot without equal and said the anti-apartheid icon was a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead. Tutu died of cancer, 24 years after he was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997. Advertisement For decades, Tutu became one of the main voices calling on the South African government to end apartheid. His voice was so powerful, first as leader of the South African Council of Churches and then as Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, that he earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. With many leaders of the anti-apartheid movement behind bars, Tutu became one of the strongest voices against the regime abroad. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after spending 27 years behind bars, he spent his first night of freedom at Tutus residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decades-long oppressive regime against South Africas Black majority only ended years later and South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994, at which point Tutu emerged as a key leader in the transition. Mandela named Tutu chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he helped document some of the most horrific crimes of the regime. You are overwhelmed by the extent of evil, he said at one point. Despite the nature of the crimes, Tutu was a strong proponent of providing amnesty in return for an honest accounting of the past. Advertisement Advertisement In later years, Tutu became a strong proponent for human rights around the world and took special interest in advocating for LGBT rights and marriage equality. Tutu said at one point he was as passionate about the campaign for LGBT rights as he ever was about apartheid. Domestically he ended up becoming disillusioned with the African National Congress, the anti-apartheid movement that came into power in 1994 when Mandela became president. In his final years, he publicly talked about his disappointment that his optimistic vision of a rainbow nation never came to pass. Tributes poured in from around the world for the man who was commonly referred to as The Arch. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend and a moral compass for me and so many others, former President Barack Obama, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, said. The Dalai Lama said he cherished the friendship he shared with Tutu, who was entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good. https://sputniknews.com/20211226/40-years-ago-israel-extended-sovereignty-over-the-golan-heights-heres-the-man-who-stood-behind-it-1091807469.html 40 Years Ago Israel Extended Sovereignty Over The Golan Heights; Here's The Man Who Stood Behind It 40 Years Ago Israel Extended Sovereignty Over The Golan Heights; Here's The Man Who Stood Behind It Shimon Sheves was only in his 20s when he arranged a petition that was signed by nearly 750,000 Israelis demanding the government apply an Israeli law over the disputed territory 2021-12-26T05:07+0000 2021-12-26T05:07+0000 2021-12-26T05:07+0000 golan heights middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106568/98/1065689835_0:231:4723:2887_1920x0_80_0_0_4b2c15079261a78ae76f90b91169e56c.jpg It was mid-December 1981, when Israel's then-prime minister Menachem Begin surprised many by proposing a bill that would extend the country's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which had been captured from Syria in 1967 during the Six Day War.Normally, the voting process, which is comprised of three readings takes days if not weeks to be completed. The case of the Golan Heights was different. All three rounds were conducted in a single day, with 63 members of the Israeli parliament supporting, and 21 rejecting the move.Utter HappinessShimon Sheves, an Israeli political advisor, activist and businessman, says he remembers well that historic day that brought joy and happiness to many of his countrymen.However, reaching that point of pushing the government to declare sovereignty over a disputed strip of land was a long and laborious process.Since 1967, when the area fell into the hands of Israel and up until 1981, the Golan Heights had been under the military control of the IDF and the Israeli government had dragged its feet in changing that status quo. This was partially due to international pressure, but mostly it was because the area was not part of Mandatory Palestine and as such it could not be annexed by a simple government decision. It required the legislation of basic law.Time's Running ShortBut while the government had been hesitant, Sheves felt that time was running short.In 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in which the Jewish state agreed to evacuate the Sinai peninsula. Three years later, Israelis had left the settlement of Yamit, and Sheves was worried that the future of the Golan Heights might be similar.Sheves believed it was something that Israel could not afford.The Golan Plateau has been of a strategic importance to Israel. Boasting an average altitude of 1,000 meters, the area overlooks the Hula Valley, the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan River Valley. The practical implication of this was that when the area was under Syrian control, nearby Israeli communities were under constant artillery and sniper fire. Agriculture and fishing was difficult and at times impossible.Taking Matters Into Their Own HandsThe capture of the area put an end to this threat, but fears that the Plateau would one day be returned to Syria as part of a potential peace deal, made Sheves and many other residents of the area shiver. And this is the reason, why he decided to act.Back then, Sheves -- still in his 20s -- was serving as the chairman of the Central Committee of the Golan, a union of towns and communities of the area. Together they engaged more people, residents and influencers of the north, creating a massive movement that advocated for extending Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Plateau.For two years, Sheves, along with other activists, would tour the country, give out interviews on TV and press and apply pressure on decision makers to take the important move.He also prepared a petition and obtained 745,000 signatures from Israelis who supported the initiative.International PressurePublic pressure did the trick. But as soon as the bill passed and became a law, repercussions swiftly followed.The United States, Israel's main ally, announced that it was suspending its strategic pact and arms deal with Israel. A number of European states denounced the move.The situation is not much different today, 40 years after the historic move. Although Washington recognised Israel's sovereignty over the area relatively recently under Donald Trump, many regional and international players still consider it occupied Syrian land that needs to be returned to its rightful owners. Some are even taking measures to force the Jewish state to surrender.In 2016, it was reported that France had started labelling Israeli products that were manufactured in the West Bank and the Golan Heights, a move that allegedly hurt the income of Israeli companies.A similar move was also taken by Belgium and the fear is that it will soon be done by all European countries.Sheves acknowledges that the 1981 decision has impacted Israel's regional and international standing. But looking back, he says he has zero regrets. vot tak Nauseating propaganda promoting this criminal and the israeli war crimes against the Syrians that israel is illegally occupying in the Golan Heights. Thumbs down. 11 Hess What a racist Zionist propaganda justifying terrorism and occupation by Jews? It distorts and obfuscate truth and history. 8 10 golan heights 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 golan heights, middle east https://sputniknews.com/20211226/about-59000-new-york-times-readers-fail-to-locate-ukraine-on-map-1091804916.html About 59,000 New York Times Readers Fail to Locate Ukraine on Map About 59,000 New York Times Readers Fail to Locate Ukraine on Map Only 68 percent of The New York Times readers know where Ukraine is located on the map, according to current results from this years "Great News Quiz" conducted by the newspaper. 2021-12-26T00:55+0000 2021-12-26T00:55+0000 2021-12-26T00:55+0000 the new york times ukraine map quiz /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102914/93/1029149336_0:192:2048:1344_1920x0_80_0_0_e201eff46ed4a80473b5e43e51b43bb8.jpg One of the 40 questions in the online 2021 news quiz claims that "Thousands of Russian troops moved near Ukraines border late this year, stoking fear of an invasion." The readers are then asked to locate Ukraine on the map.According to current results, only 68 percent of 185,242 readers managed to correctly pinpoint Ukraines location. Thus, about 59,000 people do not know where Ukraine is situated.Western countries are accusing Russia of allegedly deploying troops near the Ukrainian border in preparation for "aggressive action." Moscow has repeatedly denied these accusations, pointing to NATO's increasing military activity near the 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.Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his end-of-the-year press conference on Thursday that there is an impression that a third military invasion is being prepared in Ukraine and that Russia is being warned in advance not to interfere. Putin added that Russia needs to think about its security and how to live with having to constantly monitor what is happening in Ukraine and what weapon systems are being deployed there. https://sputniknews.com/20211225/us-reportedly-mulls-giving-ukraine-battlefield-intel-which-kiev-could-use-for-first-strike-on-1091793385.html monti almost %100 don't have the ability to think for themselves anymore....that's why wall street oligarchs controls their lives now.... 1st techno- feudal society in modern history... 6 vot tak That good old american exceptionalism. :-D 5 7 ukraine 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 the new york times, ukraine, map, quiz https://sputniknews.com/20211226/bojo-reportedly-warned-by-senior-tories-against-listening-to-dangerous-pro-lockdown-michael-gove--1091808288.html BoJo Reportedly Warned by Senior Tories Against Listening to 'Dangerous' Pro-Lockdown Michael Gove BoJo Reportedly Warned by Senior Tories Against Listening to 'Dangerous' Pro-Lockdown Michael Gove Boris Johnson has reportedly been privately warned by senior Tories not to heed the advice of pro-lockdown Michael Gove on COVID-19 policy. 2021-12-26T05:58+0000 2021-12-26T05:58+0000 2021-12-26T05:58+0000 omicron covid strain boris johnson michael gove uk covid-19 omicron strain /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/1b/1091071697_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4a30c7c3b14e267769ed25d64c1abdd7.jpg Boris Johnson has been privately warned by senior Tories not to heed the advice of pro-lockdown Michael Gove on COVID-19 policy, reported the Daily Mail.Furthermore, advisers who are allied to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should be moved out of the heart of Government, current and former ministers are believed to have suggested.Another minister is said to have branded Gove the octopus for his manner of ostensibly getting involved in the matters of others at Downing Street.Other sources cited by the publication deplored the way the UK Prime Minister seemed to rely heavily on Michael Gove, who could wield this personal relationship in his favour while pushing his COVID agenda.The reference was to events of five years ago, when Brexiteer Michael Gove was forced to defend himself over accusations he had "backstabbed" fellow Conservatives Boris Johnson and David Cameron when he had announced his Tory leadership candidacy.Gove, then Environment Secretary and a long-term friend of then Prime Minister Cameron, had led the Leave campaign against him ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Furthermore, he had claimed he would back Boris Johnson as new Tory leader and Prime Minister in the wake of Cameron's post-referendum resignation. However, just ahead of Johnsons official pitch in June 2016, Gove revealed he would be running himself. He stated at the time that he had come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson chose not to run after Gove withdrew his backing and announced his own candidacy. Theresa May won the contest on 11 July 2016.However, a Michael Gove ally is cited as having dismissed the criticism regarding Boris Johnson relying too much on the minister, saying:Yes Boris speaks to Michael because hes the most effective Cabinet Minister. So what? But Michael is not seeing the data, hes not in the quad [of senior Ministers]. There is a limit to what he can do on this.Omicron Fuels Deeply Concerning SituationMichael Gove, a consistently pro-lockdown Cabinet member since the outset of the pandemic began, is described by insiders as having taken a firm stance on implementing restrictions during the first and second coronavirus waves to a degree that it is ingrained in him that this is what we need to do.In mid-December, after chairing a Cobra meeting with devolved administration leaders, Michael Gove had appeared to hint at new COVID-19 restrictions as he said the UK faced a "deeply concerning situation" due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant."We absolutely need to keep everything under review", Gove had stated, with sources saying that he had been urging Cabinet members to support going beyond the "Plan B" measures announced on 8 December.On 14 December new COVID-19 restrictions designed to slow down the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the UK passed through the House of Commons, with 369 ayes to 126 noes. However, a huge rebellion when 99 Conservatives voted against his "Plan B" had forced Boris Johnson to rely on Labour support to get the new measure through.The new guidelines encourage people to work from home whenever possible and impose mandatory face coverings on public transport, in shops and other indoor spaces.In addition, a COVID-19 pass confirming vaccination is now mandatory for visiting crowded places across the UK, with daily testing required for those who may have come into contact with carriers of the coronavirus.On 20 December, emerging from a cabinet meeting to discuss the latest COVID-19 situation, Johnson said the situation remains finely balanced and people should exercise caution.The UK has been registering record daily COVID-19 cases for several days in a row now, with 122186 new infections on 24 December.A day before, analysis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggested that the Omicron strain of the coronavirus was milder than past variants such as Delta. According to UKHSA data, between 50% and 70% of people were less likely to be admitted to hospital over Omicron.Meanwhile, according to minutes from a 20 December meeting of the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) published on Thursday, the Omicron variant would have to be about 90% less severe for hospital admissions not to surge to previously recorded peak levels.UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that the spread of the much more transmittable Omicron could potentially overwhelm the National health Service despite promising data.Boris Johnson, in his Christmas message, urged people to get the wonderful gift of a COVID-19 booster jab.According to the UK Health and Security Agency, 82.2 percent of individuals in the country over the age of 12 are least double vaccinated. UKHSA data has revealed that two doses of the vaccine, followed by a third booster dose provides between 60% and 70% protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron. https://sputniknews.com/20160701/uk-gove-songs-twitter-1042277891.html https://sputniknews.com/20211209/bojo-faces-tory-pressure-over-alleged-illicit-no-10-christmas-bash-plan-b-covid-restrictions-1091369831.html https://sputniknews.com/20211225/uk-to-mull-new-covid-19-restrictions-in-scientifically-modelled-scenarios-1091790870.html TruePatriot Indeed Bojo - no more lockdowns or any other governmental diktats over a cold/flu bug that is mostly gone except for its seasonal winter version. Gove should be moved far way into the hinterlands before he corrupts the UK government even further. 4 1 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, michael gove, uk, covid-19, omicron strain https://sputniknews.com/20211226/clip-shows-iranian-missile-attack-on-target-that-looks-suspiciously-similar-to-israeli-nuclear-1091817000.html Clip Shows Iranian Missile Attack on Target That Looks Suspiciously Similar to Israeli Nuclear Plant Clip Shows Iranian Missile Attack on Target That Looks Suspiciously Similar to Israeli Nuclear Plant Situated in the heart of the Negev desert, The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is the suspected birthplace of Israels nuclear weapons. Tel Aviv... 26.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-26T15:40+0000 2021-12-26T15:40+0000 2021-12-26T15:40+0000 iran drills israel dimona plant /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1a/1091816819_0:14:1235:708_1920x0_80_0_0_905e09d515df1a4639369d66a4fa4a9d.png Iran has stoked a dangerous escalation in rhetoric with the release of a new video showing the destruction of a mock-up facility that looks suspiciously similar to the Dimona nuclear research center, The Jerusalem Post suggests.On Saturday, IMA Media, an Iran-based social media channel, released a video showing footage from the recently held Great Prophet 17 war games of an attack on a mock-up nuclear plant, spliced with a satellite picture of Dimona.Commenting on the video, JPost contributor Seth J. Frantzman called it a new level of Iranian aggressive threats, and claimed that IMA Media is linked to the Iranian government, since its video was republished by the semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies.Iranian officials and media have yet to comment on the matter, but did confirm Friday that the final phase of the Great Prophet 17 drills involved the simultaneous launch of 16 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, and the deployment of Shahed 136 suicide drones, which have an estimated range of up to 2,000 km, against an unspecified ground target.Pointing to Western media reports claiming that similar drones have been used against Saudi Arabia by Yemens Houthi militia, and to unverified Israeli allegations that Iran has exported its unmanned aerial vehicles to allies across the Middle East, Frantzman warned that the use of small kamikaze long-range drones combined with ballistic missiles, as illustrated by the recent drill and videos, represents yet another combination of dangerous munitions.Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran in recent months amid reports of a continued deadlock between Tehran and Washington on the nuclear deal, with media reporting in October on the approval of a special $1.5 billion Israel Defence Force budget for a strike against the Islamic Republics nuclear facilities. Iranian officials have responded to these threats by suggesting that Tel Aviv should instead set aside tens of thousands of billions of dollars to repair that damage that would be caused by Irans shocking response to any aggression.The video isnt the first time this year that Israeli media have expressed concerns about the consequences of a possible strike on Dimona.In April, the IDF launched an inquiry into why its air defences failed to intercept a rogue Syrian S-200 anti-aircraft missile which slipped into Israeli airspace and exploded in mid-air 40 km from the nuclear facility. The missile was launched as Syrian air defence troops fought to repel an Israeli missile attack near Damascus. Defence Minister Benny Gantz expressed surprise at the missiles intrusion, saying that normally we see different outcome. The Pentagon, meanwhile, falsely claimed that the rocket was intercepted.Israel began the construction of the Dimona nuclear facility in the late 1950s with suspected French assistance, with the project proceeding outside the purview of the International Atomic Energy Agencys regulatory and inspection regime. According to US intelligence, production of nuclear bombs at the facility began in the mid-1960s, and the country amassed up to 13 nukes by the time of the Six-Day War of June 1967. In 2007, a pair of Israeli journalists published a book suggesting that the USSR planned a secret operation to destroy Dimona during the war.Estimates on Israels present nuclear weapons stockpile vary wildly, from a low approximation of 80 warheads, to a high estimate of 400. The Jewish State neither confirms nor denies having nukes.Tel Aviv has spent decades accusing Iran of secretly working on nuclear weapons. Tehran has dismissed these allegations, with both of its supreme leaders expressing opposition to the development and stockpiling of any weapons of mass destruction. The Islamic Republic destroyed its chemical weapons arsenal in the mid-1990s, and did not use it during the brutal Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988, even though Saddam Husseins forces repeatedly launched chemical warheads at Iranian troops and cities. https://sputniknews.com/20210422/idf-investigating-why-its-cutting-edge-air-defences-failed-to-shoot-down-rogue-syrian-missile-1082701714.html Zeke Aln The physco western cabal is so clearly hell bent on causing Armageddon.... in their mind, anyone who would be forced to try to defend themselves is a ....terrorist.... 14 netman Nice video for Zionists to enjoy during their Xmas holidays...! 8 12 iran 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 iran, drills, israel, dimona plant https://sputniknews.com/20211226/come-again-itv-host-heckled-after-mistakenly-announcing-the-death-of-pope-francis--1091804706.html Come Again? ITV Host Heckled After Mistakenly Announcing the Death of Pope Francis Come Again? ITV Host Heckled After Mistakenly Announcing the Death of Pope Francis While covering Pope Francis' Christmas address during a live broadcast, ITV's Kylie Pentelow unintentionally went viral by mistakenly announcing that the pontiff had passed away. 2021-12-26T00:22+0000 2021-12-26T00:22+0000 2021-12-26T00:23+0000 catholic church blunder gaffe itv pope francis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/19/1091804529_0:0:3142:1768_1920x0_80_0_0_f6833fda495abe5ac72c877a0d45885b.jpg While covering Pope Francis' Christmas address during a live broadcast, ITV's Kylie Pentelow unintentionally went viral by mistakenly announcing that the pontiff had passed away. "Meanwhile the pope's festive address focused on his prayers for the pandemic to come to an end," Pentelow said as b-roll footage of Pope Francis played. "He said vaccines should be made available to those most in need."While the blunder was brief and the host immediately went to the next segment, netizens did not miss a beat, but were forgiving of the morbid faux pas. To be clear: the pontiff is alive and well. 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 catholic church, blunder, gaffe, itv, pope francis https://sputniknews.com/20211226/conscience-of-his-generation-tributes-pour-in-on-death-of-south-african-archbishop-desmond-tutu-1091816022.html 'Conscience of His Generation': Tributes Pour In On Death of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu 'Conscience of His Generation': Tributes Pour In On Death of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu One of the most prominent South African human rights activists and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu died on 26 December at the age of 90. 2021-12-26T16:36+0000 2021-12-26T16:36+0000 2021-12-26T18:06+0000 south africa tribute death desmond tutu /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1a/1091816060_0:1:2875:1618_1920x0_80_0_0_76d0fb63345453c06e9ebf6d1c25a82b.jpg Former US president Barack Obama was among the first to pay his tributes to the outstanding archbishop. The US Embassy in South Africa followed suit, describing the former archbishop of Cape Town as "the conscience of his generation."The Dalai Lama also sent his condolences to Tutu's family, describing the late prelate as his friend and "a true humanitarian and a committed advocate of human rights".Queen Elizabeth II, who is ex officio Supreme Governor of the Church of England, said she was "deeply saddened" by the death of the "tireless" human rights champion Tutu."I remember with fondness my meetings with him and his great warmth and humour," she said in a statement, adding that his death "will be felt by the people of South Africa, and by so many people in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and across the Commonwealth, where he was held in such high affection and esteem."The late archbishop studied Theology at King's College, London from 1962 to 1966 and it was here, he said, that he learnt to be accepted in spite of the colour of his skin. He returned to the college in the Nineties to open the bar Tutu's which was named after him, and he remembered how, while in London, "I often used to go up to policemen to ask them directions even though I knew where I was going, because it was so funny and such a pleasure to be called 'Sir' by the police."UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Tutu as "a critical figure in the fight against apartheid."Westminster Abbey shared a photo of Desmond Tutu made during a service dedicated to the life of Nelson Mandela. The Nelson Mandela Foundation called Tutu's death an "immeasurable loss".Bernice A King, chief executive of the Martin Luther King Jr Center for Nonviolent Social Change, called Tutu a "great, influential leader".Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu died on Sunday at the age of 90. He was one of the most prominent South African human rights activists. In 1984, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end apartheid and in 1986 was appointed Archbishop of Cape Town, the most senior Anglican post in South Africa, which he occupied until 1996. He was put in charge of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in 1994 by Nelson Mandela and retired from public life in 2010. Cundee One of the worlds greats Desmond Tutu RIP 2 Toutankhamon Obama, Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Johnson,.. what Great friends of the South-African liberation mouvement??? 1 4 south africa 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 south africa, tribute, death, desmond tutu https://sputniknews.com/20211226/eu-seeking-compensation-from-russia-over-alleged-multi-billion-euro-violations-of-wto-rules-1091815377.html EU Accuses Russia of Multi-Billion-Euro Violations of WTO Rules EU Accuses Russia of Multi-Billion-Euro Violations of WTO Rules Moscow began rolling out a comprehensive import substitution programme in 2014, after Western nations slapped sanctions on Russia and restricted the sale of... 26.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-26T13:31+0000 2021-12-26T13:31+0000 2021-12-26T18:21+0000 world trade organization (wto) russia panel dispute european union /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102495/97/1024959725_0:371:1805:1386_1920x0_80_0_0_eec2a784ed15626e01bcd544eaafec81.jpg The World Trade Organization has agreed to review a European Union dispute complaint against Russia accusing Moscow of illegally discriminating against hundreds of billions of euros in European goods. The global trade watchdog has established a dispute panel to discuss the claims.Brussels wants the panel to investigate and rule on the Russian states import substitution programmes and efforts to replace imported goods and services with Russian analogues, claiming such measures are a violation of commitments Russia made when it joined the WTO in 2012.The EU claims Russian companies submit bids 15-30 percent below their actual cost, and complains about the need to obtain special permits to purchase engineering equipment abroad, while such paperwork is said not to be required when buying their Russian-made substitutes. Brussels also disagrees with a directive under which 90% of goods purchased by the state, including vehicles, equipment, medical devices and textiles must be Russian-made.The United States, China, Australia, South Korea, Colombia, Brazil, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Ukraine and India have reserved the right to take part in the proceedings, with a panel of three experts expected to evaluate the case and come to a preliminary decision on the matter, according to the WTO website.The EUs first request for the creation of a panel on Russias policies was blocked by Moscow in November, with Russian officials dismissing Brussels allegations and saying that the country is in full compliance with WTO rules. Commenting on the news, Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Russian senates foreign affairs committee, told Sputnik that Brussels has neither the moral or legal right to demand compensation from Russia.The US and its allies have repeatedly criticized Russia for the import substitution policies implemented by Moscow in response to the Wests sanctions war.On Tuesday, the Office of the US Trade Representative alleged that Russias import substitution strategy, and preferences to domestic goods and services, are a departure from WTO norms. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the claims, saying that while Moscow was used to unfounded accusations from the US against us, [this has] exceeded all our expectations. It was strange to hear from Washington that import substitution violates rules while the US imposes unilateral sanctions, Zakharova added.Russia joined the WTO in 2012 to great fanfare and praise from the US and European countries, despite fears in some corners that membership would gut the Eurasian nations manufacturing sector. In 2014 and 2017, groups of Communist Party lawmakers submitted bills to pull Russia out of the trade body, dubbing it a terrorist organization and suggesting that it has cost the Russian economy 12 trillion rubles (about $163 billion) and damaged industry, agriculture, wages, and labour productivity. Proponents of joining assured that doing so would allow Russia to import technology and enjoy additional foreign direct investment, but these hopes have dwindled amid Western export restrictions and declining foreign investment by the US and Europe. https://sputniknews.com/20211116/china-slams-eu-for-discriminatory-trade-barriers-fraught-with-further-stress-on-supply-chains-1090777797.html https://sputniknews.com/20211224/moscow-says-us-allegations-russia-violates-wto-rules-baseless-1091778300.html NthrnNYker59 How do the western fascists figure THEY get to circumvent WTO 'rule's with THEIR little 'sanctions' ---- but other nations are not entitled to the same ? And it's unbelievable that the WTO is even entertaining this nonsense. 16 vot tak The issraelis, through their western colonials prevent Russia importing products through the use of sanctions, then try and extort money from Russia for making the blocked products themselves. Pure israeloamerican criminality is all this is. Disgusting. 12 18 european union 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 world trade organization (wto), russia, panel, dispute, european union https://sputniknews.com/20211226/german-foreign-minister-vows-to-tighten-arms-sales-rules-1091812496.html German Foreign Minister Vows to Tighten Arms Sales Rules German Foreign Minister Vows to Tighten Arms Sales Rules German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday that a new law is in the works to revise the country's military export regulations after Angela Merkel's government was exposed to have approved a record volume of foreign arms sales this year 2021-12-26T11:30+0000 2021-12-26T11:30+0000 2021-12-26T11:30+0000 germany military exports military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1a/1091812468_0:135:3157:1911_1920x0_80_0_0_0e01ccdfb04cdf0ca6b1dda6492f88a6.jpg "We as a [new government] coalition have clearly stated that we would reassess the policy of defence exports of recent years. That is why we are working on a defence exports law that will provide clearer criteria for the approval of defence export," Baerbock told DPA.On Saturday, German news agency DPA reported, citing Economy Ministry data requested by a lawmaker, that the Merkel government approved over 9 billion euros ($10 billion) worth of weapon contracts in 2021. Over half of the contracts were approved during Merkel's last days as chancellor and went to Egypt.Germany has been among the world's biggest arms sellers together with the United States, Russia, France and Germany. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Berlin was responsible for 5.5% of global arms exports from 2016 to 2020, with South Korea, Algeria and Egypt as its biggest buyers. FeEisi Egypt should avoid buying from German military companies who are arming Turkey. Instead Egypt can buy billions in military equipment from France who opposes Turkey. Egypt can vote with money for those who share the same geopolitical interest 1 FeEisi Egypt can cancel current order with Germany and instead buy French submarines (ones Australia abandoned) and French artillery. 1 3 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, military exports, military https://sputniknews.com/20211226/germany-us-reportedly-at-odds-over-imaginary-threat-of-russia-invading-ukraine-1091811891.html Germany, US Reportedly at Odds Over Imaginary Threat of Russia Invading Ukraine Germany, US Reportedly at Odds Over Imaginary Threat of Russia Invading Ukraine Western officials and media have spent months discussing Russia's alleged plans to attack Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed the claims. 2021-12-26T10:39+0000 2021-12-26T10:39+0000 2021-12-26T10:59+0000 russia ukraine united states germany invasion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106710/68/1067106873_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_66fbcecbd03b9b03b055d5fabe767534.jpg German officials are more doubtful of the actual prospects of a Russian attack on Ukraine than their US counterparts, and Berlin is interested in deescalating tensions in the region, two German government sources have told Reuters.One source said senior German and Russian officials will hold negotiations in January in an effort to ease tensions over Ukraine, with Jens Ploetner, a foreign policy advisor to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, agreeing to meet with Dmitri Kozak, deputy Kremlin chief of staff and acting Ukraine negotiator, following a long telephone conversation Thursday.The Normandy Four successfully negotiated the Minsk peace deal in February 2015, which put a freeze on the hot phase of the conflict, but Kiev's intransigence in heeding its political recommendations, which required the provision of broad autonomy to the breakaway Donbass republics, turned the war into a frozen conflict punctuated by regular violations of the ceasefire.The Donbass war began in the spring of 2014 in the aftermath of a Western-backed coup in Kiev in February of that year. The conflict has claimed the lives of up to 31,000 people, with over 2.5 million residents forced to flee their homes, close to one million of them to Russia.Russian Troop MovementsThe Reuters report follows an announcement by the Russian military Saturday that over 10,000 troops in Russias southern military district (which includes Crimea and the eastern border with Ukraine) had completed training and returned to their permanent deployment areas after exercises in Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov, Crimea, Stavropol, Krasnodar, the Northern Caucasus, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia.US and European officials and media have released a variety of estimates on just how many troops Russia has concentrated on the border with its western neighbour, with figures ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 or even 200,000 troops or roughly the size of Ukraines entire armed forces. The Western press has remained skimpy on the details of Russias alleged plans to invade Ukraine, however, apart from an amorphous map drawn by a German tabloid featuring icons of Russian tanks and arrows indicating where they would be sent in the event of an attack, plus satellite photos of Russian armour stationed in Smolensk region about 800 km northwest of east Ukraine.Russian officials have dismissed Western concerns about its troops movements, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Friday that it wasnt anyones business what Russia does with its military on its own territory.Russia is moving its own troops around on its own territory against the backdrop of highly unfriendly actions byNATO, the United States and various European countries who are carrying out highly unambiguous manoeuvres near our borders, Peskov said. This forces us to take certain measures to guarantee our own security.At his annual year-end press conference Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted the US and its allies for hyping up the threat of Russian aggression while pushing ever-closer to the countrys frontiers.We rememberhow you promised us in the 1990s that [NATO] would not move an inch to the East. You cheated us shamelessly: there have been five waves of NATO expansion, and now the weapons systems I mentioned have been deployed and deployment has recently begun in PolandWe are not threatening anyone. Have we approached US borders? Or the borders of Britain or any other country? It is you who have come to our border, and now you say that Ukraine will become a member of NATO as well. Or, even if it does not join, that military bases and strike systems will be placed on its territory under bilateral agreements. This is the point, Putin said.The Russian Foreign Ministry submitted a pair of security proposals to the US and NATO earlier this month outlining how tensions between Russia and the Western bloc could be permanently squashed. Among the proposals is a provision that NATO immediately halt any further eastward expansion, and cancel military cooperation with Ukraine and the former Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia. US officials have signalled their readiness to discuss the proposals in January. https://sputniknews.com/20211226/about-59000-new-york-times-readers-fail-to-locate-ukraine-on-map-1091804916.html https://sputniknews.com/20200131/german-lawmaker-reveals-how-nato-fooled-gorbachev-about-blocs-eastward-expansion-plans-1078193547.html Apratim Basu It's time Russia puts its missiles not only in Cuba but also in Nicaragua and in Algeria too threatening the French Mediterranean belly and Gibraltar too 4 mandrake N B - Russia is not going to attack ukraine - the notion is so dumb that it can only have been hatched in washington dc by a super serious dumb yankeetwat(s)! 3 8 ukraine 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 russia, ukraine, united states, germany, invasion https://sputniknews.com/20211226/israel-approves-plan-to-double-population-in-occupied-golan-heights-1091819727.html Israel Approves Plan to Double Population in Occupied Golan Heights Israel Approves Plan to Double Population in Occupied Golan Heights The Israeli cabinet approved a $317 million "unprecedented" plan on Sunday to double the Jewish population of the occupied Golan Heights by building two new settlements and thousands of housing units in the existing communities. 2021-12-26T18:14+0000 2021-12-26T18:14+0000 2021-12-26T18:15+0000 golan heights israel population /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1a/1091819702_0:251:3072:1979_1920x0_80_0_0_e6cbe38372b7d5156a5d57e915461e95.jpg "Our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights, the need to strengthen, cultivate and live in it, is certainly a principle that unites everyone," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said.A total of 7,300 extra residential units will be built in the village of Katzrin and in the Golan Heights regional council over the next five years to attract an additional 23,000 settlers to territories captured from Syria. Two new settlements of Asif and Matar will hold 2,000 housing units each.Jewish settlements are labeled as illegal by the United Nations. Israel has been repeatedly warned that settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian and Syrian lands undermines the Middle Eastern peace process. https://sputniknews.com/20211226/we-drank-from-its-waters-40-years-after-annexation-syrians-still-long-for-the-golan-heights-1091807162.html Tiger Rubbish! Total anti-semitic genocidal junk expressed here. The situation in Gaza is no where near that of Auschwitz-Treblinka, and Hamas bare primary responsibility for the trouble that is there. Your wish to see Israel destroyed and the Jews exterminated will never be fulfilled. 1 Hess Terrorism, ethnic cleansing, persecution and dispossession of the native population are the norms if the perpetrators are Jews. Israel is allowed to commit heinous war crimes and get funded, but China is attacked and demonised for allegedly abusing Chinese Muslims. 0 3 golan heights israel 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 golan heights, israel, population https://sputniknews.com/20211226/israeli-prime-minister-bennett-self-isolates-as-his-daughter-tests-positive-for-covid-19-1091814517.html Israeli Prime Minister Bennett Self-Isolates as His Daughter Tests Positive For COVID-19 Israeli Prime Minister Bennett Self-Isolates as His Daughter Tests Positive For COVID-19 The Office of Prime Minister said on Sunday that the daughter of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett had tested positive for COVID-19 2021-12-26T13:11+0000 2021-12-26T13:11+0000 2021-12-26T13:11+0000 naftali bennett middle east israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/07/1083551742_0:321:3071:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_e3e3489784a48c04aa1b4728ba9bf57a.jpg The Office of Prime Minister said on Sunday that the daughter of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett had tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Times of Israel. Bennett will have to self-isolate.After receiving the message, the Israeli prime minister left the government meeting. Instead, the meeting was chaired by the Minister of Justice, Gideon Sa'ar.Bennett's 14-year-old daughter was vaccinated against the coronavirus in June.Earlier on Sunday, before the start of a government meeting, Bennett took a rapid test for coronavirus and was given a negative result. Later, the head of government will do a PCR test.In November, Israel red-listed about 50 countries, mostly African, over Omicron-related concerns, followed by the United Kingdom and Denmark. Israeli nationals returning from these countries must take a COVID-19 test and stay in quarantine in specially-designated hotels upon arrival. vot tak He should do the decent thing and self isolate back to the hell that spawned this war criminal. 5 Diama She need few boosters 2 2 israel 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 naftali bennett, middle east, israel https://sputniknews.com/20211226/oregon-man-at-center-of-lets-go-brandon-christmas-eve-prank-says-he-meant-no-disrespect-to-biden-1091805576.html Oregon Man at Center of 'Let's Go Brandon' Christmas Eve Prank Says He Meant No Disrespect to Biden Oregon Man at Center of 'Let's Go Brandon' Christmas Eve Prank Says He Meant No Disrespect to Biden The man who told US President Joe Biden "Lets Go Brandon" during the Christmas Eve phone call with the North American Aerospace Defense Commands (NORAD) annual Santa tracker says he did not mean it as a right-wing anti-Biden slur. 2021-12-26T03:30+0000 2021-12-26T03:30+0000 2021-12-26T03:30+0000 joe biden oregon biden administration /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/18/1091784175_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_3ca2200046a63a7f3648f67463aee16e.jpg "At the end of the day, I have nothing against Mr. Biden, but I am frustrated because I think he can be doing a better job," Jared Schmeck, 35, who is a father of four, told The Oregonian on Saturday, adding "I mean no disrespect to him."The phrase "Lets Go Brandon" became popular with US conservatives after an October NASCAR race in Alabama. The crowd was shouting a vulgar anti-Biden chant, but a TV reporter was trying to hide it by suggesting during an interview with racing driver Brandon Brown that the people were actually chanting "Lets go, Brandon."Schmeck, who now works for an electric company and was previously a Medford police officer for six years, told The Oregonian that he is not a "Trumper," but a "free-thinking American and follower of Jesus Christ."After he wished the Bidens' a Merry Christmas at the end of the livestreamed Santa tracker call and said "Let's Go Brandon" at the very end, the president replied "Let's go Brandon, I agree." Meanwhile, Jill Biden gave an awkward chuckle in response to Schmecks remark.The Oregon father said his family calls into the NORAD Santa tracker every Christmas Eve and that he was not aware that his call was being livestreamed on Friday. https://sputniknews.com/20211225/video-showing-man-allegedly-involved-in-lets-go-brandon-prank-played-on-joe-biden-emerges-online-1091801575.html Clayton S Don't be a bitch and back out now. Own up to it! 1 vot tak "was previously a Medford police officer for six years" ... An ex-cop, it figures. 1 4 oregon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 joe biden, oregon, biden administration https://sputniknews.com/20211226/we-drank-from-its-waters-40-years-after-annexation-syrians-still-long-for-the-golan-heights-1091807162.html 'We Drank From Its Waters': 40 Years After Annexation, Syrians Still Long For The Golan Heights 'We Drank From Its Waters': 40 Years After Annexation, Syrians Still Long For The Golan Heights On 14 December 1981 Israel passed the controversial Golan Law that extended its sovereignty over an area that was captured from Syria in 1967 2021-12-26T05:28+0000 2021-12-26T05:28+0000 2021-12-26T05:28+0000 golan heights middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106479/49/1064794961_0:300:5760:3540_1920x0_80_0_0_253e8fb50ae65c0dedcd088a212d79a9.jpg Taleb Ibrahim, a native of Quneitra -- a city located on the Golan Heights -- remembers well that day in December 1981, when Israel decided to extend its sovereignty over the disputed Plateau.The area fell into the hands of Israel in 1967 and was placed under strict military rule. Then Prime Minister Menachem Begin decided to alter its status and apply the country's law there.Unacceptable AnnexationBut for Ibrahim and many other people of Syria, that was an unacceptable annexation.Israel, however, thought otherwise. The Golan Heights overlook sweeping views of Israel, giving anyone in control of the region a tactical advantage.Since 1948, when the Jewish state was created, until 1967, the region was in the hands of the Syrians, and that often meant that the residents of Israels north faced the threat of sporadic artillery or sniper fire. This is why capturing the Plateau became a matter of security and stability for officials in Jerusalem.However, once the move was completed and the Golan region officially became part of Israel, the country faced a barrage of criticism.The United States, Israel's main ally, declared it would halt its strategic pact and an arms deal with the Jewish state.A number of European states also condemned the Israeli move, primarily because they viewed it as an act of aggression which violated international law.Syria, for its part, has stated that a peace deal with Israel would never be possible unless the Golan Heights are returned to their rightful owners.Secret NegotiationsThroughout the years, there have been a number of Israeli-Syrian attempts to come to terms.Such was the case in 2004-2006, when the two states reportedly reached an agreement according to which Israel would withdraw from the Golan in exchange for peace with the Syrians.And such was the case in 2010, when then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a series of secret talks with President Bashar Al Assad, where the former reportedly agreed to evacuate the Golan in exchange of peace and on the condition that Damascus would severe its ties with Iran.Those efforts, however, have never bore any fruit. Israel has always considered the Golan a strategic and security asset, and believes yielding the heights to Syria would jeopardise the Jewish state. It was also a demographic headache: at least 50,000 people reside in the area, and no Israeli prime minister wanted to deal with the repercussions a withdrawal from the Plateau would unkey.Reluctance to Recognise IsraelYet, negotiations have never ripened, and peace has not been achieved for two more reasons. The first was the eruption of the Arab Spring in 2011 and the Civil War that it prompted. The second was Syria's reluctance.Others have already done so. In 1979, Egypt became the first country to sign a peace agreement with Israel. In 1994, Jordan did so, and more recently they were joined by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, which also normalised their relations with the Jewish state.Ibrahim says such a scenario is unlikely with Syria, which refuses to acknowledge Israel unless it recognises the rights of the Palestinian people and gives the Golan Heights back to the Syrians. vot tak While the article pretends to show sympathy for the Syrian quoted, it actually reinforces the israeli propaganda surrounding their illegal occupation of the Golan Heights. Thumbs down. 7 Hess What a racist Zionist propaganda justifying terrorism and occupation by Jews? It distorts and obfuscate truth and history. 7 6 golan heights 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 golan heights, middle east Driver Nick Steward is on the mend after being injured in a late-November accident at Flamboro Downs. Steward told Trot Insider that he sustained a broken clavicle from the November 28 spill when his mount was interfered with by a breaker in the race and fell. After being released from hospital that evening with a sound examination, Steward said he was later called back with further assessment revealing the fracture. The initial diagnosis of his injury put a tentative timeline for his return to the race bike at eight to 10 weeks. The London, Ont. reinsman has follow up appointments with a surgeon later this week to determine next steps. In the meantime, the 30-year-old father of three children under the age of six has been keeping busy spending time with his young family and helping his wife Kodie at the barn with their recently acquired pacer Ally Flight. A career winner of 2,165 races in the sulky, Steward has mainly focused on driving in recent years, with his last training starts in 2015. "I am looking to train more [in addition to driving]," said Steward, who has 30 career training wins to date, including two this month courtesy of Ally Flight. "Me and my wife kind of want to do our own now. I help her now at the farm with what I can do, but she's been doing a lot of it. I'd like to get some more [when I recover]." Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Steward a full and speedy recovery. Vowers was able to use the FSA loan to purchase three black Wagyu heifers, one a complete fullblood and two high percentage purebreds, from a source in Texas, to start his herd. He chose the black because they tend to have more intra-muscular fat cells which create the extreme marbling effect for which the Wagyu is well known. We started just raising wagyu because I wanted to raise not too many, but have the best possible outcome. Wagyu tend to have small babies so all of my Charolais heifers are artificially inseminated for their first calves from Wagyu so they dont have any calving or breeding problems later, Vowers said. Vowers chose the Charolais breed to cross with because it was also something a bit different, and its what his dad, Mack, had always raised. It was my dads favorite breed, and I wanted to continue that and I just thought itd be fun, Vowers said. Stahls work, and the work of the WRRC, has been critical to the sustainability of much of Wyomings energy industry, but also the preservation and sustainability of wildlife, said Frank Galey, former agriculture college dean, now vice president and provost at Utah State University. He also noted Stahls engaging undergraduate and graduate students, stretching them and helping them to understand and become leaders in the field themselves. Caley Gasch, an assistant professor of soil health research at North Dakota State University, is one of those former students. Stahl clearly has an enthusiasm for the biological world below ground but recognizes the importance of framing that knowledge in a way that is relevant to other disciplines, land management and agriculture, Gasch said. He instilled this perspective in me, as well as many other mentees, who now work in the balance of pursing basic, novel scientific questions while placing that work into a larger applied context,. Norton noted Stahls influence on his peers. His generosity about providing opportunities for younger faculty members through his connections with funders of reclamation and restoration work, and enthusiastically sharing knowledge about basic microbial ecology, laboratory methods, teaching success and even the best ski slopes and fishing holes, has enhanced my success at UW and my love for Wyoming, as well as that of many of my colleagues, said Norton. In her suit, the woman cited being questioned about why she did not scream during the assault and other questions, which her attorney related to her African culture and previous experiences in which the woman felt marginalized as a victim. The suit cited instances in which changes were made to her activities, such as moving her work assignment to another dorm, assigning her a security guard instead and encouraging her to transition to remote learning instead of expelling the man from campus. In its case, the college argued that it had acted reasonably by immediately opening a Title IX investigation; issuing a no-contact order and banning the man initially from the dormitory where the woman worked and then the dormitory where they changed her work assignment to and other measures. According to the court documents, the man admitted to having sex with the woman in a bathroom, that it was not consensual and the investigation found he had violated board policy on sexual harassment. However, statements were also made by the colleges Title IX coordinator that she had received conflicting evidence in the investigation. Your baby wakes up with flushed cheeks, warm skin, a runny nose, and a cough. You grab the thermometer and it reads 101 F. As a parent, you want to protect your child from anything that could harm them, so your childs sickness can be scary. One of the most common sicknesses in babies and young children is respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. An interesting fact is that almost all children get RSV at least once before they are 2 years old, said Judith Albert, a physician at Family Care Center of Mooresville, part of Iredell Health System. You may have recently heard of RSV as an unusual wave hit the south late this past spring. While RSV typically surges from October to May, this early wave is likely due to the relaxing social distancing and masking guidelines. However, just because there were many cases earlier this year does not mean it wont spread this winter. According to Albert, the peak RSV season is January and February. What is RSV? So, what exactly is RSV? Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport on December 24, 2021. More than 7,000 flights have been canceled worldwide over the Christmas weekend and thousands more delayed, a tracking website reported Sunday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday hurt to millions. Severe weather is compounding the travel chaos in the United States, with storms expected to wreak havoc on roadways in the country's west, though they brought a white Christmas weekend to Seattle and parts of California. According to Flightaware.com, more than 2,000 flights were canceled on Sundayincluding more than 570 originating from, or headed to, US airports. More than 4,000 delays were reported. Aircrew and ground staff have fallen sick or gone into quarantine after exposure to Covid, forcing Lufthansa, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and other carriers to cancel flights during a peak travel period. More than 2,800 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Saturday, including more than 990 originating from or headed to US airports, with over 8,500 delays. On Friday, there were around 2,400 cancellations and 11,000 delays. "Help @united flight cancelled again. I want to get home for Christmas," one exasperated traveler from the US state of Vermont tweeted early Saturday. Flightaware data showed United canceled around 200 flights on Friday and nearly 250 Saturdayabout 10 percent of those that were scheduled. "The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United said in a statement Friday. Delta scrapped 310 flights Saturday and over 100 more Sunday, saying it has "exhausted all options and resources." "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans," the company said. Travelers check flight information at Los Angeles International Airport. The cancellations added to the frustration for many people eager to reunite with their families over the holidays after last year's Christmas was severely curtailed. Chinese airlines accounted for the highest number of cancellations, with China Eastern scrapping more than 1,000 flights, over 20 percent of its flight plan, on Friday and Saturdayand Air China grounding about 20 percent of its scheduled departures over the period. 'Treacherous' conditions The American Automobile Association estimated more than 109 million Americans would travel by plane, train or automobile between December 23 and January 2, a 34 percent increase over the last year. But most of those plans were made before the detection of Omicron, which has become the dominant strain in the United States, overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers. The state of New York reported a record 44,431 new daily positive Covid tests on Friday, as new cases surged nationwide. As unseasonably warm temperatures were bathing eastern states, the National Weather Service announced winter storm warnings, including a deep freeze, for significant parts of the west. "Anomalously cold conditions and a barrage of Pacific moisture results in prolonged periods of mountain snow and coastal/valley rain, some of which may fall heavy at times," the NWS said. An eye-popping two to four feet (61 to 122 centimeters) of snow was forecast to fall this weekend in the Sierra mountains and state of Oregon. Travel will be "treacherous to at times impossible" from the Sierras to the central Rocky Mountains at the weekend due to whiteout snow conditions, the NWS said. Explore further Flight cancellations drag on as airlines short-staffed 2021 AFP Aguilar told The Independent he thinks the project will help resolve some problems at Grand Islands railroad crossings. With the problems we have with trains having to stop to unload to the different industries in Grand Island and causing backups of traffic, we dont have near enough overpasses and underpasses to move traffic efficiently because of those backups, he said. The effort is also being supported by Omahas Nebraska Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit public safety education group dedicated to reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities at railroad crossings and rights-of-way. Additional sidings would improve safety at crossings and improve traffic congestion, as well, regional educator Debra Ashworth said. Thats what frustrates drivers and pedestrians most, when trains are blocking the crossings, she said. People are generally trying to hurry and get where theyre going, and we just want everyone to be safe, so if we can move trains efficiently through Grand Island that would help our drivers. Quandt pointed out NCRCs past readiness to improve safety and traffic congestion. It is officially winter, and that means being prepared for all that winter brings. Nebraska-Iowa Region American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Marion McDermott and Central and Western Nebraska Chapter Executive Director Rachelle Lipker spoke at Tuesdays meeting of the Grand Island Noon Rotary Club about the services Red Cross provides and the challenges they most often face. They happen often and without warning, and they can affect any community, any family, and we see it every day in our jobs, McDermott said. Hazards include wildfires in northwest Nebraska and the Panhandle. When we talk about being ready, especially in a large-scale disaster, youre not going to see help right away, McDermott said. Its going to be a while before someone gets to you, so you have to be prepared to do a few things on your own before help gets there. There are three steps families can do to be prepared. First, families should have an emergency kit ready with water, batteries, flashlights, candles, some canned food and other essentials. 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. Despite mandates, COVID-19 vaccination rates among workers at many nursing homes in Illinois remain at low levels, health officials say, prompting concerns that the rise in cases statewide could again endanger the elderly. In Illinois, 89% of residents at long-term care facilities and 83% of workers were vaccinated as of Dec. 19 but some facilities remained far below those marks, according to federal data. While 62% of residents who got vaccinated also had received booster shots, just 25% of vaccinated workers had gotten a booster. Mark Cooper, 72, who lives in a south suburban nursing home he preferred not to name publicly, said his roommate died from COVID, and the experience was crushing. Even so, he said, some workers refuse to get the vaccination, some residents wont wear masks, and theyre still waiting for boosters. Its a nightmare, Cooper said. Its been a big concern of mine for a year. Id like to see the mandate take effect. Get it or youre out. The numbers are unacceptable, and much more needs to be done, especially with the new omicron variant spreading, according to Lori Hendren, associate state director for AARP Illinois, part of the national advocacy group for people over 50. As the variant continues to draw our attention and concern, Hendren said, we have to continue to prioritize our most vulnerable residents in nursing homes in getting access to vaccines and boosters. Late this summer, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all health care workers in Illinois to get fully vaccinated or be tested for COVID. President Joe Biden also issued a mandate for vaccines or testing for health care workers at federally funded facilities, which includes the many nursing homes that take Medicaid or Medicare. The federal order had been delayed by a judges injunction, but an appellate court largely reinstated the mandate this month. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Wednesday it would hear arguments in the case Jan. 7, along with arguments over Bidens mandate for workplaces with more than 100 employees. Republican-led state attorneys general and others have challenged the orders, arguing they exceed federal authority, and that people have the right to make their own medical decisions. In line with the mandates, the Illinois Department of Public Health has made it a goal to get all long-term care residents and staff members vaccinated, citing its help to reduce infections, hospitalizations and deaths. While the program to get nursing home residents vaccinated at the beginning of 2021 was initially delayed in Illinois, it was largely successful, prompting a dramatic decrease in cases and deaths. Worker vaccination rates started low but have slowly but steadily climbed. But lagging participation at some sites is particularly concerning, health advocates say, because when visitors were banned, workers were believed to be the primary source for spreading the infection. The pandemic ripped through nursing homes, at one point accounting for about half of all COVID deaths statewide. The rates of new infections and deaths for both residents and workers, after falling near zero this summer, have crept up again this fall, though still far below their peaks last winter. Some facilities lagged substantially behind the state average, according to federal statistics reported by the state. For instance, just 60% of workers had been vaccinated at the Austin Oasis on Chicagos West Side, and 64% were vaccinated at ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Oak Lawn. Neither home returned requests for comment. One out of three facilities didnt report results, and at some downstate facilities, only about half the workers were vaccinated. Still, others have vaccinated all or almost all their residents and employees. Elmhurst Extended Care Center mandated the vaccines for employees, and had vaccinated all of its workers and all but one of its residents, co-owner and administrator Love Dave said. We obviously want to keep everybody safe, Dave said. It takes effective communication and trust. We explained the importance, and eventually they bought in. A few older employees chose to retire rather than get the shot, he said. The home is also scheduling upcoming booster shots. As a stand-alone, family-owned facility, the home stands in contrast to the trend in the industry of large corporate-owned chains. The site can hold 108 beds, but one unit is closed to serve as a COVID isolation area, and about 20 beds were removed from three- and four-bed rooms to make more space among residents, he said. With temporary staffing agencies raising the cost of wages, Dave said, its challenging to attract employees to do the work, emphasizing the need for greater funding from Medicaid. The Health Care Council of Illinois, which represents more than 300 skilled nursing facilities in the state, supports vaccine mandates for all health care personnel, including for home and community-based services. Our members have spent countless hours formulating plans to educate, encourage and collaborate with residents and staff members to get vaccinated, said the councils executive director, Matt Pickering. Unfortunately, long-standing staffing shortages have only been made worse by the pandemic and widespread resignations, Pickering said, citing federal statistics that skilled nursing and residential care lost 14% of its work force. Many homes have been forced to hire agency staffers at double the cost to reach minimum staffing levels. Pickering called for more federal funding to increase long-term staff wages, training and hiring. In the spring, state lawmakers plan to consider a proposal to tie increased funding to increased staff levels and quality of care. For now, the slow uptake of vaccines by workers comes despite state and federal mandates. Employers are responsible for enforcing the state mandate for vaccines or testing, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said. State officials said they checked with every long-term care facility to make sure they have a booster clinic scheduled on site. All but 25 of about 1,600 long-term care facilities had a plan for distributing the shots or declined the states offer for help. Cooper blames owners, not administrators, saying theyre doing the best they can, but the wait for boosters is frustrating. Like everything else, its like pulling teeth, he said. Were supposed to get boosters in the new year but it may be too late. Tribune reporter Joe Mahr contributed. The scent of pine is one of the hallmarks of this happy time of the year. Perhaps thats what inspires so many homeowners to plant pine trees in their yards. Unfortunately, many of them dont do very well, said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Its wonderful to enjoy them indoors for the holidays, but outdoors, the Chicago region just isnt hospitable to most species of pines. Pines, like most evergreens, need very well-drained soil that lets water flow away from their roots the opposite of the sticky, water-retaining clay found in most of this region. In the Arboretums Conifer Collection, many evergreens are planted on sloping sites where water drains away more readily than in a typical flat city or suburban yard. Pine species that are widely planted around homes, such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra), and Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora), are vulnerable to several nasty diseases and insects. Plants that are in less than optimal conditions, such as pines in poor soil, are always less able to tolerate pests, diseases and other stresses, Yiesla said. Pine wilt is a serious disease caused by microscopic roundworms, or nematodes, that are carried from tree to tree in spring by pine sawyer beetles. A tree infested with pine wilt can die in just a few weeks or months. Needle cast diseases, caused by fungi, make pine trees lose needles and slowly decline. Diplodia tip blight, another disfiguring and damaging fungal disease, is especially common in Austrian pines. Fungal diseases spread more readily in wet weather. The Chicago region is seeing more rain as the climate changes. Kris Bachtell, vice president of collections and facilities at the Arboretum, thinks thats one reason all evergreens, including pines, are struggling. We have seen many more evergreens die in the last five or 10 years, said Bachtell, who is in charge of the Arboretums trees and plants. He attributes the change to the regions increasingly variable weather: more spring rainstorms, more summer heat, and higher atmospheric humidity, because warmer air holds more moisture. Most pine tree species come from distant places where the soil is acid and rocky or sandy rather than clay. Only Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and the scrubby jack pine (Pinus banksiana) are native to a few parts of the Chicago region, although they require very well-drained soil. White pine really cant tolerate clay, Yiesla said. White pine is better able to resist some diseases than nonnative pines, Bachtell said, but it is vulnerable to another scourge: salt. The salt we use to melt ice and snow in winter really dries out the foliage and roots of evergreens, Yiesla said. The species matures to be a very tall tree, more than 50 feet tall and up to 40 feet wide. It has fine needles and a more open, irregular habit than the neat triangles seen on Christmas cards. Its more picturesque, Bachtell said. Pines arent the only evergreen trees with problems. Other popular species, such as blue spruce (Picea pungens), also struggle with clay soil, diseases and the changing climate in city and suburban settings. Bachtell said he expects better performance from tough, salt-tolerant junipers, such as Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) and the native Virginia juniper (Juniperus virginiana, also known as eastern red-cedar). There are cultivated varieties of junipers in many shapes and sizes. He also has hopes for some evergreen tree species that may be more difficult to find in Chicago-area nurseries: Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana), Siberian fir (Abies siberica) and Sawara-cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera). The Plant Clinic can help you choose an evergreen or other plant that is suited to the conditions and size of your yard. Identify what you want the plant to do, such as create privacy or display holiday lights. A tree will live a long time, so its worth it to invest some time and effort in finding a plant that is likely to succeed, Yiesla said. And if youve simply been swept up in holiday spirit, perhaps wait a few weeks to see if youre still feeling strongly about adding an evergreen. You may want to take a step back and consider whether your site is really suitable for an evergreen, Bachtell said. Pines and spruces are beloved guests at holiday celebrations, but for your yard, there may be better alternatives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Students at three Orangeburg County schools will be able to receive additional help in reading and math during the coming semester. A total of about 25 second- and third-grade students in Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Elementary, Marshall Elementary and Holly Hill Elementary schools will be able to receive help in their studies. The tutoring will be provided by the non-profit South Carolina Retired Educators Academic Tutorial Services, Inc. The nonprofit, which consists of retired teachers, was formed in April 2021. The program will receive $200,000 from the state. The money was requested by Sen. Vernon Stephens, D-Bowman. The money will help pay for the salaries of about 12 retired teachers and provide needed materials for the students. The program is designed to help students who have fallen behind during virtual learning. We lost a lot during COVID. This will help them bridge the gap, Stephens said. He believes students and parents will tell others and that the program will spread via word of mouth. We are trying alternative ways of reaching children and bridging the gap, Stephens said. We are thinking out of the box. He and the group hope to launch the program across South Carolina. Former Orangeburg Consolidated School District 3 superintendent Dr. Cynthia Cash-Greene, who is the president of the non-profit, said the tutoring program will kick off its inaugural year in Orangeburg County with hopes to eventually expand statewide. Additional grade levels will also be added. We want to make sure we perfect it and get the kinks out, Cash-Greene said. The state money will help the program through June 2022. Students have been identified for the first class and teachers are currently in the process of being selected. The kick-off will be in January. Cash-Greene said the program aims to keep the same curriculum students are currently using in an effort to maintain the consistency of training, enabling the students to better master needed skills. Cash-Greene said the program will not only help students, but the retired teachers. It gives retirees a purpose for giving back and not walking away from their profession where they have been for years, Cash-Greene said. Many thrive on it and I believe it helps them keep mental health as well. Love 1 Funny 1 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. (TBTCO) - Blue-chips tiep tuc chao ao trong phien hom nay nhung van con tru neo giu iem cho VN-Index tang. Tuy vay su soi ong, tham chi la rat nong, van chi tap trung trong nhom au co vua va nho. ay cung la nhung ma hut tien nhat. The Wyoming Legislature normally convenes only once each year. But in late October, lawmakers gathered again at Capitol in Cheyenne for a special session aimed at fighting back against one of the Biden Administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Observers questioned how much lawmakers would accomplish, given that the specifics of the mandate were not yet finalized. But opposition to the mandate, and pressure from the Wyoming Republican Party, pushed lawmakers to move quickly. The seven-day session started with 20 bills. It concluded with some tumultuous drama, a higher-than-expected price tag and exactly one successful measure, which allocates $4 million to fighting the worker vaccine mandate and similar requirements in court. The session The origins of the special session date to September, when the Biden administration issued an executive order that requires workers at companies with over 100 employees to get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing and mandatory masking. The move outraged many Wyoming residents and lawmakers. Gov. Mark Gordon promised to challenge the matter in court, but many in the statehouse wanted a legislative solution as well. From the start, legislative leadership hoped for a tightly focused session that would last roughly three days. But leaderships special rules did not get enough votes, which meant lawmakers had longer to work on bills. At first, a handful of major bills emerged from the legislative committees that satisfied even the most staunchly anti-mandate lawmakers. Chief among them was House Bill 1001, which sought to allow parents of public school children to opt their child out of COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements, while also banning vaccine passports in certain circumstances (Gov. Mark Gordon already banned vaccine passports via an executive order). But after being painstakingly reworked and revised, the measure died on its final reading in the Senate. Other bills both tied to the pandemic and not suffered similar fates. The Legislature was left with House Bill 1002, which did not create a law to oppose the federal vaccine mandate. Instead, it included a strongly worded resolution concerning Wyomings rights in the face of vaccine mandates. The bill also allocated money to Gordons administration for legal challenges to the federal orders. Gordon later signed it into law. The special session did not result in what proponents had hoped. Trying to do something right is always worth it, but its sad that we couldnt accomplish that for the people, Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne told the Star-Tribune. One of the major hurdles the lawmakers couldnt get over, but had to work around, was the lack of rules and regulations surrounding the executive order. One lawmaker said that without those specifics, legislating against the order was like swinging our arms in a dark room, hoping we connect with something. The federal government released the rules and regulations a day after the session ended. Those who were against holding the session pointed to its price. Before the session commended, the Legislative Service Office estimated it would cost $25,000 a day. In the end, the price was higher: $33,000 per day, resulting in a roughly $233,000 bill to be paid by taxpayers. Democrats werent happy about that. After 7 days, 1,200 person hours, $175,000+ tax payer money, and a whole bunch of debate, we have passed one bill that does effectively nothing, Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, said in an Instagram post. Political infighting The session also brought its share of drama. During an Oct. 28 session of the House, Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, was caught on a hot mic cursing his fellow Casper lawmaker, Rep. Chuck Gray. Harshman was participating in the special session remotely, and during an unrelated conversation, the comments were picked up on a Zoom broadcast and heard in the chamber. Harshman apologized the following day for his remarks. In response, a third lawmaker signaled that he would ask his colleagues to censure Harshman. That never came to fruition. Meanwhile, as the session failed to deliver what conservatives had hoped, Sen. Troy McKeown, R-Gillette, took to Facebook to air his frustration. So one of our school districts arrest a student for violating their unconstitutional mandates and the senate refuses to hear a bill to reduce their authority but passes a gambling bill you know where their priorities are, McKeown wrote in a Facebook post. We will not lay down. In fact, some defended the school boards the conservatives will no longer be bullied by the powers that be. Remember its the 3rd rib The latter comment was made in reference to a World War I photo and meme that accompanied the post. It read, When life gives you lemons, fix bayonets! The Wyoming Democratic Party reported the post to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. McKeown maintains he wasnt trying to encourage violence. The future While the session did little to halt the mandates, the battle continues to play out in the courts. One lawsuit temporarily halted the worker vaccine mandate, but a different court reinstated it. For now, the mandate is set to go into effect early next year. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to consider the matter in January. As of this writing, no bills from the special session have been officially introduced as legislation for the upcoming budget session. But theres still time. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ON THE SCENE: A group of police respond to a shooting yesterday on Independence Square, between Charlotte and Henry streets, Port of Spain. A volley of gunshots was heard, but the officers didnt find anything at the location. Above all else, it is your understanding of the science of the mind that determines your des Normally, Buschtetz said, five people work in the Cuisine & Wine Bistro kitchen at a time: Her husband, the executive chef of all the familys restaurants, works with three other cooks and a dishwasher. Right now, however, Fabrice is the only cook and there is no dishwasher. Instead, the Buschtetzes and their three children have been filling in where they can to keep the restaurants going with Frenchie Pizza in Gilbert facing the most challenges with staffing. Even though she needs to hire workers, Mairead said she cant afford to pay them because of increasing costs elsewhere in the business. Even with wages ranging from $13 to $23 per hour, Mairead said, the family cant compete with companies like Amazon and Whole Foods. Our rent is more expensive by at least $1,000, and the case for the payroll costs are huge with our products coming in at least 30% more expensive than usual, she said. Its a terrible situation to be in, and I cant see a light at the end of the tunnel. I dont know how long people are going to be able to hang in there. Working together Trail runner Lydia Jennings decided to celebrate completing her doctorate with a 50-mile run on the Arizona Trail. A member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and an environmental microbiologist, she also did the run to honor 50 Indigenous scientists. She planned to start at the U.S.-Mexico border and run north a goal she was forced to change. The southern terminus of the Arizona Trail, which ends at the Coronado National Memorial, was closed a year ago as construction crews built a 200-foot island of border wall in the days before President Donald Trump left office. The trail is now set to reopen in the coming week, likely on Jan. 1, although the opening will probably be temporary, and trail advocates are concerned environmental damage from the wall construction will continue to be an issue. The Department of Homeland Security announced on Dec. 20 that it will address issues left by unfinished border wall projects across parts of the southern border, with a large majority of projects located in the Tucson Sector. Park officials have said no construction will take place at the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail for the next three to six months, but once construction restarts, the closure will probably resume. The National Park Service isnt officially announcing when the closed part of the trail will open until next week, and the plan for what sort of construction will eventually resume hasnt been decided. The Arizona Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the country and one of three that is complete, without any detours. The end of the trail is now marked with access roads carved by dynamite into the mountainside and the free-standing section of wall an expensive, offensive art project, says Matt Nelson, executive director of the Arizona Trail Association. Historians believe that the terminus of the trail is where Spaniards first crossed into what is now the U.S., an event marked by the Coronado memorial marker. The wall stops just a few feet short of reaching that marker. Its also on Indigenous peoples ancestral land, says the Trail Associations website, as Native Americans have inhabited Arizona for more than 10,000 years. Not being able to start her run there was a meaningful loss to Jennings. Native people have always been using these different trail passages to connect our communities from south of the border to north of the border, she said. Im a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and our tribe is a binational-border tribe. And so I really wanted to highlight that by starting at the U.S.-Mexico border. Other hikers also felt the loss over the last year. As Jennings was training, she ran into hikers who said they didnt feel like they were doing the full trail because they didnt start at the beginning. People just feeling disappointed that they dont have that and then also really reflecting on what a disservice it is to this amazing trail system that attracts so many, she said. Wall likely to remain The border wall at the terminus of the Arizona Trail is part of a burst of construction that took place in the waning weeks of Trumps presidency, work that came to a halt when President Joe Biden took office. Between Jan. 4 and Jan. 8, Customs and Border Protection began construction on 12 additional miles of border wall, the New York Times reported. Although places like the Arizona Trail are protected by the National Trail System Act, the government has the power to override that federal law in the name of national security, according to The Associated Press. Customs and Border Protection did not provide information on the cost of this specific project at the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail. But Southwest Valley Constructors, an affiliate of the construction giant Kiewit, was awarded $524 million in March of 2020 to build about 24 miles of wall in Cochise County, where the site is. The National Park Service closed the last mile of the Arizona Trail right before the construction. Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas authorized U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use border barrier funds to address life, safety, environmental, and remediation requirements for border barrier projects. A news release said the projects include but are not limited to: Completing and/or installing drainage to prevent flooding. Erosion control to ensure the safety and stability of structures. Completing prior construction of access roads by adding guardrails, signage and integrating existing roadways. Remediating temporary use areas that have been affected by construction. Disposing of residual materials. Closing small gaps that remain open from prior construction activities and remediating incomplete gates. The border wall in Arizona has many gaps, which in some places are just a few feet or a few yards. Construction materials left when contractors suddenly stopped working are still piled up in some places in the Southern Arizona desert. Removal of incomplete segments of wall was not listed in the border remediation projects announced Monday. I dont see immediate benefits from this decision for the Arizona Trail, but I will remain hopeful, said Nelson, with the Trail Association. Nelson recently took staff members of U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, an Arizona Democrat, to the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail. Her team said it was a priority area for restoration, Nelson said. Her team was able to see some of the drainage concerns the area faces due to haphazardly constructed roads built for construction vehicles next to the very short hastily built section of wall, Kirkpatrick wrote in her November newsletter to constituents. Nelson says a border wall never made sense in that remote part of the desert that no vehicles can get to and is miles away from the nearest town. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that technology can be used to keep the border safe in this area without compromising scenic resources and the physical landscape, he said. The Arizona Trail Association would like to see that wall removed, restoration of the surrounding land and the trail reopened as soon as it can be deemed safe. Some ignore the closure Disobeying the closure of the Yaqui Ridge Trail the southernmost mile of the Arizona Trail is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or up to six months imprisonment. But some hikers have been choosing to risk it in order to complete a trek that in some cases they planned for years. The Park Service hasnt charged anyone whos ignored the closure. If trail walkers and runners disregard the closure, thats telling the National Park Service they dont care about their rules, said Steven Terry, a member of the Trail Association and a steward for the Rincon Mountains section of trail. Terry hiked the entire trail in 2021, except the last 1.9 miles. Terry stopped at the Montezuma Pass parking lot, 2 miles from the terminus, although hikers can still do 1 mile of that before reaching the closure. If we as a community are going to disregard this closure order, it is going to make it harder when the Arizona Trail Association or a steward like myself reaches out to the Park Service to get something done and to get future trail access, Terry said. Terry finished the trail this month, after hiking it throughout the year in 11 separate sections. He saved the southern section for last, hoping the terminus might open. Did I plan to go from Utah to Mexico when I hatched this project last year? Sure I did, Terry said. But it was more important to do the right thing for the greater good and for the Arizona Trail Association and for the trails integrity itself than it was to just do something that would stoke my ego and give me some temporary likes on Instagram. Jake Eberspacher finished the 800-mile hike in fall of 2019, just months before the southern terminus closed. Hes also a volunteer steward for a remote part of the trail between Phoenix and Payson. I feel so fortunate to have done it when I did because I got to do the full trail all the way to the actual southern terminus, which is also historically significant, he said. When Eberspacher was there, there were just a few strands of barbed wire. But in the desert to the east he could see border wall cutting through the wild desert, stretching to the mountains far beyond. You can see this black line just kind of separating the desert. On either side of the wall, its the same vegetation, he said. You could tell deer would run through that landscape if the wall werent there. Its one natural area, and theres just this arbitrary line that we decided needs to go there. Contact reporter Danyelle Khmara at dkhmara@tucson.com or 573-4223 . On Twitter: @DanyelleKhmara 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 statement to CBS46, United Airlines addressed the cancelled flights: The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation. As a result, weve unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport. Were sorry for the disruption and are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays. Delta Airlines warned more cancellations could be on the way. The airline expects 150 flights to be cancelled Saturday and Sunday. The Christmas calamity hit especially hard for those visiting loved ones. Jean-Pierre Wetli said his family was boarding their flight to visit his mother in Phoenix when they were told the plane wouldnt take off, despite being minutes out from its scheduled departure. Its crazy to be fifth in line ready to board your flight last minute, said Wetli. I thought it was a mistake. Theres no way. Wetli said the late cancellation caused chaos at the gate. Travelers scrambled to find alternative flights. Local journalism is important and producing it costs time and money. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. Letter: Re: the Dec. 20. article Letters to the Editor: Dec. 20: abortions and guns, jailing people who reject subpoenas, Biggs and Gosar need to go 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. Today our hearts and our thoughts remain with you, the monarch told islanders. Watching the king's annual appearance on television just before Christmas Eve dinners is an annual ritual in many Spanish households. In recent years, as scandals tied to the royal family have swirled, media commentators and politicians scrutinize his speech searching for signs of the monarch's attunement to the mood of his subjects. But there was no direct reference to the circumstances of Felipe's father, former King Juan Carlos I. The former monarch, 83, moved to the United Arab Emirates last year after judicial probes on his possible financial wrongdoings emerged. Although a Swiss probe on money laundering was dropped recently, prosecutors in Spain's Supreme Court are still investigating the allegations. Since assuming the throne in 2014, Felipe, who is 53, has tried to distance himself from his father. In his speech on Friday, the current monarch said that all institutions of the state should serve people. We must, Felipe said, respect and abide by the laws, and be an example of public and moral integrity. Follow all of 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. People are tired. Theyre just tired of the work, the load, he said of health care workers. I know here in our system I review all of the different COVID cases and deaths, and theyre just frustrated by patients that come in theyre unvaccinated or refuse treatments that we know that will help. Its just such a sad thing; its a real emotional toll on the people, and at the same time, were working hard. Dr. David Kendrick, department chair of Medical Informatics at the OU School of Community Medicine, said health care workers are experiencing deja vu with conversations similar to a year ago. The toll its taking on the health care delivery system just seeing death and especially unnecessary death I really think is immeasurable, Kendrick said. Well be experiencing it in the health professions for a long time as we try to get past it. There are ominous signs from the states neighbor to the north, which is struggling again with hospital capacity issues. Bratzler said OU Health recently fielded a call from Kansas, trying to transfer approximately 50 patients into Oklahoma hospital beds. Vietnams low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has added the first wide-body A330 aircraft to its fleet after ten years of operation, making it ready for global flight network expansion and new passenger service experiences. The Airbus A330-300 aircraft, with a soft and iridescent golden silk strip livery, landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday morning, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its first flight, the carrier said in a press release the same day. The golden silk strip symbolizes the cultural quintessence of Vietnam and Asia, the carrier explained. The new aircraft, registered as VN-A811, is furnished with comfortable and spacious leather seats, along with a quiet cabin in 12 business-seat and 365 normal-seat configurations. With this first wide-body plane, Vietjet has become the third airline in Vietnam to own this type of aircraft, after Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways. The firm is expected to equip its fleet with two more A330 planes early next year to diversify and synchronize operation on long-distance flights. Three new A330s will be used by the airline to operate commercial routes connecting Vietnam with Russia, India, and Japan. They can cover from medium-haul trips to true long-range distances of up to 11,750km with fuel-efficient and eco-friendly operations, the firm said. We are delighted to mark our 10th anniversary today with an A330 aircrafts arrival, which will help Vietjet grow significantly in operation capacity and international footprint expansion, Vietjet managing director Dinh Viet Phuong said. Over the past years, the carriers fleet of A320 and A321 has carried more than 100 million passengers on tens of thousands of flights across Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region, Phuong said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: COVID-19 Updates -- Vietnams Ministry of Health documented 15,586 COVID-19 cases on Saturday evening, raising the countrys tally to 1,636,455, with 1,229,684 recoveries and 31,007 deaths. Hanoi recorded the highest daily count on Saturday with 1,879 patients. -- Three more downtown districts in Hanoi including Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, and Tay Ho will suspend sit-down restaurant service from 12:00 pm on Sunday as the locales are now classified as areas at high risk of COVID-19 transmission. -- Vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Duong Anh Duc has advised local residents to refrain from participating in large gatherings on weekends and during the upcoming New Year holiday given the ongoing risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Society -- The forest protection department in southern Dong Nai Province has begun construction an additional 25 kilometers of electric fence to prevent forest elephants from entering residential areas. -- A 33-year-old Russian man has been caught illegally growing 27 cannabis trees at a rented house in the south-central province of Binh Thuan. -- A fire broke out at a restaurant of the Phuc Loc Tho com tam (broken rice) chain in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday morning, burning down a lot of property inside the venue. -- Authorities in Dong Nai Province kick-started on Saturday the construction of a VND1.3 trillion (US$56.8 million) road that runs along a section of the Dong Nai River. Business -- The Tourism Conference 2021, themed Vietnams Tourism - Recovery and Development, was held in the north-central province of Nghe An on Saturday to discuss ways to accelerate the industrys recovery and growth in the coming time. Sports -- Vietnam will have a rematch with Thailand in the semifinal second leg at the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup in Singapore at 7:30 pm on Sunday. The game will be aired on VTV6 and OnSports+ channels. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Russian man has been caught illegally growing nearly 30 cannabis plants at a rented house in Vietnam for personal use and to provide for other compatriots. Officers in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province confirmed on Saturday they were looking into the violation of Shedko Dmitrii, a 33-year-old Russian national. Police inspected Dmitriis tenanted house in Ham Tien Ward on Friday evening and discovered he was growing 27 cannabis plants, each about one to two meters tall, inside his bedroom. The plants were kept in a mini greenhouse with watering, artificial lighting, and temperature control systems. Officers also found three kilograms of dried cannabis and other relevant items. Dmitrii claimed he started growing the plants about two months ago after buying seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, and tools from online merchants. Shedko Dmitrii shows the dried cannabis inside his bedroom in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Photo: Tuan Tu / Tuoi Tre The man added he had some experience in growing cannabis back in Russia. He said the hemp plants were for himself and other compatriots living in Phan Thiet City. In Vietnam, both medical and recreational use of cannabis and cannabis-based products are prohibited by law. It is thus illegal to grow, trade, transport, possess, and use cannabis in the Southeast Asian country. Growing cannabis plants is punishable by a fine worth VND2-5 million (US$87-218). If the number of plants exceeds 500, the offender will be criminally charged and face a jail term of up to seven years. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ministry of Health confirmed 15,218 more COVID-19 cases in Vietnam on Sunday, alongside 18,556 recoveries and 207 virus-related fatalities. The latest infections, including 36 imported and 15,182 domestic transmissions, were recorded in 62 provinces and cities, the ministry said, adding that 9,635 patients got infected in the community. Hanoi registered 1,910 of the newest local cases, Tay Ninh Province 928, Vinh Long Province 889, Binh Dinh Province 800, Khanh Hoa Province 763, Can Tho City 715, Ho Chi Minh City 544, Thua Thien-Hue Province 375, Bac Ninh Province 267, Hai Phong City 267, Lam Dong Province 253, Binh Duong Province 230, Dong Nai Province 206, Binh Thuan Province 164, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 155, Quang Nam Province 137, Quang Ninh Province 120, Da Nang 116, and Bac Giang Province 40. Vietnam had documented 15,559 locally-acquired infections on Saturday. The country has detected 1,646,033 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27. A combined 1,245,423 of them have recovered from COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City leads the caseload with 500,057 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 290,163, Dong Nai Province with 96,827, Tay Ninh Province with 70,594, Dong Thap Province with 41,115, Long An Province with 40,083, Can Tho City with 38,676, Hanoi with 36,626, Tien Giang Province with 32,734, An Giang Province with 31,327, Khanh Hoa Province with 29,044, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 25,774, Binh Thuan Province with 24,821, and Da Nang with 10,449. Vietnam reported a paltry 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry logged 18,556 recovered patients on Sunday, raising the total to 1,248,240. The toll has spiked to 31,214 fatalities after the ministry announced 207 deaths on the same day, including 36 in Ho Chi Minh City, 24 in An Giang Province, 16 in Tien Giang Province, 15 in Tay Ninh Province, 15 in Dong Nai Province, 13 in Vinh Long Province, and the remainder in 18 other provinces and cities. Vietnam has recorded 1,651,673 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country early last year. Health workers have administered upwards of 145.5 million vaccine doses, including 1,067,112 shots on Saturday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8. Over 77 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while more than 65.9 million have been injected twice. The number of third doses including additional primary shots for immunocompromised people, boosters, and third jabs of Cubas Abdala vaccine has risen to 2,569,740. Vietnam aims to fully inoculate 100 percent of its adult population this year. Many provinces and cities are immunizing children aged 12-17 against COVID-19, using Pfizer-BioNTech shots. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam have kick-started the construction of a nearly VND1.3 trillion (US$56.8 million) road that runs along a section of the Dong Nai River. The first sod was turned at the project in the provincial capital of Bien Hoa on Saturday. The road will stretch 5.2 kilometers along a section of the Dong Nai River in Buu Long Ward, Bien Hoa. It will be 34 meters wide, including 22.5 meters of the roadway, 10 meters of the two sidewalks, and 1.5 meters of the median strip. Delegates symbolically dig the soil to begin a project to build a riverside road in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, December 25, 2021. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre The projects investment is estimated at VND1.289 trillion ($56.4 million), of which VND400 billion ($17.5 million) is funded by the central budget while the rest is covered by the provincial coffers. In order to make way for the construction, Bien Hoa Citys administration had to recover about 17.6 hectares of land from 587 households, with the site clearance cost was estimated at more than VND700 billion ($30.6 million). The provincial Peoples Committee has also approved a project to build an embankment adjacent to this roadt, which will be initiated in April. Excavators at the construction site of the project. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre The completion of the road is expected to change the cityscape of Bien Hoa, create an iconic urban landscape, and contribute to local socio-economic development, Nguyen Huu Nguyen, the citys chairman, said at the groundbreaking ceremony. Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Cao Tien Dung extended his gratitude the residents who gave up their land for the project. Dung hoped local residents will continue supporting the implementation of other projects in Bien Hoa City and Dong Nai Province in general. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (Hollie Adams/PA) (PA Wire) Faced with growing questions over his leadership, what better way for Boris Johnson to eliminate a pretender to his throne than to hand them the seemingly impossible task of solving the post-Brexit conundrum of Northern Ireland? Its a very canny move by Number 10, says one seasoned Tory party figure of the Prime Ministers decision to appoint Liz Truss to the Brexit role vacated by Lord Frost. She either has to compromise on the Northern Ireland Protocol or she has to upset Joe Biden. Paul Goodman, editor of the Conservative Home website, goes even further, arguing the Foreign Secretarys new role is consistent less with a powerful Truss regaining Europe policy for her department than with a resourceful Johnson handing her a poisoned fruit. But with Conservative MPs in a mutinous mood over further Covid restrictions and Johnson battered by sleaze allegations and a by-election defeat in North Shropshire, the question is whether Truss can dodge the trap and use the role to further burnish her credentials as a future leader in 2022. She is the one to beat at the moment, says one fellow female Conservative MP. She is a serious contender and she has a strategy to win. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire) Truss - an ardent supporter of the Remain campaign in 2016 before becoming a fully paid up Brexiter after the referendum - has already signalled her intent to take a hard line with Brussels in talks on the Northern Ireland protocol, part of the 2019 EU-UK deal which avoids the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland. Despite talk of a compromise from Johnson, she has insisted UK demands to rewrite the protocol and remove the role played by the European Court of Justice have not changed. The hard line stance was seen as a clear signal to the Eurosceptic right of the Conservative Party who helped secure the Tory crown for Johnson and will be crucial again in any contest to replace him. As someone who doesnt hide her ambition to be the next Conservative leader, she will want to appear tough in dealing with the EU, in order to secure the support of the partys right, wrote Charles Grant, Director at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. Story continues Its a position that comes with some jeopardy. It risks a trade war with the EU and tensions with the US President who has repeatedly expressed concerns over the UKs threat to tear up the protocol. Pull it off though and she will be in an even stronger position. With allies of Truss actively talking up her chances of becoming leader should a contest be triggered in the New Year, the Foreign Secretary has also been accused of shamelessly plugging her anti lockdown credentials in a further play to the libertarian wing of the party. Liz Truss Truss was an early backer of Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership race (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire) Her open displays of ambition - think of the carefully studied imitations of her hero Margaret Thatcher in a tank last month - have irritated some of her colleagues who think she is making her pitch to be leader too early. Others think that by becoming Foreign Secretary - the first female Conservative to hold the post which is one of the four great offices of state - she has already reached her peak. People have definitely underestimated her. She has got much further than people expected, says one Tory grandee. But there is a sense that her leading the party could be a step too far. A former Conservative minister adds spikily: She is useful to the Prime Minister as a convert to Brexit and the global opportunities it offersshe is even more of a zealot..and by promoting her he has ensured Rishi [Sunak] is not the only pretender to the throne. Others are even more cutting: Anyone who thinks she will be a warm character who wins over normal voters are deluded, says a Tory MP. Her main problem is she believes in nothing. But her supporters insist she should not be underestimated. They say her political ruthlessness (she was a Lib Dem during her student days at Oxford) and ability to bounce back from previous failures are signs of a deeper resilience than her detractors give her credit for. She is now the longest continuous serving Cabinet minister in Government having been appointed as a junior minister by David Cameron in 2014. The MP for South West Suffolk, who entered Parliament as part of Camerons new intake 11 years ago, quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Environment Secretary and then Justice Secretary under Theresa May. She was demoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury after failing to back the judiciary when the Daily Mail branded judges Enemies of the People during the Brexit wars but bounced back again under Johnson who made her International Trade Secretary. Although critics dismissed the series of new trade deals she delivered as cut and paste jobs from agreements the UK already enjoyed while part of the EU, her championing of free trade and Johnsons Global Britain agenda played well with Brexiters and the Conservative grassroots. It is her Thatcherite agenda of low tax, small state free market economics which have so endeared her to the right of the party just as it grows weary of Johnsons chaotic administration and higher spending, higher taxes approach. According to Conservative Home website she now enjoys a 82 point satisfaction rating among Tory members - a poll she has now led for over a year. Her fiercest rival for the leadership, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, is 30 points behind. Tory sources say Ms Truss has been on manoeuvres for at least the past three years and has been hosting private meetings with MPs over champagne dubbed fizz with Liz - at the Mayfair private members club 5 Hertford Street. A Liz for Leader WhatsApp group has reportedly been set up Her most recent Instagram post showing Truss posing grandly in front of a fireplace with a hint of the Union Jack flag in the background has been ridiculed as a bid to replace the Queen never mind the Prime Minister. For critics, the new Brexit role has presented yet another opportunity to reprise some of her embarrassing gaffes including her 2014 speech to the Conservative party conference where she angrily branded Britains reliance on imported cheese a disgrace. The speech is widely used as evidence that she is not up to the job of high office. Even former aides admit it was a terrible speech. Shes a Marmite politician, says Kirsty Buchanan, a former special adviser to Truss. The only thing that unites everyone about Liz is that that was possibly one of the worst speeches that anyone had ever seen. But Buchanan insists Truss isnt given a fair crack of the whip and hints that she may even be a victim of sexism from male colleagues in the party who have never taken her seriously. Her secondary school education at a state comprehensive in Leeds may also be a factor: Johnsons cabinet is still dominated by publicly educated ministers. People misread a lack of stuffiness for a lack of seriousness, Buchanan says. If you read across to someone like Boris Johnson, he is not stuffy either but no one questions his intellectual capabilities. She describes her as dispassionate and methodical and dismisses suggestions from some that she has never delivered anything significant in Government pointing to her track record in squeezing 500m out of the Treasury for prisons while Justice Secretary and the recently signed Australia trade deal for which she laid the groundwork. Endorsement from former Chancellor George Osborne may also have helped her cause. Following her appointment to the Brexit role he described her as capable and suggested she may now have the tools to be the most powerful Foreign Secretary for many decades. Even those on the left insist she should be taken seriously. Writing in the New Statesman, the author and broadcaster Paul Mason says: Truss is the real thing: a political chameleon who will shamelessly channel Thatcher just as relentlessly as Johnson channels Winston Churchill. But some Conservatives remain unconvinced, arguing that her popularity with the partys grassroots has not yet been properly tested. Tory peer and leading pollster Lord Hayward says: There are more popular people in the Tory Parliamentary party and the Conservative party at large dont know her yet. An analysis of the annual global oil and gas discoveries in 2021 by the Norwegian energy intelligence firm, Rystad Energy, has revealed that discovered volumes are on track to sink to their lowest full-year level in 75 years should there be no significant finds by the end of the month. Offshore Energy , referring to Rystad Energy, writes that if the remainder of December fails to yield any significant finds, the global oil and gas discoveries for this year will hit their lowest level in decades.Taking into account that total global discovered volumes this year are calculated at 4.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) as of the end of November and with no major finds announced so far this month, the company informed that the industry is on course for its worst discoveries toll since 1946. Moreover, this would also represent a considerable drop from the 12.5 billion boe unearthed in 2020. Liquids continue to dominate the hydrocarbon mix, making up 66 per cent of total finds. According to Rystad, seven new discoveries were announced in November 2021, unearthing around 219 million boe of new volumes. The monthly average of discovered volumes this year now stands at 424 million boe. A reduction in cumulative volume highlights the absence of large individual finds, as has been the case in previous years. West Yoti and Nangka-1: two largest discoveries in November Russian group Lukoils Yoti West off the coast of Mexico was the largest discovery in November 2021. It is estimated to hold around 75 million boe of recoverable resources, strengthening Lukoils cumulative discovered volumes in the North American nation. However, Rystad claims that these volumes are still insufficient for commercial development and would require further discoveries of a comparable scale before a development concept could be drawn up. Although, these discoveries give hope to Mexico that the country can halt or slow down its production decline. Rystad also pointed out that several wells are scheduled to be drilled in blocks offered in various bid rounds, many by leading international oil companies. Another relevant discovery from last month was made offshore Malaysia when Nangka-1 became the second successive exploration well drilled within Block SK 417. The wildcat was drilled by Thai state operator PTTEP to a depth of 3,758 meters and discovered sweet gas within the Middle to Late Miocene Cycle VI clastic reservoirs. Norway continues to unearth small-to-medium finds, providing an opportunity to materialize these discoveries with available infrastructure. Palzor Shenga, vice president of upstream research at Rystad Energy, remarked: Although some of the highly ranked prospects are scheduled to be drilled before the end of the year, even a substantial discovery may not be able to contribute towards 2021 discovered volumes as these wells may not be completed in this calendar year. Therefore, the cumulative discovered volume for 2021 is on course to be its lowest in decades. When the Taliban* took control of the capital of Afghanistan this summer, the PRC's foreign ministry announced that Beijing was ready to cooperate with Afghanistan and intended to play a constructive role in rebuilding the war-torn country. Claudia Chia, a research analyst with the Institute of South Asia Studies at the National University of Singapore, told The Diplomat about Chinese interests in Afghanistan. Explain Chinas involvement in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Following the Taliban takeover, China was the first foreign country to pledge emergency humanitarian aid (worth 200 million yuan) to Afghanistan. The Taliban, who were facing a humanitarian catastrophe and economic meltdown, welcomed Beijings prompt delivery of food and medical supplies. Additionally, China recently funded a construction project in the Ministry of Justice compound, and there are reports suggesting that Chinese firms have visited Afghanistan to explore mining opportunities. China has maintained direct communication with the Taliban administration, and both sides have met on several occasions, bilaterally and internationally, to discuss plans for Afghanistan reconstruction. Beijing has also been active in various international, multilateral, and bilateral talks on Afghan issues with regional governments and international powers. The Taliban regard Beijing as an important partner with economic prowess, and Beijing has proven itself to be a reliable partner with its sustained assistance. In what ways is China assisting the Taliban government and what are Beijings strategic interests in Afghanistan, if any? At the moment, providing humanitarian aid and donation of COVID-19 vaccines are Chinas main assistance to the Taliban. On the diplomatic front, China has made efforts to rally international support and aid for rebuilding Afghanistan, particularly by calling the international community to lift sanctions and unfreeze Afghan foreign assets. Correspondingly, Beijing and other regional states have come together to urge the Western powers to engage the Taliban and to provide assistance to the country. There are two aspects to Beijings interest in Afghanistan: The first one is securing security in its western frontiers and securing security for its Belt and Road projects in Central Asia and Pakistan. Beijing sees three evils terrorism, separatism, and religious fundamentalism as threats to its national security and has openly urged the Taliban to make a clean break with other terrorist groups, particularly the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Islamic State (banned in Russia). China also wants the Taliban to fight off these forces to prevent cross-border terrorism and spread of radicalism into Xinjiang. The second one is that China needs a favorable security paradigm in the region to protect its economic interests. Since 2013, China has made substantial investments in Central Asia and Pakistan via the China-Central Asia-West Asia and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. These investments around Afghanistan have drastically increased Beijings vulnerability to conflict in the region. There exist worries in Beijing of militants launching attacks on Chinese personnel and projects. A stable Afghanistan would reduce security threats, improve investment climate, and assist China to advance its economic goals. Analyze Chinas interests in developing Afghanistans lithium and copper deposits. China has expressed interest in Afghanistans mining sector since the 2000s, but past initiatives were fraught with difficulties. The Mes Aynak copper mine, which was leased to the China Metallurgical group for 30 years in 2008, is one well-known example. The project has been stalled due to security troubles and concerns surrounding preservation of ancient Buddhist ruins in the area. The progress of the project remains uncertain today. The untapped resources in Afghanistan are attractive to China, which faces growing domestic demands for energy and primary commodities. However, Beijing is aware that mining ventures into Afghanistan would be a long shot, requiring many pieces to be put in place first, such as security guarantees and proper infrastructure. While the Taliban recently stated that they will ensure the security of Chinese investors, the security threat remains high as there are other militant rivalries and activities on the ground that threaten Chinas interests. As in early October, the Islamic State Khorasan (the organisation is banned in Russia) linked their suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan, as retaliation for the Talibans close cooperation with Beijing, which the ISK regarded as mistreating the Uyghurs. Until security and safety for Chinese projects and personnel can be guaranteed, Chinese firms are unlikely to rush into business in Afghanistan. What incentives can the Taliban offer to secure Chinese investment? Firstly, the Taliban would need to demonstrate that they have abolished ties with other terrorist organizations. Another incentive is to cut down on drug trafficking. This may prove to be a tough ordeal given the Talibans reliance on drug revenue for its operations. The Taliban can adopt Pakistans example of deploying special security forces to safeguard Chinese ventures and personnel. Another option is for Chinese companies to hire security from Chinese private security companies, who already have a presence in the region. If these private security companies enter Afghanistan, it will be interesting to contemplate their potential affiliations to the Chinese government and whether their presence would symbolize, to some extent, a kind of military involvement by Beijing. We have to be realistic about how much Beijing is willing to invest. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinas overseas financing and BRI activities had begun to slow down. Furthermore, when we look at Chinas previous successful projects in Afghanistan, we see that they were mostly smaller scale, lower risk infrastructure projects like housing and laying of fiber optic line. Larger and longer-term projects often failed due to the precarious security situation, which eroded investors confidence. Assess the geostrategic implications of Chinas presence in Afghanistan and potential impact on U.S. interests in the region. China is still waiting for the international community to confer diplomatic recognition to the Taliban, and its next move will likely be determined by international responses. Its clear that China does not want to shoulder the burden of rebuilding Afghanistan alone. In the short term, Beijing will continue to provide humanitarian aid, participate in low-risk projects, and maintain cordial relations with the Taliban. In the long run, if security stabilizes, the expansion of Chinas presence in Afghanistan through commercial ventures would embolden Beijing in asserting its economic interests more openly. On the regional power play dynamics, it would be interesting to contemplate if China sees Central Asia and Afghanistan as tributary states for natural resource extraction, or does it see these countries as working partners to build a bloc against the Western powers? Another development to look out for is the Afghanistan-China-Pakistan axis. Beijing has previously played a positive role in helping to bridge differences between Kabul and Islamabad while Pakistan has helped to facilitate Russian and Chinese contacts with the Taliban. There is likely to be deeper strategic cooperation between China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and Iran, on counterterrorism efforts and crackdown on illegal drug trade. As the U.S. has shifted its attention to the Indo-Pacific, American presence in the region is likely to dwindle further, and its influence remains palpable only through cooperation with regional states to stabilize Afghanistan. Despite differences in China-U.S. relations, both parties do not want Afghanistan to become a hotbed for terrorism and violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the spread of terrorism and violence as countries tightened their borders, but when borders open up in the post-pandemic era, new security challenges and militant activities may spread. Thus, the common objective for a stable Afghanistan would likely pull U.S. and China together to collaborate on reconstruction, counter-terrorism and regional security. *The Taliban is a movement banned in Russia The Azerbaijani community living in France expressed a strong protest in connection with the illegal trip, which was made by the presidential candidate of this country Valerie Pecresse, together with French deputies Bruno Retailleau and Michel Barnier to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. It was reported by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In a statement published by the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in France (CCAF), it was noted that the Azerbaijani community strongly condemns the illegal trip of Valerie Pecresse, Senator Bruno Retayo and ex-MEP Michel Barnier to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and a meeting with Armenian politicians playing different roles within the framework of the fake the separatist regime created by Yerevan on the land of Azerbaijan. "This irresponsible political step is especially destructive and dangerous in the context of the recent rapprochement of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, striving to achieve lasting peace in the Caucasus region", the statement underlines. Its authors reminded Valerie Pecresse that if she was elected to the post of the head of state, this trip would undermine her credibility as a future participant in the peace process and remove Paris from any international negotiations. The report draws attention to the recent contribution of French President Emmanuel Macron to a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The members of CCAF are confident that the French, who are committed to the mediating tradition of Paris in international conflicts and reject any use of conflict of interest in elections, could only welcome its respectful and responsible approach. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh congratulated Christians on Merry Christmas. He posted the corresponding message on his Twitter page. "While many people around the world, including our compatriots-Christians, celebrate the birthday of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him), I wish everyone who celebrates this holiday Merry Christmas", IRNA quotes him. Let us remind that Catholics, Protestants and most local Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on the night of December 24-25. Russian Ministry of Health denied information about internal infections with a new strain of the coronavirus "omicron", the press service of the department spread the corresponding message. It says that cases of omicron-strain disease have been registered in the Russian Federation, and, as previously reported, all of them are brought from abroad. "No other cases of the disease caused by this strain have been detected so far in the territory of the Russian Federation", TASS quotes the report. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the US and NATO refuse to give Russia security guarantees and continue to expand eastward, the answer may be very different. It can be very different. It depends on the proposals that our military experts will make to me, the president said in an interview for the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" on TV channel "Russia-1" on Sunday. According to Putin, Moscow will seek to achieve a positive outcome of the negotiations. "I hope that all the same - and we did not offer something to outvote and stop something, from the point of view of this diplomatic process, but in order to achieve a diplomatic negotiating result, enshrined, as I said, legally, within the framework of the documents that we have proposed. We will strive for this", he stressed. At a press conference on Thursday, Putin said that Moscow's further actions would depend not on the progress of negotiations on security guarantees with the United States, but on the unconditional provision of Russia's security "today and for a historical perspective." "Further movement of NATO to the east is unacceptable," it was the Russian side that "made it clear", he reminded. The President pointed out that it is not Russia who puts missiles near the borders of the United States, "it is the US with its missiles have come to our house, they are on the doorstep of our house". NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg intends to call a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) on January 12, Anadolu news agency reported, citing a source in the alliance. NATO is in contact with Moscow on this issue, said the agency's interlocutor. Also on January 12-13, Brussels will host a meeting of the NATO Military Committee at the level of the chiefs of general staff of the alliance member states. On Tuesday, Stoltenberg said that that NATO was proposing to the Russian Federation to hold a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine in early 2022. On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that a corresponding proposal from the alliance had been received in Moscow and was being considered in practical terms. The NATO secretary general says that the alliance will not have a compromise with Russia on the right of Ukraine to "choose its own path" and apply for joining the alliance. It is precisely the non-expansion of NATO and the non-emergence of weapons systems that threaten our security at the Russian borders that are the main, key issues in the upcoming negotiations with the United States and NATO, said in Zakharovas comment. On Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told TASS that the timing, format of the Russia-NATO Council meeting and the composition of the Russian delegation are being worked out. "Since we are talking about military security issues, it is fundamentally important that high-ranking military personnel take part in the RNC meeting," Grushko stressed. Let us remind you, on December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft treaties with NATO and the United States in the field of security. The documents indicate that further expansion of the alliance to the east and the entry of the countries of the former USSR into it are excluded. In addition, the draft agreement provides for the alliance's refusal to carry out any military activities in the countries of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. A new round of confrontation may occur if the United States and its NATO allies do not respond to proposals for security guarantees, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said . The eighth round of talks to re-establish the Joint Comprehensive Plan on Iran's nuclear program will begin in Vienna on Monday December 27, Tehran confirmed. According to IRNA, Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri will arrive in the Austrian capital on Monday morning. Let us remind you that the eighth round of negotiations on the restoration of the nuclear deal will be held at the level of the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the "Big Five". Earlier, on December 27, Deputy Secretary General of the European Union's Foreign Service and Coordinator of the Joint Commission on the JCPOA Enrique Mora announced the start of a new stage of negotiations. Gold prices in Vietnam are much higher than international prices, driven by a supply-demand imbalance and price manipulation. A tael (37.5g) of gold in Vietnam is about US$500 more than in the rest of the world. While the price of local SJC gold has increased by nearly 10 per cent, or VND 5 million, the price of world gold decreased by about this amount in the same period. The Saigon Gold and Jewelry Company rated each tael of SJC gold at VND61.55 million (US$2,676), and VND60.8million for sell-buy. Compared to the prices listed on the global gold exchange, which rated gold at $1,810 per ounce, or $2,175, each tael of gold in Vietnam was $500 higher than the world prices. Gold buyer Kim Oanh, in Tan Binh District, HCM City, said that she used to buy gold to keep as an asset and only sold when she needed money. Oanh now does not dare to buy gold for that reason as the big gap in prices between domestic and world market. She said: " Now if I buy a tael of SJC gold, I immediately lose more than VN11 million for it, compared with the world prices." Nguyen Thi Thanh, the owner of a gold shop in District 9 in the city, told local media: Since earlier this year, many of my customers tell me they would patiently wait for the domestic gold price to close with the world prices for buying. But the longer they wait the bigger gap. In the past, the domestic gold price was usually only VN1 million or VN2 million higher than the worlds prices; now it was much higher. Thanh said at the beginning of this year, the gap was about VND7 million, but now the difference was up to VND11 million to VND12 million per tael. Thanh added: "It is because domestic gold is too expensive, so purchasing power is meagre and the market is quiet." Explaining the unusual gap between the domestic and international gold prices, To Thanh Hiep, General Director of SBJ, said: The scarcity of SJC gold supply is the main reason leading to the difference between gold prices around the world." Hiep said that the price of SJC gold was higher than the worlds prices because there was an unbalanced supply and demand in the market, adding: "Whenever the buying volume exceeds the selling volume, the SJC gold price increases sharply compared to the world and vice versa." Huynh Trung Khanh, senior advisor of the World Gold Council in Vietnam, and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Gold Traders Association, said: The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is the only place authorised to import gold, including raw gold. In the past ten years, SBV has not imported more raw gold to produce SJC gold bars while people's demand to buy SJC gold still exists. Khanh said: When the supply of SJC gold bars to the market is low when demand increases, it is unlikely that the SJC gold price will be close to the world gold price. Only when the supply and demand for SJC gold bars are in balance, will the gold bar price return to its true value, which is equal to the world gold price." According to Decree 24/2012 on the management of gold trading activities, gold bars are produced exclusively by the State and SBV is assigned to organise and manage gold bar production activities. As a financial expert, Duong Anh Vu said inexperienced gold investors who "surf gold were almost certain to lose money in this context when the gap between domestic and world gold prices was so obvious. Therefore, Vu said: It is not the right time for investors and people to choose gold as an investment channel in large quantities. In other words, he said if investors bought gold at this time, it would be difficult to make a profit. He advised: If there is an urgent need to buy gold, people should only buy a small amount. Investors, especially ones with low capital, should only hold gold in the medium and long term and spend about 20 per cent of their savings to buy gold. As a professional gold investor, Tuan Minh said that there was a phenomenon of speculation in the gold market as some businesses had pushed the price of gold up very high when they saw that the supply was not enough. Minh told local media: Some businesses keep the gold price high or push the difference between the buying and selling prices to increase the risk to consumers. Therefore, Minh said the authorities needed to find solutions to limit speculation and price manipulation and suggested that SBV should create policies for the local gold market integrating with the world to reduce disadvantages for local gold buyers. Source: VNS Tax reductions, exemptions likely to amount to VND60 trillion next year The Government has proposed to the National Assembly (NA) a package worth over VND60 trillion to reduce and exempt taxes for residents and enterprises next year, said Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc. In October, the NAs Standing Committee issued a package worth VND21.3 trillion to reduce and exempt taxes, including cutting 30% of the corporate income tax for firms with a revenue of less than VND200 billion per year each, reducing and exempting personal income tax and value added tax for business households and individuals in pandemic-hit areas, and reducing 30% of the value added tax for production and service enterprises. As for the results of policies to reduce and exempt taxes and land rentals and delay the deadlines to pay fees and taxes, tax agencies have reduced and exempted land rentals totaling some VND3.5 trillion as of November, according to a report by the General Department of Taxation. Tax agencies have also reduced taxes worth VND19.7 trillion. Moreover, the deadlines to pay taxes and land rentals valued at VND92.9 trillion have been rescheduled for enterprises, organizations, business households and individuals this year. CAAV suggests more flights to Japan, RoK, Taiwan (China) The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has suggested increasing the frequency of flights to Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Taiwan (China). In a report recently sent to the Transport Ministry, the CAAV proposed holding seven weekly flights between Vietnam and Japan in the first stage starting from January 2022. It also asked the Transport Ministry to suggest the Foreign Ministry work with representative agencies of countries and territories that are yet to offer opinions about the plan, including the RoK, China, Thailand, Singapore, Laos and Taiwan (China). So far, Vietnam Airlines has sold tickets for flights from Japan and the US while Vietjet Air offers tickets for flights from Japan. Data from the Foreign Ministry showed that over 140,000 overseas Vietnamese are wishing to return home so that existing regular commercial flights only meet a small part of their demand. CAAV suggests more flights to Japan, RoK, Taiwan (China) Lang Son seeks ways to facilitate exports to China The northern border province of Lang Son has held a working session regarding COVID-19 preventives measures at border gates so as to create optimal conditions for exports-imports. The local health sector is asked to propose the Peoples Committee issue a document requesting those who ship their products abroad through Lang Son to show certificates on COVID-19 prevention and control. The province also plans to urge Chinese agencies to accept the results of disinfection in Vietnam, which is believed to facilitate customs procedures. The selection of prioritised export items and suitable control methods must be drafted and submitted to the provincial Peoples Committee by January 10, 2022. Competent agencies and local authorities are urged to take the initiative in holding talks and exchanging information with the Chinese side to tackle difficulties in customs procedures. Fishery exports projected to near 8.9 billion USD this year Shipments of fishery products are estimated to rake in 8.89 billion USD in 2021, posting a year-on-year rise of 5.7 percent, said Nguyen Quang Hung, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Directorate of Fisheries. Demand for shrimp imports was on the rise this year, notably in major markets of Europe, the US, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (RoK). Free trade agreements have helped ensure stability in Vietnams shrimp production and processing, contributing to the sectors growth. Many Vietnamese exporters were allowed to ship tra fish (pangasius) to the US. More firms received permission to export products to other leading markets of Russia, the RoK and China this year. Of note, nearly 780 out of about 900 fishery companies of Vietnam are eligible to ship their products to the Chinese market, signalling a rosy prospect for the sector in 2022. Vietnam targets further digital transformation in 2022 The new year will be one of promoting digital transformation across all industries on a national scale. It will be the first year of implementing new strategies on digital infrastructure, data, technology industry and technology enterprise, said Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung at a recent conference. A report from the ministry showed that the ranking indicators in many fields of the information and communication industry are highly regarded by international organisations. In 2021, the revenue of the information and communication industry reached 3.4 quadrillion VND, hitting all set targets and representing a nine percent year-on-year increase. The largest contribution to the industry's revenue came from the ICT industry, with this year's revenue estimated at more than 136 billion USD, an increase of more than 11.4 billion USD compared to 2020. The main contributor was FDI enterprises with more than 117 billion USD. This year also marked a strong growth in the number of ICT businesses. Vietnam currently has 64,000 digital technology enterprises, adding 5,600 enterprises since 2020. RoK, Japan look to boost agricultural exports to Vietnam The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan are eyeing bigger shares of Vietnams agricultural product and food market, given that the festive season is approaching with growing customer demand. In a recent promotion event in Ho Chi Minh City where various agricultural products made in the RoK were introduced, Uiseong province has showcased to Vietnamese consumers its signature products, including kimchi, black garlic, red ginseng, ginseng, grapes, apples, and fermented fruit drinks. Similarly, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in HCM City has launched an exhibition of Japanese food products called TASTY in all of JAPAN at Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel in the southern citys District 1. The ongoing exhibition features about 300 agricultural products from across Japan. HCM City seeks to boost support industries The investment in the industrial sector and support industries in Ho Chi Minh City needs consultancy from the social community, heard an international workshop on December 24. Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said HCM Citys industrial production value accounts for about 32.3 percent of the number recorded in the southern key economic region, and 16 percent of the countrys total. The city has rolled out multiple solutions to support industrial firms in terms of land, capital, science-technology, personnel training, trade promotion and brand building. Through investment promotion programmes, HCM City has mobilised diverse resources to serve the development of the sector, he added. Experts pointed out that potential for the industrial sector and support industries in the locality has yet to be fully tapped, saying support industries have not intensively joined the global value chain yet. Virtual exhibitions introduce Vietnamese products to Australians The Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia is running a series of virtual exhibitions displaying key products of Vietnam between December 10 and 31 in a bid to boost exports next year. The sourcing expos feature 350 stalls showcasing a range of goods classified into different sectors such as garment-textile, footwear, farm produce, seafood, and woodwork products. The event will continue in January next year on the website www.vietnamsourcingexpo.com. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the first 11 months of 2021, trade between Vietnam and Australia neared 11.18 billion USD, up 50.23 percent year-on-year. Of the sum, the value of Vietnams shipments to Australia exceeded 3.97 billion USD, with growth recorded for many key export earners such as apparel, footwear, aquatic products, farm produce, and rice. Vietnam has 320 food product codes licensed for export to China Vietnamese businesses had 320 codes of agricultural and food products licensed to be exported to China as of 11am on December 24, according to the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam). SPS Vietnam said the Chinese General Administration of Customs is still updating the list of the licensed codes and businesses on https://ciferquery.singlewindow.cn/, so enterprises can check information on this website. It added the food exporters that havent applied for licenses can submit applications to competent agencies of China or via the websites http://cifer.singlewindow.vn/ and http://singlewindow.cn/. From January 1, 2022, foreign businesses producing food for export to China will have to print the commodity codes granted by China Customs or authorised agencies of Vietnam both inside and on the product packages. SPS Vietnam recommended enterprises stay updated with information about the codes so as not to affect the shipment to China. Demand for Tet goods starts to rise gradually Demand of goods in HCM City is increasing gradually before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays thanks to promotions and the greater diversity of products than last year. Though there is more than a month to go for the year's biggest festival, Saigon Co.ops retail chains Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.op Food, and Co.opSmile have started offering Tet discounts already. Products such as cosmetics, cleaning products, personal care and beauty products, and foods that can be stored for long without spoiling are sold at discounts now so that customers only need to buy fresh foods or ready-to-eat dishes before Tet. The city has called on distributors and manufacturers to launch promotions and prioritise online sales and non-cash payments. Tax collection exceeds estimate The total State budget revenue managed by the tax authorities reached nearly VND1.3 quadrillion this year, exceeding the estimate by over VND177 trillion (US$7.7 billion). The General Department of Taxation said that State budget collection task was significantly affected by economic difficulties and challenges, especially since the end of April when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out again. Many key economic areas have implemented prolonged social distancing; production and business activities of enterprises have stalled; supply chains have been disrupted; and the economy has gone down, the department said. According to the report on revenue estimates of tax departments for the year, 60 of 63 localities assessed exceeded the estimate of State budget revenue for the year. It is estimated that there will be nearly 140,000 applications for tax payment extensions his year. The total amount of tax and land rent to be extended is VND92.9 trillion. HCMC sets aside over 300 hectares to develop supporting industrial park HCMC is set to develop a supporting industry park with an area of over 300 hectares in the coming months to form a community of hi-tech supporting industry enterprises. Speaking at an international conference on December 24, HCMC Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan said that establishing a hi-tech-based supporting industry park is vital, especially during the current post-industrial period. The supporting industry park, meant to accommodate manufacturers of hi-tech components, is expected to feature modern infrastructure and gather all hi-tech firms, contributing to boosting the development of the supporting industry and moving toward joining the global supply chain. The establishment of a supporting industry park will stimulate the citys economic growth, said Hoan. Hi-tech supporting industry parks are popular in many countries, including Japan, Malaysia and Thailand, but remain scarce in Vietnam due to issues related to operation mechanisms, investment attraction and management, said the vice chairman of HCMC. Ben Tre, Vinh Long to jointly build new bridge over Co Chien River Ben Tre and Vinh Long provinces have held talks to discuss the development of a new bridge - Dinh Khao Bridge - spanning over the Tien River to link the two Mekong Delta localities and replace the existing Dinh Khao ferry services, said a local transport official. Under the first plan, the project will stretch six kilometers. The main bridge will be 1.8 kilometers long, 12 meters wide and have two lanes. It will be 1.2 kilometers away from the Dinh Khao ferry terminal and require over VND2 trillion in investment. Under the second plan, the project will have a total length of over 11 kilometers. The length of the main and auxiliary bridges will be 1.5 kilometers, with four lanes and around VND2.4 trillion in investment. It will be 5.5 kilometers away from the ferry terminal. For the third plan, which costs some VND3.1 trillion, the project will be 17 kilometers long. Of this, the main bridge will be 1.6 kilometers long and 11 kilometers away from the ferry terminal. The bridge project is scheduled for completion in 2030. US$1.3 bln invested into North-South overhead road SGGPSaturday, December 25, 2021 12:23 The Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City said that the Municipal Peoples Committee approved assignment for investors to study and make the proposal of building overhead road No.5, at a section from the intersection of Station 2 in Thu Duc City to An Suong intersection and the North-South overhead road project from Cong Hoa Street to Nguyen Van Linh Street under the public-private partnership (PPP) form. US$1.3 bln invested into North-South overhead road anh 1 Illustrative image Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company (CII) was responsible for studying to build the proposal of North-South overhead road investment and construction project with an estimation capital of VND30,000 billion (US$1.3 billion) in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) from enterprises' financial source within six months since the date of assignment. Besides, IDICO Infrastructure Development Investment Joint Stock Company also proposed to study and invest in the project of overhead road No. 5. The two projects are on the list of works in Ho Chi Minh City calling for investments in the period of 2021-2030 under BOT contracts. Vietnams retail banking forecast to boom by 2026 Digital transformation in banking is indispensable to providing products and services to the Vietnamese population, especially the vulnerable. The Covid-19 pandemic has lasted from the beginning of 2020 with extremely complicated developments, causing serious impacts on people and businesses. With support from the proactive application of technology, credit institutions, financial companies, and intermediaries have launched many modern banking products and services such as mobile banking, internet banking, contactless payment, and QR code. After being approved by the State Bank of Vietnam, local banks have applied new technology to identify customers (electronic Know Your Customer - eKYC), banking products and services that meet people's needs, ensuring safety, saving time, and supporting customers in remote areas who find it difficult to access banking services. In which, online banking services, such as internet banking and mobile banking, have a remarkable growth rate, accounting for more than 40% of transactions, especially those with banks reaching more than 80% of the total. The growth rate of payment via QR code was up to 200% compared to 2020. Export turnover may fetch over US$335 billion by year-end Viet Nam's export turnover is expected to reach US$335.23 billion in 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.6%, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The forecast growth rate of 18.6% surpasses the Governments preset goal of 13.6% by 4-5%. Total trade turnover is projected to rise by 22.4% to US$ 667.5 billion, said the ministry. In December alone, import turnover was estimated at US$ 32 billion, representing a month-on-month increase of 4.5% and a year-on-year growth of 14.7%. Meanwhile, the nations import value is estimated at US$ 332.27 billion this year, up 27.9%. The total trade volume was forecast at 667.5 billion in 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.4%. Source: VNA/VNS/SGT/SGGP/VOV/VIR/VGP I chose to stay in the UK, not because I can find a good job here, but I believe that I still need more time to accumulate experience and money before I return to Vietnam and do something bigger, said Trinh Quang Vu. Trinh Quang Vu Vu, 31, is currently a lecturer of finance and accounting at Newcastle University in the UK. He was a student at HCMC Economics University, obtained a masters degree in finance administration from Northumbria University and a doctorate in finance from Newcastle University in 2019. He has published articles in finance, accounting and banking in the worlds prestigious journals. His major research field relates to corporate governance, CEO management, CEOs and boards of directors' work in relation with financial indexes and companies important policies. After receiving his doctorate when he was 28 years old, Vu decided to stay in the UK instead of coming back to Vietnam. Except for people who study abroad on state-granted scholarships and have to return to Vietnam after graduation, 90 percent of young people want to stay and work in foreign countries, he said. To become a lecturer in the UK Its not easy to find a job at a university in the UK, according to the 9X lecturer, because of the fierce competition. A doctorate is the minimum degree required by most schools in the UK. Therefore, all candidates have very good CVs and special abilities. I chose to stay in the UK, not because I can find a good job here, but I believe that I still need more time to accumulate experience and money before I return to Vietnam and do something bigger, Trinh Quang Vu Before he set to work on his doctoral dissertation, Vu tried to apply for the post of lecturer at some universities. However, as the CV was not strong enough, he failed. This helped him realize what schools were seeking from candidates and prompted him to focus on building the virtues that schools wanted. After obtaining a doctorate and publishing some scientific articles, an opportunity came to him. Before getting the opportunity of becoming a lecturer at Newcastle University, Vu worked for Huddersfield University for one year. According to Vu, no matter which school lecturers work for, they will be highly appreciated if they have articles published in prestigious academic journals. This is not only an obligation, but also a driving force for the career development of every researcher. When Vu applied for Newcastle University, he knew that his competitors were impressive as they had many years of working experience. Finally, he was the one chosen by the school, thanks to the articles published in prestigious journals as the first author. High-quality scientific articles on prestigious journals is a great advantage, but this was not enough. Another important factor is your presentation before the board of recruitment. A progressive attitude, confidence, right attitude and thinking, and sincerity will help candidates succeed, he said. When interviewed, candidates need to show most clearly who they are, the plans they have, and if they can contribute to the schools development. He had two days of interviews with different boards. In general, the strict recruitment process was necessary to be sure that the school can find the right people who can contribute to the school brand and development. Each school follows its own recruitment way and procedure. Stay overseas if you have opportunities Asked what he thought when deciding to stay in the UK, Vu said he did not have to spend too much time wavering between staying in the UK and returning to Vietnam. He said the brain drain concept seems to be no longer applicable to the modern "flat" world. Some people can make direct contributions to the country when they return to their homeland with the knowledge they receive overseas. Meanwhile, others can also make their contribution to the homeland in their own way, though they stay overseas. While the ways they follow are different, they will still reach the goal. According to Vu, there are many talented Vietnamese scientists living and working in foreign countries. At top-tier universities in the UK, they are leading professors and influential lecturers. Overseas Vietnamese can develop well, and are full of energy, work hard and seek opportunities, so the image of Vietnamese is highly appreciated, especially in the academic environment. When Vietnamese people work overseas, they, with their different perspectives, can act as advisors to Vietnam. Moreover, when they rise to fame overseas, they can make great contributions to the homeland, not only in scientific knowledge, but also in financing. Some people think that Vietnamese students prefer staying overseas because of good jobs and high pay. But I believe that talented people can earn a lot of money, no matter where they are, he said. They choose to stay overseas because they want to promote themselves, study the things they want, and then bring that value when returning to Vietnam and contributing to homeland development. Young people make choices depending on their conditions and viewpoints. But I believe that staying overseas to accumulate experience is the optimal choice for them, he said. Lecturers can accumulate experience in researching and working at universities in the world. When the right time comes and they become strong enough and have international relations, they should come back to Vietnam, he said. Thuy Nga Former literature student graduates in computer science from US Tran Kha Vy, 23, has had quite an experience studying abroad at Minerva Schools at KGI (USA), which has an acceptance rate of only 1.8%. Nguyen Trong Hieu, PhD, senior researcher and lecturer in solar energy at Australian National University, is a Vietnamese national. Nguyen Trong Hieu In early 2021, his research team obtained a grant of 1 million AUD, or VND17 billion, for a project on development of next-generation solar panels. Since 2016, the total grant money he has received as leader or co-leader of projects amounts to 6.8 million AUD, or VND115 billion. He has been honored at the Golden Globe Science and Technology Awards in the field of new material technology. Village boy with global ambition Born and raised in An Giang province, Hieu said though he was a village student, he still dreamed of entering a prestigious university. When he was in 12th grade, he won third prize at the national competition for excellent students majoring in math. After that, he passed the entrance exams to the class for talented students at the HCM City University of Technology (HCMUT) with the score of 29.5 out of 30. With great efforts, Hieu became one of the three most excellent students of the faculty after he finished the second year and then obtained a full scholarship to study at the University of Portland in Oregon, the US. Hieu said the first two years at HCMUT gave him a firm foundation and he did not have any difficulty when continuing studying in the US. He appreciated the schooling environment in the US, which helped him a lot in his study and research. If you have questions, you can make appointments with teaching assistants to receive answers. Machines and learning aids are also good, very useful for my study and research, he recalled. However, Hieu also had a few problems. Because of his poor English skills, Hieus opinions were not appreciated that much during discussions. That was the driving force which made me make a great effort every day, Hieu said. Instead of returning home at 5-6pm, I spent the evening and weekends working at the lab. He understood that as an international student, he needed to do more than natives. After one or two semesters, his learning records improved. In mid-2011, Hieu graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.97 GPA out of 4.0. In 2012, he got a full scholarship to study for a doctorate at ANU majoring in semiconductor material for solar panels. During the study for the doctorate, he was the first author of 10 articles published on international journals, a record for anyone at the faculty so far. Well-known scientist Ten years ago, finding a new source of energy to replace traditional fuels was a burning issue. With fundamental knowledge in semiconducting technology, I believed that the direction would bring many benefits in the future, he explained. While most researchers focused on seeking solutions to improve the quality of the core of solar panel, Hieu was concerned about improving the upper thin film of the cell to increase efficiency. His research team focused on measurement methods from the very beginning to detect faults in solar panel. The measurement method invented by the team is now being used by many universities and research institutes, including New South Wales and Sydney University, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Most recently, Hieu and his co-workers at ANU have created a method to increase the efficiency of the solar panels light-to-electricity conversion by improving the quality of material components, helping them bond with each other and receive more sunlight. His team has also received sponsorship worth 1 million AUD to develop measurement instruments for next-generation solar panels. Since 2014, Hieu has had 72 publications in international journals. He is the founder and manager of two laboratories at ANU (Australian National University). According to Hieu, the biggest difficulty occurred with his first publications. His first article was refused twice, and so was the second. However, things became better later. He also felt at a stalemate sometimes. When he finished studying for his doctorate in 2016, he didnt know what he would do next. But, finally, he set up his research team. Asked about the future, Hieu said he will conduct research on solar panels to exploit the potential of photovoltaics as a clean, affordable and sustainable energy source. Thuy Nga Vietnam in top 10 countries with high achievements at 2021 Olympiads The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on December 18 organized a ceremony to honor students winning prizes at international Olympiads and international science and technology competitions. Com tam Sai Gon (Sai Gon-style steamed broken rice), Com ga Hoi An (Hoi An Chicken Rice) and Com hen Hue (Baby basket clams rice) are all wonderful rice dishes that diners should not miss. Hue clam rice Com tam Sai Gon If Hanoi is famous for its pho (noodle soup served with beef or chicken), or bun dau mam tom (tofu, shrimp sauce, and noodles), HCM City people is known for its broken rice, a popular delicacy. It is not difficult to find a restaurant serving broken rice, from popular to luxury ones in the city. But gourmets prefer a sidewalk shop for the right taste of this dish. There are many com tam Sai Gon variations, but the most delicious and favorite is com tam suon bi cha (broken rice with grilled pork ribs, shredded pork skin), topped with grilled ribs and Vietnamese-style steamed omelette with meatloaf, with slices of sweet and sour tomato, cucumber, papaya, carrot, or cabbage. Com tam Sai Gon (Sai Gon-style steamed broken rice), Com ga Hoi An (Hoi An Chicken Rice) and Com hen Hue (Baby basket clams rice) are all wonderful rice dishes that diners should not miss. At some restaurants, omelettes, steamed egg rolls and fried chicken are added to the dish. The broken rice is eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce and fried fragrant onion. Com tam Long Xuyen Com tam Long Xuyen, or Long Xuyen-style broken rice in An Giang province, is a version of com tam, which is not less delicious than Com tam Sai Gon. The broken rice there is cooked from the rice half the size of a normal rice grain. All the ingredients on rice plates such as grilled ribs, pork skin and braised eggs are cut into small pieces. If you have the opportunity to travel to An Giang and visit Long Xuyen, you should try this attractive specialty. Com ga Hoi An Com ga is a common dish, but it is a signature dish that all travelers to Hoi An want to enjoy. Hoi An is an ancient town located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province, about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang City. In order to make delicious Com ga Hoi An, it is necessary to choose the right materials first. Chefs will choose young chickens that are raised naturally, because the meat is not greasy but naturally sweet and chewy. After chicken is boiled, it is shredded and mixed with salt, laksa leaves, onion, lemon and chili to create a harmonious spicy, sour, salty and sweet taste. The rice used to prepare the dish is sticky rice. It is cooked with chicken broth, turmeric and pandan leaves. The rice grains have a yellow color and typical faint fragrance, attractive to diners from first sight. Hue clam rice Referring to Hue cuisine, many people immediately think of clam rice, a must-try specialty for travelers to the ancient capital city. The main ingredients to make this Vietnamese rice specialty are rice and clams. To make clam rice dish with the right taste of Hue, one needs to use the clams caught at Con Hen (Mussel Islet) and cooled white rice. Mix that rice with spiced stir-fried mussels, fried onions, star fruit, pork scratchings, roasted peanuts, fried pork skin, herbs, and chili. Com hen is eaten with clam boiled broth with Hue shrimp paste. One can use noodles instead of rice for this dish. Com chay Ninh Binh Ninh Binh burned rice is a tasty dish of Ninh Binh land. While burned rice in other localities is eaten with salted shredded meat, com chay Ninh Binh is used with a sophisticated prepared sauce. This sauce has goat meat, beef, or stir-fried kidney with onions, carrots and some other spices to create a spicy taste for the burnt rice. When eating, you can dip the rice into the sauce or sprinkle the sauce on the rice. Kim Chi Hanoi, a riverside city rich in history and culture, is praised by foreign tourists as an ideal destination for those who want to explore the country and people of Vietnam. The thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam is loved by millions of foreign tourists for its convenience, diverse and attractive cuisine, low living costs, and the hospitality of local people. Here are eight reasons why many foreigners fall in love with Hanoi: A "budget-friendly" travel destination This is a tourist city with a relatively reasonable cost of living. With an extensive public transport network and ride-sharing apps, travelers can choose from a variety of itineraries using cost-effective means like buses. In addition, when booking inexpensive accommodations, even in central areas such as the Old Quarter, visitors can enjoy a full range of services such as free Wi-Fi, a cool relaxing space like an indoor or rooftop swimming pool and complimentary breakfast. Diverse street food with affordable prices also helps visitors save money. A city for visitors who love museums Hanoi is known as the cultural center of Vietnam with up to 15 museums, which display many special artifacts and stories. Visitors interested in learning about local culture and heritage will want to visit the museums dedicated to art, science and culture in Hanoi. Some of the most famous museums in the city are the Museum of Ethnology, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Air Defense - Air Force Museum, the Police Museum, the National History Museum, the Vietnam Women's Museum. An old city History buffs will love Hanoi for its long history. Over the centuries, Hanoi has been influenced by different Eurasian and Asian cultures, which is most clearly shown through the city's architecture. Visitors can see the blend between the past and the modern of high-rise buildings with ancient and sacred features of temples. Some popular sites are the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, Bach Ma Temple, Hanoi Cathedral, Temple of Literature and the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. The ideal place to discover traditional Vietnamese cuisine Hanoi is a place where visitors can enjoy the traditional flavor of Vietnamese cuisine more clearly than others. The Old Quarter is a destination with many street food shops with relatively affordable prices for foreign tourists. Weather with four distinct seasons Although there is a lot of rain in the summer, there is the beautiful spring or late autumn, and early winter in February, March, November and December. Lots of fun activities Tourists never get bored in Hanoi because there are so many activities. During the day, visitors can explore Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter and watch water puppetry, an art form dating back to the 11th century. At night, Hanoi is brilliant under the lights with many exciting activities at the local bars and karaoke parlors as well as the areas of Ta Hien and Xuan Dieu streets which lure many foreign tourists. Many places to shop Hanoi has many traditional markets as well as modern commercial centers, giving visitors a variety of choices depending on different budgets and shopping preferences. Unique coffee culture The Vietnamese love the taste of Robusta coffee, with a bolder and stronger flavor than arabica. Visitors can wander the streets of Hanoi to find cafes hidden in alleys to enjoy unique drinks such as egg coffee with egg layers that are like cream, smooth and sweet. Do An Visitors to Hanoi don't miss seasonal treats Hanoi is full of particular dishes from the capital of the North, with special cakes being counted among them. Shock was my feeling when I took the road up to the peak of Ta Xua, Tram Tau, Yen Bai. When I reached Ta Xua Forest, I fell in love with a romantic world. Photographer HaiLe Cao told VietNamNet about his difficult trip to Ta Xua (Yen Bai province) in November. Ta Xua, a 2,865-metre-high mountainous range, is one of the highest ranges in Vietnam: I had gone trekking for almost three days on a 15-kilometer road. The constant change of physical features was exciting. The view also varied depending on the weather so glamorous scenery was expected on the path. There are three notable features on this road: an immense sea of clouds, mysterious forest, and gorgeous Dinosaurs Spine. I went to Ta Xua with a friend. Because we travelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to make sure that we obey the Covid-19 restrictions. I even got a PCR test before the trip. On November 18, in the morning, I got on a Limousine to travel from Hai Phong to Hanoi. At My Dinh bus station, I caught a 7-seater car to Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. It took us five hours to arrive in Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. We continued to get on a bus to Tram Tau. Although the bus was old, it still made me feel comfortable and people on the bus were extremely friendly. To me, this was an exciting experience. Local guides picked us up at Tram Tau by motorbike to go to our homestay to rest. Three-day-two-night trip on road of dreams I divided my trip into five stages. Stage 1: Around 3.5 kilometers, from the base of the mountain to Lan Cay Tao The slopes were quite long. If travelers do not have experience or a good physical strength, they will have difficulties while follow the path. It took me 30 minutes to get used to the physical features. There were many trees along both sides of the path, so the atmosphere was cool. In my opinion, this road does not have a special scenery. As it was an earthen road, people who do not want to climb can hire professional porters to carry them and their belongings at a cost of 600000 VND. I, on the other hand, thought that this was unnecessary as, according to some reviews, sitting behind the motorbike was scary and made visitors feel dizzy. Stage 2: Around one kilometer, from Lan Cay Tao to Turtle Head Peak Lan Cay Tao is a rest area on the path. The physical features began to change after we passed Lan Cay Tao with steep slopes. The trip was exhausting but after that, you can enjoy the poetic scenery on Turtle Head Peak, which is a beloved destination for visitors. However, safety must be prioritized while you are on the peak. Stage 3: About 2.5 kilometers, from Turtle Head Peak to camping site No. 1 The scenery was stunning when I went higher. My friend and I took our time around this place to enjoy the relaxed ambience. As we wanted to camp in the middle of the forest, we continued our trip. Stage 4: From camping site No. 1 to camping site No. 2 Dinosaurs Spine is the most special feature in this stage. It was way more impressive than the one in Bac Yen, Son La. The physical features in this place are steep slopes and rough ground, along with windy conditions, which makes the trip challenging. But I loved this. Due to an unexpected mistake, we had to stay overnight at camping site No. 2. Stage 5: From Lan 2 to Ta Xua Peak At 8am, we started our journey. We went through a mysterious forest filled with moss, a unique characteristic of Ta Xua. After we went through the forest, we reached the peak of the mountain. But this place did not amaze me as I expected. We went back to camping site No. 1 to rest and then ended our trip. To have a unique pose, HaiLe Cao had practiced for years. Stunning view on 2.5-kilometer road from Turtle Head Peak. Splendid sunset at the No.2 camping site. Marvelous view in moss forest. We grilled chickens at the No.1 camping site. We got up early to observe the sunset the next morning. A forest appeared to be from a fairy tale. The road possesses several stunning views. HaiLe Cao The McLennan County Public Health District will conduct COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the following locations over the next two weeks. Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and boosters are available. The Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age is available at all locations. Parents or a consenting adult must accompany their minor children to receive the vaccine. Walk-Ins are welcome, and registration for a scheduled appointment is available at covidwaco.com. The Health District offices are closed Monday and Friday this week. Safe ride, free tow Waco Transit System and Tow King will once again be partnering for Safe Ride Home on Friday for New Years Eve. For those needing an unexpected safe ride, Tow King is offering free vehicle tows home. Service hours are from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.. Call 254-750-1620 to schedule a free trip or determine coverage area (within the immediate Waco area). WTS will deliver revelers safely to and from their New Years Eve destinations. Groups must be picked up and dropped off at the same location. Free vehicle tows can be arranged by calling Tow King directly at 254-666-5484. Bell County Museum exhibit The Bell County Museum, 201 N. Main St. in Belton, is exhibiting Private Charles J. Miller: WWII Paintings from the South Pacific through June 10, 2022. The museum has 120 of the rare, world-renowned paintings, along with WWII artifacts from the museums collection. Curated by the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, the show presents paintings and drawings produced by Miller during his deployment in the Pacific. Federal legislation is long overdue. As of September, 47 states have legalized some form of cannabis from cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp to recreational adult cannabis use. As mentioned, 2020 was a big year for cannabis. Two states (Illinois and Vermont) legalized sales through their state legislatures and every single cannabis reform measure during the November 2020 election passed, including measures in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota, all of which legalized recreational marijuana. How the federal government regulates and taxes cannabis products will equally impact states regardless of their state cannabis laws. Arguably, the tax imposed at the federal level may be more important than the regulations themselves. States and the federal government are attempting to introduce legal, regulated products where a thriving black market for these products already exists. In 2019, it was estimated there was $70 billion in illegal cannabis sales in the U.S. In order to effectively compete, governments must impose competitive tax rates if theyre to impose a tax at all. Hazards of police work This year drove home the dangers of signing up for the profession of keeping the community safe as a local officers lost their lives in attacks and crashes. Sgt. Jim Smith with the Iowa State Patrol was gunned down while trying to arrest an armed suspect who fled a Grundy Center traffic stop in April. The matter ended in a shootout with SWAT team members, and the suspect was detained. In October, Trooper Ted Benda, assigned to the Iowa State Patrols Oelwein Post, died in a crash while responding to a call. Waterloo officers also used their guns in two separate incidents - one in April when a man pointed what turned out to be a BB gun at sheriffs deputies and another in November when a driver crashed head-on into a squad car during a brief chase. Getting helpSocial workers began accompanying certain Waterloo Police Department patrol units this year. The team from Elevate Community Behavioral Health Clinic was embedded with police department to respond to calls that involve residents undergoing a crisis. This is the kind of program a lot of cities talk about. Waterloo did it. Pet rescues Local firefighters dont give up, not even when it comes to the communitys smallest, furriest residents. On at least two occasions in 2020, crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue resuscitated dogs found unconscious inside burning homes. They also hopped in the Cedar Rapid after a stray kitten plummeted from a bridge and paddled after a dog that had inexplicably become trapped in a river culvert. Scooter adventure Downtown Waterloo has a lot to offer. And visitors can now zip around thanks to a flock of electric scooters from Bird and a fleet from Hellbiz, both landing in Waterloo in 2020. I took a scooter tour through downtown to see what the buzz was about. Justice delayed Criminal jury trials started up again in 2021 following a break during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In high-profile cases that were delayed, jurors found a woman guilty of setting a fire that killed a mother and her 6-year-old son in 2018, and convicted a Waterloo man of a 2018 revenge killing. In Fayette County, a man was found guilty of murder in the 2018 death of an infant he was looking after. 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. LOS ANGELES (AP) Parts of California are getting a White Christmas after all, with snowfall pounding mountains across the state. Other areas of California, however, saw a wet and rainy Christmas as storms continue to drench the state, causing flash flooding and evacuations in some areas over the holiday period. A 70-mile (113-kilometer) stretch of interstate over the top of the Sierra Nevada was closed Saturday when a storm that dropped nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow on some ski resorts around Lake Tahoe overnight got a second wind. Interstate 80 connecting Reno, Nevada, to Sacramento, California, over the Sierra was closed in both directions due to poor visibility from the Nevada-California state line to Colfax, California. The worst part of the storm is here so expect long delays, the California Highway Patrol in Truckee tweeted Saturday afternoon. Friday night into Saturday, 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow fell at Homewood on Tahoes west shore. About a foot (30 centimeters) was reported at Northstar near Truckee, California and 10 inches (25 centimeters) at the Mount Rose ski resort on the southwest edge of Reno. At Donner Pass in the Sierra, which is along the closed interstate, officials with the University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory wondered on Twitter if the recent snowfall could break the snowiest December record of 179 inches (4.6 meters) set in 1970. There's been at least 119 inches (3 meters) recorded so far this month , according to The Mercury News, with more expected over the next 72 hours. The snowpack in the Sierra was at dangerously low levels after recent weeks of dry weather but the state Department of Water Resources reported on Christmas Eve that the snowpack was between 114% and 137% of normal across the range with more snow expected. In the San Bernardino National Forest, crews are working on a $4.2 million emergency project to repair a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside late Thursday after heavy rain, according to The San Bernardino Sun. The roadway is a major route to Big Bear Lake and the closure near Panorama Point could be several days if not weeks, the newspaper reported. The Los Angeles area is likely to see rain and mountain snow for the next week, according to the National Weather Service, with temperatures significantly below normal through the middle of the week. The San Diego region should see scattered showers, with heavy snow in the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains, with precipitation possibly going into Thursday. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay Area is predicted to have rain showers through Monday before cold and drier conditions arrive through the middle of next week, the weather service said. The storms across the West, which could drop rain and snow over much of the region into next week and plunge the Pacific Northwest into a lengthy cold snap, follow a now-departed atmospheric river that delivered copious amounts of precipitation earlier this week. The National Weather Service says the Seattle-Tacoma area is likely to see up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of snow over the weekend. By early next week, the Seattle area will dip as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-7.7 degrees Celsius), the lowest in several years. Coeur dAlene, Idaho, will drop to -5 F (-20 C) by Wednesday and Portland will drop to the low 20s and high teens. Rain and snow records broke in Nevada and state officials in Oregon declared an emergency ahead of the freezing temperatures, snow and ice. Recent forecasts show at least an inch of snow is likely to fall Sunday in the Seattle and Portland regions, which dont typically see snow. But forecasters and state officials say the main concern is cold temperatures in the region, with daytime highs next week struggling to reach above freezing, that are likely to impact people experiencing homelessness and those without adequate access to heating. In Arizona, a winter weather advisory remained in effect Saturday through the weekend in the upper elevations of the mountains north of the Grand Canyon near the Colorado line. But the wet weather that dumped record-breaking rain on Phoenix and Flagstaff on Friday was moving out of the area. The 1.67 inches (4.2 centimeters) of rain that fell at the airport in Flagstaff on Friday shattered the old record of 0.87 inches (2.2 centimeters) set in 2019. The inch (2.5 centimeters) that was recorded in Phoenix Friday broke the old record of 0.93 of an inch (2.4 centimeters) in 1944. It also was the wettest day for the city since Feb. 22, 2020, when just over an inch fell. AP writer Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, 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 Sometimes, the smallest and most meaningless happening can lead to a wide war. But on other occasions, the storm clouds gather, almost predicting a coming conflict of historic proportion. It would be unwise not to observe the emerging crisis in the Ukraine with considerable concern. The presence of Russian troops on the boarder and the arrival of soldiers from Siberia in close proximity to the area of conflict indicates that while we might not witness a Russian invasion, it is not at all clear that is not what Moscow has in mind. President Biden has, prudently, indicated that our response to the buildup of armed forces, even coupled with a military action by Russian, will not bring U.S. and allied soldiers into the conflict. Additional resources will be provided to the Ukrainians to aid in their defense, but American blood will not be shed in this foreign land. Rather, the U.S and the NATO alliance will impose sweeping, harsh, some might even say draconian, economic sanctions. If successful, these steps would effectively bar the land of the czars from participating in the world economy. Two questions deserve answers: Why now, and what does Russia really want? On the first, there are a variety of explanations, and all may be valid. Historically, as weve written before, the former Soviet Union is almost paranoid of a foreign invasion from the west. The vast expanse of land between Russia and adversaries like France, with Napoleon, and Germany, with Hitler, still remind them of the importance of space between themselves and their foes. It could also be generated in part by the Russian leaders dismay at the decline of the former Soviet Union, calling the fall from power the sadist day of his life. He wants Russia to return to the center stage of world affairs. A couple other considerations come to mind, which do not contradict the first two. Putins popularity at home may be on the decline. The recent exposure of his personal financial corruption coupled with those of his oligarchs have without question undermined his public support. In addition, no Russian leader can lead a strong economy because the communist doctrine simply does not permit it. Putin has in the past used a foreign threat to detract from the economic woes at home. These observations find considerable support in the new Russian demands. These were voiced prior to the scheduled meeting with NATO representatives next week in Europe. They included demanding that NATO basically retreat to those countries who became members at the end of World War II. Military alliances, troop presence or joint military exercises would be prohibited in countries like Hungary and Poland. This would extend to those now independent states that were part of the old Soviet Union. It is almost as if the Iron Curtain would fall again on the east side of Germany. As for the Ukraine, the United States would agree not to invite them (and others) to join NATO and cease supplying them with weapons to defend themselves. All of these proposals, Washington has said, are nonstarters. Now it may be that Putin, having demanded an international conference, can claim some measure of success to showcase in Moscow. Certainly, it would be in everyones interest to provide him some appearance of accomplishment without being blackmailed into a treaty that undercuts our military position and credibility with our foreign allies. I was going to write the possible consequences if diplomacy fails. If the talks are not successful, then Putin invading the Ukraine and economic sanctions being imposed upon Moscow are all possible within the foreseeable future. It is what comes after that scenario that can cause sleepless nights. But maybe the best lesson to take from this situation is to realize that foreign affairs requires both foresight and hindsight. It is complicated and does not render itself to simple political slogans. We are fortunate to have people with the experience, depth, and the knowledge to steer our ship of state through troubled waters. Dave Nagle is a Waterloo attorney and former U.S. congressman. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln gave an address at the dedication of the Gettysburg battlefield in order to reframe the cause of the Civil War. Of course, we all know of the eloquent 272-word Gettysburg Address that deserves its place as perhaps the most inspirational call to unite under a national purpose ever conceived. He began Four score and seven years ago to denote the 87 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That was deliberate because it was the Declaration, not our Constitution, that stated all men are created equal. The Constitution, in fact, protected slavery with the notorious three-fifths compromise which counted three fifths of each states slave population. Even though slaves could not vote, this gave Southern states a third more representatives and electoral votes. In only 10 sentences Lincoln turned the cause of the Civil War from preserving the Union toward the social justice this nation was predicated upon. He called this a new birth of freedom and gave the Union the cause of Americas greatest promise. Today we are engaged in a new civil war. Not of American soldier against American soldier on bloody battlefields, but a war on civility where we are entrenched in the warfare of words used to bloody the very nature of our being. An ideological civil war where a confederacy of populists have seceded from reason and have challenged a union of social reforms they see as inflexible and contrary to their world view. This war uses the internet as a cannon, the media as a long rifle and rhetoric as sabers to humiliate and annihilate our commonalities. We have seen what an angry mob of privileged citizens from this war will do. With claims of disenfranchisement and fueled by false information, an insurrection was mounted against the very principles that Lincoln phrased to unite us with a moral cause. This uprising was not an anomaly to be filed away as only a footnote in our history. It was the inevitable result of a loss of moral justice and forgetting what men and women had died for to preserve. As Lincoln stood on consecrated ground to honor those who fought bravely for a government of the people, by the people and for the people so that it would not perish from this earth, we must in this century remember our purpose just the same. We must again find the self-evident truths from our founding decree that all (people) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The civil war we are facing is tearing us apart again. And the best of America can perish unless we become inspired to fulfill our founding promise: to live together as a nation dedicated to the unalienable rights that belong to us all. With every holiday season there is the hope that we can do better and that we will redress those parts of our lives where weve led ourselves astray. Could this be the year we rededicate ourselves to social justice? Seven score and 18 years after Lincolns Gettysburg Address? Gary Kroeger is a former local business owner and advertising executive in Cedar Falls. In 2019, one world leader could have assumed he could attack with impunity from all recourse or repercussions, a friend, an enemy and the world. President Joseph Biden, my underlying premise is that COVID-19 pandemic was not a naturally developed or accidentally released virus. You need to establish a committee led by Vice President Kamala Harris and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to inquire and investigate whether COVID-19 was an intentional attack on the world by one in hopes of conquering and destroying for global domination. Its no coincidence that the virus was started in China. Only one power, Chinas ally, had privileged and almost unrestricted access to information and logistics to operate within China. One world leader had former President Trumps loyalty, where he would attack his staff and others within the U.S. government to defend this other leader, the United States' enemy. Mr. President please contact Chinese President Xi Jinping, requesting he form a complimentary/unilateral new committee with an identical mission as the Harris/Milley Committee. Hopefully, it would include Chinas counterparts to the U.S. committees leaders: Premier Li Keqiang and Peoples Liberation Army General China Li Zuocheng. Vernon Weems, Waterloo Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Russia has started the ground work for another pipeline to China through Mongolia.it was kicked started officially when Putin and Xi just met recently The project of cross-border pipeline construction over the territory of Mongolia from Russia to China is considered in practice. The work is in progress and it is progressing successfully, Putin said. This gas pipeline can be the extension of the Russias Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, the head of state said. Source: Feasibility study for pipeline to China via Mongolia to be ready in coming weeks Putin Business & Economy TASS Yes, The Power of Siberia 2 It is my understanding that the gas fields are the same ones that supply the NORD Stream 2. Oops, Europe! Better get it while you can? China wants it Seems like Irony is at play here, if the EU gas ends up in China? Russia will make better and much more stable profits selling gas to China than to the EU Let the EU freeze and as I say, Look East Russia, look East! Mongolia says, Oh, those transit fees for Gas are sweet indeed! WtR Editors Note: Journal Investigative Reporter Mike Gallagher, a Brooklyn native and New Mexico transplant who graduated from the University of New Mexico and went on to have a reporting career that spanned four decades, reflects back on some of the stories, the people and the process as he prepares to retire Dec. 31. A reporter can fill up a lot of notebooks in more than 40 years of working in New Mexico. The earliest ones I can find are from the mid-1970s and have details of separate fatal car accidents on I-40 and South Broadway, where I jotted down notes at the scenes under streetlights. That was before crime scene tape was ubiquitous and when reporters could still get close to the carnage. While most of my notes over the years went into Journal storage and then to the recycle can, I saved the stories; they fill plastic storage bins in a closet at home and Ive been sifting through them recently as I prepare to retire. As I leave, Ive been asked to pass along a few memories and observations. But I also want to thank more people than I can or should name. Many of them never wanted their names in the newspaper and still dont. Some held high positions in government and industry. Some wore badges, while others spent their lives in and out of jail and prison. Some pushed pencils. You know who you are, so I will keep my pledge to each of you to keep your name out of print and your identity as my source protected. * * * From the time I started work as a student intern in September 1975, the Journal, from my perspective, had the right values. In an era of corporations scooping up print and broadcast news outlets, Ive felt privileged to work at a family-owned newspaper and thank the late Tom Lang and his brother, Bill Lang, for the opportunity. Thanks to a lot of good work by Journal reporters, I believe we have made a difference. State and local governments are far more transparent than they were in 1975. My editors over the years Bob Brown, Jerry Crawford, Kent Walz and Karen Moses insisted on accuracy and fairness. They wanted stories that took readers deep into the issues the state and local community faced. In my experience, there were no sacred cows. If the facts supported a story, the story ran in the newspaper. It didnt matter if it upset the mayor, the governor or anyone else. The government watchdog role is real. The Journals reporting in the 1970s helped lead to the creation of the Metropolitan Court and the Juvenile Court system in the Second Judicial District. More recently, the Journals reporting resulted in the overhaul that is still going on right now in how judges are expected to oversee guardianship cases, and families have more rights and protections. The list goes on. Journal stories were cited by the federal judge in changes ordered in the state hospital in Los Lunas. Journal reporting on conditions in local jails and the state prison system led to court-ordered changes. The way the state invests its billions of dollars in its permanent funds was overhauled in part because of the Journals investigation of the State Investment Council. Journal reporting took readers deep into the Metropolitan Courthouse construction scandal that resulted in criminal charges and prison time for some key players. Former Albuquerque Mayor Ken Schultz pleaded guilty and got probation. Court Administrator Toby Martinez pleaded guilty and went to jail. Former Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, one of the most powerful men in New Mexico, went to federal prison. It would take a book, or maybe three, to recount the political corruption Journal reporters have dug up and covered over the past 45 years. * * * But, back to my story. I left the Journal in the summer of 1980 to freelance and then went to work at KGGM-TV. I didnt really like working in television news and was leaving in the spring of 1984 when Tom Lang asked me to work on a libel lawsuit with attorneys Bill Dixon and Nick Akerman for what turned into a two-year graduate course in defamation and First Amendment law. In the spring of 1986, the lawsuit was being dismissed and I transferred to the newsroom as an investigative reporter. Over time, Ive had the privilege of working with fellow investigative reporters Dick Lyneis, Art Geiselman, Thom Cole and Colleen Heild. They were all great reporters and I learned a lot from each of them. I was given great assignments digging into the state Investment Council scandal, reporting on the Russian financial crisis from Moscow, investigating President Bill Clintons relationship with Angel Fire resort owner Dan Lassiter, tracking the rise of the Mexican drug cartels, and covering the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Any one of those stories could have crowned a reporters career. * * * First day On my first day as an intern in 1975, the Journal was in the middle of reporting on the problems with the wrongful conviction of four members of the Vagos Motorcycle gang for the murder of William Velten. Meanwhile, City Editor Fritz Thompson was editing the first draft of a lengthy Sunday story on problems with nuclear waste disposal at Los Alamos National Laboratory. My appearance at the Journal surprised Fritz, and he didnt know what to do with me, so he handed me off to the late Bern Gantner, the State Editor, who had me take dictation from stringers in Roswell, Farmington, Las Cruces and Hobbs. I got to use an electric typewriter for the first time and thought I was in heaven even though I dont recall anything about the stories I took over the phone. In the world before fax machines, cellphones, computers, the internet and, of course, texting and e-mail, this was how reporters in far-flung parts of the state got their news to the Journal. I had wanted to be a newspaper reporter since I was 7 or 8 years old, sitting on the stoop outside our house on summer nights in Brooklyn listening to the neighbors, who were press operators and worked in the back shops of the New York newspapers the Times, the Herald, Journal American, Daily News, Daily Mirror and the Post. They talked about the news and what stories were coming in the next days papers. They also argued about who the best reporters and writers were. I drank it all up while they drank beer with my father. In high school, our teachers introduced us to some of the big names in New York journalism circles, including Pete Hamill, Jimmy Breslin and Gay Talese. Responding to one of my questions about reporting, Hamill gave me a piece of advice I always tried to follow: Always talk to the people who do the work. In the spring of 1976, I became the Journals paid summer intern covering the police beat and filling in for reporters who were on vacation, and then a part-time staffer covering weekend cops. In late August of that year, the newspapers reporter covering District Court went on vacation and never came back. I was asked to fill in for him until was hired full time the day I graduated from UNM in December 1976. I was assigned to the police beat. Early work Stories such as the Vagos Motorcycle gang members being freed from death row and the Journals coverage of the nuclear waste issue are well known. But there were other stories, less well-remembered, in which the Journals news coverage made major changes in the way the state does business. Two of those involve the state courts. One of my earliest assignments as an intern was to help Janelle Stamper, who covered county government, audit DWI cases at the old Albuquerque City Court. The Journal had done this for years, finding loads of problems. It was dull work. We basically created spreadsheets by hand, counted DWI tickets and then tracked each ticket through the court system, which was not computerized. We recorded the results of each case guilty or not guilty pleas, noting whether the officer showed up in court, how many delays city judges granted and what sentences were handed down. Each year, there were dozens of cases that simply disappeared. What happened to those cases remained a mystery, the Journal noted in its stories until APD detectives served a search warrant and found tickets that had simply been put in a judges desk drawer. Some of those tickets, especially those issued to friends and political supporters, had been taken care of the old-fashioned way and ended up in the desk drawer. It wasnt just DWI. More than 60,000 parking ticket warrants, issued to scofflaws, had to be dismissed because the court had no way of canceling the warrants once they were paid. The resulting scandal gave impetus to combine the city court with the magistrate court into the Metropolitan Court. Another story lost in time involved the countys juvenile detention center. There was a disturbance in the girls wing of the lockup that we covered, but then-editor Jerry Crawford wanted us to dig deeper. Technically still a part-time employee, I got the assignment. After several initial stories about the disturbance, we wrote a three-part series that revealed the juvenile detention center had been repeatedly condemned for fire and safety code violations. The wiring throughout the building was substandard and unsafe. Each cell door required a separate key. The plumbing was broken. Toilets backed up into the showers. We found many other problems that led to a series of editorials. City Editor Thompson guided me every step of the way, from reporting through writing. Crawford and Managing Editor Frankie McCarty went over the stories with a fine-toothed comb. In the end, a new D-Home was built, the Childrens Code was overhauled and the Legislature agreed to create a full-time juvenile judge. The Journal wasnt alone in pushing for reform; the New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency played a big role, as did legislators and Alice King, but everyone involved credited the newspaper for moving the reforms forward. I was hired full-time a month after the series ran. Follow the money It was a long road from looking at county gravel contracts with Janelle Stamper in Bernalillo County and Tomas Martinez in Valencia County to investigating corruption of the multi-billion-dollar state permanent fund. But the newspapers role was the same: protecting the public interest. The way reporters do that is learning how government works knowing how bids work, how the bills are paid and what rules govern government expenditures. My role in the gravel contract stories was as small as the bribes paid to get the contracts paving a driveway or a few thousand dollars changing hands. Janelle and Tomas also taught me the basics of government procurement and how some government officials tried to evade the rules to line their own pockets. So, looking at gravel contracts led to looking at government bond transactions by county treasurers and then (with Thom Cole) bond transactions by then-state Treasurer Michael Montoya. That led (with Colleen Heild) to looking at how state Insurance Superintendent Eric Sernas office got donations for Sernas Con Alma foundation from insurance companies he regulated. We werent finished with that story when we started looking into how a financial firm called CDR got a contract with the state to handle money from GRIP (Governor Richardsons Improvement Program) bond sales in a questionable procurement process that in some ways was less sophisticated than the county commissioners used on gravel bids 30 years earlier. CDR had been a big contributor to one of Richardsons political action committees at the time it sought the contract, and the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico said in a 2009 letter that the Governors Office had exerted pressure, resulting in the corruption of the procurement process. No criminal charges were ever filed, but the scandal cost Richardson a chance to serve in President Obamas Cabinet. Investment Council Editor Kent Walz called me into his office one day and asked me to look at a Wall Street Journal article about bribes being paid by financial firms to do business with the New York Pension Fund. He thought we should check to see if any of the people involved in the New York scandal were involved in New Mexico. As it turned out, many of the players there also were doing business with the State Investment Council and Educational Retirement Board in New Mexico. At the heart of the New Mexico scandal were Anthony and Marc Correra, the father and son from New York who, in essence, controlled which financial firms received investments from the SIC and ERB. Court records and other documents outline how they exercised this control through Gary Bland, their hand-picked State Investment Officer, and a company called Aldus Equity, which was a key adviser to the Investment Council. Reporting revealed that Anthony Correra was a close adviser to Bill Richardson and used that relationship to gain the authority to have his son Marc receive or share in more than $22 million in finders fees for state investments. For the next 10 years, despite other assignments, I found myself writing continuing updates on the scandal. New Mexico taxpayers lost well over $100 million in ill-advised, politically motivated investments. Some of that money has been recovered through a series of lawsuits by the reconstituted state Investment Council. Marc Correra filed for bankruptcy and moved to Paris. No criminal charges were filed but thats not our job. Our job is to report the facts. Corruption is corruption, whether big or small. The county commissioners who accepted kickbacks for gravel contracts were not nearly as ambitious as some of our more recent cases, ranging from state investments to allegations of wrongdoing at Albuquerque Public Schools. Most recently, I wrote most of the stories on House Majority leader Sheryl Stapleton, D-Albuquerque, being charged with stealing almost a million dollars from contracts meant to help APS students in the districts vocational education programs. It is a sweeping fraud, money-laundering and racketeering case. And it will be someone elses job to report on how that case turns out. Moscow I was sent to Moscow in 1998 because publisher Tom Lang, a pilot himself, had been working on a deal to market Russian-made high-performance aerobatic airplanes in the United States. His experience there convinced him we needed to write about the Russian fiscal crisis and its global impact. It was a great assignment and, as with any great assignment, a reporter feels pressure to come back with the story. But, as photographer Richard Pipes and I traveled to Moscow, our ability to do that was very much in doubt. Russian officials were canceling appointments that had been set up weeks earlier. They were leaving Moscow for financial capitals around the world, trying to shore up the countrys economy. I gave Richard the bad news when we landed: All but one of our interviews had been canceled. That interview, with the Deputy Secretary of MinAtom, the Russian atomic ministry, had been set up by then-Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. Richard and I had worked together at the Journal from 1975 through 1980. And that relationship resumed when I returned to the newsroom in 1986. Despite the difference in our ages Richard started his professional career the year after I was born we were good friends, and we always came back with a story. It might not be the exact story we planned, but it was usually a good one. So, we got to work and, through a fellow who knew Tom Lang, we started interviewing Russian businessmen. The interviews were arranged based on I know a guy who knows a guy who can set up an interview with a guy buying American chickens for the Russian market. We met American businessmen who whispered stories about negotiating deals with Russian businessmen who were being replaced by organized crime members with no necks and leather jackets. Our interpreter, Nastya Morovia, and our driver, Shamiel, introduced us to everyday folks in Russia at a local school, a market, a university, a hair salon, plus a doctor and a poet/publisher. It was chaos. We interviewed people at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., traffic was insane and not everyone was happy to meet an American. And the entire time, Richard and I were jet lagged, falling asleep in Shamiels car as he worked his way through traffic from one side of Moscow to the other. But, every morning at breakfast, Richard would say, I cant believe were in Moscow. I couldnt either. The stories and photographs must have been good enough. The paper republished them in booklet form. 9/11 Pipes and I were sent to New York twice after the terrorist attacks brought down the World Trade Center towers. We made the first trip a week after the attacks. Tom Lang flew us and some rescue workers in his jet at a time when very few other planes were in the air. Lang went directly to the pile and worked with the rescue crews recovering bodies. Pipes and I went to a hotel at Times Square to figure out what we were going to do. Leslie Linthicum was the first Journal reporter to reach what was called Ground Zero in the chaotic days right after the attacks. We knew we were not going to match her incredible story a portrait in words of the horror and death. But things fell into place once we visited a FDNY station and, by accident, ran into some kids from the Juilliard School who were going to fire stations to sing to firefighters grieving their lost friends and coworkers. We focused on people coming to grips with what happened. It was a hard story to write, but it came together. When we returned to New York in October, I followed Pete Hamills advice from years earlier and wrote about the people doing the work the Port Authority workers, the electricians and communications workers trying to restore phone and electrical services to lower Manhattan, the bagpipe players who played at funerals around the city and the Red Cross workers. As always, Pipes photographs made my stories 100% better. Organized crime threat changed In the 1970s and early 1980s, the organized crime threat came in the guise of the traditional Italian Mafia families. As those organizations lost their nationwide influence, the threat posed by Mexican drug cartels increased. And while the traditional mafiosos sought to infiltrate the financial, liquor and gambling industries, they did so with political influence and money, not machine guns. The Mexican cartels targeted the same types of businesses to launder their drug money. But the violence that accompanied the cartels and their partnerships with local street gangs was something we had never seen. I started writing about such Mexican gang leaders as Pablo Acosta and the rise of his protege, Amado Carillo Fuentes, before he became internationally known as the founder of the Juarez Cartel. I also reported on cartel links to such local street gangs as Los Padillas, while many in law enforcement initially downplayed the threat posed by those partnerships. Prison gangs have also been a disruptive force in our communities. In 1986 and 1987, I wrote about how the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico gang had become a serious problem in the state prison system, and was attempting to exert influence on the streets of cities and towns around the state. SNM, as it is known, was brought up in numerous stories about the prison system over the decades. Finally, in 2015, the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office began racketeering investigations into the gang. Those investigations and prosecutions continued through this year, with the Journals Colleen Heild providing the bulk of the news coverage. As someone who grew up in a city where the cost of organized crime was everywhere from the price of concrete to how much Mom paid for chicken at the grocery store I cant think of a more important role for a newspaper to play than exposing the influence of organized crime. Goodbye I would be remiss if I didnt thank you, the readers, who have called me out on mistakes I made over the years, the editors and copy editors who tried to keep those mistakes from getting into the paper and the people who delivered the paper to your doorstep. Newspapers are a communal activity; it takes a lot of people to get the story to you. When I first started working at the University of New Mexico Daily Lobo, we used to type 30 to indicate the end of a story. It was an old newspaper tradition; I dont know why it started but we havent done it at the Journal for ages. I think Ill use it today. 30 A social justice action group and a book club exploring those issues have sprung up from a months-long community reading program offered earlier this year by the library in Placitas. Starting in May of 2021, the Placitas Community Library hosted the Placitas Reads community-wide program Color, Class, and Caste: The Other Social Distancing. Participants met once a month to have conversations about the themes and topics raised in the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Starting at the beginning of the year, the library will host two groups a social justice book group and an action-oriented group called SULTA (Show Up, Learn, Take Action) that came out of feedback from the recent series. Wilkersons book explores what she calls the caste system in America that still defines the country today. The caste system, she asserts, is a rigid hierarchy that ranks people, giving some power and others none. Placitas resident Anne Frost will coordinate the book club, which will meet the first Friday of every month at 10 a.m. The first meeting is Jan. 7. Frost said participants in the community-wide reading program wanted an opportunity to continue discussing what they had learned after reading the book. People from the dominant group, mainly white people in the group, felt like we were just starting to learn, she said. We had just begun to understand and explore. Attendees will decide together which books the group should read, Frost said. Community volunteer Osa Arkin will run the SULTA group and it will meet twice a month on the first Tuesday at 2 p.m. and third Saturday at 10 a.m. The first meeting will be Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. Arkin said the group will use a variety of web-based sources to study a particular issue through a social justice lens. She will use the Anti-Racism Daily website (the-ard.com) as a guideline for her approach. She said Wilkersons book allowed people to see the world in a new way and they are eager to make a difference. Arkin said the goal is to spread awareness and explore ways to take action. The main goal of the group is to build knowledge on issues that resonate with participants and increase their capacity to be an advocate for those issues within their social circles, Arkin said. The group will also explore actions individuals might take, beyond signing a petition. We cant wait for the government to come up with solutions. Meeting times may be adjusted to meet the needs of each group. Email Frost at annegrey3@gmail.com and Arkin at osaearkin@gmail.com for more information and to get on the mailing lists. The meetings will take place at Placitas Community Library, 453 N.M. 165. Visit placitaslibrary.com or call 505-867-3355 for more information. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Deputies arrested a man who witnesses say was speeding around 100 mph and swerving across lanes on Interstate 40 before crashing into an SUV and killing a motorist west of Tijeras in early October. Brett Nelson, 30, is charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer in the Oct. 7 crash that left Patrick Mullane dead. Nelson was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday. It is unclear if he has an attorney. According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Metropolitan Court: Deputies responded around 2 p.m. to the two-vehicle crash on westbound I-40 near mile marker 172. They found a car had crashed into Mullanes Jeep Wrangler, causing it to roll, and that both drivers had been taken to the hospital. Witnesses told police Nelson had been driving 100 mph and swerving from lane to lane before crashing into the back of Mullanes Jeep. Witnesses said Nelson was acting nuts after the crash and tried to run up the mountain before crossing the freeway. At the hospital, Nelson told deputies he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and had been off his medication for three days. He said he felt he was having withdrawals from the medication and was aware that he crashed due to him driving at a high rate of speed. Deputies learned Mullane had suffered serious injuries and was taken off life support early on Oct. 8. DALLAS The wife of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested Christmas Eve on a domestic violence charge that the right-wing provocateur said stems from a medication imbalance. Sheriffs deputies took Erika Wulff Jones into custody and booked her into an Austin jail around 8:45 p.m. Friday. Jail records show the 43-year-old faces misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and resisting arrest, search or transport. She had not received a bond Saturday afternoon. Alex Jones, an Austin resident and founder of the right-wing media group Infowars, declined Saturday to say whether hed been injured or elaborate on what happened beyond that he believes it was related to his wifes recent change of medication. Its a private family matter that happened on Christmas Eve, Jones told The Associated Press in a brief interview. I love my wife and care about her and it appears to be some kind of medication imbalance. The Travis County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request Christmas Day for the report on Wulff Jones arrest and a spokeswoman said she could not provide more information. An attorney for Wulff Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones sued this week seeking to block subpoenas hed been issued by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Jones spoke at a rally in support of then-President Donald Trump that proceeded the riot and his Infowars colleague, Owen Shroyer, was charged with crimes related to it in August. Shroyer has said hes innocent of the charges. Jones said his wifes arrest doesnt concern my politics and that it wasnt some kind of personal hateful thing or anything. WASHINGTON Mitch McConnell is done with subtleties. The Senate Republican leader is putting his partys courtship of Joe Manchin on full public display after the West Virginia Democrats fractious split with the White House over the presidents big social and environmental spending package. McConnell says Manchin feels like a man alone and if he were to switch parties, he would be joining a lot of folks who have similar views on a whole range of issues. Whether Manchin is open to McConnells appeal he has consistently said he still sees himself as a Democrat is uncertain. But it is clear that if he were to switch it would fundamentally alter the balance of power in Washington as well as seriously threaten Joe Bidens legislative prospects for the rest of his presidency. McConnell dangled the prospect of Manchin retaining his prized Energy Committee chairmanship during an interview Wednesday and played up the West Virginians growing distance from Democrats in his opposition to Bidens package. A flip by Manchin would give Republicans control of the Senate and effectively end any chance of Democrats being able to get legislation or nominations through on party-line votes. The rift escalated after Manchin said over the weekend that he couldnt vote for the social spending package that Democrats have pitched as their top domestic priority going into next years elections. I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just cant. Ive tried everything humanly possible. I cant get there, Manchin told Fox News Sunday. That prompted a sharply worded response from White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who said Manchin had in person given Biden a written proposal that was the same size and scope as a framework for the bill that Democrats rallied behind in October and that he had agreed to continue talks. We will continue to press him to see if he will reverse his position yet again, to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word, Psaki said. The White House had basically called Manchin a liar, McConnell said in a radio appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show. It was astonishing. Usually when youve got a member who is a little bit out of sync with everybody else, you give them a lot of love. They did exactly the opposite, McConnell said. He said hes had conversations over the years with Manchin about his party affiliation. If he were to join us, he would be joining a lot of folks who have similar views on a whole range of issues. One big obstacle to a party switch would be Manchins vote in February in favor of the impeachment of former President Donald Trump for his actions during the violent insurrection at the Capitol. West Virginia voted for Trump by more than 2-to-1, and Trump has called for defeating Republicans who voted for impeachment. But Manchin, the only Democrat in his states congressional delegation, is popular back home. He was twice elected governor before his election to the Senate in 2010. Hell be up for re-election in 2024 should he decide to seek another term. West Virginia is still coal country, and Democrat Manchin is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. If he were to switch parties, McConnell and the Republicans could choose a new chairman. Thats something we have talked to him about, McConnell said. Obviously, Im sure he enjoyed being a chair of the committee. Its important to West Virginia, and all of those things are things we have discussed. McConnell also addressed questions about Manchin in an interview late Wednesday on Fox News, saying he admired Manchins stand on the social spending package. I think they will keep coming back to him. Ive suggested a good solution to his problem would be to come across the aisle and join us where he would be treated with respect, McConnell said. Manchin has long faced questions about his place in the Democratic Party, and the talk took on fresh urgency in October when a Mother Jones article said he had been telling associates he was seriously considering leaving the party. But six days after the article was published, while sitting down with the Economic Club in Washington, Manchin rejected the reports, saying I dont think the Rs would be any happier with me than Ds are right now. He added, So I dont know where in the hell I belong. The question has been posed to him repeatedly in the past few weeks, coming to a breaking point Monday morning, hours after he had publicly voiced his opposition to Bidens bill. I would like to hope that there are still Democrats that feel like I do, he said. Im fiscally responsible and socially compassionate. Now, if theres no Democrats like that, then they have to push me wherever they want. Party switching in the Senate is rare but has been consequential. Republicans lost control of the Senate two decades ago when James Jeffords of Vermont quit the party to become an independent. Jeffords, upset with President George W. Bushs opposition to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, declared in May of 2001 that he would leave and caucus with the Democrats. McConnell said Jeffords had become very uncomfortable on our side. He said Republican lawmakers courted him because we were always fearful he would do exactly what he ended up doing. So, no, I mean, we certainly didnt do anything like the White House did to Joe Manchin the other day. While all this swirls, Biden is making clear that he believes he can still reach an agreement with the West Virginian on a social spending package. Senator Manchin and I are going to get something done, Biden declared at the White House on Tuesday. Click here for updates on this story PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (KDKA) -- Its a Christmas one family will never forget, even 50 years later. On Dec. 25, 1971, the Voshell family decided to fly their single-engine Beechcraft Musketeer to Connellsville, PA from their home in Dover, Delaware to visit family. The pilot and owner of the plane, Willis Voshell, and two daughters, Jeri Spiker and Velvet Siegal loaded up Christmas afternoon, along with Jeris then-boyfriend, Warren Spiker who was in the Air Force. I was supposed to work that day. So, I went into work and at about noon my boss told me that because it was so slow that I got the rest of the day off, Warren Spiker said. So, I went out to visit my girlfriend and while I was there, her dad said, Hey, you want me to fly you back to see your folks and I said sure. After a short visit, around 8 p.m., the family headed back to Connellsville to fly back home. We needed fuel but since it was Christmas night, everybody had already got home and the fuel pit was closed, Spiker said. Dad was like, its no big deal. There was another airport, but not far away from takeoff. So, he said wed go there, get fuel and then head home, Velvet said. Velvet was 10 years old at the time and loved flying with her dad. Jeri was a senior in high school, looking forward to graduation. My dad was loved flying. He had a hobby of flying his private plane, Jeri said. The family said Willis planned to go to an airport in Morgantown to fuel up the plane, which should have been a 15-minute flight. We soon realized that somethings wrong and he (Willis) thought, Im just not seeing the runway or you know because he started talking to the person at the airport. And I dont know, I guess the air traffic controllers were convinced that we were near them, and they told us to stay on the same course that we were almost there, Velvet said. They kept saying that we should see runway lights and we were not seeing them and not seeing them, Jeri said. The family didnt realize they were actually headed toward Washington County but knew they were going to run out of gas. He was telling him how long and how much time he had left and as it (gas gauge) got lower and lower, you know, we realize its gonna be a problem, but I mean, I was 10, so in my mind, I didnt panic. It was my dad. He was gonna take care of us. It was the faith of a child, Velvet said. Velvet said her dad reported to air traffic control the plane was out of gas and that they would have to land it. So, were looking at the highway and then all of a sudden he saw the parking lot and he said, Okay, better yet, Velvet said. The family had spotted the Donaldson Crossroads parking lot which had been empty at the time with no cars in the parking lot because it was Christmas. The parking lot was lined with light poles that were lit up, making a makeshift runway for their landing. Thats when they said they ran out of gas. I was calling up mayday, mayday and giving the plane number and saying we are going down. Were going down. Mayday, mayday, Warren said. All of the sudden, it clicked. Im like, mayday?! Dad said Mayday! That means were going down! Velvet said. As we came into make our landing, there was one light pole at the end that was not lit, Jeri said. That caught our right wing and just totaled the plane. It kind of flip us over and totaled the plane. THE RESPONSE On duty that night was Officer Scott Patton, a part-time Peters Township police officer. He said he was the only officer on duty that night due to it being the holiday. Dispatch called me. I was traveling north on route 19 almost in the Upper St. Clair when I got the call from headquarters. The quote from headquarters was, There has been an accident with a small aeroplane in the parking lot behind Vittes Hardware. Check it out, Patton said. Patton said at first, he assumed it had to have been a small child playing with a new toy, an airplane on the end of a wire. He said it wasnt until dispatch called again, that he realized it was an actual plane that had crashed. She means a plane crash! Why didnt she say a plane crashed? I put the pedal to the metal I put the sirens on and all of a sudden, my brain is processing what am I going to see now? Patton said. When he first arrived on the scene, he said he didnt see any fire or debris. He said it wasnt until he turned into Vittes Hardware that he saw a plane up on its nose with a wing worn off. THE CRASH Dad said brace yourselves. We were in the back and Jeri pushed my head down in her lap and covered me, Velvet said. And all of a sudden, we just boom. Jolted. It was like, what happened? After we finally stopped and she (Velvet) sat up, we both looked at each other because my dad and Warren were in the front and they went forward and hit their heads, Jeri said. They just kind of slumped over and you know, blood was everywhere, and Velvet and I remember we looked at each other and we were like, are they dead? We just didnt know. They all survived. The family said Willis had kicked open the plane door and began getting everyone out. Warren had a head injury and ran to the road to get help. Thats when Jeri said, I think I hurt my back is broken, Velvet said. Patton said he arrived on the scene and helped them out of the plane and into an ambulance. 50 YEARS LATER This Christmas is 50 years since the crash happened. Patton said he decided to try to locate the family after someone on Facebook posted about the crash and if anyone remembered it. In November, Warren and Jeri Spiker flew into Pittsburgh International Airport to meet once again at the crash site. Velvet and her husband Andrew Siegel came in from Dover, Delaware. We exchanged greetings and hugs. Because even though weve not met each other in 50 years, we have this long-time connection, Patton said. Just remembering and bringing it all back to the front again. And I said it was a Christmas miracle the way that circumstances got them safely to the ground without divine intervention. It brings back a lot of good memories and a lot of bad memories. But its nice to get together and finally meet him under different circumstances, Warren said. The light pole that the family said they struck that night is still left as a stub in the ground at the Donaldson Crossroads. It surprises me that they have never replaced that, Warren said. The family said their lives changed forever after the crash. In the year after the crash, I decided that I was going to take my private pilots license so I wouldnt be at the mercy of anybody up there again, Warren said. I would be able to, you know, figure out whats going on, fly the plane and land the plane. The big change for my life? I never loved flying the way I did before. I mean, I loved it, Velvet said. Velvet said she did end up flying in her dads plane again to get over her fears. I went up a few more times but it just never came back. I was like, no, I know what can happen now, Velvet said. To this day, I have a really large lump in the middle of my back. Thats noticeable to feel. I havent had any trouble with it at all, Jeri said. Heres the biggest of the miracle. They showed me their family pictures. Goodness and shes right, I mean, all the kids and grandkids. Theyre beautiful people and thats the miracle of getting that plane down here on the ground, Patton said. Jeri and Warren got married a few years after the crash. They have two kids now and six grandchildren. Velvet and Andrew have five kids and seven grandchildren. Patton said for him, that Christmas day is one he will never forget. In my time as a police officer, I wrote many crime and accident reports too many to remember. But this onethe one about the Christmas miracle- this one I will never forget, Patton said. Jeri and Velvet said they had never lost faith in their father when the incident happened and believed that God would get them through it. My family is very a family of faith. Very simple faith though. So just the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord, you know? Its just sometimes things happen for the good. Sometimes bad things happen, but Gods always in control, Velvet said. I really have to believe that it was his hand that protected us and kept us safe, Jeri said. The family said Willis passed away in August 2001 from complications from a stroke that he had several years before. According to Connellsville Airport manager Bud Neckerauer, the fuel station is always open now, including on holidays. Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in his native South Africa, has died. He was 90. In a statement confirming his death on Sunday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to Tutu's family and friends, calling him "a patriot without equal." "A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world," Ramaphosa said. Tutu had been in ill health for years. In 2013, he underwent tests for a persistent infection, and he was admitted to hospital several times in following years. For six decades, Tutu -- known affectionately as "the Arch" -- was one of the primary voices in exhorting the South African government to end apartheid, the country's official policy of racial segregation. After apartheid ended in the early '90s and the long-imprisoned Nelson Mandela became president of the country, Tutu was named chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Nelson Mandela foundation called Tutu's loss "immeasurable." "He was larger than life, and for so many in South Africa and around the world his life has been a blessing," the foundation said in a statement. "His contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies." Tutu's civil and human rights work led to prominent honors from around the world. Former US President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Obama called Tutu a "mentor, a friend, and a moral compass" in a statement after his death. "Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries," said Obama. In 2012, Tutu was awarded a $1 million grant by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for "his lifelong commitment to speaking truth to power." The following year, he received the Templeton Prize for his "life-long work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness which has helped to liberate people around the world." Most notably, he received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, following in the footsteps of his countryman, Albert Lutuli, who received the prize in 1960. The Nobel cemented Tutu's status as an instrumental figure in South Africa, a position he gained in the wake of protests against apartheid. Despite anger about the policy within South Africa, as well as widespread global disapproval -- the country was banned from the Olympics from 1964 through 1988 -- the South African government quashed opposition, banning the African National Congress political party and imprisoning its leaders, including Mandela. It was up to the clergy to take the lead in speaking out, said Rev. Frank Chikane, the former head of the South African Council of Churches and a Tutu colleague. "We reached the stage where the church was a protector of the people, who was the voice for the people," Chikane told CNN. The current archbishop of Cape Town and metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Thabo Makgoba, said that the church will plan Tutu's funeral and memorial services. "Desmond Tutu's legacy is moral strength, moral courage and clarity," Makgoba said in a statement. "He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt people's pain. And he laughed -- no, not just laughed, he cackled with delight when he shared their joy." In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby issued statements praising Tutu for his sagacity and infectious positivity. "(He) will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humor," Johnson said. Welby called Tutu "a prophet and priest, a man of words and action -- one who embodied the hope and joy that were the foundations of his life." "Even in our profound sorrow we give thanks for a life so well lived," he said. The path was rocky In the 1950s, Tutu had resigned as a teacher in protest of government restrictions on education for Black children, the Bantu Education Act. He was ordained in 1960 and spent the '60s and early '70s alternating between London and South Africa. In 1975 he was appointed dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg and immediately used his new position to make political statements. "When we were appointed we said ... 'Well, we'll live in Soweto,' " he told the Academy of Achievement, referring to the black townships of Johannesburg. "And so that -- we begin always by making a political statement even without articulating it in words." It wasn't a plan, though from an early age he'd been inspired by Trevor Huddleston, a priest and early anti-apartheid activist who worked in a Johannesburg slum in the 1950s. By embarking on this path, he inspired thousands of his countrymen -- and more around the world. "Desmond Tutu had no reason to act as he did other than his profound sense of our shared humanity in working for a world in which justice and the wellbeing of all is an expression of his ethical leadership of compassion," wrote Episcopal priest Robert V. Taylor on CNN in 2011. Tutu believed he didn't have a choice, even if the path was rocky. "I really would get mad with God. I would say, 'I mean, how in the name of everything that is good can you allow this or that to happen?' " he told the Academy of Achievement. "But I didn't doubt that ultimately good, right, justice would prevail." Tumultuous times Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born October 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, a town in South Africa's Transvaal province. His father was a teacher and his mother was a domestic worker, and young Tutu had plans to become a doctor, partly thanks to a boyhood bout of tuberculosis, which put him in the hospital for more than a year. He even qualified for medical school, he said. But his parents couldn't afford the fees, so teaching beckoned. "The government was giving scholarships for people who wanted to become teachers," he told the Academy of Achievement. "I became a teacher and I haven't regretted that." However, he was horrified at the state of Black South African schools, and even more horrified when the Bantu Education Act was passed in 1953 that racially segregated the nation's education system. He resigned in protest. Not long after, the Bishop of Johannesburg agreed to accept him for the priesthood -- Tutu believed it was because he was a Black man with a university education, a rarity in the 1950s -- and took up his new vocation. The 1960s and 1970s were tumultuous times in South Africa. In March 1960, 69 people were killed in the Sharpeville Massacre, when South African police opened fire on a crowd of protesters. Lutuli, an ANC leader who preached non-violence, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later that year -- while banned from leaving the country. (The government finally let him go for a few days to accept his prize.) Mandela -- then a firebrand leading an armed wing of the ANC -- was arrested, tried and, in 1964, sentenced to life in prison. In the early '70s, the government forced millions of Black people to settle in what were called "homelands." Tutu spent many of these years in Great Britain, watching from afar, but finally returned for good in 1975, when he was appointed dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg. The next year he was consecrated Bishop of Lesotho. He gained renown for a May 1976 letter he wrote to the prime minister, warning of unrest. "The mood in the townships was frightening," he told the Academy of Achievement. A month later Soweto exploded in violence. More than 600 died in the uprising. A distinctive figure As the government became increasingly oppressive -- detaining Black people, establishing onerous laws -- Tutu became increasingly outspoken. "He was one of the most hated people, particularly by White South Africa, because of the stance he took," former Truth and Reconciliation Commission member Alex Boraine told CNN. Added Chikane, the South African Council of Churches colleague, "His moral authority (was) both his weapon and his shield, enabling him to confront his oppressors with a rare impunity." South Africa was becoming a pariah country. Demonstrators in the United States protested corporate investment in the nation and Congress backed up the stance with the 1987 Rangel Amendment. The United Nations established a cultural boycott. Popular songs, such as the Special AKA's "Free Nelson Mandela" and Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City," deplored the country's politics. With his scarlet vestments, Tutu cut a distinctive figure as he preached from the bully pulpit -- perhaps never more so than in his Nobel Prize speech in 1984. After reeling off the prejudices and inequalities of the apartheid system, Tutu summed up his thoughts. "In short," he said, "this land, richly endowed in so many ways, is sadly lacking in justice." There were more injustices to come: assassinations, allegations of hit squads, bombings. In 1988, two years after being named Archbishop of Cape Town, becoming the first Black man to head the Anglican Church in South Africa, Tutu was arrested while taking an anti-apartheid petition to South Africa's parliament. But the tide was turning. The next year, Tutu led a 20,000-person march in Cape Town. Also in 1989, a new president, F.W. de Klerk, started easing apartheid laws. Finally, on February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. De Klerk died last month. Four years later, in 1994, Mandela would be elected president. Tutu compared being allowed to vote for the first time to "falling in love" and said -- behind the birth of his first child -- introducing Mandela as the country's new president was the greatest moment of his life. "I actually said to God, I don't mind if I die now," he told CNN. Controversial stances Tutu's work was not done, however. In 1995 Mandela appointed him chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the human rights violations of the apartheid years. Tutu broke down at the TRC's first hearing in 1996. The TRC gave its report to the government in 1998. Tutu established the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust the same year. He returned to teaching, becoming a visiting professor at Emory University in Atlanta for two years and later lecturing at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He published a handful of books, including "No Future Without Forgiveness" (1999), "God Is Not a Christian" (2011), and a children's book, "Desmond and the Very Mean Word" (2012). He retired from public service in 2010 but remained unafraid to take controversial positions. He called for a boycott of Israel in 2014 aand said that former US President George W. Bush and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair should be "made to answer" at the International Criminal Court for their actions around the Iraq war. But he was also distinguished for his sense of humor, embodied in a distinctive, giggle-like laugh. While visiting "The Daily Show" in 2004, he broke up at Jon Stewart's jokes. And he poked fun at "On Being" interviewer Krista Tippett in 2014, chiding her for not offering him the dried mangos -- his favorite -- she'd brought along. Despite all the praise and fame, however, he told CNN he didn't feel like a "great man." "What is a great man?" he said. "I just know that I've had incredible, incredible opportunities. ... When you stand out in a crowd, it is always only because you are being carried on the shoulders of others." For all of his good works, he added, there may have been another reason he had so many followers. "They took me only because I have this large nose," he said. "And I have this easy name, Tutu." Tutu is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Nomalizo Leah Tutu, with whom he had four children, Trevor, Theresa, Naomi and Mpho. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. CHICO, Calif. An early morning business burglary was stopped by the Chico Police Department, who arrested two people after -responding to a security company report about some suspicious activity at the Pick-N-Pull Auto Dismantlers on the 300 block of E. Park Avenue. Police said the security company told them they could see people on their video surveillance going through vehicles inside the locked gates of the closed business. Sign at Pick N Pull Sign at Pick N Pull Pick N Pull Pick N Pull Officers responded to the location on E. Park Ave. at approximately 5 a.m. and went inside the business office. They said they began to search there, quickly discovered one suspect, who ran. A perimeter was established and two men were eventually located and arrested. Both were taken into custody without incident and were taken to the Butte County Jail. The names of the two men are William Battinich and Ian Mickey. Battinich was charged with trespassing and prowling. Mickey received the same charges but additionally was arrested for possession of stolen property and for violating his terms of probation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani once again signaled his governments readiness for full compliance with the multilateral Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). But such a development, according to Rouhani, will take place after the incoming administration of US President-elect Joe Biden reinstates Washingtons membership in the deal, from which President Donald Trump withdrew in May 2018. All it takes is a signature [from Biden], and in no time we will all be back at where we used to be, Rouhani said, attacking Trump, the uneducated, business-minded man, who drew scrambled lines [his signature] on the paper before pulling Washington out of the JCPOA. In May 2019, Iran began reducing commitments under the JCPOA, a decision it said was meant to push the European signatories into providing Tehran with the accords economic benefits, which were missing after the US withdrawal. But the Trump administrations pullout was also coupled with its maximum pressure policy that continues to squeeze the Iranian economy. The Rouhani government is counting the days with hopes of rapprochement with the incoming Democratic leader for the Oval Office. We should make use of the new opportunity for diplomacy, Rouhani added in his address to the Cabinet on Dec. 9. Such a goal, he argued, will be achieved with unity among political factions. Given the ongoing heightening tensions between the Rouhani government and the hard-line parliament, however, such unity seems far-fetched. The two sides are embroiled in an intense tug of war, which has laid bare their deepest rifts in the public sphere. Last week, Iranian lawmakers passed legislation that calls for the Rouhani government to make significant breaches of the nuclear deal, including enriching uranium to 20% uranium, which could shatter the very foundations of the accord; Iran had agreed to keep enrichment at 3.67%. While the legislation has been finalized, it does hang in the balance as the Rouhani government continues to express stiff resistance, fearing the measure could destroy prospects of any negotiations with the Western signatories. In his speech, Rouhani appeared confident about a resumption of Irans oil exports that have dwindled enormously under the maximum pressure campaign. An updated report by the Iranian parliaments research center says the countrys oil revenue slumped by 60% between March 2018 and March 2019. And according to Reuters estimates, Irans oil production temporarily dropped to as low as 100,000 barrels per day in May, marking the sharpest nosedive from the regular 2.5 million barrels per day Iran enjoyed before Trumps JCPOA departure. Looking forward to the post-Trump era, Rouhani said, Let the world receive this message clearly that the situation for Iranian oil production and sales will be different from what it was two years ago. The Iranian president said Tehran will be able to produce and sell 2.3 million barrels per day as of the next Iranian year (starting March 21, 2021). EDMOND Paul Blair says he doesnt have a stance on whether his congregation should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The 58-year-old cancer survivor is convinced he doesnt need the shot. And he tells members of Fairview Baptist Church that its up to them to decide if they need it. But when Blair, a former Oklahoma State and Chicago Bears offensive lineman and two-time unsuccessful Republican legislative candidate, stands in the pulpit on Sunday mornings, he leans into what he really thinks about the virus that has killed about 14,000 Oklahomans and 750,000 Americans. On several occasions, Blair has said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious-disease expert, should be jailed or end up in hell. He has raised unfounded and disproven conspiracy theories, including one that the virus was man made and Bill Gates and other billionaires are using the virus as a population-control device. He has even suggested that the worldwide vaccine push is a precursor to the apocalyptic mark of the beast mentioned in the book of Revelation. Most of what weve seen these past two years has been intended to scare us into sacrificing our freedom, Blair said during a sermon this month. And what weve been told is not true. We know this virus was man-made and if they made this one, they can make the next one. As concerns about the Omicron variant have fueled a renewed push by health experts to encourage vaccinations or boosters, the role that religion and church leaders have on vaccine acceptance has been put in the spotlight. Numerous studies have found that white evangelical Protestants, more than any other religious or demographic group, have resisted the vaccine. And in Oklahoma, home to one of the countrys largest evangelical populations per capita and one of the nations lowest vaccination rates, the issue is taking on increased relevance especially as Omicron cases have dramatically spiked across the country. Only 52.8% of Oklahomas population has been fully vaccinated, according to the Mayo Clinic. Thats the 13th lowest rate in the country and far below the states goal of reaching at least 70% of the population protected. In a country, and state, already divided over the politics of the vaccine and who should be required to receive it, faith-based groups are also split. And what religious leaders have to say, or not say, could help determine the trajectory of the virus. In the case of COVID vaccines, we know that doctors and medical professionals are of course the experts, said Natalie Jackson, director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute. But it bears out in the numbers that religious organizations and religious leaders are also in people's trust circle and there is considerable attention to what respected religious leaders say. Religious Groups Take Different Approaches to Vaccines While many churches have sponsored vaccine and testing drives or encouraged their congregation to get the shot, an Oklahoma Watch review of dozens of hours of publicly available sermons from a number of churches found some have directly or indirectly pushed misinformation, conspiracy theories and doubts about the vaccine. And an even larger group has largely stayed away from the topic altogether with seldom mentions of the pandemic or vaccines during church services. Jackson said her research shows that this follows what is going on across the nation. There are some religious leaders out there saying vaccination is a good thing, but there's also that very loud minority saying don't do it and the real big sector that is just not addressing it at all, she said. Views about the vaccine vary largely between religious groups and subgroups. A study from the Public Religion Research Institute in June found only 56% of evangelical protestants said they had gotten vaccinated against the coronavirus or would get the vaccine as soon as possible. Other white Christian groups were much more vaccine acceptant, including 74% of white mainline Protestants and 79% of white Catholics. Additionally, 75% of religiously unaffiliated Americans say they have gotten vaccinated or will get vaccinated as soon as possible. A follow-up study from the nonprofit research group released in September found a strong link between the urban-rural divide and vaccination rates (with more rural areas having lower vaccination rates). But it concluded that counties with greater shares of white evangelical Protestants have lower rates of vaccination. Meanwhile, it found counties with more religious diversity, a greater share of white Catholics or more religiously unaffiliated Americans an increasingly common group also referred to as the nones since they dont subscribe to any specific religious belief have seen higher vaccination rates. Heidi A. Campbell, a professor at Texas A&M University who studies media and religion, said vaccine hesitancy among evangelicals can be intertwined with politics, specifically the Republican Party. One of the key narratives within evangelicalism is that (they) are not of this world and are in this kind of war or battle, she said. Its about authority, its about control, its about loss of power. What Church Leaders are Saying in Oklahoma Among the churches where COVID-19 or vaccines is rarely discussed, at least during their weekly Sunday sermons, is Guts Church, one of the largest Christian congregations in Tulsa. Billed as a church for people who dont like church, Guts doesnt require a dress code, features lively music processions and was among the first churches that invited Gov. Kevin Stitt to speak after he took office in 2020. Pastors talk to me all the time about how are you navigating this, meaning how are you navigating the pandemic, its real easy, we dont talk about it, said Guts Church Pastor Bill Scheer during a sermon this spring. I think you have enough information on it and that you dont have to come here and get more information about the virus. He and others have preached a message advocating not worrying or fearing the disease something that stands in contrast to the repeated warning and calls to action from the medical community over the past two years. Look Im not making light of it, I get its a virus, Scheer said during a sermon in January. But there is no way mankind should be gripped with the fear it grips us with. Thats the question, is God the healer, is God the provider? If you are trusting anything other than him, its a lie. Its interesting, all we need is the presence of God. At Tulsa Victory Church, which drew scrutiny for hosting a large, indoor concert with little mask-wearing as COVID cases were spiking last fall, Pastor Paul Daugherty made light of the virus in recent months. After jokingly referring to the delta variant as the "American Airline variant" during a sermon in August, Daugherty acknowledged the virus is powerful. But without talking about specifics, he said many are overreacting to it. I think our world is bowing down to this virus with such a spirit of fear, Daugherty said. And I just want to dethrone it from our hearts and I want to dethrone every idol that has lifted itself up. Daugherty went on to say the church, rather than a vaccine itself, is the way. We have the real vaccine, we have what theyre looking for: We have the cure and its love, its the love of God, he said. At Tulsas Living Rivers Millennial Church, Pastor Paul Brady shared a similar message in July, just as the states COVID-19 cases began to rise again. Brady, who founded the church with his wife after moving from Northern Ireland, claims to have a strong apostolic and prophetic anointing, according to the churchs website. State Sen. Jake Merrick, R-Yukon, who has pushed for laws to ban abortion and block vaccine mandates, is a former pastor at the church. How many things can we get people to be afraid of, Brady asked during the July sermon. And its not just going to be just one vaccine, its going to be another vaccine and another vaccine and another vaccine and another vaccine. Brady went on to raise questions on the virus origins and even praised one member of his congregation for forgoing cancer treatment because they were going to put little chips in her body. And while not pointing to specific conspiracy theories, Brady like other pastors repeatedly said they are just raising questions. During one sermon, he was telling a story on how incredulous it is that there are vaccine stations in malls or at airports. Now it doesnt matter if you are for or against (vaccines), he said. But I can tell you somethings going on. What 'Jesus Would Be On Board With' But there have been very different messages shared with congregations such as Oklahoma Citys First Church of the Nazarene. The church, located just south of Lake Hefner, has hosted numerous vaccination drives and their leaders have put the importance of being vaccinated at the forefront of their message. We believe that God heals through science and that this is good science, said Rev. Aaron Bolerjack, the executive pastor for the church. Its not just protecting us as individuals, this is how we love our neighbors too during a pandemic. Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, said it can be difficult for church leaders to navigate the pandemic in a way that doesnt turn off a portion of their congregation. Still, church leaders need to be the moral lens of our society, she said, which to her means teaching a biblical message focused on caring for others. Its vital to remember that Jesus was all about protecting the vulnerable and making sure people are cared for with love and respect, she said. A lot of the arguments around the vaccine are centered around personal liberty issues, and I just dont think Jesus would be on board with that. Several local churches have also pushed the vaccine, particularly in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities that have historically not been as trusting of vaccines. Voice of Praise Baptist Church, located just east of the State Capitol, partnered with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department earlier this fall to host a COVID-19 vaccine event. Though Jackson, with Public Religion Research Institute, said experts are still studying the impact that religious leaders have on vaccine acceptance, there are signs some messages are working. The institute found many faith groups have become less hesitant over the past several months. This includes the percentage of Black Protestants saying they have or plan to get the vaccine increasing from 49% in March to 74% in November. Further complicating the issue has been the national debate over government and private businesses vaccine mandates. At the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the Catholic church has taken more of a middle ground. While it strongly has encouraged its congregation to get vaccinated, it has not pressured those who have moral objections since fetal cell lines cells grown in a laboratory based on aborted fetal cells collected generations ago were used in testing and production on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the manufacturing and production stages of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (but none of the vaccines contain any of the fetal cells). In a letter from Archbishop Paul S. Coakley to the congregation, he wrote that whatever the source of reluctance, the fact remains that a person may not act against their conscience. Coakley wrote that he still encourages vaccination and stated that the church is not anti-science. Weve tried to steer people toward reliable information and our bishop has been vaccinated, said Diane Clay, director of communication for the archdiocese. But ultimately its up to each individual to make that decision for themselves. 'By Whose Authority?' If it wasnt for the white cross with Jesus is the Way written horizontally and vertically, it would be easy to miss Grace Community Church. Housed in a nondescript building in Elgin, a town of about 3,250 located 20 minutes northeast of Lawton on Interstate 44, about 100 congregants, politicians and others came together for a one-day conference titled, Mandating Mask and Vaccines: By Whose Authority one Friday night in October. The underlying message during the four-hour event was that individuals shouldnt follow government requirements if they have a moral opposition to vaccines. In Romans 13:1-2, for instance, the Bible says, obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. That authority is not absolute and parishioners should follow their conscience even if it means violating laws, said Brett Baggett, a minister at a reformed Baptist church in Muskogee, who spoke during the conference. God commanding us to obey civil magistrates does not mean we obey them without any exception, said Baggett, pastor of Ekklesia Muskogee. We obey them only as long as theyre submitting to their master. Dusty Deevers, a pastor at Grace Community, called the vaccine a mathematical equation where governments are pushing it under the cover of utilitarianism the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. And these were the same equations, the same moral principles that were used in the 19th and 20th centuries to immunize the society against becoming infected with bad genes, Jewish genes, low IQ genes, he said. Utilitarianism does not submit to Gods authority. It is ruled by mans mind and mans interpretation of numbers. Deevers went on to compare vaccine mandates to the Nuremberg Code, a set of principles for medical experiments on humans established after World War II after Nazi doctors were charged with conducting forced medical experiments on concentration camp inmates. Fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked these claims since unlike then, the COVID-19 vaccine is not experimental medicine as it has been approved by numerous federal studies and has received FDA clearance. You do understand what road this is heading down, Deevers said. If they can force you by utilitarianism to take a jab for a disease, they can force you to do it to protect you from people whose IQ is lower than yours or people whose skin color is different than yours. And theyve done it over and over. Republican Politicians Amplify Misinformation In Oklahoma, the intersection between politics and religion can be crowded. From Gov. Stitt declaring a national day of prayer and fasting in response to the pandemic last December to Jackson Lahmeyer, a Tulsa pastor and U.S. Senate candidate, offering to sign religious exemptions for those who dont want to take the vaccine, politics often doesnt stray far from the religious realm. With Oklahoma suing the Biden Administration in five separate lawsuits to block various government vaccine mandates and House Republicans backing a special session to try to prevent private business mandates, the rhetoric around vaccines has been heightened. While Stitt and many Republican lawmakers have stated they are not opposed to the vaccines themselves, others have helped spread misinformation. During the one-day conference at Community Church of Elgin, State Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain was among the current and former state lawmakers invited to speak. In addition to calling the government vaccine mandates unconstitutional, he falsely stated that the so-called vaccine contains aborted fetal tissues, suggested vaccine injuries were far higher than reported and put himself at odds with consensus of the medical community, including the Oklahoma State Department of Health, by saying the vaccine is neither safe nor effective. If you call yourself a Christian and you can square injecting yourself with the remains of murdered people, Id say youve got some self-reflection perhaps you need to do, Hamilton said after repeating the false and debunked claim that vaccines contained aborted fetal tissue. In late November, Edmonds Fairview Baptist Church hosted a Covid 19 Myth Busting Town Hall Meeting. Over the course of two hours, two speakers shared a presentation full of debunked or unverified medical advice, including that natural immunity is preferable over the vaccine (another claim that has been debunked) and suggesting there is a way to flush out or cure a person from the vaccine. Following the talk, State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, who is also running for U.S. Senate, told the crowd to spread the message. People are being inundated with false narratives from the media, from the news, Dahm said. You are going to have to get the information out there so you have to volunteer the information, you are going to have to do it on social media even if you get banned you need to text message, you are going to have to send out emails, you are going to have to use every means possible. Blair, the pastor at Fairview Baptist Church, in an interview with Oklahoma Watch said he still doesnt think his church is giving out bad advice. He said thats because he hasnt seen the toll the virus has taken, saying that his congregation has by and large been immune to the serious or deadly effects of the virus, so far anyways. If we were seeing people all over Edmond just rolling over sick and it was that contagious like it was some kind of movie disease, then, by golly, we might want to do some crazy extreme measures, he said. But Im just saying its up to each individual to make a decision for themselves. In Edmond, a city of nearly 100,000, state Department of Health data shows that 282 citizens have died from the virus and nearly 26,000 have tested positive. As of Friday, 592 of those cases were still active. Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit organization that produces in-depth and investigative journalism on important public-policy issues facing the state. The organizations website is at http://www.oklahomawatch.org. G. Tod Slone has written that "as a political ideology, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), has proven time and again to be against freedom, reason, and truth. Proponents of the ideology tend to be hypocrites and anti-white racists [.]" In fact, DEI is also a pathway to anti-Semitism. In a recent Heritage Foundation Report titled "Inclusion Delusion: The Anti-Semitism of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff at Universities" the reader learns that university DEI staff are better understood as political activists with a narrow and often radical political agenda rather than promoters of welcoming and inclusive environments. Many DEI staff are particularly unwelcoming toward Jewish students who, like the vast majority of Jews worldwide, feel a strong connection to the state of Israel. The political activism of DEI staff may help explain the rising frequency of antisemitic incidents on college campuses as well as the association between college and graduate education and higher levels of antisemitic attitudes. Rather than promoting diversity and inclusion, universities may be contributing to an increase in anti-Jewish hatred by expanding DEI staff and power. While DEI staff are supposed to prevent hate/bias incidents directed at any student group -- in fact, they have "ethical, legal, and practical obligations" to do so, it appears that "not only do DEI staff fail to attend to Jewish concerns, including scheduling events on Jewish holidays but there have been reports of diversity officials expressing antisemitic attitudes." For example, Kamau Bobb, the head of diversity at Google, wrote that Jews have an "insatiable appetite for war" and an "insensitivity to the suffering [of] others." His punishment -- he was reassigned to work on STEM education efforts for Google. The methodology used by Heritage to examine the anti-Semitism of DEI officials consisted of available Twitter accounts. Of the "633 tweets regarding Israel, 96% were critical of the Jewish state. Of the tweets regarding China, 62% expressed favorable sentiment." It turns out that "DEI have a disproportionate interest in Israel relative to China and are far more likely to be critical of Israel than they are of China" -- the communist nation where totalitarianism reigns supreme with "severe internal repression of political dissent and private corporations," where Muslim Uyghurs are forced to donate their organs, and Falun Gong are tortured in Chinese labor camps. Surely those who are "genuinely interested in human rights around the world [as the DEI operatives claim] have many more reasons to be paying attention to China than to Israel." Unsurprising, DEI staff engage in standard anti-Israel sentiment with the use of the word apartheid although the only apartheid in the Middle East comes from the Arab world, not Israel where "Arabs are proportionately represented in the Knesset and head all their municipalities, schools and religious courts." Furthermore, in the Israeli national election of 2021, the Ra'am Party became the first Arab party to join a governing coalition. In addition, "Arabs hold 10 seats in the 24th Knesset, four of which are held by Ra'am. Israeli Arabs have also held various government posts and one Arab currently serves on the Israeli Supreme Court." Yet, according to the Heritage Report, "public communications of DEI staff embrace the genocidal phrase from the river to the sea" which means the eradication of Israel. How comfortable DEI organizations are with Critical Race Theory sheds enormous light on the trajectory of their biases. Crystal Borde, Vice President, Diversity + Inclusion at Vanguard Communications in an article titled "How to Contribute to Black Lives Matter Dialogue with a DEI Lens" is an illustrative example. Filled with anti-American attitudes about "systemic and structural racism in the United States" Borde asserts that "these organizations no longer want to be neutral in this fight against inequities and injustice." They want to contribute and support the conversation and reflect the best standards of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their communications. But this is a complicated, layered conversation with a long traumatic history and generations of impacted communities. How can communicators help their organizations find the best messaging, strategies and tactics to contribute to this conversation? And they are not confining themselves to colleges. Timothy Nerozzi explains how "a public school system in Michigan spent 21 days teaching adults in the district how to be good 'equity' allies, with a direct call for them to join a Black Lives Matter political protest." To the uninformed, Black Lives Matter is an avowed Marxist organization that is bent on destroying America and is filled with hatred for Jews and Israel. Yet, at the University of Louisville, the DEI is proud to share its commitment with BLM because "White supremacy and anti-Black views have no room in our classrooms, meetings, conferences and scholarly work." Thus, the Department of Comparative Humanities at the University supports Black Lives Matter and the fight against systemic racism, anti-Black oppression, white supremacy, and police brutality. We will seek to increase the number of African American, Indigenous, and immigrant faculty, staff, and students in our department and at the university." It is no accident that as universities have become more "woke," anti-Semitism finds a comfortable haven. In an all too familiar scene "during a student-government meeting, protesters slurred Jewish students with conspiratorial charges that the Israeli military has trained American police how better to kill blacks. Campuses now routinely ignore student antisemitic smears; indeed, universities and colleges are becoming the incubators of progressive hatred of Jews." At a recent Rutgers webinar, lies about Israel and Jews abounded as Middle East studies professors engaged in unbridled hatred. Where are the outcries from the diversity, equity, inclusion staff? Anti-Semitism is now a staple of the woke activism on campuses across the country. In actuality, "campus anti-Semitism stems from 'woke' black activism. 'Woke' politics is a radical ideology with roots in a strain of black nationalism that rejected the civil rights movements goal to promote racial integration throughout American society." More telling is the fact that "[w]okeness paranoia of whites is structured similarly to Jew hatred, priming black nationalists to articulate anti-Semitism as they would anti-whiteness." In a nutshell, the Jew is the enemy because of his religion and his skin color. Consequently, "the toxicity of anti-Semitism, reminding us that even among American blacks, a group once allied with Jews in the struggle for civil rights, can manifest behind a veil of 'woke politics' and 'diversity.' Thus, [r]ace-nationalist demagogues pour contempt on Jews and depict them as a hidden force guiding human events to the misfortune of others." It was inevitable that the Left would create yet another avenue to spew their vile beliefs and thus was incubated the diversity, inclusion, and equity programs that have not only infiltrated schools but businesses as well. In fact, the "number of people devoted to DEI efforts has grown to about 45 people at the average university." At the University of Michigan, for example, 163 people were identified as having formal responsibility for providing DEI programming and services. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), there were 13.3 times as many people devoted to promoting DEI as providing services to people with disabilities. At Georgia Tech, there were 3.2 times as many DEI staff people as history professors. At the University of Louisville, the ratio of DEI personnel to history faculty was 2.9. The University of Virginia had 6.5 DEI staff for every 100 professors. And yet, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion folks stand mute in the face of bigotry against Jews. It would appear that the DEI programs at universities are merely the handmaidens of racist BLM activists and other radical Leftist proponents. Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com Image: Pixabay To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. We didnt know it then, but on Election Night, November 8, 2020, America entered a Twilight Zone every bit as eerie and unanticipated as anything dreamed up by Rod Serling decades earlier. It began with time standing still in the middle of the Election Night vote count, followed by a flood of outlandish vote totals being relayed to us, especially from Democrat strongholds in 7 swing states. Then there was the alacrity with which network analysts declared Biden the winner, especially, the Fox News early projection of a Biden win in Arizona. Among Trump partisans and Republicans generally, there was shock and mounting disbelief. Had the triumphant incumbent, fresh off years of creating a vibrant economy, establishing the conditions for a significant peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, erasing the brutal Caliphate, standing up to and quelling both the insatiable dragon of Communist China and Putins snarling Russian bear, shutting down the fiery Iranian mullahcracy, and creating American energy independencehad Trump somehow lost to the enfeebled, untrusted political cipher, Scranton Joe? Despite the 2020 elections irregularities, which were legion, the next two months, leading up to the January 6 Capitol Hill debacle, were a study in media manipulation. Virtually every organ and institution of public information joined hands to create a bums rush of legitimacy for Scranton Joes historic victory. Not only was there an unprecedented (and unbelievable) turn out of voters, with Trump receiving 8 million more votes than any preceding sitting president, while the bumbling, lackluster, boring, invisible Biden, with no hint at any time in his political career of an excited public following, bested Trump by an additional 7 million votes. This was an electoral miracle that rivaled Moses parting the Red Sea and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In fact, as evidence of major election irregularities and corruption began to surface in the form of hundreds of eyewitness reports and sworn affidavits, analyses by credentialed statisticians and computer experts, the sworn testimony (on penalty of perjury) of poll watchers and election workers, and even shocking videotape of poll workers in Democrat strongholds double and triple counting mysterious suitcases of unverified ballots, the press and our new masters in Big Tech, grew ever shriller and more derogatory of Trump and the claims of his legal team that there was something foul afoot on election night. But the courts remained the three monkeys of denial: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The "catch 22" machine was used to prevent court review of the growing mountain of charges and evidence. When warnings of impending election fraud and manipulation had been raised prior to the vote, they were dismissed as being speculative. When they were raised and demonstrated after the vote, they were dismissed for being after the fact and too late. The American people were being treated to a legal system that could have been devised by Franz Kafka; a literal nightmare of injustice. The Twilight Zone script was now in full control. Despite mountains of evidence of irregularities, corruption, and inexplicable anomalies, the FBI, the Justice Department, attorneys general at every level, the US Postal Inspection Service, and most every official and agency charged with safeguarding national election integrity demurred or tried to shut down any investigation and to shut up and intimidate any whistleblowers. Every attempt was made to create irreversible "facts on the ground." They rolled out an "Office of the President Elect" for Biden and Kamala to appear in fake stage sets sporting that escutcheon to convince America that they had effectively already been installed, irreversibly, as our leaders, although the election had not yet even been certified or affirmed, as required, by the Congress. This all created a condition of unreality and deep distrust in a large portion of the American public. As used to be said regarding Bill Clinton: "Are you going to believe him or your lying eyes?" Then came January 6th. President Trump had called for a mass rally in Washington, D.C. to show support for him and for a fairly arrived at election outcome. It is unquestioned that well in advance he repeatedly offered up to 10,000 National Guard troops and other support for the DC and Capitol Police to manage the expected crowds and to guarantee a peaceful and orderly day of election certification by the Congress. It is equally unquestioned that Speaker Pelosi, who had complete authority and the responsibility for safeguarding the Congress and its deliberations, refused President Trump's proffer of support. The stage was set; what could possibly go wrong? When the day arrived, a fraction of the crowd, egged on by "persons unknown," on videotape, with no connection to the Trump rally organizers, directed attendees to march to the Capitol and then to enter the grounds and building through police lines. Curiously, again on videotape, there are several instances of police removing barricades and inviting the crowd onto the grounds and into the Capitol. A tiny fraction of this crowd wrestled with police and smashed the glass in several doors and windows. Everyone else sauntered peacefully through the hallowed halls like reverent tourists, even for the most part staying within the velvet rope lines in place to direct visitors (this all on videotape). The resulting disruption lasted two or three hours. Two unarmed women civilians died: Ashli Babbitt, needlessly shot by a plainclothes capitol police officer, and another woman who appears to have died later as the result of a police beatdown in one of the Capitol tunnels. That's it. Now, the creators of America's Twilight Zone revved up their alternate reality narratives to blanket the landscape with the awful myth of a destructive insurrectionary riot at the US Capitol. Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat spinmeisters had a tool with which to beat to death the Trump movement and anyone who opposed them or contradicted their version of electoral reality. At this point, a supposedly terrified Speaker, in an empty city, called out the National Guard, twenty-five thousand strong, and ringed the Capitol with welded steel fences. Not since the Civil War, with Johnny Reb almost within shouting distance, nor during the Whiskey Rebellion, when wild-eyed moonshiners might have threatened life and limb, had DC seen such melodrama. Americans have for a year sat peacefully at home and watched and listened to the unfounded ranting of Democrat politicians and their echo chamber in the mass and social media, accuse normal, moderate to conservative citizens of thought crimes and insurrectionary behavior because they do not share the current extreme Democrat political agenda. Our nation has become a sickening avatar of the perished Soviet Union, where Orwell's Ministry of Truth was the mother of all lies. Our media, our Pravda (meaning Truth in Russian) of America sets the party line and propagates it throughout the information channels of our nation. We are governed by a barely functioning cipher in the presidency, who each day vandalizes our precious heritage and undermines the proud bulwark for freedom that America has become for the world. The Democrat party of Truman, Kennedy, Stevenson, and Jackson is dead, murdered by treasonous political hacks and ignorant Communists masquerading as politicians and leaders. In the Soviet Union, itself a Twilight Zone of unreality, nothing real was permitted. Speaking truth got you sentenced to the Gulag. In pained humor, Soviet citizens described their rotten, fake economy this way: We pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us. Thus, every sector of their nation had been hollowed out by decades of lies, until it collapsed. Creative and destructive forces on the globe have been balanced now for a century because the United States has been powerful. We are not pure and unblemished, but warts and all, we have been the last best hope of humanity on earth. If we allow the false reality of the Twilight Zone to rule us, we will be living in the twilight of America: The end of the American Era may be here if the American people do not take their fate and the fate of freedom and respect for individual liberty and dignity back into their own hands. Patricia Henry is the pen name of a denizen of deep blue America. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. COVID-19 burst on the scene early in 2020 and rapidly became the biggest story of the year. We saw pictures of freezer trucks being used as morgues and medical staff in hazmat suits. The 2011 movie Contagion hung over every head like the Sword of Damocles. As the movie subtitle says, Nothing Spreads Like Fear. In a desperate rush for ratings, each network pushed more and more sensational stories and kept the death count on chyrons so we would never be far from panic even when discussing a politicians latest gaffe or the price of food. As soon as Sleepy Joe stumbled into the Oval Office, the chyrons stopped because the drive-by media could not allow anything to interfere with the premise that Bumbling Biden would defeat the virus. Talking heads could panic us with case counts, because we still heard those numbers once, from them, rather than constantly seeing it on screen. Of course, as Delta, and now Omicron, have jumped to the front of the news, we must ask, Cui bono? We must use Suttons Law and follow the money. For the media, the answer is quite simple. If it bleeds, it leads. Fear grabs your attention. So, when the MSM hype case counts, we have classic panic porn. As long as they dont get so over-the-top salacious that viewers wont believe them, bloodier is better. If it gets my channel more viewers, then Ill keep piling it on. In order to drive even more my way, Ill spin it so it looks like my guys are on the side of all that is goodness and light while painting the others as the spawn of the devil. But what happens if COVID stops being COVID? My biggest bloodbath disappears, and that cant be good. What about hospitals? Theyre among the largest beneficiaries of government largesse, and loath to give up on the free money. Massive parts of their income come from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. So, when the CARES Act shoved more money at them for every COVID diagnosis, we saw hospitals demanding that every patient be tested. A minimum of $13,000 for each positive result was too juicy a plum to leave uneaten. Even now, my friends in active practice report that hospital personnel insist on COVID tests for patients who are admitted with problems unrelated to any infectious disease. A patient who died of a heart attack in the ER got a nasal swab in the quest for filthy lucre after he died. Show me the money! Bureaucrats such as the incompetent virologist who shall not be named have a very different kind of payoff. The Law of the Bureaucrat states that the bureaucrat is the smartest person in the room. But to be the smartest person, you must be in the room. That means constant media attention is compensation far beyond any paycheck. Its validation. But this constant re-validation cant happen if the problem for which your number was called does not exist. So, nothing can be allowed to actually end the emergency. And the word emergency identifies the rewards of being Whitmeror Inslee, or Brandon, et cetera. In the distant past, legislatures naively assumed that someone occupying the governors office would actually have the best interests of the citizens in mind in an emergency. Legislatures granted them powers that they found so intoxicating that Courts had to be employed to yank them from those governors hands. And legislatures have found it necessary to reconsider their earlier actions. All this malevolent behavior brings us full circle. When does COVID stop being COVID? Or, in the more important question, when does the COVID emergency end? Image: Omicronthe COVID killer by Alexandra Koch. Pixabay License. Anyone with an attention span greater than a two-year-olds realizes that Saint Fauci is constantly moving the goalposts. It doesnt matter whether were talking about deaths, infection rates, vaccination rates, herd immunity, mask wearing, holiday observance, booster shots, ordeep breathbubble wrapping infants against COVID (I made that one up sort of). What matters is that there are no definite endpoints. Infinite boosters seem to be the expectations, and COVID will remain Medusaone glance and youre dead. Into this maelstrom of panic porn and confusion comes Omicron. And with it, we must consider a small amount of science. And Im not talking about Lord Fauci, self-proclaimed Sovereign of Science. Im talking about actual science. Two key points are critically important. First, mutations happen one at a time. Thats why Delta, the fourth named variant, has only two mutations on its spike protein. Second, viruses in the same family are well known to swap genetic material if they infect the same host. Coronaviruses happily do this with other coronaviruses, but not rhinoviruses, cytomegaloviruses, influenza viruses, or others from across the street. If one of the common cold coronaviruses happens to infect a host while its cousin COVID is already there, they can have a good time swapping toys back and forth. It doesnt matter whether the host is a person, wild animal, or house cat, the result is the same. We have a new virus. Omicron is this sort of new virus. It has fifty-plus mutations, with thirty plus on the spike. This means that it did not happen by mutation. It was assembled during an intracellular key party, most likely between Delta and a common cold virus. And that explains everything that were seeing. Omicron is sweeping the world like wildfire, as would be expected from lab data that shows its five times as good at attaching to the ACE2 receptor as COVID because of its fifteen mutations in the Receptor Binding Domain. And as of this writing, the CDC website does not list a single death from Omicron. If the party guest was the common cold, wed see a rare death here and there, but thats all. As of this writing, one death in Texas has been associated with Omicron, but we dont know if Omicron was the perp or an innocent bystander. England is reporting seven deaths, for a case fatality rate of 0.03%. These low mortality rates are reasonable because its well understood that the original spike protein caused all the inflammation and blood clotting that killed so many people. With Omicrons radically different spike, its no surprise that we arent seeing massive inflammation, disseminated blood clots, and multiplying cemetery markers with it. If we define COVID as that highly lethal Chinese missile, then Omicron isnt COVID. Scientists have arcane ways of naming viruses, so I wont presume to tell them what letters and numbers should be assigned. But its quite clear by now. With a death rate statistically indistinguishable from zero, its time to call BS on the panic. Clinically, Omicron isnt COVID. The vaccine for original COVID doesnt work very well against it and, frankly, isnt needed, because Omicron isnt a threat. Omicron may, in fact, be the vaccine against COVID that the Dark Lord of Viruses says he wants. It still has lots of the envelope, mantle, and nucleocapsid from COVID, and those create robust immunity. But Omicron is, in its own way. a flawed vaccine because its natural. It works. And it doesnt leave room for large profits or extended TV appearances. Ted Noel MD is a retired Anesthesiologist/Intensivist who podcasts and posts on social media as DoctorTed and @vidzette. His DoctorTed podcasts are available on Apple, Stitcher, Pandora and other channels. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. If anything out there sounds like Mission: Fail, it's the unpopular Kamala Harris going to the unpopular Hillary Clinton for advice on how to be popular with voters. Even Democrats can't stand her. It's like Joe Biden going to Jimmy Carter on how to get a rip-roaring economy going. (And that seems to have happened, too). So here we are, with the mendicant and her mentor -- with cackling that can be heard a mile away: Vice President Kamala Harris is turning to Hillary Clinton for advice on plotting "a path forward," according to a new report. The New York Times reports Harris sought out the counsel of Clinton, the first female Democratic presidential nominee and a fellow former U.S. senator, and other women when she came to Washington. Harris and Clinton speak every few months on the phone, and the two met in the vice president's West Wing office in November, the report said. That's the Washington Examiner's account. The New York Times account cited put it this way: Faced with declining approval ratings, a series of staff departures and a drumbeat of criticism from Republicans and the conservative news media, she has turned to powerful confidantes, including Hillary Clinton, to help plot a path forward. Ms. Harris has privately told her allies that the news coverage of her would be different if she were any of her 48 predecessors, whom she has described as all white and male. (Charles Curtis, who served as vice president under Hoover, spoke proudly of his Native American ancestry.) She also has confided in them about the difficulties she is facing with the intractable issues in her portfolio, such as voting rights and the root causes of migration. The White House has pushed back against scathing criticism on both fronts, for what activists say is a lack of attention. It calls to mind that Hillary and Kamala have always been close, very close, dating from the days when Kamala learned 'politics' and some other stuff at Willie Brown's knee. Kamala's original campaign was funded largely by Hillary Clinton's donors, and Kamala herself arguably represented the pocket-lining, finger-to-the-wind Hillary Clinton wing of the Democrat party, as opposed to the rabid Bernie Sanders wing, or the Biden-contemptuous President Obama wing, as Joe Biden chose her to be his vice president. I argued that in 2020 here. Now the first interesting thing about this story is that Hillary Clinton isn't exactly good at this thing called 'popularity.' Her speaking style is wooden. She drones like nobody's business. Her Mao pantsuit look has made her a figure of fun. Her hair is frequently a dirty, stringy, unwashed mess. She scowls with bags under her eyes and cackles. Why anyone would go to get advice from her about being popular is a mystery. Even Democrats don't like her. "You're likable enough," as Obama used to say, calling attention to the fact that voters didn't like her. If that isn't enough of an indicator, she lost her election to brash outsider Donald Trump back when all the pundits said she had it in the bag. DNC emails subsequently revealed that top Democrat operatives have been grossed out by her repeated recrudescences in the press in some kind of bid for a comeback. That's the person Kamala goes to for advice, now that her dancing mice advisors have failed again and again to repackage Kamala as something palatable to voters? The second interesting thing with this story about Kamala going to Hillary for advice is that that isn't really news. Hillary has already been advising Kamala all through the duration of her entire vice presidency. Here's Hillary Clinton minions defending Kamala's abysmal job performance and much-loathed chief of staff Tina Flournoy back in early July: She has become a trusted and loyal adviser to the vice president and the administration, said Minyon Moore, a longtime adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton who worked on the Biden transition and is a friend to Flournoy. This Hillary bid to prop up Kamala continued through the rest of the year, too. Here's one I wrote about on a "crisis" meeting of Hillary operatives attempting to make Kamala Harris popular, from August 6: The team that was in charge of making Hillary Clinton "likable" to voters is sure it can turn this one around, too. Ummm... Axios went to great ends to report that this wasn't Team Kamala itself that was working on this makeover for Kamala. That's a bit of a stretch. According to this piece, by Peter Nichols, which ran in The Atlantic on the exact same day as the Axios report: She consults a "kitchen cabinet" of people who offer her a perspective from outside the vice-presidential bubble: Minyon Moore, who oversaw her transition; Donna Brazile, who managed Gore's 2000 campaign; and Karen Finney, a former spokesperson for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She may soon hire some additional Washington veterans to bolster her staff. See any matching names? Too bad I can't give everyone reading this a highlighter pen to draw lines linking the matching names of these so-called Kamala advisers from one article to the other Brazile, Moore, Finney, they're all the same people, and they all run the Kamala show for her. Making Kamala likable has got to resemble one of the labors that Hercules was asked to perform. Or maybe Sisyphus. Then, in September, Kamala hired some "crisis communication experts" with longstanding ties to Hillary Clinton to launch the next operation. The result was a video of Kamala Harris surrounding herself with children, purporting to talk to them about space exploration in the cringiest makeover ever. She not only looked phony there, but she also looked very phony when it turned out that the children supposedly interested in space were all paid actors, some with Democrat machine ties. So, Team Hillary has already been helping Kamala a lot -- and not for the better. Rather than fire all of their keisters for underperformance, given that she's been at it with this crew for so long, Kamala now goes to the Grand Poobah of the operation itself, the failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose biggest political achievement is the perpetration of the Russia hoax and its phony, pervy, made-up Steele dossier, and her pioneering corruption through the Clinton Foundation, which took pay-to-play to new levels, for advice on how to be popular? The only thing it shows is that Kamala is a fool, something who tries to do the same thing over and over again and expects a different result. Worse still (for her) it comes as the backdrop is unfolding of Hillary Clinton repositioning herself to become president, which is what Kamala Harris herself is fervently hoping for, given that Biden is so senile he is not expected to serve out his term. Hillary has been popping out in the public lately by reading her 2016 victory speech and getting her name out there since that ridiculous moment. She may be positioning herself to be Kamala's vice president. Or more likely, she may be plotting against Kamala on the side to take the presidency from her. But there Kamala goes, off to get advice on how to be popular from one of the most unpopular, corrupt, and phony politicians in the American experience. It seems a foregone conclusion that Hillary's advice is going to sink Kamala -- either because it's bad advice, or because Hillary wants her out of there to get her job herself. What it shows the rest of us is that Kamala Harris has no judgment and little sense of survival. She might as well invite the Big Bad Wolf in, that's what this idiocy amounts to. Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. In searching for media reaction to the denial by Hon. Mary S. Scriven, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Florida, of Michael Flynn's request for a temporary restraining order against the House January 6th Select Committee, I noticed this headline at the Law and Crime website: Flynn Has Failed: Federal Judge Immediately Rejects ex-National Security Advisors Motion to Halt Jan. 6 Committee Investigation With the name Law and Crime, this article credited to Elura Nanos seemed to be an authoritative source for a take on this matter, involving Lt. General (ret.) Michael Flynn's resistance to impressment by the Pelosi Very Select Jan. 6 Committee (Pelosi limited her selection to seven Trump-hating Democrats and two Trump-hating Republicans). Thereupon, I clicked the search result: to learn that this website is labeled "A Dan Abrams Production." Well, isn't that interesting, I immediately thought. The TV legal commentator and son of attorney Floyd Abrams, has an online venue to reflect on Law and Crime. But can he resist tilting the scales of justice way over to the left? Apparently not. Prior to scanning media treatment of the Scriven ruling, I had read Judge Mary S. Scriven's opinion on Gen. Flynn's request for a temporary restraining order (TRO). The very opening sentence of the Law and Crime take on the Order from Judge Scriven, was so at variance with the reality of her ruling, that I realized I needn't go further to find that the media has yet to treat Gen. Flynn fairly. (And he was treated shabbily for having dared to do what a National Security Adviser would do, between Election Day and the inauguration: sound out foreign sources, particularly adversaries, on their views. Special Counsel Robert S Mueller III, in partisans-make-the-law fashion, shamefully treated Gen. Flynn's good faith preparation for his service in the Trump administration as illegitimate defiance of the Israel- and Trump-loathing Obama.) The account from this "Dan Abrams Production" began: "Former Donald Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn will have to turn over documents related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Complex." This is false. One of Gen. Flynn's arguments in asking for the TRO was that, if not granted, he will face "irreparable" harm." Judge Scriven, in denying Flynn's request for a TRO, pointed out in her opinion that four weeks had passed since the Committee sent a November 23rd date for documents, and the record did not show a new date for documents. Also, Judge Scriven noted that the original date set, by subpoena, for Gen. Flynn to appear before the January 6 panel, was pushed back from December 6, 2021, to December 20, 2021, and then, on December 16, the Committee postponed the general's appearance to "'a date to be determined.'" As of December 22, 2021, the date of Judge Scriven's ruling on the TRO -- which was denied "without prejudice," the date of Gen. Flynn's appearance before the January 6 panel had not been "determined." How, then, can this 'Dan Abrams Production assert that the rejection, "without prejudice," of the TRO requestion meant that the general will have to turn over his January 6 documents to Pelosi's inquisition? The Committee has yet to set a new date for compliance or else, as to a personal appearance or production of documents! Missing from the Law and Crime account of Judge Scriven's ruling is this not insignificant sentence, appearing on page 5 of her 6-page ruling, here set in the added bold type I believe it deserves in view of the Law and Crime distortion-beyond-recognition account: "Of course, if the Select Committee attempts to expedite the response dates for document requests from Flynn or for the third-party subpoenas, Flynn may seek appropriate relief from the court." Clearly, if Gen. Flynn shows that he is in imminent danger of irreparable harm from the Select Committee, Judge Scriven will re-consider his TRO request. Judge Scriven also indicated that the Flynn request for a TRO was made without presenting the court with facts that show he will suffer "immediate and irreparable injury." if the court waits for the adverse parties to respond. Law and Crime further distorted Judge Scriven's ruling by citing this observation from Judge Scriven, without the follow-up: "If Flynn chooses to renew his request for a temporary restraining order, he must adequately explain why injunctive is necessary before defendants have an opportunity to respond." So? What's the problem? Here is the follow-up sentence not cited by this "Dan Abrams Production." "Alternatively, Flynn may pursue his Motion for Preliminary Injunction in the ordinary course following service of the complaint on defendants." I believe, therefore, that it is, indeed, accurate to say that Judge Scriven, denying the TRO request, merely acted on the evidence before the court at this point in the litigation. The fact that Judge Scrivens order is "without prejudice" (as Law and Crime acknowledges) offers the general the opportunity to seek relief from the court should the Select Committee suddenly act expeditiously against him. And should the Select Committee tarry, choosing to torment the general by playing cat to his mouse, his complaint against the Pelosi panel will continue in the ordinary course of litigation. Law and Crime has boasted (falsely) that Judge Scriven has made it necessary for General Flynn to comply immediately with the dictatorial demands of the Pelosi panel. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I teared up a bit today as I passed the American Museum of Natural History, where an iconic statue of Teddy Roosevelt atop a horse had entranced New York children since 1940. Now only a scaffolding covered by tarp can be seen, as the racist statue is prepared for banishment to North Dakota. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter riots, the New York City Council voted unanimously to remove the statue, which depicts Roosevelt leading a Native American and an African. As descendent Theodore Roosevelt V helpfully explained, the statue is problematic in its hierarchal depiction of its subjects. Perhaps Teddy is better off in North Dakota because hed be aghast at the cowardly state of his beloved New York. Roosevelt belonged to an America that relished bold, confident action. Today, the museum which celebrated Teddy as the man in the arena and placed statues of explorers Lewis and Clark and Daniel Boone atop its facade now demands vaccine passports from five-year-olds before theyre allowed to enter. An engraving on the museums front praises Teddy as A great leader of the youth of America In energy and fortitude In the faith of our fathers In defense of the rights of the people. Today, the youth of America can receive enforced vaccine experiments inside the museum, then proceed to the exhibits on Viruses and Vaccines, where they will be terrified into further submission. Teddy isnt the only legend whos been hurled into oblivion by the New York City Council recently. Thomas Jefferson also isnt good enough for the Council worthies, who disappeared his statue from their chamber, where it had stood for over a hundred years. The author of the Declaration of Independence was condemned as a pedophile slaveowner with no redeeming qualities, but I think the Council was uneasy having the Founding Father whose motto was Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God looking over their shoulder. Tearing down statues is usually a signal that the revolution has begun. On July 9, 1776, Washingtons troops in New York City heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time, then stormed to the statue of King George III and pulled it down. Now with Jefferson and Roosevelt shoved off their pedestals, the revolution of the Woke, by the Woke, for the Woke has conquered New York. The American Revolution brought life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but the Woke Revolution has brought New York to its knees. Formerly free citizens endure mandatory masking; unvaccinated people are fired from their jobs and denied entry into public life; small businesses go bankrupt from lethal regulation; and law-abiding citizens suffer violent attacks from criminals and madmen who roam the filthy streets with no legal consequences. Teddy Roosevelt, from his perch atop his horse, saw what was coming: The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Goodbye, Teddy. Ill miss you. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Hard times are coming for vaccine fanatics and fear-mongering lockdown enthusiasts, or at least thats what we can reasonably expect after reading the news coming out of South Africa and the U.K. about the Omicron variant. As a matter of fact, the data out of South Africa after five weeks of Omicron spread and out of the U.K. in the first full week after Omicron hit the country suggest that the new Covid-19 variant should be a cause for celebration and relief, not fear and alarmyet thats not the direction in which the American media and many politicians are heading. What we know now is that Omicrons symptoms are considerably less severe than the Delta strain. Of course, further investigations using larger data sets are needed to confirm this trend. Scientists and health authorities need all the data they can get from the U.S. and other Western countries about Omicron, but the initial premises are encouraging. At this point the question naturally arises: Why is it that the public health establishment and the media are working hard to generate a tide of public hysteria around Omicron? Before trying to answer the question, though, let us look in detail at why it makes sense to pose the question in the first place. To begin, as South African Health Minister Joseph Phaahla explained at a press conference, even when his country was recording its highest number of cases since the spread of the pandemic, only 1.7% of identified Covid-19 cases were hospitalized in the second week of Omicron infections, compared with 19% at the same point in the cycle during the Delta wave. Moreover, according to Discovery Health CEO Ryan Noach, on average, fewer of the infected people in South Africa who did end up in the hospital required oxygen and ventilation, and the proportion who required intensive care, or ended up in the ICU, dropped to about 13% from 30%. Perhaps even more importantly, excess deaths, the number of deaths above the historical average, are below 2,000 a week, an eighth of their previous peak. In addition, 91% of those infected with Omicron have already recovered. Image: Vanishing COVID by Andrea Widburg As for the United Kingdom, the Daily Mail reports that Covid-19 was behind just one in 16 deaths in England and Wales in the first full week after the Omicron variant hit Britain, and virus fatalities hit a two-month low. This means that just 764 of the nearly 12,000 fatalities recorded in the two nations were linked with the virus in the seven days up to December 10. Everything seems to suggest that Britons who fall ill with the Omicron variant are less likely to become severely sick than those who contracted Delta. Thats what British-American surgeon, professor, and author Marty Makarywho is one of Americas leading healthcare expertshad to say on December 16s Brian Kilmeade Show. Were seeing this massive new wave of fear that is fueling our second pandemic after Covid-19, which is a pandemic of lunacy, which is omicron. Now I call it omi-cold, Makary said. The Omicron variant, he explained, stays superficial in the nose and bronchus. So thats why were seeing a common cold-like illness. He added, This new scientific data from the lab explains the epidemiological data and the bedside observation of doctors that this is far more mild and thats why I call it omi-cold. In the light of the above, I think we can guess the answer to our question, and New York Times bestselling author Heather Mac Donald sums it up: The official response to the Omicron variant provides a case study in the deliberate manufacture of fear. Mac Donald offers six key strategies in play. The following are just a few highlights from her summary explaining how the official response to Omicron is exploiting it to further its own aims: The media want you to believe that everyone around you is scared out of his mind, and thus you should be, too. Man-on-the-street interviews quote Nervous Nellies exclusively. The only public health experts whom the media quote are those determined to put the most dire spin on Omicron. They stress worst-case hypothetical scenarios and dismiss actual good-case evidence. At best, they may grudgingly admit that Omicron symptoms are disproportionately mild, but rush to assert that there are still many as-yet unrealized grounds for worry. The media intone repeatedly that much remains uncertain about Omicron, including how likely it is to cause severe disease. Bury both good news and dissenters from the bad news. [snip] Just as we are supposed to believe that everyone around us is universally spooked, so we should believe that there is an unbroken expert consensus about the likely disaster that is Omicron. Mac Donalds descriptions accurately reflect our real-life experiences. Its not by chance that the media is obsessing about case count. Case counts are one of the most deceptive measures of pandemic severity when symptoms are mild to non-existent in the majority of the infected. Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of the books Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He is Italian and lives in the Venice area. http://www.aninfiniteidea.org/ To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. This time of year, if you have a pulse and a mailbox, youre likely getting stuffed with end-of-year (read: Fundraising excuses) calendars. Most such glossy hang-arounds feature gorgeous landscapes, beyond adorable wild animals and their whimsical young, or festive basked foods, knick-knackery, and the like. All in spectroscopic rainbow sumptuousness. By some postal wormhole quirk, though I have not to date been a contributor nor a particular advocate one way or the other, I received a Union of concerned Scientists 2022 Calendar. (They are offered for sale to the public, but are now sold out for the 2022 edition.) Calendar cover (photo by author) And not only did it veer from the expected aviary or omnivorous gallimaufry of owls or pangolins, but each month was a full-page cartoon in the style that weve grown accustomed to from poring over the weekly funnies in the sometimes quixotic pages of the New Yorker and other venues of venom or venality, depending on your point of view. My perspective on the calendar, as on the Union itself was at best vaguely uninformed. I assumed an overall positioning of scientific objectivity, neutrality on controversial issues of the moment, becausewell, the word scientists clued me in to what to expect. What soon gave me pause, and reason to look up their sketchy website, was the adjectival concerned. Theres the rub, as Hamlet ruminated soliloquizingly. Each succeeding page of the unrolling monthly in ink and colored pencil or flair pen struck an acute alarm bell. The issues were all, I found, doggedly one-sided. And that side, unalleviated by a but on the other hand countervailing view or take. And so I perambulated through, growing more upset by the minute, as the scientist section of this union was not subtly overtaken by the concerned figure of speech that informed every one of the 12 leaves of coming annus-possibly horribilis. Example tramples example as you flip the leaves. Theres no room for alternative takes on, for instance, climate change. Believe it, not all scientists go with this particular piratical construct, a scheme that aims, frankly, to strip wealth from the haves to fund, as former President Clinton once supposedly stated, $250 Billion to take the temperature down one degree in one village in Germany for one hour. Every cartoon, in other words, has a progressive ax to grind and plunge into the heart of the unwary happening upon the calendar. And even when a cartoon designating a month is vanilla-flavored, such as Januarys, which shows people staring at a canvas of jumbled multidirectional symbols all topsy-turvy, tabbed, the male onlooker says, Mustve been the inspiration for drawing the congressional districts a snotty footnote chides us to protect communities who [sic] are dealing with health and safety challenges so we need a transparent, science-based process for re-districting. Ensuring their point of view. Equitable the word of the year. Or March, where the cartoon is the vacant outline of the word vote filled in with a game-like confounding maze of directions and perplexities ending inevitably with Game over and You lose. Followed by the note that And we need to fix our democracy so those solutions become more achievable. many communities have been effectively disenfranchised through laws and policies designed to suppress their votes. Aprils comic blat features two men on a raft made of a sign reading Climate Change is Fake News afloat on a town flooded to the second story of their town. The comment balloon reads I must admit, your sign comes in handy. Here the footnote scolds fossil fuel companies for not acknowledging the effects of their products: [they] have knowingly deceived the public about climate science and policy. Help hold them accountable for their actions. This is the bell they toll throughout, endorsing the notion that all scientists agree on this theory of so-called climate change, and of course, the evil of corporations that make their fossil fuels available.. We would remind these concerned scientists that the take on anthropogenic climatological vicissitude is far from unanimous. But disclaimers and appropriate opposition opinions are absent entirely from mainstream media, as they are from most discussions of the topic. Or this calendar plumping for their advocacy pet favorites. May mocks those who poohpoohed the wheel (the Neanderthal crouches to declare he prefers walking); a fop leans over an electric lamp to declare he likes candles better. And a cowboy scowls at a new train by refusing the give up his horse. Note here says that Transportation is now the largest source of US global warming emission. Were warned to go cleaner by dramatically reducing our use of oil within the next few decades. This is buttressed by Julys huge dinosaur looking befuddled and over-large, unable to enter a door reading The Future. The big green dino doofus is labeled, of course, fossil fuels. August has a suited businessman on a hotel bed, phone pressed to ear. His words: No, you dismantle your nuclear arsenal first. Clearly running a march on couples who cant hang up on each other as they make their goof-byes. Here, the UCS offers sensible, science-based policies to reduce risk of accidental nuclear war and to slow the arms races among the nine nuclear armed countries. Surprised the fond concerned scientists dont remonstrate against President Biden as old Joe maneuvers to build up Iran in any which way he can, not excluding any nefarious master programs to continue refining uranium to the end-goal of a usable bombnot for peaceful purposes, as Iran has energy to spare, and the mullahcracy has sworn in ringing tones to destroy Israel, loud and often. And on it goes, dooming the reader with looming images of ravaged land and displaced populations from the ravages of nuclear weaponry. October. Not to forget Pres. Obamas big thought: Rising oceans.*Novembers strip of an elderly couple on beach chairs as the tide is up to their calves, and debris floats in the waters next to their feet, and the cartoon newspaper held by the bifocaled male, headlined: NEWS: Ocean levels rising; Ice Caps Melting. Footnote warns that ice sheets and glaciers melting from warming makes the oceans rise, which lift can disrupt and damage coastal communities and infrastructure in virtually every sea-bordering country in the world.: Bringing us to December 22, where the black, white, and green comic depicts three Chernobyl-like atomic reactors chugging schmutz into the air, and two backpackers seeing the smudge sky, remarking, I kind of regret objecting so strongly to the wind farm they originally planned. No comment on the fact that wind power is least efficient, most costly, and least dependable, everywhere it is ventured. And that nuclear power, used by France and Germany, is both cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable than solar or wind. Here their curdling milk note strays into suppositions unsupported by science thus far: The ability to store energy [we dont yet have such an ability] and use it when most needed helps reduce demand generated by [sitting down?] dirty, inefficient fossil fuel power plants. The Union is supposedly working on deploying energy storage in ways that most benefit communities harmed by powerplant pollutionno word on cost, materials, time to fully develop this storage capacity, or the undeniable reliance of their electric whatchamacallits and charging stations on fossil fuels to get their electric power. Selling their racket every month to unsuspecting customers just turning the pages, buying the bridge theyre selling without countervailing argument, statistics, or positions by reputable real scientists. Every month, another Woke meme thats not scientific, that trances the bounds of neutral and questioning science. Hardly accurate for them to call themselves concerned scientists if truth is what theyre after. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The UK Health Security Agency publishes a COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report weekly, with the latest being for Week 51. There is a great deal of information to be had by following the report, which has charts for COVID-19 cases by vaccination status, COVID-19 cases presenting to emergency care (within 28 days of a positive specimen) resulting in an overnight inpatient admission by vaccination status, and COVID-19 deaths (a) within 28 days and (b) within 60 days of positive specimen or with COVID-19 reported on death certificate. For each of the above categories, there is a chart showing six types of data, including Total, Unlinked, Not Vaccinated, Received one dose (1-20 days before specimen date), Received one dose, 21 days before specimen date, and Second dose 14 days before specimen date. This gives a very clear picture of the pandemic situation in the U.K. Here is an example from the Week 51 report: I have been following this report series since I became aware of its existence this past September. As you can see from the above example, the Weekly Report covers a time period before the week of publication. So, Week 51 report covers the data from Week 47 to Week 50, 2021. I pulled three reportsWeek 45, which covers week 41 to 44; Week 47, which covers week 43 to 46; and Week 51, which covers week 47 to week 50so that I could see the trends in each category of three categories (Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths), according to the vaccination status. I was not surprised to learn that vaccinated people are doing worse than those unvaccinated. Each report contains more than just raw data. Thus, they have various types of analysis, such as Unadjusted rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and death in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. However, I always believe that the raw data is much more telling than those analyses, which are likely influenced by analysts biases. As I see it, those analysis-generated rates are derived data; that is, produced by some models in order to make estimates for certain purposes. As in my previous articles, I try to interpret the raw data in the simplest way to prevent the chances of misinterpretations. Here is my summary of the raw data from those UK reports mentioned above: In this summary, for each of the reports, the rows use three lines to show Totals, Vaccinated, and Unvaccinated information. For the columns, I ignored the data in three types of vaccination status in the original chart in this post because those numbers are very small. Therefore, I compared only Case #, Hospitalization number, and Death within 60 days of positive COVID-19 test by date of death within the surveillance period. I also added the percentage of the total column in the above spreadsheet for clearer views. Its very clear to me from the summary I produced that, in the UK, from Week 41 to Week 50, vaccinated death numbers are way larger than unvaccinated ones. In the Week 51 report, vaccinated deaths outnumbered unvaccinated by 72.85% vs 23.16%. In the Week 47 report, the relative values were 78.40% vs 18.28%. And in the Week 45 report, they were 79.42% vs 17.00%. The deaths are more than four times greater for vaccinated people. Meanwhile, the differences in hospitalizations are less extreme, but vaccinated people were still hospitalized almost two times more. Case numbers for vaccinated were larger than unvaccinated ones, except for Week 51, when a huge number of young people under the age of 18 were infected. Eliminate that age group, and the case numbers for the unvaccinated people are much smaller, as shown in the far-right column. Image: Vaccine against COVID by WiR_Pixs. Pixabay license. Here is a very important point I want to make. Each time when weve heard The pandemic of the unvaccinated from the media and politicians, we can be reasonably sure that they are not talking about the actual health of those people, for whatever reason, do not take the vaccine. Instead, they have actually been concerned about Overwhelming the healthcare system with unvaccinated people. However, the raw data from the UK health systems shows that more vaccinated people than unvaccinated ones were using the healthcare system. There is no such raw data available in the U.S. All we can find is some kind of rate. CDC once had a CDC MMWR report that was based on the data from 13 U.S. jurisdictions. That report stated that, once Delta appeared, vaccinated people reduced their risk of infection by five times, and both their risk of hospitalization and risk of death by more than ten times. The report acknowledges that the data from 13 jurisdictions might not be generalizable, and thats true. Its nonsense. Nevertheless, the Mainstream Media and politicians immediately started to propagandize based on that report. Just one week later another CDC MMWR report came out and admitted that Real-world studies of population-level vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalizations are limited in the United States. Thanks to the UK Vaccine Surveillance Weekly reports, though, we can learn that the Covid-19 vaccines do not do what they were advertised. Its therefore time to stop the vaccination mandate and all the nonsense about a Pandemic of the Unvaccinated. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. A highly regarded Chicago Police Department dispatcher named Keith Thornton has spoken out on the inadequate staffing hindering police response to even dire calls, following resignations, retirements, and now firings over the COVID vaccine mandate. Even worse, he contends, Chicagoans are being lied to about it by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. In a nearly 30-minute Facebook video (view it here) Thornton offered firsthand evidence. He speaks in measured, calm tones - exactly what you'd hope for in a police dispatcher who has to deal with chaos and mayhem. He is such an obvious asset to the Police Department that I hope Mayor Lightfoot does not try to exact vengeance for his criticism of her. Facebook video screengrab The invaluable resource on the Windy Citys decline into anarchy, CWB Chicago, offers some highlights: Im really riled up right now, Thornton said, noting that it was about 11 p.m. I had a long day, and Im riled up right now. Thornton told viewers that the Jefferson Park district is so shorthanded with officers that, when you call 911, youre not getting a quick response officers are not coming to you because we have very few officers within these neighborhoods. (snip) Im talking about females being beaten. Shootings a shooting came out a few days ago, and we couldnt even get the unit over there until 10-plus minutes later because there was no one, Thornton continued. The Jefferson Park district was staffed by 268 officers when Brown became superintendent in April 2020. There are 229 assigned to the district this month, according to the Chicago Office of Inspector General. They dont replace the officers here that retire, Thornton said. They dont replace the officers that get promoted. The biggest one that I love: When all hell breaks loose in downtown Chicago theyre sending five, six cars from this district, just like all the rest, to go sit on a post to protect downtown. Its bull crap. Some specifics: Now, Sallys calling for the man whos beating on her. The kids calling right here because hes shot. The paramedics are on the scene of a car accident and theyre fighting. Heres another car accident up here. Heres a stabbing right here. Heres a domestic battery right here. And no ones coming, he says while holding up a quickly-sketched visual aid that he said demonstrated how many patrol cars were not staffed in the 16th District as he was making his presentation. So [911 calls] stay lingering on the board of the district for hours and hours and hours, and no ones coming until someone eventually frees up or the next shift comes in eight hours later to handle that call. Its smoke and mirror, guys. Thornton blamed Mayor Lori Lightfoot for CPDs staffing problems in his video, which he accompanied with a post that said, CPD is short manpower and you are being lied to by the mayor and CPD upper management. All that lady cares about is her f*ckin self, Thornton said of Lightfoot. And I pray youre watching this, cuz youre a disgrace, and Im tired of it. And your city is tired of it. Matter of fact, its not your city. There is little prospect of the situation improving. After all, who would want to be a cop now, given the abuse officers receive, even from the courts? Second City Cop, a well-informed police insider, writes in The Chicago Contrarian about the difficulty of the Chicago Police Department in adding new officers: We got this in the mail from nearly a dozen people and we did some checking. Its 100 percent true: November written entry exam 155 applicants 59 people showed up 29 passed And then, the POWER Test [Peace Officers Wellness Evaluation Report TL] 400 invited which means the Department had to reach back five or six tests to previous failed candidates 46 showed up you read that correctly, 46 42 failed The first week of December, the Academy was slated to start a class....of fourteen cadets. Eight showed up. Class was canceled until they could get it over twenty-five, which might have happened this past Monday. So yeah, Lightfoot is going to hire her way out of this disaster, especially after two years of demonizing the entire profession, removing every tool that has been proven to work in policing and failing to hold anyone responsible for criminal behavior....unless youre an officer making a minor procedural error. Then its the gallows for you! I fear that matters are going to get a lot worse in Chicago before they get better. Lori Lightfoot scornfully rejected President Trumps offer of federal officers to help, but now is begging from Biden what she rejected on offer from Trump, demonstrating pure politics, not concern for the welfare of Chicagoans. Hat tip: Peter von Buol To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Desmond Tutu, a resolute, tireless and confirmed fighter against apartheid, shocked the South African government of the day by his ordination as the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986. He was a courageous political campaigner, some would say firebrand, against the blatant injustices meted out to the non-white population of South Africa. But his homely manner, his obvious personal kindness and his wit endeared him more than ever to the proponents worldwide of the anti-apartheid cause. Archbishop Desmond Tutu after he received an honorary degree from the University of Leicester in 2011 (University of Leicester/PA) Tutu, a Nobel Prize winner, showed no fear of the brutal South African regime which seemed almost permanently embarrassed by a man whose supreme standing in the church made it virtually impossible for them to bully or harass him. He once wrote a letter to then prime minister John Vorster, warning the situation in South Africa was a powder barrel that can explode at any time. The letter was never answered. It is said that he did as much as anyone, including even Nelson Mandela, to bring apartheid in South Africa to its knees, leading to the formation of a democratically elected government under Mandela himself. Tutu was generally credited with coining the term Rainbow Nation as a metaphor to describe the post-apartheid South Africa after 1994 under African National Congress rule. Desmond Tutu peers through a hole he knocked in a wall at St Lukes Hospital for the Clergy, central London, in 2006 (Rebecca Reid/PA) In 1996, the year he stepped down as Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But this in no way weakened his sense of public spiritedness or diminished his commitment to the Christian cause, of which he was such a beacon. He became the honorary archbishop emeritus of the coastal city he had served. He was born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal, on October 7 1931, and moved to Johannesburg at the age of 12. Prince Harry holding hands with the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in 2015 (Chris Radburn/PA) He wanted to be a physician but that was beyond his familys means and he became a teacher instead. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1960, becoming chaplain at the University of Fort Hare, a hotbed of dissent and one of the few quality universities for black African students. He left that post in 1962 and travelled to Kings College London, where he received degrees in theology. Tutu returned to South Africa in 1967 and, until 1972, used his lectures to highlight the plight of the African population. Archbishop Desmond Tutu stands next to a bust of former South African president Nelson Mandela in London in 2001 (William Conran/PA ) He returned to the UK in 1972 as vice-director of the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches, but went back to South Africa to become the first African to be appointed Anglican Dean of Johannesburg. His sterling work in the cause of the anti-apartheid movement led to his receiving numerous doctorates and academic awards from all over the world. However, although he was firm in denouncing South Africas white-rule government, he was also harsh in his criticism of the violent tactics of some anti-apartheid groups, such as the African National Congress. He denounced terrorism and Communism and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1984 for his role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the Queen in Cape Town in 1995 (Martin Keene/PA) Tutu visited Birmingham in 1989 as part of the city-wide Christian Celebrations and he and his wife saw a number of establishments, including the Nelson Mandela School in Sparkbrook. After apartheid fell, he headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for which he was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in 1999. That was the year during which he gave the annual Wilberforce Lecture in Hull, commemorating the life and achievements of the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, who originated in the city. He was presented with the freedom of Hull. He returned to the UK yet again in 2004 as visiting professor in Post-Conflict Societies at Kings College London. Tutu, unlike many African churchmen, opposed Christian discrimination against homosexuals. The archbishop said: I am deeply saddened at a time when weve got such huge problems that we should invest so much time and energy in this issue. Desmond Tutu giving high-fives to students after receiving an honorary degree at Edinburgh University in 2009 (Andrew Milligan/PA) I think God is weeping. He also criticised human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, describing then president Robert Mugabe as a caricature of an African dictator. He equally criticised the South African governments policy of quiet diplomacy towards Zimbabwe. Tutu has made controversial statements involving Israel, once saying Zionism had very many parallels with racism. He also likened Israels treatment of Palestinians to the treatment of black South Africans under apartheid. He eventually retired from public life in 2011 but he continued to speak out. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Bob Geldof at Old Billingsgate, London, in 2010 (Zak Hussein/PA) The following year he called for Tony Blair and former US president George W Bush to be taken to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for their role in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Writing in the Observer, he accused them of lying about weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion has left the world more destabilised and more divided than any other conflict in history. In 2015, he launched a change.org petition urging then US president Barack Obama and UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon to create a world solely reliant on renewable energy by 2050. The archbishop stepped down as Oxfam ambassador in 2018, following the charitys sex scandal. The Duchess of Sussex and her son Archie meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town in 2019 (Toby Melville/PA) He was said to have been deeply disappointed by the allegations of immorality and possible criminality involving humanitarian workers linked to the charity. Tutu later opposed then US president Donald Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. In 2019, he met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son Archie during their tour to southern Africa. Archbishop Tutu married Leah Nomali in 1955 and the couple had four children. Windsor Castle (Steve Parsons/PA) A man who was arrested within the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day while in possession of a crossbow has been detained under the Mental Health Act. Officers from Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the Metropolitan Police responded to a security breach on Saturday at around 8.30am within the grounds of the castle in Berkshire where the Queen is in residence. A 19-year-old man, from Southampton, was arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon. The Metropolitan Police said the man was taken into custody and has undergone a mental health assessment. He has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and remains in the care of medical professionals, the force added. A spokesperson from Scotland Yard said: Security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds and he did not enter any buildings. Following a search of the man, a crossbow was recovered. They added: Inquiries into the full circumstances of this incident are being progressed by Metropolitan Police specialist operations. Tributes have been paid to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu following his death aged 90. Tutu, who helped end apartheid in South Africa, died in Cape Town on Boxing Day. Piyushi Kotecha, chief executive of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, and chairman Niclas Kjellstrom-Matseke said in a statement that Tutu was a living embodiment of faith in action. In a statement on the foundations website, they added he spoke boldly against racism, injustice, corruption and oppression, not just in apartheid South Africa but wherever in the world he saw wrongdoing, especially when it impacted the most vulnerable and voiceless in society. According to the trust, he died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town. A cause of death has not been given. Nicknamed The Arch, Tutu was made the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986 and was a driving force to end the policy of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. His work led to him receiving numerous doctorates and academic awards from all over the world. He retired from public life in 2010 yet continued to do charity work through the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa. The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa. pic.twitter.com/vjzFb3QrNZ Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 26, 2021 Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead, he tweeted. We pray that Archbishop Tutus soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation. The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which highlighted the friendship between the pair, said the loss of Tutu is immeasurable. He was larger than life, and for so many in South Africa and around the world his life has been a blessing, a statement from the charity said. Desmond Tutu, with his wife Leah at Heathrow Airport (PA) Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, described Tutu as a man of words and action. He told Sky News: He was the rainbow leader. He didnt stick with one group. He defended the rights of LGBT people in the Constitution. He defended the rights of former enemies. Outlining Tutus legacy, he added: Can we be a humanity that says, My gain need not be your loss? Your gain need not be my loss? We can both flourish and grow. That is, I think, the greatest part of Tutus legacy for the world. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell described him as a giant, adding that the world itself feels a little smaller without him. His expansive vision of how the Christian faith shapes the whole of life has touched many hearts and changed many lives, he said in a statement. The Anglican church in particular gives thanks for one of its greatest saints. But Christian people everywhere, and all people of goodwill, will today be mourning the loss of someone who showed the world what following Jesus looks like and where it leads. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tutu would be remembered for his leadership and humour. He said: I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour. Strictly Come Dancing stars Oti and Motsi Mabuse, who grew up in South Africa, joined a host of people in remembering Tutu. Forgiving is not forgetting; its actually rememberingremembering and not using your right to hit back. Its a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you dont want to repeat what happened. R.I.P Desmond Tutu pic.twitter.com/YXKXRC8DGs Motsi Mabuse (@MOTSI_MABUSE) December 26, 2021 Oti, a dancer on the show, tweeted: Oh no sad news and said it was a major loss for South Africa. Strictly Judge Motsi shared a quote on Twitter which read: Forgiving is not forgetting; its actually remembering remembering and not using your right to hit back. Its a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you dont want to repeat what happened. R.I.P Desmond Tutu. Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson reflected on his friendship with the archbishop in a statement on his website, and recalled a moment between the pair. He wrote: Arch was one of the most positive, funny, life-affirming people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He had no airs and graces, and always made everyone laugh. I dont know why, but some people accuse me of name-dropping, he told me once. I just happened to have lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace the other day and she said, Arch, you are SUCH a name-dropper!. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said energy bills will be the worst possible gift this Christmas as the party found households will pay 100 million more this year. Analysis by the party claims that in the seven days between Christmas Day and New Year, bills will rise by 104,141,465.75 compared with the same period in 2020. And they said because of the rise in the energy price cap, families will end up paying an extra 195 each over the year. Sir Ed said: The Christmas period is already set to be tough but this is the worst possible gift from the Government. Once again ministers are leaving hard-working families out in the cold. For many the choice between eating and heating will become a stark one this winter in sharp contrast to the Number 10 parties and Boris Johnsons posh wallpaper. The spike in gas prices is seeing energy bills rise to unprecedented levels. Next year energy bills are projected to rise by at least another 400, possibly an inflation-busting 500 a year. Meanwhile, weve seen suppliers collapse, and a reduction in competitive prices. The Conservatives have totally failed to tackle the problem. Theyve scrapped insulation programmes that would have reduced peoples bills, cut support for the most vulnerable whilst increasing the UKs dependence on imported gas, making our country more vulnerable too. Liberal Democrats are calling for a new long-term home insulation programme to cut bills permanently, end fuel poverty and reduce emissions. As this is an emergency, we also need action now so the Government must double and extend the Warm Home Discount to help the most vulnerable households with their heating bills. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (Chris Jackson/PA) It comes after The Times reported that Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng would hold emergency meetings with energy industry bosses to address rapidly rising wholesale gas prices on Monday. The newspaper reported the bosses are likely to ask for tax cuts and the relaxation of green levies. Fears of runaway household bills in the new year have been mounting since rising gas prices began bankrupting suppliers in September. Since then, prices have risen from 54p per therm of gas to 4.50. Since 2019, energy suppliers in the UK have been subject to a price cap put in place by Ofgem, limiting the amount they can charge customers. With the rising prices, many say they were paying more for gas than they could charge. The cap is moved twice a year based on the price of energy and is due to next be changed in April. The regulator is already consulting on a series of proposals which would mean the biggest overhaul of the price cap since it was launched if implemented next year. More than nine million people watched the Queens speech on Christmas Day, attracting more viewers than any other programme. The Queens Christmas broadcast, which was around 10 minutes long, was watched by 7.4 million viewers on the BBC and 1.7 million viewers on ITV. The monarch reflected on a year of personal grief in her message, saying there was one familiar laugh missing as she acknowledged the death of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh amid the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Queen Christmas broadcast was watched by 7.4 million viewers on the BBC and 1.7 million viewers on ITV (Victoria Jones/PA) The Queen talked about her beloved Philip and how his mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him. She also spoke fondly of her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, for their focus on climate change. The Queen, 95, concluded her speech by saying: I wish you all a very happy Christmas. Strictly Come Dancings Christmas special attracted the most viewers outside of the Queens broadcast. The Strictly special, which was won by pop star Anne-Marie, was watched by an average of 5.8 million viewers, according to overnight figures from the BBC. The Queen has paid tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a tireless champion of human rights following his death aged 90. Tutu, who helped end apartheid in South Africa, died in Cape Town on Boxing Day. In a message of condolence, the Queen said the whole royal family were deeply saddened by the news. A message of condolence from Her Majesty The Queen on the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 26, 2021 The message said: I am joined by the whole Royal Family in being deeply saddened by the news of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a man who tirelessly championed human rights in South Africa and across the world. I remember with fondness my meetings with him and his great warmth and humour. Archbishop Tutus loss will be felt by the people of South Africa, and by so many people in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and across the Commonwealth, where he was held in such high affection and esteem. The Prince of Wales later highlighted Tutus bravery, writing in a statement on Twitter: My wife and I are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu whose bravery in speaking out against the evil of apartheid and highlighting the threat of climate change was an inspiration to us all. Nicknamed The Arch, Tutu was made the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986 and was a driving force to end the policy of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. His work led to him receiving numerous doctorates and academic awards from all over the world, including a Nobel Prize. Tutu retired from public life in 2010 but continued to do charity work through the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and speak out on certain issues. One of his final public appearances was in 2019 when he met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son, Archie, in South Africa. In a statement, Harry and Meghan said: Archbishop Tutu will be remembered for his optimism, his moral clarity, and his joyful spirit. He was an icon for racial justice and beloved across the world. It was only two years ago that he held our son, Archie, while we were in South Africa Arch and The Arch he had joked, his infectious laughter ringing through the room, relaxing anyone in his presence. He remained a friend and will be sorely missed by all. Desmond Tutu with the Duchess of Sussex and Archie in 2019 (Toby Melville/PA) Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell described him as a giant, adding that the world itself feels a little smaller without him. His expansive vision of how the Christian faith shapes the whole of life has touched many hearts and changed many lives, he said in a statement. The Anglican church in particular gives thanks for one of its greatest saints. But Christian people everywhere, and all people of goodwill, will today be mourning the loss of someone who showed the world what following Jesus looks like and where it leads. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, described Tutu as a man of words and action. He told Sky News: He was the rainbow leader. He didnt stick with one group. He defended the rights of LGBT people in the constitution. He defended the rights of former enemies. Tutu addressing the Nelson Mandela Freedom Rally in Hyde Park, London, in 1988 (PA) Outlining Tutus legacy, he added: Can we be a humanity that says, My gain need not be your loss, your gain need not be my loss? We can both flourish and grow. That is, I think, the greatest part of Tutus legacy for the world. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said it was another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa. The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which highlighted the friendship between Mandela and Tutu, said the loss of him was immeasurable. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they were heartbroken to discover Tutu had died. We were blessed to spend time with him on several occasions over the past many years, the pair said in a statement. His courage and moral clarity helped inspire our commitment to change American policy toward the repressive Apartheid regime in South Africa. Former prime minister Tony Blair said he was saddened by Tutus death and that he had made an immense contribution to the ending of apartheid and South Africas transition to democracy. His spiritual leadership and willingness to take action in pursuit of peaceful change earned him the respect of millions in South Africa and the rest of the world, Mr Blair said. My condolences to his wife, his family and loved ones. Desmond Tutu with his wife Leah at Heathrow Airport (PA) Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Steel, an ex-president of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement, added: Desmond Tutu was a gigantic and effective opponent of apartheid and a very dear friend. He was able to use his position as archbishop to oppose the apartheid government and then to usher in the truth and reconciliation process under the new government. His vital role can never be underestimated. According to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Tutu died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town. A cause of death has not been given. He is survived by his wife Leah and their four children. South Africa's Tutu - anti-apartheid hero who never stopped fighting for "Rainbow Nation" FILE PHOTO: South African Archbishop and Nobel Laureate Tutu speaks during an interview with Reuters in New Delhi , (Reuters) -"Like falling in love" is how Archbishop Desmond Tutu described voting in South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, a remark that captured both his puckish humour and his profound emotions after decades fighting apartheid. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureate whose moral might permeated South African society during apartheid's darkest hours and into the unchartered territory of new democracy, died on Sunday. He was 90. The outspoken Tutu was considered the nation's conscience by both Black and white, an enduring testament to his faith and spirit of reconciliation in a divided nation. He preached against the tyranny of white minority and even after its end, he never wavered in his fight for a fairer South Africa, calling the black political elite to account with as much feistiness as he had the white Afrikaners. In his final years, he regretted that his dream of a "Rainbow Nation" had not yet come true. On the global stage, the human rights activist spoke out across a range of topics, from Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories to gay rights, climate change and assisted death - issues that cemented Tutu's broad appeal. "The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa," said President Cyril Ramaphosa. Just five feet five inches (1.68 metres) tall and with an infectious giggle, Tutu was a moral giant who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent struggle against apartheid. He used his high-profile role in the Anglican Church to highlight the plight of black South Africans. Asked on his retirement as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996 if he had any regrets, Tutu said: "The struggle tended to make one abrasive and more than a touch self-righteous. I hope that people will forgive me any hurts I may have caused them." Talking and travelling tirelessly throughout the 1980s, Tutu became the face of the anti-apartheid movement abroad while many of the leaders of the rebel African National Congress (ANC), such as Nelson Mandela, were behind bars. "Our land is burning and bleeding and so I call on the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this government," he said in 1986. Even as governments ignored the call, he helped rouse grassroots campaigns around the world that fought for an end to apartheid through economic and cultural boycotts. Former hardline white president P.W. Botha asked Tutu in a letter in March 1988 whether he was working for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom promised by the then-outlawed and now ruling ANC. GRAVESIDE ORATIONS Among his most painful tasks was delivering graveside orations for Black people who had died violently during the struggle against white domination. "We are tired of coming to funerals, of making speeches week after week. It is time to stop the waste of human lives," he once said. Tutu said his stance on apartheid was moral rather than political. "It's easier to be a Christian in South Africa than anywhere else, because the moral issues are so clear in this country," he once told Reuters. In February 1990, Tutu led Nelson Mandela on to a balcony at Cape Town's City Hall overlooking a square where the ANC talisman made his first public address after 27 years in prison. He was at Mandela's side four years later when he was sworn in as the country's first black president. "Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu's voice will always be the voice of the voiceless," is how Mandela, who died in December 2013, described his friend. While Mandela introduced South Africa to democracy, Tutu headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that laid bare the terrible truths of the war against white rule. Some of the heartrending testimony moved him publicly to tears. PULLED NO PUNCHES But Tutu was as tough on the new democracy as he was on South Africa's apartheid rulers. He castigated the new ruling elite for boarding the "gravy train" of privilege and chided Mandela for his long public affair with Graca Machel, whom he eventually married. In his Truth Commission report, Tutu refused to treat the excesses of the ANC in the fight against white rule any more gently than those of the apartheid government. Even in his twilight years, he never stopped speaking his mind, condemning President Jacob Zuma over allegations of corruption surrounding a $23 million security upgrade to his home. In 2014, he admitted he did not vote for the ANC, citing moral grounds. "As an old man, I am sad because I had hoped that my last days would be days of rejoicing, days of praising and commending the younger people doing the things that we hoped so very much would be the case," Tutu told Reuters in June 2014. In December 2003, he rebuked his government for its support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, despite growing criticism over his human rights record. Tutu drew a parallel between Zimbabwe's isolation and South Africa's battle against apartheid. "We appealed for the world to intervene and interfere in South Africa's internal affairs. We could not have defeated apartheid on our own," Tutu said. "What is sauce for the goose must be sauce for the gander too." He also criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki for his public questioning of the link between HIV and AIDS, saying Mbeki's international profile had been tarnished. SCHOOL TEACHER'S SON A schoolteacher's son, Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, a conservative town west of Johannesburg, on Oct. 7, 1931. The family moved to Sophiatown in Johannesburg, one of the commercial capital's few mixed-race areas, subsequently demolished under apartheid laws to make way for the white suburb of Triomf - Triumph in Afrikaans. Always a passionate student, Tutu first worked as a teacher. But he said he had become infuriated with the system of educating Blacks, once described by a South African prime minister as aimed at preparing them for their role in society as servants. Tutu quit teaching in 1957 and decided to join the church, studying first at St. Peter's Theological College in Johannesburg. He was ordained a priest in 1961 and continued his education at King's College in London. After four years abroad, he returned to South Africa, where his sharp intellect and charismatic preaching saw him rise through lecturing posts to become Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975, which was when his activism started taking shape. "I realised that I had been given a platform that was not readily available to many Blacks, and most of our leaders were either now in chains or in exile. And I said: 'Well, I'm going to use this to seek to try to articulate our aspirations and the anguishes of our people'," he told a reporter in 2004. By now too prominent and globally respected to be thrust aside by the apartheid government, Tutu used his appointment as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches in 1978 to call for sanctions against his country. He was named the first Black Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, becoming the head of the Anglican Church, South Africa's fourth largest. He would retain that position until 1996. In retirement he battled prostate cancer and largely withdrew from public life. In one of his last public appearances, he hosted Britains Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their four-month-old son Archie at his charitable foundation in Cape Town in September 2019, calling them a "genuinely caring" couple. Tutu married Leah in 1955. They had four children and several grandchildren, and homes in Cape Town and Soweto township near Johannesburg. (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall, Angus MacSwan and William Mallard) Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results According to a Tweet published by Mahmoud Gamal on December 22, 2021, Egypt's Minister of Military Production and South Korean DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration) hold talks on the possibility to co-produce in Egypt the South Korean K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tank (MBT). Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link South Korean Army K2 Black Panther in live demonstration. (Picture source Army Recognition) The K2 Black Panther is a new generation of main battle tanks designed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. South Korea has already offered to other countries to produce a local version of the K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tank (MBT) including Poland and Norway. South Korea had proposed to Poland to produce locally a Polish version of the K2 MBT to replace its aging fleet of T-72M1 and PT-91 MBTs currently in service but Poland has taken the decision to acquire 250 American M1A2 SEP V3 tanks. In November 2021, Army Recognition has reported that Norway has shortlisted two candidates to acquire a new main battle tank, including the South Korean K-2 Black Panther tank and the German Leopard 2A7. During the ADEX 2021 defense exhibition in South Korea, Hyundai Rotem has unveiled the K2NO Black Panther Main Battle Tank fitted with a turret modified according to specific requirements of the Norwegian armed forces. The K2 Black Panther is a new generation of Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed, developed and manufactured in South Korea by the South Korean Company Hyundai Rotem. The K2 was unveiled for the first time to the public during the Defense Exhibition ADEX at the Seoul Airport in October 2009. The main armament of the K2 Black Panther consists of a German-made Rheinmetall 120-mm/ L55 smoothbore gun produced under license in South Korea. The gun is fitted with an automatic loader which ensures the loading of projectiles on the move even when the vehicle moves on uneven surfaces. The 120mm gun can fire about 10 rounds per minute. The K2 Black Panther has a crew of three including a commander, a gunner, and a driver. It has a combat weight of 55 tons with a length of 10.8 m, a wide of 3.6 m, and a height of 2.4 M. The K2 MBT armor consists of Composite Armor and ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor). The tanks can be also fitted with an APS (Active Protection System) to provide protection against incoming threats as anti-tank guided missiles and rockets. It includes soft and hard-kill systems. The K2 tank is equipped with auto-target detection and tracking system and hunter-killer function offering to the commander to rotate and elevate its sight independently from the gunner's sight. This allows the tank commander to maintain situational awareness while the gunner is servicing a target. The tank also features an electric gun and turret driving system. The gunner primary sight and commander panoramic sight are stabilized in two axes and include a thermal imager and laser rangefinder enabling day and night observation. Serhiy Vilkov, Head of the Development Department of the Ukrainian company Practika has announced that the Kozak-2M2, 4x4 light tactical armored vehicle could be produced in Indonesia. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link The Kozak-2M2 is a 4x4 light tactical armored vehicle designed and manufactured in Ukraine by the company Practika. (Picture source Wikimedia) In 2020, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ukrainian company Practika and PT Pindad from Indonesia to develop and produce military equipment. According to open sources information, in 2021, Indonesia has received two Kozak 4x4 armored personnel carrier vehicles to conduct research and development. The Kozak is a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier fully developed and designed in Ukraine by the company Practika. The first version of the vehicle was unveiled on August 24, 2009, during a military parade in Kyiv to commemorate the Independence Day of Ukraine. The previous version of the Kozak 2 was based on the EuroCargo 44 truck chassis developed by the Italian company Iveco Defence Vehicle, while the Kozak-2M2 is based on a monocoque design with a body shell built up from armor plates, rather than attaching them to a frame. This reduces weight for a given amount of armor. The Kozak-2M2 also has an independent suspension to provide high mobility in off-road conditions. The vehicle is powered by a 7.8 L IVECO Diesel engine developing 352 hp coupled to a ZF manual transmission with six forward and one reverse gears. The Kozak-2M2 has a crew of three and can accommodate up to 8 infantrymen who are seated on individual anti-mine blast seats. The hull of the vehicle provides ballistic protection STANAG 4569 Level against the firing of small arms using 7.6239mm API BZ caliber ammunition. In APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) variant, the front section is fitted with four doors with bulletproof glass windows, two on either side of the cabin and two in the troop compartment. One large door with a bulletproof vision block and firing port is mounted at the rear of the hull allowing the infantrymen to quickly enter or leave the vehicle. Each side of the troop's compartment has three vision blocks and firing ports. The roof of the Kozak-2M2 can be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with a machine gun up to 12.7mm caliber. The vehicle has a combat weight of 15,000 kg with a length of 6.23 m, a width of 2.3 m, and a height of 2.3 m Modi said that India will soon have a nasal vaccine and worlds 1st DNA vaccine Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the citizens that all possible preparations are in order to tackle increasing infections. He listed the number of hospital beds, oxygen beds available, and vaccination progress. (PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that India would start vaccinating children between the ages of 15 to 18 from January 3 next year. Healthcare and frontline workers will be provided with precautionary doses from January 10, he added. People above 60 years of age, who have comorbidities, will also have the option to take the booster dose on a recommendation from doctors. This will also start from January 10. The Prime Minister said that as people prepare to welcome the New Year with hope and celebration, its also a time to be careful as the highly contagious Omicron variant is rapidly pushing up Covid infections. He appealed to the people not to panic but be careful and alert. Use masks and wash hands regularly, he said, adding that India will soon have a nasal vaccine and worlds 1st DNA vaccine. Mr Modi assured the citizens that all possible preparations are in order to tackle increasing infections. He listed the number of hospital beds, oxygen beds available, and vaccination progress. Covid isnt past us yet. Being careful is very important, he said. Today, the nation has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen-supported beds, 1.4 lakh ICU beds, and 90,000 special beds for children. Today, we have over 3,000 functional PSA Oxygen plants and 4 lakh Oxygen cylinders have been provided to all states, he said Apart from research on the vaccine, we were also working on approval processes, supply chains, distribution, training, IT support system, and certification. With these efforts, India started vaccinating its citizens on January 16 this year, he said. Today, more than 61 percent of Indias adult population has received both doses of the vaccine. Similarly, about 90 percent of the adult population has been given a single dose of the vaccine, he said. Meanwhile, Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech has received approval from DCGI for emergency use of its vaccine for children. Bharat Biotech recently submitted the phase 3 clinical trial applications to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to get approval for the booster dose of its intranasal Covid vaccine named BBV154. We have submitted phase 3 clinical trial applications to DCGI. An intranasal vaccine as a booster dose will be easier to administer in mass vaccination campaigns. Intranasal vaccines have the potential to prevent transmission, said Bharat Biotech in its application. Multi-disciplinary central teams have been deployed in 10 states which are reporting either an increasing number of Omicron and Covid-19 cases or a slow vaccination pace, according to a Union health ministry office memorandum. Meanwhile, a total of 415 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in India so far, out of which 115 have recovered or migrated. Maharashtra has recorded a maximum of 110 Omicron cases, followed by Delhi at 79, Gujarat 43, Telangana 41, Kerala 38, Tamil Nadu 34 and Karnataka 31. Rajasthan reported 21 new Omicron cases taking tally to 43. As per the document, these 10 states where teams have been deployed are Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Punjab. In view of the rapid surge in cases and deaths because of Covid-19, as reported by various news channels, the state governments, and noted in internal reviews, it has been seen that the number of Omicron cases has emerged in some states. It has also been observed that the pace of Covid-19 vaccination in these states is less than the national average. In wake of this situation, a decision has been taken to deploy multi-disciplinary central teams to 10 identified states some of which are either reporting increasing number of Omicron and Covid-19 cases or slow vaccination pace (list enclosed), to aid the efforts of the state and district administration for management of Covid-19, the memorandum stated. These teams will be stationed in the states for three to five days, and they will work along with the state health authorities, it said. The teams will specifically look into areas of contact-tracing, including surveillance and containment operations, and Covid-19 testing, including sending of adequate samples from clusters to the INSACOG network for genome sequencing, the memo stated. They will also look into enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour, availability of hospital beds, sufficient logistics, including ambulances, ventilators, and medical oxygen, and the Covid-19 vaccination progress. The state-level central teams will assess the situation, suggest remedial actions and submit a report every evening by 7 pm on public health activities being undertaken, besides submitting the same to the state governments, the memo stated. Further nearly 50 per cent or 87 out of 183 persons detected with the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Coronavirus were fully vaccinated, an analysis of data available with the government reveals. The findings, government health authorities said, only went to emphasise that vaccine alone is not sufficient to contain this pandemic and that use of masks and surveillance is key to breaking the chain of transmission. Fresh lockdown will be imposed in Maharashtra only if demand for medical oxygen touches 800 metric tons per day, said health minister Rajesh Tope, while Telangana prohibits rallies and public meetings till January 2. Other events, including congregations and New Year parties, will be permitted with Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. Assam to impose night curfew from 11.30pm to 6am starting December 26. The clarification comes after Congress alleged that the Centre is planning to bring back the three farm laws with amendments Ashes of farmers killed during protest against farm laws are kept on table during a protest in solidarity with farmers in Mumbai. (Photo: AP/File) Gwalior: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said that the Centre has no plan to introduce farm laws again adding that his statement during a programme was misquoted. The clarification from the Union Minister comes after Congress alleged that the Centre is planning to bring back the three farm laws (that have now been repealed) with amendments after the Assembly elections in five states. Speaking to ANI, Tomar said, "The agricultural reform laws were brought by the Government of India for the betterment of the farmers. The Government of India and the Prime Minister have withdrawn those laws in order to end the farmers' movement. "My statement during the Agro Vision program was misquoted. I had said that we have retreated from the stance of the farm laws, but for the betterment of the farmers, the Government of India will continue to move forward. There should be no misunderstanding in this matter. The Centre has no plan to introduce farm laws again," he added. Earlier, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala said, "Tomar's statement has once again exposed the Centre's conspiracy to bring back the three anti-farmer laws. It is clear that after the assembly elections in five states, the Central government is planning to bring back the three black laws in a new form and this they are doing under the pressure of capitalists." The Congress leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apologized and repealed the three "black" laws in Parliament fearing defeat in the election of the five states. The three farm laws were repealed after the requisite bills were passed during the winter session of Parliament which began on November 23. Earlier on Saturday, Adityanath launched a 'free tablets and laptops distribution scheme' for one crore youths of the state Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that his government will construct houses for the poor on land freed from the mafias. Meanwhile, The chief minister held a meeting with the officials of Team 9. Later in the day, Adityanath will attend various programs ahead in the day. He will firstly attend Defence Research and Development Organisation's lab foundation stone laying program at 11:30 am which will also be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Later, the chief minister will lay the foundation stone for various development projects program at Osa Mandi in Manjhanpur of Kaushambi. He will reach Prayagraj at 3:00 pm and will do Bhoomi Pujan of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Earlier on Saturday, Adityanath launched a "free tablets and laptops distribution scheme" for one crore youths of the state. You better make the CM the governor while appointing her as the chancellor, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said Kolkata: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar sarcastically suggested state education minister Bratya Basu on Sunday to make chief minister Mamata Banerjee also the governor of the state in his plan to bring the Trinamul Congress supremo atop the universities. Mr Dhankhar expressed his anguish and disgust days after Mr Basu threatened to replace him with the CM as the Chancellor of all the universities in the state for his alleged obstructions and interference in the matters of the education department. The Governor also came down heavily on Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee in wake of his complaint to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi against his interference in the legislative matters. Mr Dhankhar warned Mr Banerjee to respect his post and know his role. Targeting Mr Basu, Mr Dhankhar, who is in Darjeeling on a year-end tour, said, "I was very much astonished to see the education minister, who was supposed to consult with me, talking about making the CM the chancellor. You better make the CM the governor while appointing her as the chancellor. Only then you will perhaps get peace. This behavior is incorrect." On Mr Banerjee, the governor observed, "The Assembly Speaker should maintain the dignity of his chair. He is not aware of his rights and responsibilities both. I visited the assembly twice and delivered my address to the House according to the Constitution. But on both occasions, the Emergency came to mind because my speech was blacked out." He added, "Before that, when I went to visit the assembly for the first time and collect information, it was kept under lock and key. None of the queries, which were sent to the Assembly to gather information, has been responded to till date. Such conduct of the Speaker can not be countenanced." Condemning Mr Dhankhar's attack on Mr Banerjee, senior TMC MP Sougata Roy claimed, "It is indecency. The governor's chair is not an elected post. The governor is a nominated representative of the Centre. He is crossing his limits. Mr Banerjee is an elected member and speaker of the House. Mr Dhankhar earlier insulted him by appointing the deputy speaker in his place to give oath to the newly elected MLAs. This was an injustice. Mr Banerjee is a thorough gentleman. People of Bengal will give their reply to Mr Dhankhar for insulting the assembly speaker." Theories about Rawats mysterious future plans have become a subject of animated discussion in the poll-bound hill state Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawats recent lament that he was not getting sufficient support from the Congress organisation has sparked off furious speculation that the unhappy leader may be going the Amarinder Singh way. Theories about Rawats mysterious future plans have become a subject of animated discussion in the poll-bound hill state. This chatter picked up speed after Mr Rawat called on former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat of the Bharatiya Janata Party to wish him on his birthday. The fact that this meeting took place barely a few days before Mr Rawats public outburst against the Congress leadership added a new twist to this saga. To make matters even more interesting, Mr Rawat also met leaders of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, a regional party established three decades ago to fight for separate statehood. Even as efforts are on to placate Mr Rawat, the former chief minister has sent out multiple messages to the party that he has other options and will not hesitate to exercise them if the Congress does not declare him as the chief ministerial face and gives a substantial number of tickets to his supporters. Meanwhile, the BJP is keeping close tabs on Mr Rawat as he has been on its radar for some time now. * Former minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was a visible and vocal figure in Parliament whenever a session was in progress. He was happy to chat informally with presspersons and was fielded regularly to brief the media on government policies or the Bharatiya Janata Partys position on specific issues. He was a party favourite for demolishing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. However, the high-profile minister has virtually gone underground ever since he was divested of his ministerial responsibilities in the July Cabinet reshuffle. Mr Prasad was neither heard or seen during the Winter Session of Parliament. And if he did attend the Lok Sabha proceedings, he did so quietly without drawing any attention to himself. He did, however, put in a brief public appearance at former chief justice Ranjan Gogois book launch earlier this month. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank who also lost his ministry in the last reshuffle, was not seen in Parliament either. However, Prakash Javadekar, another loser in the Cabinet rejig, was spotted in Parliament. Clearly, some leaders have yet to get over the shock of losing their coveted jobs. * That the recent inauguration of the first phase of the Kashi-Vishwanath temple corridor at Varanasi was a Modi affair is stating the obvious. Local BJP leaders learnt this the hard way. With Assembly elections due in a few months, these leaders hoped to get personal publicity from the event and had ordered posters and banners displaying their own photographs welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Varanasi. However, their plans went awry for they were told that only Mr Modis posters, banners and cutouts would be exhibited in the city precincts. A concession was made to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath whose picture was also included in the publicity material that adorned Varanasi during Mr Modis visit. The others had to be happy putting up their posters on the citys outskirts. * Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, mahant or head priest of the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi, appears to have fallen out with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been speaking out against the manner in which the lockdown was imposed and implemented by the Modi and Yogi governments. The head priest is also known to have cold-shouldered several BJP leaders. Normally, the mahant personally welcomes a VIP and shows him around and also conducts the aarti for him. A senior minister in the Yogi government was, therefore, taken aback when Mr Mishra told him bluntly that he would not be present when he comes to offer prayers. And yet Mr Mishra readily agreed to attend a meeting of Eastern UP Brahmins being organised by the Samajwadi Party. It is not clear if Mr Mishras anger with the BJP is only a personal grouse or a reflection of the overall mood of Brahmins in Varanasi. Whatever the reason, there is no denying that Mr Mishra is an influential figure in the city. * Currently a member of the legislative council, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath apparently wishes to contest next years Assembly elections to test his personal popularity. Having won the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency for five consecutive terms, it is logical for him to contest from his home turf. Two Assembly seats Gorakhpur Urban and Campiyarganj have been identified for the incumbent chief minister. However, there is a minor hitch. The first seat is held by four-term MLA Radha Mohan Aggarwal, former Hindu Mahasabha member and follower of Yogis predecessor at the Gorakhpur Matt, Yogi Avaidyanath. Similarly, the second seat is held by six-term legislator Fateh Bahadur Singh. Both Mr Singh and Mr Aggarwal are on good terms with Yogi but are reluctant to give up their seats. There is also talk that Yogi may choose to contest from an Assembly seat in Varanasi. Such a dangerous and revolting display of religious hatred cannot be passed off as a one-off incident The so-called Dharma Sansad or Religious Parliament held at Haridwar over December 17-19 witnessed a level of hate, bigotry and open incitement to violence against Muslims that most Indians will find unbelievable. Prabodhanand Giri, the president of the self-styled Hindu Raksha Sena made a public call for ethnic cleaning of Muslims. Like Myanmar, our police, our politicians, our Army and every Hindu must pick up weapons and conduct a safai abhiyan (ethnic cleansing). There is no other option left. Another luminary, Pooja Shakun Pandey aka Sadhvi Annapurna, made a direct call for genocide. If you want to finish them off, then kill them. We need hundred soldiers who can kill 20 lakh of them to win this. These are but samples of the extraordinary rant of pure vitriol and venom at this meeting against fellow citizens based entirely on religious hatred. Some facts need to be clearly understood. All these speakers had usurped to themselves the garb of Hindu religious saints. Most if not all of them had verifiable connections with top BJP leaders. There are videos and photographs of Yogi Adityanath and the CM of Uttarakhand genuflecting before them. None of them hid their connections with the larger Sangh Parivar. And, BJP leaders themselves notwithstanding their subsequent claims to innocence were present at the meeting and even addressed the gathering. Such a dangerous and revolting display of religious hatred cannot be passed off as a one-off incident. It is a consequence of several years of nurturing and encouragement of precisely such sentiments, for which the BJP-RSS combine must accept responsibility. Much too often the members of these organisations and supporters of their divisive agenda have come out with statements that can only be seen as fuel for such a condemnable hate conflagration. Their MPs have openly expressed their admiration even veneration for Nathuram Godse, and their ministers have got away making statements in which they refer to Muslims as haraamzadas or bastards. Around 98 per cent of cattle lynchings since 2010 occurred after 2014; the overwhelming majority of these took place in BJP ruled states; and 86 per cent of the victims were Muslims. The BJPs policy of blatant religious polarisation for short-term electoral dividends has led it to endorse and encourage the demonisation of Muslims and other minorities. The attempt to consolidate Hindu vote has led the BJP to aggressively conjure the other, against whom enmity or ill will has to be fostered. The number of BJP leaders against whom hate speech allegations exist is proof of this. The so-called religious leaders who spoke at Haridwar are a symptom of this organised empowerment over a period of time. For precisely this reason, the gathering at Haridwar was not of fringe elements. It represented albeit in a particularly outrageous form the sentiments of the hard-core followers of the BJP-RSS. For too long Hindus and Indians generally have lulled themselves into complacency with the thought that some of these statements and actions are the monopoly of a few loonies, marginal elements, the odd few who are outside mainstream society. The truth is that over these last seven years the fringe has become the mainstream support of the BJP. It is the section from which the party derives its strength. Such elements are explicitly and implicitly encouraged and nurtured, and when something like Haridwar happens, the BJP makes a tokenistic and unconvincing gesture to somewhat distance itself from it. It is not surprising then that the BJP government of Uttarakhand took days before it registered a reluctant FIR against one of the perpetrators. There was no condemnation of the event by either the state government or the central high command. An eerie silence, akin to tacit support, was the only response. The perpetrators themselves were publicly unrepentant. They knew that they had the support of the powers that be. Hindus, in particular, need to be extremely worried by such developments. Vitriol of this nature is not confined to silos. These rabid high priests of the Hindu faith will soon tell all Hindus what to eat, what to wear, what to drink, who to meet, and how to pray. Their illiterate fanaticism will seek to rule your lives. Women will be special targets, and made to conform to what such people think are chaste Hindu naris. Those of us who say Diwali Mubarak will be attacked for the use of Urdu in the greeting. Celebrating Christmas will be considered un-Hindu. The self-anointed lumpen writ of such people will play havoc with the way the vast majority of Hindus wish to be Hindus. Violent hatred of this nature is also a severe distortion of the self-assured, tolerant, dialogic and inclusive nature of Hinduism. This is an attempt to whip our sanatani faith into some kind of Wahabi creed, hysterically bigoted, insecure, and exclusionist. Hinduism is being weaponised before our very eyes only to further the political agenda of a political party. The hugely impractical and outdated goal of a Hindu Rashtra, which animates these saffron dharis, would entail either expelling our large number of minorities, which is unfeasible, or subjugate them as second-class citizens, which is a recipe for disaster. Quite apart from the violent mutilation of the Constitution, it would lead to perennial instability, unmitigated religious strife, endemic community conflict and a state of public volatility that would put an end to the peace and harmony so necessary for progress and prosperity. Is this in the interest of Hindus? Hate speech emanating from any religious community is condemnable. It directly militates against the delicate filigree of our civilisational heritage, marked by antiquity, continuity, diversity, assimilation and peaks of refinement. The attempt to reduce Hinduism to its lowest common denominator is an assault on the sensibilities of all Hindus, and Indians. The time has come for ordinary Indians to say enough is enough. It is time also for those responsible for such outrages to understand that Indians will not be passive cannon fodder for their cynical political goals. Also known as Silver Cloud I, the first model remained in production until 1958, being offered with a 300 (4.9-liter) engine and paired with a 4-speed Hydramatic transmission. In 1959, Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Cloud II, an improved model that also came with a much more powerful engine.This time, the unit in charge of putting the wheels in motion was a 380 (6.2-liter) V8 that could propel the car to a maximum speed of 114 mph (183 kph). Fewer than 2,500 units ended up being produced until 1962, when another improved model hit the streets.The car were highlighting today is a 1960 Silver Cloud II, though as you can easily figure out from the photos included in the article, this Rolls-Royce no longer comes in a condition youd normally expect on a luxury vehicle.By the looks of things, the car has been sitting for several years, and one of the photos shared by eBay seller rrconnection suggests this Silver Cloud II was just left to rot in some kind of yard. An area full of vegetation obviously isnt really good news for a vehicle thats no longer moving, so expect plenty of rust, especially on the undersides.The seller themselves acknowledges this Silver Cloud should just be used for parts unless someone is brave enough to buy the car and start a full restoration process. The engine still seems to be there, though it goes without saying you shouldnt expect it to still work given the overall condition.Time will tell if anyone wants to give this Rolls-Royce a second chance, but at $3,250, theres no doubt it really deserves it. Some other offers might also be considered, so make sure you reach out to the seller if youre interested in bringing this Silver Cloud back to the road. EV BEV SUV From Audi to Volvo, which is a European nameplate under Chinese ownership, the Old Continent carmakers are shaking their CEOs to make a decision. Engineers in their R&D departments are burning the midnight oil to create new cars, and they are doing that while they have already achieved Level 3 autonomous driving systems. Of course, for now, we only saw their pricier brands going theroute. Yet, some of their cars might land on American shores with lower prices.BMW didn't want to affect its existing customers and launched a new sub-brand named BMW i, which focused exclusively on hybrid and electric vehicles. After the i8 and i3, it continued with the newer generations. The carmaker also went through some hard times with its plug-ins, which didn't work too well. At least, its engineers learned how to make them right, eventually. But their lessons will serve mostly for therange since the German carmaker has already announced that it will quit developing vehicles that use fossil fuels soon.BMW pioneered hydrogen-powered cars, where it used hydrogen to burn inside the cylinders of a 7 Series limousine. So maybe it didn't quit on that idea, but for now, the hydrogen solution doesn't seem to have as many supporters as BEVs do. Meanwhile, BMW is ready to show the i7 electric flagship model.These British brands owned by the Indian group Tata Industries don't seem too concerned about electric-powered vehicles. Sure, it electrified some vehicles, offers plug-in hybrids, and a fully electric vehicle, the Jaguar iPace , since 2018, a crossover that won the 2019 World Car Of The Year title. Moreover, it signed the Glasgow agreement and promised to switch to 100% electric Jaguars by 2025. As for LR, well, that will be a difficult problem. Sure, it can make the Evoque fully electric, but it will be a long road to make a battery-powered Range Rover or a Defender.Mercedes-Benz was slow to react to the BEV technology as well, but once it started, it accelerated fast. Unlike BMW, it stuck to the same three-star badge and name for the new electric vehicles but used the EQ nameplate for them. Thus, cars like the EQS, EQE, and EQB appeared on the market. Since it has already gained momentum, it may continue with the other vehicles from its range from the compact, crossover, andsegments.On the performance side, it already launched the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ , which might snap your head while accelerating and bruise your chest when braking. It aims at Porsche Taycan customers, but with a higher price, better equipment, and more luxurious interiors.Nissan was one of the pioneers of electric mobility with the Leaf back in 2010. Kudos for that! Even though many people laughed at them, nowadays, the Leaf is bigger, offers a way better range and a high-tech-packed interior. Who's laughing now? On the other hand, Renault already gained momentum with the Zoe, which offers a respectable 250 miles (400 km) range, and with the most affordable electric car on the European market, the Dacia Spring Dacia is a Romanian brand owned by Renault, and it's suitable for "let's make it cheap" experiments. How cheap? Well, think about $24,000 for a 145-mile (234 km) range vehicle thath you can fully charge at home.The German carmaker is already on the verge of having an entire electric-powered lineup. It started way back with the A3 e-tron in 2013. It was a plug-in hybrid since it had to overcome the range anxiety. After some bumps on the way, it convinced customers to purchase the car, and, in 2018, the plug-in hybrid was withdrawn since the carmaker focused more on BEV technology.After a few SUVs, the four-rings brand announced the future of its cars with the Grandsphere concept. So, its plans are coming through. Also, let's not forget that the Volkswagen Group tests new technologies on its lesser-known brands such as Skoda or Cupra Being part of the same company, Bentley will also switch to electric powerplants. Porsche already proved its value with the Taycan, and Volkswagen is preparing the I.D. Buzz minivan , which is based on the new MEB platform designed for electric vehicles.Part of the Geely group, the Swedish brand already has the know-how to build BEVs. It proved it with the electric-only Polestar brand, but it hasn't lost the internal-combustion engines yet. It also has plug-in hybrids with enough range to commute on fully electric mode, and you don't need to see your office building from your backyard for that. Still, some issues are to be solved, but it promised at Glasgow to deal with all the problems by 2030 and eventually say goodbye to internal combustion engines.Sure, we're all facing new challenges for the electric cars of tomorrow. There are still not enough charging stations, and the electricity is not completely produced in environmentally-friendly ways. But, at least, we won't have the same smog in the cities and into our lungs. So, enjoy your gas-powered car while you can. I know I do! Sooner or later, we'll have to join the buzzing revolution. Continental Tire Celebrates 150 Years! is one of many ads that celebrate the companys illustrious history, but curiously enough, this ad stars the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. As the headline implies, the C8 is factory equipped with Michelin tires instead of Continentals.On the one hand, this may be an honest mistake on the German companys part. But on the other hand, Continental may be trying to woo General Motors away from Michelin through Lingenfelter. I am referring to the Lingenfelter C8 Corvette previewed in October 2020, which features Extreme Contact on all corners instead of the standard models Pilot Sport All Season 4. As far as the Z51 is concerned, this variant normally flaunts the performance-oriented Pilot Sport 4 S thats not suitable in wet or in cold conditions.Even the Z06 features Michelins, and the same can be said about the upcoming E-Ray. As a brief refresher, the Corvette E-Ray is basically a blend of the wide-bodied Z06 with the small-block V8 of the Stingray and some kind of hybrid assistance. The most likely outcome is a front-mounted electric motor that would revolutionize the Corvette with all-wheel drive.Turning out attention back to Continental, the German tire manufacturer is currently looking to expand its OEM business. The Ford Ranger Raptor comes to mind, which switched from BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2s to General Grabber AT3s back in January 2021. In addition to more affordable pricing, General Grabber AT3s are produced in South Africa, where the Ford Motor Company makes the bi-turbo diesel Ranger Raptor off-road pickup.On that note, have you ever wondered which is the largest tire manufacturer in the world? Believe it or not, the Danish toy company LEGO holds that title. ECU Before we delve into the details about the twelve-cylinder , lets get to know the car it was intended for. It all started in 1967 when Toyota introduced a new full-size luxury sedan that was built to celebrate 100 years since the birth of its founder, Sakichi Toyoda.The embodiment of Japanese culture and engineering excellence, the Century became the vehicle of choice for members of the royal family, high-ranking government officials, and the countrys most illustrious businessmen. It was continuously improved for the next 30 years, getting its first major redesign in 1997.By that time, Toyota had grown into one of the biggest names in the automotive industry, and no expense was spared for the development of the new Century. In appearance, it was not as lavish as a Maybach or a Rolls-Royce . However, it was just as flawless, comfortable, and high-tech.Unlike the first generation, which was based on an existing model (the Crown Eight), this variant was designed from scratch, and almost every component was specifically conceived for it. While the body featured nothing particularly impressive, things were different under the hood.Engineers were tasked with developing a smooth-running and efficient unit that would also deliver an unprecedented level of reliability. So, rather than building on the successful recipe of the Lexus LS400s 1UZ-FE V8, they cooked up Japans first mass-produced V12.At first glance, the 5.0- liter, all-aluminum, 48-valve, quad-cam mill is nothing special, yet Toyota made a name for itself by over-engineering the heck out of its powerplants, and this one was no exception.The reinforced block was designed with a 60-degree angle between the two banks and was fitted with forged steel, fully counterweighted crankshaft held in place by six-bolt mains. The architecture of both the block and the crank was inspired by the silky-smooth 1UZ-FEs race-derived bottom end. The conrods were asymmetric and made from forged steel, while the pistons were constructed from aluminum alloy.To further improve smoothness and efficiency, the cylinder heads came with slant-squish combustion chambers, iridium spark plugs, and Toyotas VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) technology.In many ways, this engine was a combination of two six-cylinders that shared a common crank. It had dedicated left and right bank intake manifolds, independent throttle bodies, and fuel injection systems. Each bank was controlled by a separate, enabling the 1GZ-FE to completely shut down one of the banks in case of a major failure and continue to run on the other six cylinders.However, this unit was bombproof and never broke down. In fact, it turned out to be one of the most reliable ever produced because it was tuned to deliver far less power and torque than it was capable of.When it was released, Japanese manufacturers were still abiding by the gentlemans agreement of the mid-1970s that limited output to 276 hp. That being said, the 1GZ-FE was rated at yes, you guessed it! Exactly 276 horses. At 355 lb-ft (481 Nm), the maximum amount of torque it could send to the rear wheels was good for a V12 that wasnt built for a sportscar. Moreover, it was attainable at 1,200 rpm, so the 4,520-lb (2,050 kg) of the Century was by no means sluggish.What the engine lacked in terms of power it more than made up in terms of smoothness. In a previous article , I discussed how the 1UZ-FE was put to the test by the Top Gear crew during a 1990 episode: a glass filled with water was placed on top of the valve cover, and the liquid barely moved when the engine was revved up to its limit. Well, according to Toyota, the Centurys V12 exhibited 10% less vibration than the LS400s V8, which is quite amazing.The powerplant showed its true potential once Japanese petrolheads began to swap it into their custom rides. Because of its dual-ECU design, it was a pain in the behind to modify, but eventually, people began to develop custom setups. In many cases, the twelve-cylinder was bored out, fitted with 2JZ internals and custom heads (among other goodies), and could easily spit out between 500 and 600 hp.Of course, some didnt settle for three digits and proceeded to add a twin-turbo kit to the mix. One such speed addict is Kazuhiko Smokey Nagata, the founder of the Japanese tuning company Top Secret and the man behind arguably the most famous Mk IV Supras of all time. Equipped with a pair of HKS GT 2835 turbochargers, the Top Secret Supras thoroughly modified 1GZ-FE produces no less than 1,000 hp. You can see the insane car in action below, in a video posted on YouTube by That Racing Channel.Officially, it was only used in a JDM luxury sedan, and it was grossly capped in power for increased reliability and smoothness. However, the 1GZ-FE was an engineering masterclass that, in my opinion, deserves more recognition. Our solar system has countless pieces of such pieces of rock floating free. Most of them come from the asteroid belt , located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. And that kind of explains why our red, neighboring planet is virtually riddled with the marks of violent impacts.Having studied the place from both on the ground and from orbit for a while now, we humans know Mars is a heavily-impacted place, possibly at times managing to stop some of these rocks making their way over here.Weve also uncovered that, given enough time, a large number of asteroids will sometime result in clusters of impact craters that kind of makes us tremble at how good natures aim sometimes is.The main photo of this piece shows a portion of the Mawrth Vallis in the Oxia Palus quadrangle, an image taken back in 2014 by the HiRISE camera from an altitude of 291 km (181 miles).Officially, it shows clay layers, as this is what the people over at NASA and the University of Arizona are looking at in this image as they try to establish continuity of clay layers and interpret the geological story going on here.Of interest, too, however, are the four tightly packed impact craters to the right of the image, the two large ones stacked on top of each other vertically, and two smaller ones to either side of this pair, looking like the ears of Mickey Mouse Chances are those ears are secondary impact craters, meaning theyve been formed by the ejecta thrown into the air by the initial impact, but that does not take away one bit of the places aura of mystery. But of course, given that enabling this feature essentially allows someone else to keep an eye on your location, Google has also focused a lot on the privacy controls available for Google Maps.So when sharing the location with someone else, you can easily set a time limit, though, at the same time, Google Maps also includes an Until I turn it off setting. In other words, this shares your location with someone else without a time limit until you manually end it.However, it looks like some users on Android have come across a glitch that showed up all of a sudden and which seems to impact a growing number of devices. According to their posts here on Googles forums , sharing the location using the Until I turn it off setting is no longer possible, though the whole thing happens in very, very mysterious ways.First and foremost, the feature is still there, but enabling it no longer shares the location at all. Second of all, it only seems to be broken with some specific contacts while working just fine with others.Users who are struggling with this problem claim Google Maps otherwise runs flawlessly on their devices, and this is the only feature no longer working properly. The behavior was noticed earlier this month, and its believed a recent update caused a glitch that only some users ended up struggling with.At this point, nobody knows exactly whats happening, especially because the feature only seems to be broken down for some specific contacts. Someone on Googles forums suggests it might all be caused by an age requirement limitation, though on the other hand, this is unlikely to be the case, like all the other modes of the location-sharing work properly. The new variant, officially named HH-60W, got the nickname Jolly Green II , in a nod to Vietnam-era helicopters and the people who flew in them.Based on the UH-60M Black Hawk, the new Jolly Green is intended for search and rescue roles. Among the most important modifications made is the inclusion of a new fuel system that should double the aircraft fuel capacity, increasing the time dedicated to missions.Being the most modern of the bunch, it also includes the latest in terms of sensors, defenses, weapons, and cyber-security.When it announced the version, the USAF said there would be 113 of these coming into service over the next few years. To make sure pilots are used to them, CAE USA will supply USAF next year with a virtual reality/mixed reality (VR/MR) aircrew trainer The system comprises a VR headset for each of the airmen that make up the crew, simulating the helicopters physical components, down to the gun mounts, and a virtual reality cockpit and the rear compartment. It will be deployed at the Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, but it can be moved to wherever its needed in the coming years.Yet some pilots seem to be already flying the Jolly Green II, with a pair of them seen here as they depart the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, going on a mission for the Mosaic Tiger 22-1 exercise that took place back in November.Its unclear at this time how many Jolly Green IIs are already in service. Located somewhere between Mars and Jupiter, in the asteroid belt, this mysterious asteroid was only observed from afar ever since it was discovered in 1852. Also named Psyche , the celestial object appears as a fuzzy blur when seen from Earth-based telescopes. And it appears that, from radar data obtained, it's has a potato-like shape.But don't get fooled by its appearance because scientists believe that Psyche is made up of incredibly rare metals. One possible explanation is that it was once part of a rocky planet or that it was the core of one.To find out from what exactly it is made of, where it came from, and what mysteries it holds regarding the formation of our Solar System, NASA is preparing to launch its Psyche spacecraft next year from its Kennedy Space Center.Once in space, the vehicle will use solar electric propulsion. Large solar panels will convert sunlight into energy and supply the necessary power to the spacecraft's thrusters. In 2023, Psyche will pass by Mars to get a gravity push towards its final destination.Psyche will spend more than three years in total, making its final approach to the asteroid in late 2025. As the spacecraft gets closer, the mission team will turn on its cameras. This will allow them to finally get a clear picture of the enigmatic object. Then, in 2026, the spacecraft will enter Psyche's orbit and stick around for almost two years in order to explore the metallic asteroid. Because Rolls-Royce knows well its patrons seek unicity (or to stand out in their crowd) above all else, it comes with all sorts of ideas from time to time. Personalization options are a given at that level, but the British automaker always strives to deliver a bit more. Though, given the incredible imagination of the aftermarket world, its still a tough act to compete with.Let us take the companys Black Badge , for example. It is offered on the Ghost, Cullinan, Wraith, and Dawn models and always takes a shadowy dark approach to details that are usually displayed in shiny chrome. So, what happens when someone loves the black Spirit of Ecstasy but does not want everything to be darker than a pitch-black room at night?Well, if they happen to pay a visit to Miami, Floridas MetroWrapz , things might get up to a new golden standard. Like it happened with this Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge. The ultra-luxury sedan was commissioned by someone who probably has the in gold, we trust credo inscribed somewhere close to heart.As for the passion regarding the metal formed via the chemical element with the symbol Au (from the Latin word aurum) and atomic number 79, it is now a bit more obvious. When based on what he/she drives or is being driven around in, of course. A custom Ghost that certainly stands out in any gold-loving crowd. And, interestingly, a project that manages to remain slightly subdued...Now thats something a bit uncommon. Yet, here it is, all tidily wrapped in Satin Gold Dust Sparkle so that everyone gets the point. Not that its huge grille, dual-tone wheels, side badges, door handles, or the window surrounds werent making it on their own... Still, the glitter and glam make it entirely worthwhile. Now, lets imagine the effect it has on people when exposed to direct sunlight! EV Lately, all that the company is delivering and deserves to be told is bad news: a video game that works while the car is moving, lawsuits against Chinese customers or former employees, a driver monitoring system that does not prevent distracted driving Theres plenty more from where these facts came from. Yet, just check the news, and you will see people talking about any tweet Musk posts.A recent and sad example is Teslas light show, deployed in the Happy Holidays update. It may be fun, but it is not only useless: it is also making headlights in some vehicles fail. Check if you have read about it anywhere. Ironically, these defective headlights get back to work with the light show but cease to work when it is over. This is the only thing important enough to report about that feature.Thats clearly a software defect, which leads to another question: did Tesla test this update well enough before deploying it? Checking Teslas records with quality control and other bad news coming from the company, does it test anything at all? This is something worth asking. Not by coincidence, Tesla decided not to speak to the press anymore at least not with people that do not adulate it.Somehow, it seems important that the Tesla CEO teases American politicians, makes promises he will not deliver on time (if ever), what his opinion is on a variety of topics none of his companies has anything to do with... It is a festival of irrelevance and an attention bubble. Hopefully, it will eventually burst.Curiously, some of these tweets emerge when Tesla or SpaceX faces tough situations. A regular company would require Musk to respond to them surrounded by a team of PR specialists. The latest example was when a Tesla worker killed another at the Fremont parking lot. Musk has not spoken a single word about that. He probably shared a meme with no connection whatsoever with the issue or teased another politician to generate different headlines.Sycophant websites help to amplify this non-news as if they were crucial for people that do not even have a Tesla. At the same time, they ignore whatever does not put Tesla in a positive light or try to distort the news to defend Musk and his company. Some of them confess they invest in themaker. Some just omit that.Meanwhile, serious journalists eventually have to cover the same topics because everybody is talking about them. Some others manage to escape that and focus on what will really make a difference either for Tesla customers or people who share the same spaces with these vehicles, such as those with the bad luck to be around a Tesla on FSD The issue with talking about something so intensely is that it gains a weight it would not have otherwise. A good example of that is Alpha Motors . Apart from lovely designs, the company has not presented a single credible effort to build a car so far.In a recent interview with The Verge, the two baristas that the company hired to represent it said they are now full-time executives and that Alpha wants to do things differently. However, they did not explain what that means apart from presenting an absurd number of designs that no startup would ever have the capacity to build. Even established carmakers wouldnt.Websites in desperate need of quick news gave it the same relevance companies with products for sale had when it emerged. They kept doing that until some journalists decided to question where Alpha came from and what it wanted to do. It was enough for people to realize Alpha should just get articles and headlines when it is more clear about its plans. Until then, its beautiful CGIs are just a distraction, at best. Tesla produces almost 1 million cars per year. It has four models for sale, a massive fast-charging network, and a surreal market cap. That said, it does not have to prove it is for real anymore. Even so, the company and its CEO made promises they never fulfilled. Some would be easy to dismiss with a simple check.Musk kept repeating Giga Grunheide would make cars this year. He also said the Cybertruck would be produced in 2021. The issue is that this pickup truck needs something Tesla still does not have: 4680 cells . How can a factory and a product that depend on such a crucial component operate without it? It is simple logic. Yet, there are people giving away Tesla CybertrucksThis shows the press would better start sorting the wheat from the chaff. Yes, theres pressure to cover everything before anyone else. However, some things should just be ignored until they really make a difference or at least sense, for the record. I can tell you theres a lot of people trying to do precisely that. Thankfully, new companies and new efforts from established companies give us plenty of news to cover. Thats what Hikmet said he was craving to do instead of talking about Teslas reckless approach to autonomous driving. Please wish us good luck with that. This particular example listed on Bring a Trailer comes from 1982. While it might not hover or fly as the Speeder bikes from Star Wars, but back in this small machine is a cult classic. It's possibly the smallest scooter ever made by Honda, and the concept of carrying it in the back of a car was very intriguing back in the '80s.The Motocompo was not marketed in the U.S., but some examples made their way to North America anyway. This 1992 model was purchased by the seller in Japan in 2019 and brought to the U.S. the following year. It features a pop-up solo seat, handlebars, and footpegs that fold flat, allowing for easier transportation.Speaking of that, the bike weighs 93 lbs (42 kgs), so you'd have to put on some effort to carry this small boy around. The body, which was repainted white (initially it was yellow), features integrated carrying handles, a master fuel switch, and tie-down points.It rides on three-spoke 18-inch black wheels, and it comes with full suspension, oil injection, street lighting, and a center stand. In terms of performance, well, it's not a fast ride. The Motocompo is powered by an air-cooled 49cc two-stroke engine rated at just 2,5 hp.The speedometer goes up to 31 mph (50 kph), and if you get there, chances are you'll hear some noise coming out of it as you reach the top speed. The bike misses its odometer, so the actual mileage is unknown.At the time of writing this article, the highest bid sits at $4,500. And if you want to get your hands on this little retro toy, you'd have to hurry because the auction for it ends on Monday, December 27th. DOHC Bujar and Gazmend Muharremi go about their daily business in Southend-on-Sea, a tourist-friendly town from the county of Essex, United Kingdom. The two brothers both of whom are designers by trade started fiddling with motorcycles back in 2011, and achieving a harmonious balance between function and form has been their primary goal from the very beginning.During the first couple of years, motorcycle customization was a mere hobby rather than a full-time occupation that puts food on the table, but this was bound to change in 2013. Having perfected their fabrication skills, Gaz and Bujar felt prepared to pursue their true ambitions, so theyve purchased tools, rented a dedicated workspace, and co-founded what came to be known as Auto Fabrica.What had followed was an abundance of bewildering projects that earned them the reverence and admiration of moto-loving petrolheads worldwide. The bike well be inspecting in the following paragraphs revolves around a 2008 model from Triumph s flagship Bonneville lineup, and its been commissioned by a client who lives on the other side of the big pond.Sporting an air-cooledparallel-twin with dual carbs and a displacement of 865cc, the donor is good for up to 66 hp and 52 pound-feet (71 Nm) of torque. Upon reaching the chain-driven rear wheel via a five-speed transmission, the engines force leads to a respectable top speed of 110 mph (177 kph).As fuel-injected Bonnies are infamously difficult to customize due to their mind-bending complexity, this carbureted 2008 variant was the ideal candidate for Auto Fabricas eerie makeover. The bike was immediately dismantled after it had arrived at the workshop, then the Muharremi brothers began conceptualizing what the end result would look like.They consulted with the customer and obtained a green light, so it was time for the customization process to start in earnest. For starters, the AF duo got rid of the Bonneville s factory gas chamber, replacing it with a bespoke unit thats been painstakingly manufactured from scratch. The new fuel tank wears a tiny filler cap, and its joined by a suede-clad solo saddle at the back.This item is supported by a loop-style subframe with integrated LED lighting, while a hand-shaped rear fender concludes the bodywork ordeal in style. With these goodies installed, Bujar and Gazmend turned their attention toward the front end, where theyve fitted a seven-inch LED headlight and unique fork covers with 3D-printed top halves and stainless-steel lowers.In addition, you will also find a set of custom-made LED turn signals that are barely noticeable until they start blinking. Moving on to the cockpit, the Essex-based pros spiced things up with aftermarket switchgear and instrumentation from Motogadgets catalog, as well as new grips, bolt-on levers, and an aftermarket handlebar. Next, the standard hoops were rebuilt using stainless-steel spokes, and their rims have been wrapped in a chunky pair of Continental TKC 80 tires.To bring about a substantial dose of additional stopping power, Auto Fabricas gurus proceeded to revamp the machines front brake with high-end Beringer hardware. In terms of suspension upgrades, the reworked Bonnie features premium fork internals and state-of-the-art shocks, all of which were supplied by the folks over at Maxton Engineering.Finally, we arrive at the powertrain sector, where youll be greeted by foam air filters and higher-spec CR carburetors from Keihin. At the other end of the combustion cycle, the two-wheeled predator (dubbed Type 20 ) received a seamless exhaust system that keeps things looking rad. Last but not least, the entire structure was enveloped in a mixture of gloss-, satin- and matte-black finishes, which is a clever way to add some contrast to a monochromatic color scheme. As President Biden's point person for Afghan refugee resettlement steps aside, advocacy groups are pressing the Biden administration to accelerate its efforts to help the tens of thousands of people still stuck in limbo. Why it matters: Former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) is leaving the envoy role after being confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The transition comes amid criticism that there hasn't been enough high-level, sustained engagement to ease the backlog of applications nearly four months after the U.S. military and diplomatic withdrawal from Kabul. Markell's role always was intended to be short-term. What's next: Markell deputy Curtis Ried, a career foreign service officer and National Security Council official, over the weekend was appointed special adviser on Afghan resettlement. His portfolio will include continued evacuation efforts and he will have the authority to direct agencies on the issue, a White House official told Axios. The official also said to expect additional Afghan resettlement roles to be announced in the coming weeks. A State Department spokesperson told Axios that "our unprecedented efforts have been ongoing since September" and referred questions about Markell's transition to the NSC. What we're hearing: As conditions in Afghanistan deteriorate, lawmakers from both parties, former ambassadors and private organizations are raising new alarms. They're concerned the U.S. hasn't yet found a way to evacuate more than 62,000 Afghans who worked with the U.S. but were left behind. The administration has evacuated and brought to the U.S. 75,000 Afghans, with roughly 2 in 5 eligible for Special Immigrant Visas. Axios reported earlier this month that the Department of Homeland Security had started issuing denials to Afghans seeking to immigrate to the United States, citing a new requirement for third-party documentation. The U.S. intends to continue to welcome additional Afghans to this country over the coming weeks, months and years, a White House official told Axios. What they're saying: Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a coalition of 120 organizations helping with evacuation efforts, told Axios that improvements to the interagency process are needed as well as an expansion of evacuation and resettlement capacity and more progress with "government taking over inherently government roles like case management." Space science next year will be rocketed forward with missions to the Moon, asteroids, Mars and the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope coming online. Why it matters: The data sent back to Earth from these upcoming missions will help scientists learn more than ever before about objects in the solar system and far beyond it. What's happening: Space agencies like NASA, the European Space Agency and Japan's space agency, JAXA, are all aiming to send probes to various targets around the solar system this year. They include: Mars: The European Space Agency and Russia are planning to launch their joint ExoMars lander and rover to the surface of the Red Planet in September. It will join NASA's Perseverance and Curiosity rovers on the Martian surface. Both are expected to continue their work next year. Asteroids: NASA's Psyche mission is due to launch in August 2022 on a mission to explore a strange, metal-dominated asteroid that may have once been part of the core of a long-dead planet. NASA's DART mission is also expected to arrive at its asteroid target next year in the hopes of slamming into it and figuring out just what it would take to throw a dangerous space rock off of a collision course with Earth. The Moon: NASA is expected to launch the first flight of its Space Launch System mega-rocket on a trip around the Moon, and the space agency plans to load it with scientific experiments. The rocket will carry a clutch of small satellites that will investigate water in the lunar environment. Other nations like Japan, Russia and India are also aiming to send missions to the Moon next year. Russia's mission called Luna-25 is designed to search for water near the south pole of the Moon. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope the successor to the Hubble is also expected to be up and running starting early in 2022. The JWST is tasked with no less than piecing together the early history of the universe using its powerful, sensitive instrumentation to see the light of some of the universe's first galaxies and cut through dust to see newborn stars. to see the light of some of the universe's first galaxies and cut through dust to see newborn stars. The space telescope is also expected to parse the atmospheres of distant alien planets. Between the lines: As all of these missions launch and arrive at their targets, astronomers and planetary scientists will also be shoring up their goals for the coming years. In 2021, an influential report laid out the major priorities for the next decade of astronomy and astrophysics, centering on the idea that scientists should strive to find a potential twin of Earth orbiting a star like the Sun. 2022 will be the year that researchers and agencies like NASA continue to find ways to prioritize those goals and others laid out by the scientific community this year. What to watch: China is expected to continue collecting data from ongoing robotic missions to the Moon and Mars. An addictive war: How drug cartel bosses are playing the US justice system Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) shared an abusive voicemail with CNNs State of the Union on Sunday during a segment on the hostile work environment in Congress. You ought to get the fuck off the planet, you fucking foul bitch, an angry male caller barked. They ought to fucking try you for treason, bitch. I hope your family dies in front of you. I pray to God, if youve got any children, they die in your face. "It's pretty toxic, there's no question about it," GOP Rep. Fred Upton discusses the hostility on Capitol Hill with Democratic colleague Rep. Debbie Dingell. "I've never seen anything like this before," Upton said. https://t.co/xVqajkrudK #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/l7kX9ej1IW State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 26, 2021 Dingell, who took office in Jan. 2019, said she has been receiving a steady flow of similar voicemails ever since then-President Trump visited Michigan at Christmas time a few years ago, following the death of her husband Rep. John Dingell. Trump implied during a trip to Michigan in Dec. 2019 that the late Michigan lawmaker was looking up from hell. Once youre in that Trump hate tunnel, you kind of dont escape it, Dingell said, adding that its something that she has grown accustomed to, yet shouldnt be normalized. I want the American people to think about whats happening in our country, she urged. That this kind of hate, this fear, is happening in communities all over. Dingell appeared on State of the Union alongside Republican Rep. Fred Upton, who received a barrage of threatening messages after he voted in favor of the bipartisan infrastructure package in November. I hope your fucking family dies. I hope everybody in your fucking staff dies, you fucking piece of fucking shit. Traitor! an anonymous caller said in a message Upton shared with CNN at the time. We get really nasty threats at home, Upton said on Sunday. The tone gets tougher and tougher. Its a pretty toxic place. Ive never seen anything like this before. The hardship of hurricanes isnt a story novel to Southeast Texans, but Michele Fortenberry used her familys tale of weathering Hurricane Rita for that very purpose to create Emu Blues, a childrens book chronicling the experience of Leroy and Emily, a pair of emus who rode out the storm after her in-laws Susie and Floyd Fortenberry were forced to leave them behind while evacuating their rural Beaumont home. When the couple returned, they were relieved to find the pair alive and well. The feeling was mutual, Susie said, remembering, they sure were happy to see us. Daughter-in-law Michele wrote a song dedicated to the pair, which idled on her computer for years until being recently rediscovered. With fresh eyes to the tale, Fortenberry, who has a background in early childhood education, decided it was a perfect childrens story not just to entertain, but to educate and comfort. She enlisted the artistic talents of friend Linda Hendrickson, who did the illustration work for free because of her own belief in the project, said mother-in-law Susie. Online potentiality.press See More Collapse Its a childrens book to use as a tool to help prepare kids and families coping with storms and other disasters, Susie said, while her family set up a booth at the Junior League of Beaumonts Main Street Market earlier this month their second holiday market showcasing the book. Like farm animals and pets, children often are caught in a different kind of storm when disaster strikes. The decisions of their fate are out of their control while they sense the stress and chaos that can encompass their parents role. Its a great book to help children prepare for the unknown feelings that often well up during situations of evacuation, noted sister-in-law Sherry Fortenberry-Boudreaux. As Micheles prologue describes, When Hurricane Rita made landfall in Beaumont, Texas, a pair of flightless birds, Leroy and Emily, learned firsthand what it meant to weather the storms of life. Together, they withstood high winds, torrential rains, and flying debris. Together, they found the courage they needed to face their fears, and in the process discovered just how brave they really were. Michele said she wants children to understand that like Leroy and Emily, they, too, can be stronger than they know. The books website now also offers childrens disaster starter kits emblazoned with the Emu Blues logo image. They contain a flashlight, childrens activities like paper and crayons and more. I want kids to not just rely on their parents but take responsibility for packing up and being prepared, when disaster looms, Michele said. Beyond the emotional support, the books appeal also has a broader educational component. Michele draws families and educators alike into her book with colorful illustrations and a wide range of vocabulary, predicting and rhyming, one reviewer wrote. Michele said she wanted the book to be a teaching tool on multiple levels, beginning with the concept of why Leroy and Emily are painted blue. It teaches children that blue not only describes a color but also references a state of mind and a whole genre of music based on that state of mind. Its a layered component that helped earn Emu Blues the award of American Book Fest Finalist. Its a win that they hope will boost sales, not just for the success of the book, but the recovery efforts it supports. Thirty percent of sales are donated to local disaster relief organizations. After launching in October 2020, first-year proceeds from Emu Blues raised $2,000 for the Southeast Texas Coalition and donated 48 books to area families. kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com ATLANTA (AP) A man suspected in the shooting death of a rising Texas rap artist on an Atlanta area interstate was arrested as he was exiting a plane at Atlanta's airport, a Georgia sheriff's office said. James Edward Thomas was taken into custody at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on suspicion of malice murder and aggravated assault in the March slaying of rapper Corey Detiege, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. It started as it began: with too much news, not enough hours in the day and lots of friends to make sure it all works out. Wednesday marked my last day with the Beaumont Enterprise, just a few weeks shy of exactly three years at what I would argue is one of Southeast Texas most valuable assets. It was the kind of day that kind of summed up what life as a reporter has been like here. You start out the morning trying to pare down what are the most important stories someone needs to read tomorrow, what reflects life here and what will make people curious about their community. And then pipelines leak, vapor clouds invade neighborhoods and the chaos ensues. If its not a pipeline, then its a car crash; or a hurricane; or a chemical explosion; or any number of things that have kept us up far too late and woke us up far too early. In some ways, its a life probably any reporter could emphasize with as every place has its hidden challenges and milestones that go unnoticed far too often for their liking but its just another example to me why this place needs all the attention and watchful eyes it can get. Beaumont is a beautiful place, both to the eyes and to the heart, but it has been eclipsed for too long in the national spotlight. If I sound like Im trying to wax poetic, its because writing a column all about myself goes against every strength I supposedly have as a reporter. Im supposed to gather the facts, talk to the experts and define the whats going on. As I look back at my time here in Beaumont, Im far from understanding exactly how I feel about it. I have a sinking inclination Ill be processing what my time here has meant for the rest of my life. Whatever you may take away from this column, I hope its clear that my departure has nothing to do with a lack of confidence with the Enterprise. In fact, I have a future because of my time here through the struggles and the triumphs and the stories that Southeast Texans trusted me with everyday. I havent always had faith in the future of journalism, but Ive always had faith in what we have tried to achieve in the pages of this paper. When I got here, there was many an elected official or business owner that seemed exasperated when I introduced myself, and I couldnt blame them. I was just the next young person although probably a little more jaded than they were used to coming along with the expectation they would explain everything that had ever happened in Southeast Texas, just to leave when the getting was good. But, while I cant say I have any special plan to make sure that never happens, I can say that anyone Ive ever worked with here has always quickly adopted a sense of responsibility for this place. Its hard not to, when you find yourself often relying on your neighbor and community at large to get through the rough patches. Just know, we usually dont leave because we want to but because the dynamics of the media industry demand it if we want to keep paying the bills. If you have a favorite reporter, TV anchor or anything in between, tell them and find a way to support them. Its the only way to make sure they can keep doing the job that needs to be done, and its one of the rare pick-me-ups that a journalist can get these days. I may be headed up the road for now, but Im always just a phone call away. I wont be shaking off my Southeast Texas ways anytime soon, as if that would ever be possible. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. The coronavirus pandemic continued to weigh on the local court system this year. But, through a mix of virtual and in-person proceedings, cases continued to wend through the courts, and a few trials got underway. Here is a look at some of the biggest stories that played out in Berkshire County courtrooms in 2021. October Mountain shooting trial pushed to March amid concerns over credibility of prosecution witness A judge Monday suspended jury selection in the October Mountain shooting case over defense concerns about the credibility of a witness for the prosecution. October Mountain Shooting trial unexpectedly delayed The family of Nick Carnevale was prepared to see two of the four men charged in Carnevale's shooting go to trial in November. But, on the day the trial of Kevin Nieves and Daquan Douglas was set to begin in Berkshire Superior Court, a judge said the Berkshire District Attorneys Office might have failed to properly disclose potentially exculpatory evidence about a prosecution witness to the defense, and granted a trial delay until March. Jason Sefton is sentenced to life in prison for murdering Pittsfield barber William Catalano Jason Sefton was sentenced to life in prison after admitting in court that he fatally stabbed Pittsfield barber William Catalano on Robbins Avenue on Oct. 15, 2018. Jason Sefton pleads guilty to second-degree murder Sefton, 23, admitted he killed William Catalano, a local barber, in October 2018. By pleading guilty to the charge of second-degree murder, Sefton ensured he would have the possibility of parole after serving 25 years behind bars. Catalano was mourned in emotional statements from family read during Sefton's change-of-plea hearing in Berkshire Superior Court. A fired Lanesborough Police officer allegedly failed to turn over his firearms. Now, he is facing a criminal charge. A former Lanesborough officer who was fired for improperly looking up women on a criminal justice database has been charged criminally for failing to surrender his firearms to authorities. Former police officer criminally charged for failing to surrender his firearms Former Lanesborough Police Officer Brennan J. Polidoro, 31, already had been fired from his job for improperly looking up women on a criminal justice database what the chief at the time described as stalking and harassment. When he lost his job, he also lost his firearms license. But, authorities say he failed to turn over his weapons to police, leading prosecutors to charge him with a single count of knowingly failing to surrender firearms. Jury clears Adams man of 2019 stabbing A jury on Thursday acquitted Anthony D. Chambers of all charges related to a 2019 stabbing in Adams. Jury clears Anthony Chambers of stabbing a man in 2019 There haven't been many trials in Berkshire Superior Court during the pandemic, and the case against Chambers was one of the first. Chambers had been accused of stabbing Jai Marshall, with the intent to kill him, in Adams in 2019. Taking the stand in his own defense, Chambers denied that he stabbed Marshall, and said he had been the victim of an attempted robbery planned by his girlfriend and a man she previously dated. The jury apparently credited his testimony, and found Chambers not guilty of the charged offenses. Accused of trying to kill her baby, a Pittsfield woman is free after witnesses fail to appear A woman who prosecutors had accused of assault with intent to murder her 5-month-old child saw all charges against her dropped this month after witnesses for the Berkshire District Attorney's office failed to show up in court. Accused of trying to kill her baby, a Pittsfield woman was freed after witnesses fail to appear for trial Lynn M. Tobler, 39, who prosecutors had accused of trying to smother her infant, had all charges pressed against her dropped after witnesses failed to show up in court. Authorities failed to serve a court summons for a "critical essential witness" who was crucial to the case of Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington. Without their witnesses, prosecutors could not move forward, and a judge agreed to dismiss the case whole cloth. West Stockbridge woman to serve 4 years in prison for 2019 vehicular homicide Michelle S. Curletti was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty in Berkshire Superior Court, admitting she drove with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.20 the night of the crash that killed Francis Kesse. West Stockbridge woman sentenced to 4 years behind bars for 2019 vehicular homicide Francis Kesse worked for Hillcrest Educational Centers in the Berkshires to support his family in Ghana. But, his life was cut short Jan. 11, 2019, when a car driven by 45-year-old Michelle S. Curletti crossed the double-yellow center line on Route 7 in Stockbridge and struck a Toyota SUV carrying Kesse and three others. This year, Curletti admitted that she had been driving drunk the evening of the crash, and was sentenced to four years incarceration at the Massachusetts Womens Correctional Center at Chicopee. In other news James Webb Space Telescope Launch Via: Daily Mail: NASA is looking to the heavens for help with assessing how humans will react if alien life is found on other planets and how the discovery could impact our ideas of gods and creation. The agency is hiring 24 theologians to take part in its program at the Center for Theological Inquiry (CTI) at Princeton University in New Jersey, which NASA gave a $1.1 million grant to in 2014. CTI is described as building bridges of under understanding by convening theologians, scientists, scholars, and policymakers to think together and inform public thinking on global concerns. The program aims to answer questions that have baffled us since the begging of time such as what is life? What does it mean to be alive? Where do we draw the line between the human and the alien? What are the possibilities for sentient life in other places? The Rev Dr Andrew Davison, a priest and theologian at the University of Cambridge with a doctorate in biochemistry from Oxford, is among 24 theologians, The Times reports. Religious traditions would be an important feature in how humanity would work through any such confirmation of life elsewhere, Davidson shared in a blog post on the University of Cambridge site. Because of that, it features as part of NASAs ongoing aim to support work on the societal implications of astrobiology, working with various partner organizations, including the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton. Davison is set to publish a book next year, titled Astrobiology and Christian Doctrine, which notes he believes we are getting closer to finding life on other planets. (Support Free Thought) - San Antonio, TX Cops in Bexar county are notoriously corrupt and their constant coverage in the news is evidence of this corruption. In fact, it was cops from the infamous Bexar County who shot and killed 6-year-old Kameron Prescott and faced no consequences. Despite their constant negative coverage in the media, Bexar County law enforcement continues to get worse. According to a report this week out of KSAT, arrests of cops from Bexar County are up 20% since last year! A whopping 25 cops have been arrested in the county since the beginning of the year both from the the Bexar County Sheriffs Office and the San Antonio Police Department. While the arrest of 20 officers was shocking in 2020, the fact that they have managed to get worse, is mind blowing. According to the report, some of the charges are minor like a DUI or inappropriate behavior at the jail. However, other charges include aggravated battery, sexual assault and child pornography. TFTP has reported on several of the cops in the now-infamous Bexar County. San Antonio Police Officer Erik Rodriguez is accused of being a particularly bad cop and has a rap sheet a mile long to prove it. We reported on Rodriguez in January after he was arrested on a misuse of official information charge. One week later, he was arrested again, this time for bribery. And, then, the following week, this cop was arrested one more time on charges of possession of child porn bestiality. According to prosecutors, after he was arrested for bribery and manipulating evidence, Rodriguez was found in possession of child sexual exploitation material. He was the charged for possession of this content which apparently depicted a child engaging in sexual conduct, namely sexual bestiality. Other officers like Dezi Rios are also facing a slew of charges stemming from the violent assault of a driver in a fit of road rage. Like Rodriguez, TFTP has reported on Rios before. According to KSAT, Rios, 39, had been on suspension without pay following the July crash, in which he was accused of fleeing the scene and then assaulting the driver of the vehicle he crashed into. The man suffered a broken nose, significant trauma to his face and injuries to his shoulder, elbow and knee after being punched by Rios according to the mans count between 20-25 times. Rios shouldve been in jail long before he was allowed to assault this man in July, however. As we reported in 2018, Demontae Walker was facing a slew of charges for shooting Rios. However, all those charges were dropped once the truth came out and the District Attorney found that Walker was justified in shooting Rioswho was the aggressor in the situation. However, even though Walker was vindicated, because the system is inherently corrupt, Rios is still a cop and received just a 15-day vacation in the form of a suspension for leaving an innocent dad paralyzed. Deputy Gerard Mamorno is another child predator within the ranks of Bexar countys finest. He was arrested in January on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, after investigators said he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl several years ago. The list goes on. With cops like these, who need criminals? Krishnamurti, an Indian writer, philosopher and speaker, was, at an early age, taken in by the Theosophical Society and groomed to become the new World Teacher. Annie Besant and Charles Leadbeater, the leaders of the Theosophical society at the time, nurtured Krishnamurti at their headquarters in Madras.When the famous quantum theorist, David Bohm, read Jiddu Krishnamurtis The First and Last Freedom, he was blown away by his insight and knowledge regarding the phenomenon of the observer and the observed. Despite having no university-level training, much less formal education in the sciences, Krishnamurti had, through his philosophical writings, demonstrated a profound understanding of various concepts related to quantum mechanics. They, along with a few select associates, undertook the task of educating him, guiding him through mystical teachings and generally preparing him to become the vehicle for Lord Maitreya, a highly evolved spiritual being committed to aiding the evolution of mankind. However, when it came time to unveil Krishnamurti to the world as a great teacher and leader of humanity, Krishnamurti broke all ties with the theosophists, denounced all organised belief, denounced the notion of gurus (and the whole teacher-follower relationship), and devoted himself instead to the pursuit of freedom for both himself and humanity at large. By the time Bohm had read The First and Last Freedom, Krishnamurtis teachings had developed beyond the point of theosophical influence. Bohm recognized that Krishnamurtis insights were reflected in his own work in quantum theory and felt it urgent to meet with him as soon as possible. Eventually, the two of them did meet face-to-face in London where they exchanged ideas and engaged in rich conversation. Bohm described his first meeting with Krishnamurti as follows: I was struck by the great ease of communication with him, which was made possible by the intense energy with which he listened and by the freedom from self-protective reservations and barriers with which he responded to what I had to say. Bohm recognized his meeting with Krishnamurti as a meeting of minds not unlike that which he felt when talking to other scientists. In fact, he even compared Krishnamurti to Albert Einstein, stating that the two of them showed a similar intensity and absence of barrier. Bohm and Krishnamurti met each time they were in London and probed deeply into the nature of time, space and mind. The two of them would inevitably hit on the topic of consciousness and this is where Krishnamurtis insights shined. Indeed, Bohm felt that Krishnamurtis most powerful teachings were those concerned with the general disorder and confusion that pervades the consciousness of mankind, for it was he who offered not only an explanation of this problem but a solution to it. Krishnamurti maintained that all this disorder, which he felt was the root cause of such widespread sorrow and misery, and which prevented human beings from loving one another, had its roots in the fact that we are ignorant of the general nature of our own processes of thought. In other words, Krishnamurti noticed that while we are generally aware of the content of our thoughts, we are hopelessly ignorant as to the origin and process of thinking itself. This ignorance, which causes disorder within mans consciousness, is expressed outwardly as the disorder we see within society itself war, widespread sorrow, violence, segregation, et cetera. But why should this be the case? The answer, perhaps, lies in Bohms area of expertise quantum physics. As Heisenbergs uncertainty principle teaches us, you cannot accurately measure both the position and momentum of an object and, therefore, our seemingly solid reality is proven to be non-determinable[1]. And as the experiments of the brilliant Dr. William Tiller show, a conscious observer may bend reality to his will by holding a focused intent, the effect of which can be quantified and even amplified if that intent is held by multiple people at the same time. William A. Tiller, a physicist at Stanford University dedicated over four decades of his life to investigating the effects of human intention on the properties of materials and what we call physical reality. His research discovered that it is possible to effect a significant change to the properties of physical materials simply by holding a clear intention to do so. Interestingly, Tiller and his colleagues also discovered that it is possible to imprint or store an intention within an electronic device, which would then have the same effect on an object as that of a human consciousness holding the same intention. Tillers results have been consistently reproduced around the world. Bohm himself proposed a holographic model of the universe based on enfolded and unfolded states of being emanating from a common source beyond both the unmanifest and manifest realms. His scientific insight echoes the view of reality experienced by enlightened sages throughout the centuries. In Vedanta, the manifest world is called Maya, meaning illusory reality and it emanates from Brahman, the omnipresent sea of infinite potential[2]. It is therefore easy to see why Bohm was so taken by Krishnamurtis teachings. The ancient doctrine of as above, so below or man as a microcosm is embodied within the curious quantum observer effect that ties consciousness to the outside world and the very fabric of space-time itself[3]. Once this phenomenon is understood as being real, it is not hard to see how and why disorder within can create disorder without. The answer, then, to mans problems lies in being aware of the process of thought. And this, according to Krishnamurti, requires meditation. Though by meditation, Krishnamurti does not mean we should sit on a rock in the lotus position, no, Krishnamurtis idea of meditation is centred around the root meaning of the word itself. The English word meditation is based on the Latin root, med meaning to measure. The Sanskrit word for meditation, dhyana, is related to dhyati, meaning to reflect. Putting these together brings us closer to Krishnamurtis definition of meditation which is to ponder and reflect while focusing ones attention on what is actually going on. Krishnamurti maintained that the act of meditation itself was enough to bring order to the activity of thought, for in the seeing is the doing. In this state, the mind becomes quiet, energy increases and something new and creative begins to unfold. This, according to Krishnamurti, is extraordinarily significant to the whole of life. Once again we can find a physics parallel to describe what Krishnamurti is saying. A cluttered mind filled with arbitrary thoughts, desires, fears and anxieties, is akin to a high entropy system. Entropy is a measure of randomness or disorder within a closed system and reduces the energy available to do work. Work in this case refers to the ability to effect change within the physical medium, which as Tillers research shows is done through focusing ones intent. In his illuminating three-part tome, physicist Tom Campbell expands greatly on this concept, explaining that, within a consciousness system, high entropy corresponds with fear, while low entropy corresponds with love. Therefore meditation, as defined by Krishnamurti, becomes a tool to bring order to the activity of thought or reduce the entropy of the system. This naturally results in greater energy to do work (i.e. a more focused intent and thus a greater ability to effect change out there). The culmination of this process is an increase in power. The source of this power stems from the concept that all men and women are created equal. This is the profound truth behind Krishnamurtis assertion that there is no authority, no teacher, no master and no saviour. Each one of us is all of those things, and at the time, none of them at all. We are all capable and entitled to the realization of Truth or God or whatever one may wish to call it. Embarking on the path is a free will choice. Power supports life it uplifts, dignifies and sustains. It gives us energy and vitality. It is whole and complete, requiring nothing from outside. Power is associated with compassion, love and unity. Power promotes creativity, healing and positive feelings. Power allows us to create positive change in order to more fully express our collective divinity. In the absence of power, change must be effected through force. Whereas power stands on its own, without the need to move against anything at all, force always moves against something. Force is fragmented and therefore has to be fed energy constantly. Force consumes whereas power creates. While force requires sustained input, power acts without effort. Newtons third law teaches us that force always creates counterforce and therefore it is limited by definition. While force must struggle against opposition, power stands still. Power effects change through its own field of influence, without the need to expend energy. Force is associated with friction and conflict. This point is perhaps best explained by Dr. David Hawkins himself: Force always creates counterforce; its effect is to polarize rather than unify. Polarization always implies conflict; its cost, therefore, is always high. Because force incites polarization, it inevitably produces a win/lose dichotomy; and because somebody always loses, enemies are created. Constantly faced with enemies, force requires constant defense. Defensiveness is invariably costly, whether in the marketplace, politics, or international affairs. Hawkins, R, D., 1995. Power vs Force. Hay House, Inc. 2012 reprint. Thinking about the concept of power and force within the context of the current global crisis leads us toward some profound conclusions. For one, agendas that center around inequality, control, profit and material gain are always driven by force. Force is a tool used by those who lack power. When your motives go against the good of humanity, when your intentions fail to support life itself, your only option is to use force. Force includes all manner of fear-mongering, manipulation, coercion and violence. Force may work up to a point but as we discovered, it requires a constant input of energy and therefore, results are obtained at a cost. Propaganda campaigns require vast amounts of money, coordination and tireless censorship. Vaccine mandates require bribes, threats, and the covering up of adverse events. This energy input is immense and, most importantly, unsustainable. As force creates friction, it must constantly be fed with more and more energy. But as the force becomes stronger, so does the friction. Force, due its polarizing nature, increases entropy. As entropy rises, the available energy decreases, until, eventually, momentum ceases and the entire thing grinds to a halt. While the source of power is self-evident, indestructible and inarguable, force is subject to proof and requires constant justification. While true power emanates from consciousness itself, force is driven by the ego. Those who use force to impose their will on humanity always succumb to power. As history has shown, all totalitarian regimes eventually come crashing down not on account of some divine intervention, but because each of us is born with inalienable rights that are intrinsic to human creation. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before the transhumanist force implodes. However, the time it takes for that to happen is dependent on our ability to reduce disorder and increase power. A lower entropy consciousness means more energy available to do work which results in more power, freedom, happiness and love. As our power collectively grows, we create an immovable wall able to repel any and all negative influences and nefarious threats. On the other hand, the ego-mind is constantly asking unanswerable questions and worrying about unlikely futures. As our minds become cluttered with fear-laden media, our power decreases and we find ourselves at the mercy of authorities. Bohms holographic universe hinted at the true nature of our reality and Krishnamurti showed us how to realise it. By turning our attention away from the content of thought, and focusing on the process of thinking itself, we can bring order to the mind and begin to discover something completely new. In this way, we extricate ourselves from a state of fear and confusion and move towards freedom and certitude. The result of this is an increase in power. Force is by definition limited in what it can accomplish, and therefore it is not a matter of if the transhumanists will fail, but when. Ryan Matters is a writer and free thinker from South Africa. After a life-changing period of illness, he began to question mainstream medicine, science and the true meaning of what it is to be alive. Some of his writings can be found at newbraveworld.org, you can also follow him on Twitter and Gab. For weeks Kiev officials and many corners of Western media and the Washington national security establishment have hyped the Russian troop build-up in regions of Russia that are within 400km of Ukraine's border, accusing the Kremlin of planning an invasion of Donbass sometime in January. This month started, for example, with The Washington Post citing US intelligence to claim this would involve a whopping 175,000 Russian troops mustered near the border. But like with prior similar instances (such as failed predictions last spring that never materialized), it's looking like the opposite is set to happen, with on Saturday Reuters reporting a draw down of at least 10,000 troops back to their permanent bases. It's being widely perceived as the clearest sign yet that the "invasion" being talked about for the past nearly two months is not going to happen. Maybe we could chalk it up to a "Christmas miracle" - or perhaps from the start it was all about Putin using the maneuvers to get what he's wanted all along: security and legal guarantees from NATO pledging no more Eastward expansion. And Putin got his talks, which are planned for next month, likely in Geneva. "A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorized units... has been completed. More than 10,000 military servicemen... will march to their permanent deployment from the territory of the combined arms' area of drills," the Russian army announced this weekend, according to Interfax. The Kremlin has been describing extra troop movements as "drills" and "training exercises" throughout the heightened standoff. Image source: AP The defense ministry described this as the conclusion of large-scale drills which took place among Southern Military District forces, in regions that included Crimea, Rostov, and Krasnodar - and additionally in Stavropol, Astrakhan, and some in North Caucasus republics. "The defense ministry said the troops were returning to their permanent bases and that stand-by units would be readied for the New Year's holidays," European media reports indicated further. There are additional signs that de-escalation is in the air, as we reported on Christmas Day based on Reuters that according to a German government source, senior German and Russian government officials agreed to a rare in-person meeting next month in an effort to ease political tensions over Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's foreign policy adviser Jens Ploetner and Russia's Ukraine negotiator Dmitry Kozak agreed to meet after a lengthy phone conversation on Thursday. The Reuters sources added that "Berlin doubts more than Washington whether Russia actually wants to attack Ukraine" and is keen to de-escalate tensions. This much should have been obvious the whole time, in what's been largely a manufactured crisis which Western media was eager to hype, also as the Pentagon repeatedly demanded that Moscow explain the presence of Russian troops... on Russia's own soil. Meanwhile, on Sunday Anadolu Agency is reporting that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is convening a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) on January 12. The Russian draw down of 10,000 troops from near the Ukraine border region is perhaps a Kremlin good faith action to ensure the continued momentum of the recent flurry of diplomatic activity geared toward deconfliction. Russia's TASS news agency details as follows: The source noted that NATO was in talks with Russia on this issue. Earlier, the NATO press service said that on January 12-13, Brussels would host a meeting of the NATO Military Committee at the level of the Chiefs of Defense of the member states. On Tuesday, Stoltenberg stated that NATO offered Moscow to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in early 2022 to address the developments in Ukraine. Meanwhile, he emphasized that NATO would never compromise on Ukraines right to choose its own path and apply for joining the alliance as well as on the right of NATO states to defend their allies. Likely none of this is still to satisfy Ukraine's leaders or pro-Kiev media, which is already suggesting any limited draw down is but a ruse... #Russia announces withdrawal of 10K troops from Crimea and Ukrainian border. What about 112K troops that remain near #Ukraine? | EMPR https://t.co/Fu6LNOGOXg #russiaukrainewar pic.twitter.com/kCT9L9gx9r Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) December 25, 2021 Of course, this current chapter of the rise in Russia-Ukraine tensions, which drew vague threats issued from President Biden two weeks ago, is far from closed. President Putin in his latest weekend comments said that if NATO and the US didn't agree to the required security guarantees halting further NATO expansion near Russia, then the Kremlin has a range of "options" in terms of a serious response. "It may vary," he said in an interview with state sources. "It will depend on the proposals that our military experts will make to me." He said that while he remains hopeful of a peaceful and positive resolution, Russia will not accept anything that stops short of reaching "a legally binding outcome of diplomatic talks on the documents," he said referencing last week's draft proposals submitted to Brussels and Washington. "Thats what we will strive for." But without doubt the situation is still dangerous, given that at any moment a provocation on the ground could unravel any positive traction toward an agreement. Both sides have been busy over the past week accusing the other of allowing mercenaries to pour into war-torn Eastern Ukraine, complete with warnings over 'false flag' scenarios. VANCOUVER - The Greek alphabet arrived on the global stage and into everyday lexicon riding on waves of the novel coronavirus as the World Health Organization began naming variants in the Glagolitic script. The logo of the World Health Organization is seen at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, June 11, 2009. The Greek alphabet arrived on the world stage and into every day lexicon riding on waves of the novel coronavirus as the World Health Organization began naming variants in the Glagolitic script. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Anja Niedringhaus VANCOUVER - The Greek alphabet arrived on the global stage and into everyday lexicon riding on waves of the novel coronavirus as the World Health Organization began naming variants in the Glagolitic script. As the variants mutated, from Alpha to Delta and then Omicron, people began taking note of the 24 Greek letters. Omicron is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega is the last. In June, an expert committee led by a working group of the World Health Organization announced they would be using the Greek alphabet to name the variants. "These will be easier to remember and more practical to use than alphanumerical designations," said the paper about naming the variants. "The Greek alphabet is well established as being generic, as the names of its individual letters have already been used for a multitude of purposes." Mark Pallen, one of the authors of the paper, said the scientific method of using letters and numbers was cumbersome and confusing. Most people resorted to using the name of the place where the variant was first discovered, creating a stigma for that country, he noted. "And so, there was a recognition that something easier and snappy was needed." Soon after, the World Health Organization decided to use Greek letters. It was a "bit of an oversight," he said in an interview, that nobody asked permission from the Greeks. "And we fell into the mistake, which is quite a common mistake, said Pallen, a professor of microbial genomics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. When people talk about the Greeks, they often mean the ancient Greeks, and they forget that the Greeks still exist as a nation." But it seems the Greeks shrugged off the association of their language to the variants with classic stoicism. Panayiotis Pappas, chair of linguistics at Simon Fraser University who uses nonbinary pronouns, said the "truth is that it's unremarkable" to any Greek that the letters are used to name deadly variants. And it's not just the letters, as "so many" Greek words are used in science, Pappas said in an interview. The linguistics professor reads Greek newspapers and scoured them for reaction to the letters being used to name the variants. "There are lots of other deadly diseases that have Greek names, and we don't complain about that." Pappas grew up in northern Greece on a small island called Thasos before moving to the United States for their education and then taking a job at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. "Greeks don't even care if the words get mispronounced or anything like that," Pappas said. "They've always considered it as a mark of pride that, you know, we have a civilization that's about 3,000 years old and that we're able to contribute to Western science." Tom Archibald, a mathematics professor at Simon Fraser University, studied Greek in high school in Ontario for three years. His knowledge of modern Greek is "pretty bad", he said, but he can read it with the aid of a dictionary. "I mean, every working mathematician basically knows the Greek alphabet, even if they can't say it in order." Pappas said the use of the Greek alphabet to name variants has led to more interest in linguistic courses. "The one thing that we have seen a bit of an increase in linguistics in our courses, which explain language origins and word origins, what we call the science of etymology, as more students are interested in the health sciences fields, where a lot of the background of the English word is either Greek or Latin," the professor said. "We offer courses that go through those explanations, and those have seen quite a bit of a rise in popularity. People don't want to learn the language, per se, but they do want to understand where these words come from." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2021. A three-year-old boy has drowned after wandering off from a waterfront property at Lake Macquarie on Christmas evening as police resume searches for other missing swimmers around the state. According to police, the toddlers body was pulled from the water by neighbours on Fishing Point Road in Rathmines about 6.30pm on Saturday, in an episode that has contributed to 26 drowning deaths in Australia so far this summer. It is believed the boy was playing out the front of the property, south of Newcastle, before walking off and falling into the water. The bystanders who found him began first aid until paramedics arrived, however he was unable to be revived. Police are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy and are preparing a report for the coroner. He came up with the idea while visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier early one morning, thinking about whether the man inside might be Aboriginal, and looking across the powerfully symbolic man-made vista that runs between the War Memorial and Parliament House, which includes the tent embassy. Its now time, with a sense of sanctity and dignity, that we create a precinct, at the centre of which could be the tomb of the unknown custodians or guardians, or a resting place, which would complete the picture, he said. A very, very visible and practical reminder of the enormous contribution made by the First Australians to this nation. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Anzac Day 2021. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Dr Nelson envisages a monument with a substantial footprint using granite, marble and other stonework from across the country. As well as the resting place for remains, he believes it should depict massacres and violence against Indigenous people, the 1967 referendum, the Mabo decision and the 2008 apology, and profile key Indigenous figures. Such a place could then become the focal point of a changed culture around Australia Day commemorations. It needs to be a day that begins with solemnity ... around the reflection upon and celebration of Aboriginal life, history and culture, and the impact those events of Arthur Phillip arriving on the 26th of January had on Indigenous people, Dr Nelson said. Loading The centrepiece of a major event early in the morning of the 26th would be the interment of those remains that had come back over the preceding year. And then following that event, then we move into our citizenship ceremonies, we move later in the day to our sport, our parties, our celebration of who we now are. The existing Reconciliation Place was commissioned by then prime minister John Howard in 2000. It consists of a small grass hill in Canberras Parliament-Memorial axis and 17 artworks on either side that commemorate the Stolen Generation and mark significant events, people and cultural practices. Boe Spearim, a Gamilaraay and Kooma man, and the creator and host of the podcast Frontier War Stories, said a monument was much needed as part of the dialogue about our past. He thought the proposed project should include narratives about Aboriginal resistance to colonialism and how warriors remains were taken by the British and sold to the highest bidder. He said any words were empty without accountability such as references to atrocities and genocide. He also would prefer that Anzac Day or Remembrance Day, rather than Australia Day, be used as a focus for the monument, to recognise the same sacredness and sacrifice of Aboriginal soldiers as we do for those who fought in the Boer War and World War I and II. Richard Frankland, a Gunditjmara man, filmmaker, author and Deakin University professor of interdisciplinary arts, also backed the proposal but was not sure it should be linked to Australia Day. I think any type of recognition of our past, in a true context and not a nursery version of history, is vital to us maturing as a nation, Professor Frankland said. There will be people who are against it, but its an embryonic idea to facilitate great change. I think Australias at a crossroads where we can recognise our past in a more humanistic way than we have, moving away from moral bankruptcy. Loading Labor spokeswoman on Indigenous Australians Linda Burney is open to discussing Dr Nelsons plan, noting the opposition took a similar proposal for a national resting place to the 2019 election. Australia is a modern, complex nation, with an equally complex and difficult past, she said. Who we are as a nation and people, what our values are and what we believe, has changed over time, and will continue to change. Its important we consider all of that complexity and change when we take a day to consider what it means to be Australia, and Australian, in the modern day. On the global stage, the human rights activist spoke out across a range of topics, from Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories to gay rights, climate change and assisted death - issues that cemented Tutus broad appeal. The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, said President Cyril Ramaphosa. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to Tutu as a believer in human dignity and the power of freedom. His deep faith was his powerhouse that made the world a better place. Thank you and well done good and faithful servant, he said. Just 1.68 metres tall and with an infectious giggle, Tutu was a moral giant who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent struggle against apartheid. Loading He used his high-profile role in the Anglican Church to highlight the plight of black South Africans. Asked on his retirement as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996 if he had any regrets, Tutu said: The struggle tended to make one abrasive and more than a touch self-righteous. I hope that people will forgive me any hurts I may have caused them. Talking and travelling tirelessly throughout the 1980s, Tutu became the face of the anti-apartheid movement abroad while many of the leaders of the rebel African National Congress (ANC), such as Nelson Mandela, were behind bars. President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Bishop Desmond Tutu during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in 2009. Credit:Getty Images Our land is burning and bleeding and so I call on the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this government, he said in 1986. Even as governments ignored the call, he helped rouse grassroots campaigns around the world that fought for an end to apartheid through economic and cultural boycotts. Former hardline white president P.W. Botha asked Tutu in a letter in March 1988 whether he was working for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom promised by the then-outlawed and now ruling ANC. Graveside orations Among his most painful tasks was delivering graveside orations for black people who had died violently during the struggle against white domination. We are tired of coming to funerals, of making speeches week after week. It is time to stop the waste of human lives, he once said. Tutu said his stance on apartheid was moral rather than political. Its easier to be a Christian in South Africa than anywhere else, because the moral issues are so clear in this country, he once told Reuters. In February 1990, Tutu led Nelson Mandela on to a balcony at Cape Towns City Hall overlooking a square where the ANC talisman made his first public address after 27 years in prison. He was at Mandelas side four years later when he was sworn in as the countrys first black president. Tutu, centre, with Mandela and former president FW de Klerk at de Klerks 70th birthday party in Cape Town in 2006. Credit:AP Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutus voice will always be the voice of the voiceless, is how Mandela, who died in December 2013, described his friend. While Mandela introduced South Africa to democracy, Tutu headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that laid bare the terrible truths of the war against white rule. Some of the heartrending testimony moved him publicly to tears. Pulled no punches But Tutu was as tough on the new democracy as he was on South Africas apartheid rulers. Loading He castigated the new ruling elite for boarding the gravy train of privilege and chided Mandela for his long public affair with Graca Machel, whom he eventually married. In his Truth Commission report, Tutu refused to treat the excesses of the ANC in the fight against white rule any more gently than those of the apartheid government. Even in his twilight years, he never stopped speaking his mind, condemning president Jacob Zuma over allegations of corruption surrounding a $US23 million ($32 million) security upgrade to his home. In 2014, he admitted he did not vote for the ANC, citing moral grounds. As an old man, I am sad because I had hoped that my last days would be days of rejoicing, days of praising and commending the younger people doing the things that we hoped so very much would be the case, Tutu told Reuters in June 2014. In December 2003, he rebuked his government for its support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, despite growing criticism over his human rights record. Tutu drew a parallel between Zimbabwes isolation and South Africas battle against apartheid. Loading We appealed for the world to intervene and interfere in South Africas internal affairs. We could not have defeated apartheid on our own, Tutu said. What is sauce for the goose must be sauce for the gander too. He also criticised South African president Thabo Mbeki for his public questioning of the link between HIV and AIDS, saying Mbekis international profile had been tarnished. School teachers son A schoolteachers son, Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, a conservative town west of Johannesburg, on October 7, 1931. The family moved to Sophiatown in Johannesburg, one of the commercial capitals few mixed-race areas, subsequently demolished under apartheid laws to make way for the white suburb of Triomf Triumph in Afrikaans. Always a passionate student, Tutu first worked as a teacher. But he said he had become infuriated with the system of educating blacks, once described by a South African prime minister as aimed at preparing them for their role in society as servants. Tutu quit teaching in 1957 and decided to join the church, studying first at St Peters Theological College in Johannesburg. He was ordained a priest in 1961 and continued his education at Kings College in London. After four years abroad, he returned to South Africa, where his sharp intellect and charismatic preaching saw him rise through lecturing posts to become Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975, which was when his activism started taking shape. I realised that I had been given a platform that was not readily available to many blacks, and most of our leaders were either now in chains or in exile. And I said: Well, Im going to use this to seek to try to articulate our aspirations and the anguishes of our people, he told a reporter in 2004. Loading By now too prominent and globally respected to be thrust aside by the apartheid government, Tutu used his appointment as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches in 1978 to call for sanctions against his country. He was named the first black Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, becoming the head of the Anglican Church, South Africas fourth largest. He would retain that position until 1996. In retirement, he battled prostate cancer and largely withdrew from public life. In one of his last public appearances, he hosted Britains Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their four-month-old son Archie at his charitable foundation in Cape Town in September 2019, calling them a genuinely caring couple. Tutu married Leah in 1955. They had four children and several grandchildren, and homes in Cape Town and Soweto township near Johannesburg. Timeline of key dates in Desmond Tutus life: 1931 - Desmond Tutu is born in Klerksdorp, a town around 170 kilometres to the west of Johannesburg. 1943 - Tutus Methodist family joins the Anglican Church. 1947 - Tutu falls ill with tuberculosis while studying at a secondary school near Sophiatown, Johannesburg. He befriends a priest and serves in his church after recovering from illness. 1948 - The white National Party launches apartheid in the run-up to 1948 national elections. It wins popular support among white voters who want to maintain their dominance over the black majority. 1955 - Tutu marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane and begins teaching at a high school in Johannesburg where his father is the headmaster. 1958 - Tutu quits the school, refusing to be part of a teaching system that promotes inequality against black students. He joins the priesthood. 1962 - Tutu moves to Britain to study theology at Kings College London. 1966 - Tutu moves back to South Africa and starts teaching theology at a seminary in the Eastern Cape. He also begins making his views against apartheid known. 1975 - Tutu becomes the first black Anglican dean of Johannesburg. 1980 - As general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Tutu leads a delegation of church leaders to prime minister PW Botha, urging him to end apartheid. Although nothing comes of the meeting it is a historical moment where a black leader confronts a senior white government official. The government confiscates Tutus passport. 1984 - Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring about the end of white minority rule. 1985 - Tutu becomes the first black bishop of Johannesburg. He publicly endorses an economic boycott of South Africa and civil disobedience as a way to dismantle apartheid. 1986 - Tutu becomes the first black person appointed as bishop of Cape Town and head of the Anglican Church of the Province of Southern Africa. With other church leaders he mediates conflicts between black protesters and government security forces. 1990 - President FW de Klerk unbans the African National Congress (ANC) and announces plans to release Nelson Mandela from prison. 1991 - Apartheid laws and racist restrictions are repealed and power-sharing talks start between the state and 16 anti-apartheid groups. 1994 - After Mandela sweeps to power at the helm of the ANC in the countrys first democratic elections, Tutu coins the term Rainbow Nation to describe the coming together of various races in post-apartheid South Africa. 1994 - Mandela asks Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was set up to listen to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to perpetrators of human right violations under apartheid. 1996 - Tutu retires from the church to focus solely on the commission. He continues his activism, advocating for equality and reconciliation and is later named Archbishop Emeritus. 1997 - Tutu is diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has since been hospitalised to treat recurring infections. 2011 - The Dalai Lama inaugurates the annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture but does so via satellite link after the South African government denies the Tibetan spiritual leader a visa to attend. 2013 - Tutu makes outspoken comments about the ANC. He says he will no longer vote for the party because it had done a bad job addressing inequality, violence and corruption. 2013 - Dubbed the moral compass of the nation, Tutu declares his support for gay rights, saying he would never worship a God who is homophobic. 2021 - A frail-looking Tutu is wheeled into his former parish at St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town, which used to be a safe haven for anti-apartheid activists, for a special thanksgiving service marking his 90th birthday. December 26, 2021 - Tutu dies in Cape Town, aged 90. This year, What to Expects Pregnancy & Baby Tracker, which has 2 million users a month, made significant new investments in content moderation and began banning conspiracy theorists on the first offence, the company said last month. The difference was readily apparent: By late November, a review of its forums turned up far fewer posts casting doubt on vaccines safety and more signs of posts and threads that had been taken down. (Much of the same content can be accessed from What To Expects app and its website.) It changed, said Engel, a graduate student in Reliance, South Dakota, and social services assistant at a behavioral health clinic on a reservation. She also noticed more articles encouraging users to get vaccinated. It was like [the app was] kind of, like, more for it for pregnant mums getting vaccinated. Many families seek practical information on specialist sites following a pregnancy. Hannah Hastings, head of brand and communications for Peanut, said in a statement that it had removed the aforementioned anti-vax posts and banned their authors in line with its 2019 Community Guidelines. Glow did not respond to a request for comment. The experience of What to Expect shows that, when smaller apps do explicitly prioritise content moderation, the results can be striking. What To Expect has gradually redefined how we moderate posts about vaccines, Christine Mattheis, the sites vice president and editorial director, wrote in an email, as vaccine misinformation has increased in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past couple weeks, the Omicron variant has increased the urgency of questions on the What To Expect discussion boards about getting vaccinations for both pregnant individuals and kids ages 5 to 11. Multiple users have recently posted asking for advice on whether to get a booster shot during pregnancy as an extra layer of precaution against omicron. Any platform that allows users to interact or create content eventually will face questions about how to deal with offensive speech, said Evelyn Douek, a lecturer at Harvard Law School who researches online content moderation. Smaller sites tend to lack the resources to moderate users discussions as effectively as the large platforms, she added, and can become hubs of misinformation. On What to Expect, the community aspect is built into its identity word of mum is how Murkoff, the author of the bestseller book, describes the way that users interact and support each other. We have to give their worries a platform, without giving a platform to the misinformation thats fuelling their worries, she said. Part of a franchise built around the book series, What to Expects Pregnancy & Baby Tracker projects scientific credibility and promises thousands of medically accurate articles, plus stories from real parents and parents-to-be. Its part of a digital media group called Everyday Health Group, which also includes the parenting site BabyCentre, clinical news outlet MedPage Today and wellness brand DailyOm, among others. The group was acquired in 2016 by the New York-based digital media conglomerate Ziff Davis. Like other pregnancy and parenting apps, What to Expect features community pages where expectant individuals can connect with others who share their interests, concerns, or due-date month. These were among the pages that users say became hotbeds of vaccine scare stories, conspiracy theories, and misinformation. Loading The apps Top stories tab listed numerous, apparently professionally written articles, rooted in evidence, according to a search on the app for vaccines in October. There were official recommendations that the coronavirus vaccines were safe and effective for pregnant women and other pregnant individuals, with the benefits outweighing the risks. For example, one article was titled, No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines increase miscarriage risk during pregnancy. One swipe to the left, however to the Discussions tab, or the chat forum and things quickly got murky. A discussion page titled Any moms not sure about vaccines touted Doctor Paul Thomass delayed vaccine schedule plan for routine childhood vaccinations. The plan recommends no vaccines during pregnancy, skipping babies vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, and IPV, among others, and makes the MMR vaccine optional. A respondent pointed out that Thomas had his medical license suspended for misleading patients about vaccinations; another replied, That just makes me want to follow his vaccine schedule. Thomas didnt respond to a request for comment. The majority of respondents were either supportive or sympathetic to skipping vaccines. Parents offered tips on how to find paediatricians who wont push back, and what states allow vaccination exemptions for religion or personal belief. A commenter identifying herself as a registered nurse wrote, my baby is unvaccinated completely! She hasnt even had a needle touch her yet at almost two years old. Healthy as a horse. Numerous respondents cheered her on and said it was good to hear such reassurances from a nurse. One said shed performed too many autopsies on babies and small children... and noticed well child visit in their history info within the last 14 days. Conspiracies around the efficacy of vaccines long flourished on sites such as What to Expect. Many experts considered it a form of debate that it was healthy to tolerate different viewpoints. What made the debates feel high-stakes on the What to Expect app was that people were coming there undecided, asking questions and looking to the community to make up their minds, said Renee DiResta, research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory and an expert on digital communities. She used the What to Expect app when she had her first child years ago. Nobody believed they were going to change the mind of the diehards on either side of things, DiResta said. But there were a lot of people who hadnt given a lot of thought to vaccinations prior to getting pregnant, because this is a major phase shift in their life. Theres a major opportunity to reach people, because theyre trying to make the best decision for their baby. Most pregnant women cant realistically expect to be able to reach their doctors for reassurance every time they have a hyper-specific question or whenever something feels a little weird. But they can look to other moms, and often do, in places like What To Expect. For Claire, a 32-year-old from New York City who works in film and is expecting her first child, that impulse to connect with other pregnant individuals proved powerful. (She spoke on the condition of only using her first name for fear of online harassment.) Thrilled and nervous after a positive pregnancy test, Claire downloaded the app the same day. She followed prompts to join a forum for those with January due dates and began receiving daily automated email digests of the discussion threads. She soon found, to her dismay, that the forums top posts over the summer often included conspiracy theories about vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines. Though Claire had resolved to get vaccinated before downloading What to Expect, she was afraid to click. She knew she was in a vulnerable state. She didnt trust herself not to get spooked. The presence of anti-vaccine rhetoric wasnt entirely surprising to Claire, though it irked her that the app seemed to be actively serving it to you without you looking for it via the email digests. What really pissed me off and alarmed me was people trading advice on how to get around vaccine mandates at their workplaces and childrens schools, she said. For example, in one thread that was served to her inbox, Somebody who was pregnant but had other children was asking other mums for advice on how to forge vaccine documents for their kids school. The CDCs release of an official stance on vaccination during pregnancy was an inflection point for What To Expect. We drew the hardest line when the CDC began explicitly recommending that pregnant people get vaccinated, and released a lot of data showing that not getting vaccinated is far more dangerous than the shot itself, Mattheis wrote. What to Expect already had a policy against posts that contained blatant anti-vaccine disinformation. But it hadnt been as focused on enforcing it. And, as Mattheis noted, the total volume of this violation type has risen so dramatically this year. What To Expect has adopted a number of strategies to combat the proliferation of misinformation on the discussion pages, Mattheis said. First, What to Expect expanded its moderation staffs hours so that its nine moderators now work in shifts to ensure 24/7 coverage. Mattheis also noted that the app developers built a keyword detector that would flag posts about vaccines for moderator review and invested in a third-party abuse-detection service to identify and flag potential misinformation. The company also adjusted its user interface to make reporting misinformation and guideline violations easier, adding misinformation/conspiracy to the list of violations that members can report. The company regularly adds to its collection of evidence-based, medically reviewed articles about vaccines (including the coronavirus vaccine and routine childhood vaccinations), and adds video content featuring Murkoff talking to experts such as Anthony Fauci and CDC director Rochelle Walensky. By late November, not one of the top 15 discussion threads under the vaccines search included conspiracy theories or evident COVID-19 misinformation. One thread titled, Theory: COVID Vaccine caused my miscarriage, raised questions about whether the vaccine could cause miscarriage. The majority of replies assured the original poster that it was most likely a coincidence. Several users noted that they had friends or relatives who had conceived successfully after vaccination, while others pointed out that miscarriages are common among the unvaccinated as well. Accidental Gods: On Men Unwittingly Turned Divine Author: Anna Della Subin Publisher: Metropolitan Books Price: $35 Pages:462 You might think that being worshipped as a god would be the ultimate dream come true all that power and pageantry and extravagant adoration. But as I learned from Anna Della Subins Accidental Gods,whats even more striking than the surprising frequency with which mortal men have been unwittingly turned divine is how often they tried to disavow their newfound exaltation. I am not God was a sentence that Gandhi found himself saying again and again. During Jawaharlal Nehrus political ascent in the 1930s, the man who would become Indias first prime minister moved to write an essay, under a pseudonym, warning against his own deification. The Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, born Ras Tafari, told Rastafarians during his 1966 visit to Jamaica, Do not worship me: I am not God which only fuelled reverence among those who took his denials as evidence of his mystery. I would be much quicker to question His Divinity if he stated, Yes, I am God, a contributor to an online Rastafari forum wrote about Selassies demurral. Nah, God wouldnt say that. There are much older examples, too. It became a method for legitimating political power as well as constraining it, delineating what a god was (magnanimous, merciful) and therefore what a new god should be. The senate deified Julius Caesar by official decree. By 79 A D, the routine apotheosis of Roman emperors meant that Vespasian, lying on his deathbed, could say, Oh dear, I think Im becoming a god. Ms Subin, who studied at Harvard Divinity School, clearly delights in such curious details. But this roving and ambitious book is focused on the making of modern gods instead of ancient ones on the way that Western thought in the modern age was supposed to reflect a progressive disenchantment, a rejection of irrational impulses, but was nevertheless built upon two altars, of Greco-Roman classicism and Christian creed, Ms Subin writes, both of which had men-becoming-gods at their centers. Belief, in other words, was at the core of modernity, even if that belief was (hypocritically) denied. Accidental Gods doesnt follow a strict chronological order, but its overall sweep moves backward in time, starting with 20th-century deifications in a decolonising world and ending several hundred years before, with divinisations of European explorers in the New World. In between are chapters on the British Raj, including a fascinating explanation of how Britains imperial reach with its bureaucracy and data collection allowed the study of comparative religion to flourish, giving rise to European scholars who proclaimed their expertise on the belief systems of various colonies even without ever stepping foot in any of them. Ms Subin shows how these scholars theories of religion owed quite a lot to their own preoccupations, like a fixation on the notion of pure religion and belief, and the assumption that Christianity was the one rational faith. This concept of religion as a private mystical germ, stripped away from any political or economic context meant that the Europeans viewed the locals willingness to see the divine in any manner of people and things as proof of an inherent backwardness. If there is a pattern that emerges in this book, it has to do with divinisations double-edge. On the one hand, Ms Subin says, deification has been used to subjugate. It was used by the Europeans as evidence that Indigenous people were so childlike that they could mistake white explorers for gods. She reminds us that reports of these deifications were often delivered by the explorers themselves, who recalled being asked if they had descended from the heavens even though this recollection could have itself constituted a minor miracle, given that the explorers often didnt speak a word of the Indigenous language. But Ms Subin also draws attention to deifications emancipatory potential. The Nikalsainis Indians who worshipped the notoriously violent 19th-century British brigadier John Nicholson were, she argues, appropriating his terrible power: By partaking in His divinity, they were no longer simply creatures, but creators of fear. Another example she gives is Selassie, a cruel dictator who luxuriated as his people starved; meanwhile, halfway around the world in Jamaica, a prime minister won an election by invoking Rastafarian tropes, and he proceeded to enact social reforms. Accidental Gods meanders at times, delineating some connections that are less plausible than others; but then the book is less a straightforward historical study than an irreverent bible in its own right, a sort of celestial thought experiment. A chapter on the decades-long worship of Prince Philip (yes, that Prince Philip) on the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu acknowledges the apparent paradox of deifying a royal figurehead who was prone to gaffes. Yet the people of Vanuatu, having experienced repeated upheavals and colonisations, might have glimpsed in that very paradox an expanded sense of possibility. As Ms Subin surmises of another man-god elsewhere in the book: One paradox could only be surmounted by another. crossed one billion transactions volume milestone on its platform during September quarter 2021-22, according to sources. This represents about 61 per cent year-on-year growth in transaction volume per quarter, underlining the bank's digital-first model and distribution of over 5,00,000 banking points that give it the ability to scale up rapidly. For Airtel Payments Bank, the growth in transactions volume has been sustained following the big pivot amid the pandemic as customer preference for digital payments surged, the source said adding that the company recently crossed one billion transactions per quarter mark. The growth has been driven by uptake for its diversified digital product offerings UPI based payments, FASTag, bill and utility payments, and mobile and DTH recharges as well as its set of retail solutions, the source added. When contacted, Anubrata Biswas, CEO of told PTI, " is able to offer its solutions to both the urban digital and the rural underbanked customer. Our products are user-need focused and designed to bring millions of users in the ambit of digital banking." Its digital banking solutions allow users to open a bank account in five minutes using video KYC, make secure payments using Safe Pay and get benefits with the 'Rewards123' programme. Airtel Payments Bank is able to offer its solutions to both the urban digital and the rural underbanked customer. The products are user-need focussed and designed to bring millions of users into the ambit of digital inclusion. It is among the fastest-growing banks with over 115 million users across the country and more than 8 million merchants. The bank is among the top five issuers of FASTag and processors for the Bharat Bill Payment System. With annualised revenues of over Rs 1,000 crore, the bank turned profitable in September quarter. (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 South India Cement Manufacturers Association (SICMA) has asked Finance Minister to impose higher import duty for clinker and cement to India in the upcoming budget. The association representatives met Sitharaman and indicated that the Indian manufacturers are unable to export to neighbouring countries as they have imposed anti-dumping duties on cement from India, while India is providing free access to imports. "South India, with its large limestone deposits, has excess cement capacity. We, therefore, request the Finance Minister to impose higher import duty for import of clinker and cement," said N Srinivasan, president of SICMA. Sitharaman had met with representatives of various industry associations in Tamil Nadu including micro and small enterprises, textiles, cement, handloom, hotel and poultry, and industry chambers in Chennai on Friday. The Association in its representation had cited that the region contributed to 40 per cent or 180 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of the country's total cement capacity. "Around 35-40 per cent of the limestone is also found in South India. Other parts of the country like North, Central, and East India will become a deficit in cement production in a few years. Hence, we request the government to facilitate the movement of cement from the surplus Southern state to deficit area either by providing either telescopic railway freight or some other method," the association said in its representation. The contributes around Rs 30,000 crore to the government exchequer per year in the form of good and service tax. According to SICMA, during his meeting, the outbreak of the second wave and the unprecedented rains across the country for a longer period affected the hopes raised by a better Budget last year for the "It is our fervent hope that with the economic recovery gaining ground and the economy firmly placed on a growth path, you will present again an expansionary Budget for 2022-23 with renewed thrust on investing in capital assets and infrastructure projects so as to give a fillip to demand generation and increased private consumption and revive the private investment cycle". Prime Minister in his radio broadcast on Sunday said 2022 would prove to be the golden page of building a new India. I am fully confident that with this very resolve the country will move forward in the coming year, and 2022 will be the golden page of building a new India, he said. Amid rising Covid cases linked to Omicron, Modi said individual alertness and discipline were a big strength of the country in the fight against the new variant of coronavirus. Modi said India has done an unprecedented work in its inoculation drive if its vaccination numbers are compared with global figures. He, however, also asked people to maintain caution against the new variant of the virus. This new variant is being constantly reviewed by our scientists. Every day they are getting new data and steps are being taken based on their suggestions, Modi said. Individual alertness and discipline are a big strength of the country in the fight against the new variant of coronavirus, he said. Our experience of the last two years is that our own effort as a citizen is very important to defeat this global pandemic, he added. It is our collective strength which will defeat corona. We have to enter 2022 with this sense of responsibility, the prime minister said. Crossing the 140 million vaccine doses is an achievement of each and every Indian. This shows the trust of every Indian in the system; shows trust in science and in scientists; and is also a testament to the willpower of we Indians who are fulfilling our responsibilities towards the society, he added. Modi on Saturday had announced that vaccination against Covid-19 for children between 15 and 18 years will start from January 3, while precaution dose for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10. He had also said the precaution dose will also be available for citizens above 60 years of age and those with comorbidities on the advice of their doctor from January 10 next year. In the address, Modi also talked about Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed to injuries at a military hospital in Bengaluru last week after sustaining serious injuries in the chopper crash near Coonoor that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 armed forces personnel. Group Captain Singh was the lone survivor of the December 8 crash. The prime minister talked about the air warrior's inspiring letter to his school weeks after he was decorated with the Shaurya Chakra award for displaying exemplary composure and skill. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven more cases of variant have been reported in Karnataka, informed State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday. Of these seven, two had travelled from Delhi, one had arrived from the United States of America, one each from Zambia, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and another is a primary contact of the UK traveller. "Seven new cases of variant have been confirmed in on December 25," Sudhakar wrote in a tweet. The Health Minister informed that those who tested positive for include a 76-year-old man from Bengaluru, who had travelled from Delhi, a 30-year-old woman from Bengaluru, who came from UAE, a 63-year-old man from Bengaluru who arrived from Zambia and a 54-year-old man from Bengaluru, who was a primary contact of a United Kingdom traveller. He said that a 21-year-old man from Bengaluru who arrived from the UK, a 62-year-old man from Bengaluru, who came from Delhi, and a 15-year-old boy from Bengaluru who travelled from the USA have also been found infected with the new variant. "All primary and secondary contacts have been tracked, traced and tested," the minister said. The total Omicron case tally has reached 38 in the state. on Saturday reported 270 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths. With the addition of new cases, the cumulative case tally in the state mounted to 30,04,239, of which 7,271 are active cases. (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 Sunday reported two more cases of the variant of COVID-19, taking the tally to six. The two new cases were reported from Anantapuram and Prakasam districts, and both persons arrived from foreign countries, the Director of Public Health said in a statement. A 48 year-old male who recently came from South Africa to Hyderabad and then to Ongole on December 16 tested COVID-19 positive on December 20. His samples were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, for genome sequencing, it said. He was declared positive for the strain on December 25. In the other case, a 51 year-old man arrived in Bangaluru from the UK on December 18. His samples were collected and sent to the CCMB after he tested positive for Later, he tested positive for the variant. Both the patients are healthy and in quarantine under the close observation of the health department, the statement said, adding that all the primary and secondary contacts of both persons were tested and found to be negative for the virus. Meanwhile, the state recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases taking the cumulative figure to 20,76,492, while the toll rose to 14,490 with one more fatality. Active cases stood at 1,166, a health department bulletin said providing details of the last 24 hours ending 9 AM today. As many as 164 people recovered from the disease leaving the total recoveries at 20,60,836, the bulletin said. The lone death was reported in Krishna district. Over 25,000 samples were tested during the last 24 hours. The total number of samples tested so far stood at over 3.11 crore. Chittoor District topped the chart with highest number of active cases with 248 followed by East Godavari (149). (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Calling attention to the increasing incidents of attacks on the judiciary, Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Sunday underlined the need for the law enforcement agencies to deal with them effectively. He made the remarks while delivering the fifth Late Sri Lavu Venkateswarlu Endowment Lecture. "In recent times, physical attacks on judicial officers are on the rise. At times, there are also concerted campaigns in print and social media against judges if parties do not get a favourable order. These attacks appear to be sponsored and synchronised. The law enforcing agencies, particularly the specialised agencies, need to deal with such malicious attacks effectively. It is unfortunate that unless the Court interferes and passes orders, the authorities generally do not proceed with the investigation. The governments are expected and duty bound to create a secure environment so that the judges and judicial officers can function fearlessly," he said. Justice Ramana also brought the spotlight on media trials, and said that they cannot be the guiding factors for deciding cases. "Another aspect which affects the fair functioning and independence of judiciary is the rising number of media trials. New media tools have enormous amplifying ability but appear to be incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad and the real and fake. Media trials cannot be a guiding factor in deciding cases," he observed. Explaining the new challenges and persistent challenges facing the judiciary, the CJI said the Constitution creates ample space for change as the country moves ahead as a democracy. Justice Ramana also said that judiciary has to be quick to adapt and be flexible to resolve any challenge that comes its way. Appreciating the government for appointments of several judges, the CJI debunked the claims of judges themselves appointing judges. "It is nowadays fashionable to reiterate phrases such as, 'judges are themselves appointing judges'. I consider this to be one of the widely propagated myths. The fact is the judiciary is merely one of the many players involved in the process. Many authorities are involved including the Union Law Ministry, State Governments, Governor, High Court Collegia, Intelligence Bureau, and lastly, the topmost executive, who all are designated to examine the suitability of a candidate. I am sad to note that the well-informed also propagate the aforesaid notion. After all, this narrative suits certain sections." The CJI also noted that there is no impact assessment or basic scrutiny of constitutionality before passing of legislations. "The minimal that is expected out of the legislature while drafting laws is that they abide by settled Constitutional principles. While making laws, they must also think of providing effective remedies for issues which may arise out of the law. But these principles seemingly are being ignored." Citing the introduction of the Bihar Prohibition Act in 2016 as an example, the CJI said that "it resulted in the High Court being clogged with bail applications. Because of this, a simple bail application takes one year to be disposed of". --IANS pvn/svn/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.) reported 177 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, its highest single-day addition since June 20 when the count was 185, raising the tally to 8,29,359, a state health department official said. No new case of the variant was reported during the day, leaving the count in this segment at 49, he added. However, three people detected with were discharged from hospital, raising the number of people who have recovered from the variant to 13, the official pointed out. So far, 8,18,298 people have been discharged post recovery, including 66 on Sunday, leaving with 948 active cases, of which 10 patients are critical, he said. The death toll remained unchanged at 10,113. Of the new cases, Ahmedabad led with 53, followed by 36 in Rajkot, 25 in Surat, 16 in Vadodara, among other districts. The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the state so far stood at 8.81 crore after 41,039 people were given jabs on Sunday, a government release informed. The active tally in adjoining Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu remained unchanged at one as no new case or recovery was reported on Sunday. The Union Territory has a caseload of 10,663, including four deaths, and a recovery count of 10,658. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 8,29,359, new cases 177, death toll 10,113, discharged 8,18,298 active cases 948, people tested so far - figures not released. (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 first case of in was reported in Mandi district a few days ago, health secretary Amitabh Avasthi said on Sunday. A 45-year-old woman was tested positive for the new COVID-19 variant on December 12. Her RT-PCR test was conducted at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. The woman had arrived in India from Canada on December 3 and was home isolated for 14 days, he said. However, she has recovered and tested negative on December 24, Avasthi noted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has announced the decision to close its land borders with neighbouring countries for 15 days to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 variant of Ruhollah Latifi, spokesman for Iran's Customs, said on Saturday thar the Iran's land borders with Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Armenia are closed for half a month from Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran's Health Ministry on Saturday reported 1,121 new Covid-19 cases, raising the country's total infections to 6,182,905. The pandemic also claimed 42 lives in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 131,348, according to the ministry. A total of 6,024,211 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 2,781 remain in intensive care units, it said. By Saturday, 59,464,524 Iranians have received their first vaccine doses, 51,096,388 two jabs, and 5,478,443 in the country third booster shots. A total of 41,388,312 tests have so far been carried out across the country. On December 19, detected the first case in a traveller who returned from the UAE. --IANS int/shs (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 parents of an eight-year-old nomad girl, who was brutally raped and murdered in Kathua district of Jammu, are anguished that while their appeal for enhancement of sentence against six people remains unheard, two convicts were released on bail in the case described by a court as a "devilish and monstrous crime". Mohammed Yusuf, who had adopted the eight-year-old girl, and Mohammed Akthar, her biological father, said they had heard that two culprits -- former sub-inspector Anand Dutta and head constable Tilak Raj -- had been released on bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which suspended the rest of their sentences pending an appeal. "I am surprised that two accused have been left on bail. Our appeal for enhancement of sentence is still pending while their appeal has been addressed. I wonder whether poor people like us will ever be heard. "I hope the Supreme Court looks into the matter and takes some action as no one is hearing our petition," Akthar told PTI. Yusuf claims that efforts were being made to dilute the case to the extent that all the culprits were out. "When the accused are out on bail, I fear that one day, I will be booked under some frivolous charge and thrown into jail. They are very powerful people," he said. "Already rumours have started doing the rounds that the case was going to be re-investigated by the CBI and all the accused will be out on bail," Yusuf alleged. The case triggered a nationwide outrage when the eight-year-old girl was found murdered on January 17, 2018. After initial hiccups, the case was handed over to the crime branch on January 27 of the same year which unravelled the conspiracy behind the heinous crime where the little girl was kidnapped and brutally raped for four days before being killed in a barbaric manner. The Supreme Court, had in 2018, directed the case to be shifted out of Jammu and Kashmir and ordered the sessions court in Pathankot to hear it on a daily basis. Sanji Ram, the mastermind and caretaker of the 'devasthanam' (temple) where the crime took place in January 2018, Deepak Khajuria, a special police officer, and Parvesh Kumar, a civilian, were sentenced to life imprisonment till their last breath for the ghastly crime, while three policemen, Dutta, Raj and SPO Suriender Kumar, were awarded five years' imprisonment for destroying evidence in June 2019. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, earlier this month, suspended the remaining sentences of Dutta and Raj, pending hearing on their appeals against the verdict. Justices Tejinder Singh Dhindsa and Vinod S Bhardwaj said in separate orders that both Dutta and Raj have been on parole for 11 months and nine months respectively. Senior advocate R S Cheema, appearing for the Jammu and Kashmir government, and advocate Manbir Basra had objected to the suspension of the sentence, saying the accused could tamper with evidence and create a law and order situation. However, in a near-identical order in both the petitions, the division bench ruled out the apprehension of Cheema about the possibility of a breach of peace, saying it "seems misconceived in as much as the applicant has availed of parole" during the period of his custody. The sentences of the two convicts were suspended, and they were released on bail under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. Both Akthar and Yusuf had approached the high court in 2019 for enhancing the sentences of all the six accused besides challenging the sessions court's order of releasing Sanji Ram's son Vishal. "There have been some hearings but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything is delayed," Basra said. A 15-page charge sheet filed in April 2018 said the eight-year-old girl was kidnapped on January 10 that year and was raped in captivity in a small village temple, exclusively manned by Ram, after keeping her sedated for four days. She was later bludgeoned to death, it said. The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police had filed the charge sheet against eight people, including a juvenile. The trial against the juvenile is yet to begin as his petition on determining his age is to be heard by the Supreme Court. Tejwinder Singh, district and sessions judge of Pathankot, had in his 432-page judgment termed the crime "devilish and monstrous", and said it was committed in the most "shameful, inhumane and barbaric manner" for which "poetic justice" needs to be done to its perpetrators. "The circumstantial evidence led by the prosecution is definite which unerringly points out towards the guilt of the accused. The circumstances taken cumulatively from a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that within all human probability that the crime was committed by the accused and none else. "The circumstantial evidence is complete in itself and is incapable of explanation of any other hypothesis that the guilt of the accused and such evidence is consistent with the guilt of the accused," the judge said, adding that the circumstantial evidence led by the prosecution has to be given "due weightage in the case". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' remembered Group Captain Varun Singh, who was piloting the helicopter which crashed and led to the death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others. Varun Singh too succumbed to the injuries a few days later. The Prime Minister said, "When Varun was in the hospital, I saw something on social media that touched my heart. He was given Shaurya Chakra in August just this year. After this honour, he had written a letter to the principal of his school. He wanted the lives of the students of the school that he studied in should also be a celebration. In his letter, Varun Singh ji did not boast of his valour; instead he referred to his failures. He talked about how he converted his shortcomings into abilities." While cautioning people about the threat, the PM said, "We also have to keep in mind that a new variant of #Corona has already knocked at the door. Our experience of the last two years is that our own effort as a citizen is very important to defeat this global pandemic." Modi said, "We have to learn so much, innovate, achieve new goals, therefore, we will have to persevere without wasting even a moment. Our dreams will be such that development of our society and country is connected, our progress will open the way for the progress of the country and for this, we have to start working from today, without wasting a single moment, without losing a single particle or resource." The Prime Minister said that in the new year every person, every organisation, should take a resolution to do something better, to become better in the coming year. He said, "In these seven years, while doing #MannKiBaat, I could also have discussed achievements of the government, you too would have liked it; you would have appreciated it as well! But it is my experience of decades, that away from the glare of the media, there are millions of people who are doing great things." "This is the strength of the people; it is because of everyone's effort that India could fight the biggest pandemic in 100 years. We stood by each other like a family in every difficult moment," said Modi. The Prime Minister also played 'Vande Matram' rendered by students from a High School at Illia, Greece. "The beauty and emotion with which they have sung 'Vande Mataram' is amazing and commendable. Such efforts bring people of two countries closer. My greetings to these students of Greece and their teachers. I appreciate their effort," he said. He mentioned a startup working for pure water," I have come to know about a start-up named Saaf Water which has been started by some youth. With the help of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of things, it will give information related to purity and quality of water in their area to people." The PM also mentioned the efforts of Sagar Mule of Goa, who is involved in saving centuries old 'Kaavi' paintings from extinction. 'Kaavi' form of painting covers the ancient history of India. Modi said there is a growing interest in the world to know about Indian culture. People from different countries are not only curious to know about the culture but are also helping to spread it. One such person is Serbian Scholar Dr. Momir Nikic. --IANS miz/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases, the government has decided to re-impose night from Monday, according to sources. Night will commence from 11 PM and last till 5 AM. reported 290 fresh cases on Sunday, the highest since June 10, and one fatality, while the positivity rate rose to 0.55 percent, according to data shared by the government's health department here. On June 10, the national capital had reported 305 cases and 44 deaths. The cumulative tally has now risen to 14,43,352 while the death toll is 25,105. The number of active cases stands at 1,103, of which 583 patients are in home isolation. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka have also reimposed night (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) reported its first cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus on Sunday with the state authorities saying that nine foreign returnees were found infected with the new strain in Indore, of whom seven have already been discharged after recovery. Opposition Congress questioned the BJP government in the state over the "delay" in revealing the information about the Omicron cases, while the ruling party hit back saying that the process of genome sequencing of samples takes time. "Eight Omicron cases have been found in Indore. Out of these patients, six have recovered and have been discharged while two are undergoing treatment," state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who is also the state government's spokesman, told reporters earlier in the day. Talking to PTI later in the evening, Indore's Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College's dean Dr Sanjay Dixit said that a man who returned to Indore from Dubai was also found infected with the Omicron variant and that he has been discharged after recovery. This took the state's Omicron tally to nine. Mishra said, around 3,000 people had returned to Indore from abroad recently and 26 of them were found to be infected with coronavirus. "Omicron was confirmed in the genome sequencing of eight of these people," he said. The samples of these people, who returned to the state's industrial hub Indore from different countries, were taken between December 17 and 21, according to officials. These infected people included two men aged 20 and 30 years, who came from New York (US) on December 14 and 19 respectively, a 23-year-old woman who arrived from London (UK) on December 14, two women aged 33 and 26 who returned from Tanzania (east Africa) on December 19, a 33-year-old woman who returned from Ghana (west Africa) on December 17, and two men aged 26 and 31 years, who arrived from Dubai on December 13 and 18 respectively, they said. Talking about the ninth Omicron patient, Dr Dixit said, "We received the genome sequencing report from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi on Sunday. A 24-year-old man, who returned from Dubai to Indore, was found infected with the Omicron variant." "The man had returned to Indore a fortnight ago and was found COVID-19 infected on December 17. He has already been discharged after recovery," he said. On Saturday, reported 42 new cases of coronavirus, raising the state's infection tally to 7,93,655, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,532, an official earlier said. The state had 232 active COVID-19 cases, the official added. Meanwhile, state Congress chief Kamal Nath questioned the government's "delay" in disclosing the Omicron infection cases in the state. "Eight persons tested positive for the Omicron variant and six of them recovered, while two are undergoing treatment. Why did the state government hide this information for so long? This is a serious issue," Nath said. He also raised question marks over Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's programmes held in Indore on Saturday. "While the Omicron variant was found in Indore, Chouhan gathered crowds by holding programmes. He should have cancelled his programmes and organised them virtually," he said. Reacting to Nath's allegations, state BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI that the state government has made all necessary arrangements to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the situation. "Nath should be aware of the fact that Omicron is detected through genome sequencing of COVID-19 patients. The samples for this test are sent to Delhi and it takes time. This testing is not like clicking pictures with Bollywood actors as Nath was doing when the coronavirus pandemic broke out in the state," Chaturvedi said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A committee will be constituted, which will have to submit its report within 45 days on withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Area Act from Nagaland, informed the state government. "A committee will be instituted to look into the withdrawal of in ..The Committee will submit its report in 45 days & withdrawal of Disturbed Area and from will be based on its recommendations," reads the official statement. The decision was taken in a meeting that was chaired by Union Home Minister on Thursday in New Delhi. The Chief Ministers of and Assam-- and Himanta Biswa Sarma-- were present in the meeting along with the leader of Naga People's Front Legislative Party T.R. Zeliang. It was also decided in the meeting that a Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel in the killing of civilians in the Oting Village of Mon district on December 4, read the statement by the Nagaland government. "It was discussed in the meeting that a Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel, who are directly involved in the Oting incident and action will be taken immediately on the basis of enquiry," it added. "The identified persons who will face the enquiry will be placed under suspension with immediate effect," it added. Meanwhile, the Assam rifle unit in Mon will also be replaced with immediate effect, the release said. The Nagaland government has also announced that the next to kin of those who died in the Oting incident will be provided with the government jobs. The demand to repeal picked up after a botched up army operation against insurgents in Nagaland leading to the killings of 14 civilians. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister will address the nation in the 84th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. This will be the last edition of the year. "Mann ki Baat" is the Prime Minister's monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app. Earlier, the Prime Minister had called citizens to share their views for this edition of 'Mann ki Baat'. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister had said, "I have been receiving several inputs for this month's on the 26, which will be the last one of 2021. The inputs cover so many different areas and celebrate the life journeys of several people working to bring grassroots level changes. Keep sharing your views." The first episode of the programme was broadcast on October 3, 2014. In his last episode of Mann Ki Baat, which was broadcast on November 28, the Prime Minister had lauded the armed forces for the completion of 50 years of India's victory over Pakistan 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.) Defence Minister on Sunday reiterated that Russia was Indias strategic partner. Further, Singh supported the nuclear and other military deterrents of India to preempt external threats on the Indian soil. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of BrahMos Aerospace cruise missile manufacturing unit in Lucknow, Singh said the project was a testimony of the defence manufacturing cooperation between the two countries. Russia is our strategic partner, and the project is the symbol of our partnership, he said adding the moniker of BrahMos was derived from Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers of India and Russia respectively. BrahMos is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPOM, Russia to develop next-generation supersonic missiles for the Indian forces. is not meant for attacking other nations but to equip India with capabilities to deter external forces from casting evil eyes on our territory, he noted. Singh underlined India had never attacked other nations nor tried to encroach upon even an inch of their land. However, we need to have a nuclear deterrent so that no other country could think of attacking us. He recalled the Uri and Pulwama incidents, saying a neighbouring country had always exhibited nefarious designs and executed terrorist attacks in India. However, we responded by striking inside their territory and through airstrikes to give the message that if provoked, we have the capacity to go beyond our borders too, he said. Meanwhile, Singh also laid the foundation of Defence Technology and Test Centre in the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. The BrahMos plant is not only vital for Indias defence sector but also propels UP in the league of leading states for defence manufacturing. He thanked UP chief minister for the speedy acquisition of 200 acres of land for the prestigious project. Meanwhile, BrahMos project is estimated to create 5,500 fresh job opportunities, while the ancillary supply chain would create an additional 10,000 employment. All the three wings of the Indian defence forces viz. Army, Air Force and Navy, have already inducted BrahMos advanced weapon system. The indefinite strike here by demanding the immediate release of fishers arrested by entered the eighth day while community leaders on Sunday said a 'massive rail roko' would be held on January 1. Till such time the Centre secured the release of all arrested and their boats, the strike would continue to be on, said P Sesu Raja and S Emerit, leaders of separate fishermen's associations. Sesu Raja is president of Kadalora Meenava Sangam and Emerit heads the Meenavan Meenava Sangam. On January 1, a 'massive rail roko protest' would be held here, they said. hailing from different parts of Tamil Nadu, including Rameswaram and Pudukottai, were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel between December 19 and 21, 2021 after they allegedly crossed the international maritime boundary. After their arrest, an indefinite strike was launched here by fishermen associations on December 19. While other fishermen associations too joined the strike and took part in agitations, a section of them have reportedly resumed work on Sunday, following Christmas. Leaders of fishermen associations also plan to visit Delhi and meet Union Ministers as part of efforts to find a long-term solution to the continuing arrest of fishermen. Days ago, Chief Minister M K Stalin had urged the Centre to take immediate action to secure the release of all the 68 arrested fishermen and their 75 fishing boats. Stalin had also requested the Centre to establish India's traditional fishing rights in Palk Strait and guard the lives of fishermen. (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 United States has announced shipping an additional five million doses of Pfizer's to through the COVAX facility. "The United States asked Santa to bring an additional 5 million doses of the life-saving Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility to Pakistan, just in time for the holidays," The Express Tribune quoted the US Embassy statement. The embassy said that the donation "should arrive on December 25 on Christmas Day or shortly thereafter, bringing the total number of the vaccines donated by the US government to the Pakistani people to more than 37 million." "Getting vaccinated is the best gift you can give your loved ones this holiday season. Celebrate the coming new year by getting your jab," said US Embassy Islamabad's Charge d'affaires Angela P Aggeler. The statement said that the vaccines are part of the 500 million doses the United States purchased this summer to deliver to 92 countries worldwide, including Pakistan, to fulfil President Joe Biden's commitment to provide safe and effective vaccines around the world and supercharge the global fight against the pandemic, The Express Tribune reported. "The United States has already delivered more than 300 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine worldwide," said the statement. It also said that the US has also provided USD 69.4 million in Covid-19 assistance through a partnership with the government of "Since the start of the pandemic, the United States and have worked together to improve infection prevention and control, enhance patient care, expand laboratory testing, disease monitoring, and case tracking in all districts, and support frontline healthcare workers," it 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.) Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to racial discrimination in South Africa, has died. He was 90. Tutu died on Sunday in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosas office said in a statement. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and underwent surgery. Tutu was subsequently hospitalized several times to undergo treatment for infections and other ailments. As South Africas first Black Anglican archbishop, Tutu used his profile to lobby for sanctions against the White-minority government. From 1996 to 1998, he led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, aimed at exposing the injustices of the past. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead, Ramaphosa said. Tutus brand of activism was shaped by his religious conviction, a mischievous sense of humor and physical bravery that once led him to rush into a mob to save the life of a young woman about to be lynched on suspicion of being a police informer. Moral Universe This is a moral universe; God is in charge of this world, was a favorite saying of the man who, as archbishop of Cape Town, liked to wear a T-shirt emblazoned: Just Call Me Arch. Born on Oct. 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, west of Johannesburg, Tutu worked as a teacher before entering a theological seminary. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1961, obtained a masters degree in theology at Kings College, University of London, and in 1975 was appointed Dean of Johannesburg, the first Black person to hold the post. With many of South Africas Black leaders in jail, including Nelson Mandela, and in exile, Tutu emerged as a leading voice of Black defiance against He became general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, an organization at the forefront of the struggle against White-minority rule, in 1978. He called for economic sanctions against the regime, in defiance of a law that made it illegal to advocate such actions. The government responded by withdrawing his passport. Nobel Prize In 1984, the Nobel Committee awarded Tutu its annual Peace Prize, citing his role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of in Tutu was appointed Archbishop of Cape Town, titular head of the Anglican Church in southern Africa, in 1986 and held the post until 1995 when he was named to lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu openly wept while listening to victims of South Africas pre-1994 system of institutionalized racial discrimination, yet opposed Nuremberg-style trials for those responsible for the atrocities. Even after apartheids demise in 1994, Tutu never lost his outrage at injustice or his capacity for protest. Soon after South Africas first democratic vote, won by Mandelas African National Congress, he criticized the new government for stopping the gravy train just long enough to get on. Mbeki Critic He also accused former President Thabo Mbeki of not doing enough to combat poverty and the spread of AIDS, and for remaining silent about human-rights abuses in neighboring Zimbabwe. Tutu also clashed with Jacob Zuma, Mbekis successor as head of the ANC, saying he should have faced trial on charges of taking bribes from arms dealers. The case against Zuma was dropped in April 2009, just weeks before he was elected president, but was subsequently reinstated and is currently before the courts. Tutu officially retired from public life in 2010, yet continued to do charity work through his Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. When the Zuma administration denied an entry visa to the Dalai Lama in 2014, Tutu accused it of kowtowing to China and said he was ashamed to call this lickspittle bunch my government. In 2017, he joined tens of thousands of people who took to the streets to demand Zumas ouster, after the presidents firing of his respected finance minister caused the rand to crash. The ANC forced Zuma to quit the following year. Tutu made a public appearance in Cape Town in May 2021 to get his coronavirus vaccine and encouraged to follow suit. Tutu is survived by his wife, Leah and four children. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa's anti- icon who won the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting racial discrimination in the country, has died. He was 90. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Tutu passed away in Cape Town in the early hours of Sunday. He was the last surviving South African laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu, who previously survived tuberculosis, had undergone a surgery for prostate cancer in 1997. He was also hospitalised several times in recent years for a various ailments. The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, Ramaphosa said as he shared condolence with the family and friends. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead. A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world, Ramaphosa said. The president also lauded Tutu for his role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he was often driven to tears as victims of shared their inhumane treatment at the hands of apartheid-ear security forces. Then newly-elected president Nelson Mandela had appointed Tutu to lead the Commission in 1995. As Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he articulated the universal outrage at the ravages of and touchingly and profoundly demonstrated the depth of meaning of ubuntu, reconciliation and forgiveness. We pray that Archbishop Tutu's soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation, Ramaphosa concluded in his statement. Paying tributes to Tutu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was a guiding light for countless people globally and his emphasis on human dignity and equality will be forever remembered. Modi said: "Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was a guiding light for countless people globally. His emphasis on human dignity and equality will be forever remembered. I am deeply saddened by his demise, and extend my heartfelt condolences to all his admirers. May his soul rest in peace." Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 when he was still the Bishop of Johannesburg. Referring to Tutu as Africa's Peace Bishop, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said Tutu's award was made "for his role as a unifying leader figure in the non-violent campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in " Tutu was saluted by the Nobel Committee for his clear views and his fearless stance, characteristics which had made him a unifying symbol for all African freedom fighters. Attention was once again directed at the nonviolent path to liberation. Despite bloody violations committed against the black population, as in the Sharpeville massacre of 1961 and the Soweto rising in 1976, Tutu adhered to his nonviolent line, the Institute said on its website. The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) recalled Tutu's relationship with Mandela after the two first met at a debating competition in the early 1950s until they first met again only before Mandela's release from 27 years as a political prisoner on February 11, 1990. The minority white apartheid government had thwarted all attempts by Tutu to meet Mandela again in the intervening four decades. Mandela's first night as a free man was spent at the home of the Tutus in Bishopscourt, Cape Town, NMF Chief Executive Sello Hatang said in a statement. From then until Mandela passed away in 2013 they were in regular contact and their friendship deepened over time. Hatang said he was privileged to have worked on a number of projects with Tutu, whom he described as a friend to Madiba and to the Foundation. It was Tutu who held aloft Madiba's hand on the balcony of Cape Town's City Hall on 9 May 1994 and presented him to the assembled throngs as the country's new out of the box President, Hatang said. Hatang quoted Mandela's comments on Tutu: His most characteristic quality is his readiness to take unpopular positions without fear He speaks his mind on matters of public morality. As a result, he annoyed many of the leaders of the apartheid system. Nor has he spared those that followed them - he has from time to time annoyed many of us who belong to the new order. But such independence of mind however wrong and unstrategic it may at times be is vital to a thriving democracy. Tutu had in recent years also been an outspoken critic of the looting of state enterprises in what has been identified at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, not sparing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of which he had been a proud member all his life. Madiba and the Arch (the popular names by which the two leaders were affectionately known) were both founding members of The Elders, an grouping of inspirational leaders which has done human rights work in countries around the world. We owe it both to Madiba and to the Arch to continue working for the country and the world of their dreams. Their intersecting legacies are powerful resources for social justice work, said Hatang. President marked his first in office by making calls to military service members stationed around the world, offering them holiday wishes and gratitude for their service and sacrifice for the nation. Joined by his wife, Jill, and their new puppy, Commander, the president on Saturday spoke via video to service members representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard, stationed at bases in Quatar, Romania, Bahrain and the U.S. As your commander in chief, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, thank you, thank you, he told the service members. We're grateful for your courage, your sacrifice, not only your sacrifice but your family's sacrifice. Speaking from a studio set up at the White House, Biden told them they're the solid steel spine of the nation, and emphasised the truly sacred obligation the nation has to care for soldiers and their families. Jill Biden expressed empathy for the difficulties their families experience spending the holidays away from their loved ones, noting that the Bidens experienced the same when their son Beau, who served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, was deployed to Iraq. The Bidens planned a relatively quiet at the White House with family. As the coronavirus pandemic surges anew, driven by the highly infectious omicron variant, the Bidens sought with their public appearances and statements to offer a sense of unity and normalcy in an otherwise challenging season for many. In a statement, the Bidens praised the enormous courage, character, resilience, and resolve of the American people in the face of the pandemic, and offered prayers that the nation would find light in the darkness during a difficult season. "During this season of joy, we are inspired by the countless Americans who are a reminder that the things we hold sacred unite us and transcend distance, time, and even the constraints of a pandemic," the Bidens said in their statement. And the call to soldiers was just the latest Christmas tradition the two participated in, after spending Christmas eve spreading holiday cheer around Washington. On Friday morning, they visited Children's National Hospital to offer holiday greetings to young patients and their families. The president showed off photos of their new puppy and Jill read a children's book to patients. Later, the two stopped by a Jill Biden-themed Christmas tree in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. The president hung the 2021 White House Christmas ornament amid branches decked out with photos of his wife's face, apples and small chalkboards, in homage to her teaching career. Both answered calls to the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Santa-tracking service, speaking to parents and children about their Christmas wishlists. (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 United Arab Emirates (UAE) government plans to deepen economic reforms to attract more investment. As part of the reforms, the state told some of its biggest business families that it plans to remove their on the sale of imported goods, the Financial Times reported. According to existing commercial agency agreements, foreign companies were required to appoint local partners to distribute their goods. The government has now proposed legislation to end the automatic renewal of existing agreements that will give multinationals the flexibility to distribute their own goods or change their local agent on expiry of the respective contracts. Officials indicated that the new law was expected to be approved by the government but the timing remained uncertain. The government did not comment. The proposed reform would replace decades of protection for local interests in favour of foreign entities, and would tear up the longstanding social contract between the government and influential merchant families, including storied names such as Al Futtaim, Al Rostamani and Juma Al Majid. This is one of the taboos most difficult to touch due to its impact on family-owned local businesses, one of the largest sectors of the economy, said Habib Al Mulla, the executive chair of law firm Baker McKenzies Middle Eastern branch. Family-owned businesses, from small companies to the conglomerates, make up 90 per cent of the UAEs private sector, which itself accounts for around three-quarters of employment. Such families dominate a retail sector that underpins Dubais thriving tourism sector, which is rebounding again. The aims to attract more investment via competitive legal and social changes, such as long-term residency programmes and fewer restrictions on cohabitation and alcohol. The pace of reform has accelerated amid a nascent economic rivalry with Saudi Arabia. As part of its own plans to diversify away from hydrocarbons, the kingdom has imposed tariffs on Gulf imports and is pressuring multinationals to relocate regional headquarters to Riyadh. In the recent years, some new entrants, including Apple and Tesla, have been allowed to open their own stores in the UAE without local agents. Other multinationals have been requesting that their local partners change agency agreements into joint ventures, giving them more control over marketing and raising their potential returns. Merchant families, recognising the inevitable end of archaic agency agreements, have been agreeing to such demands, the report quoted the people as saying. When the commercial agency agreements expire, the local agents would likely receive compensation for their investment in retail infrastructure and sales networks. This is the right thing to do now, but perhaps not the right way of introducing it, said one owner. State-owned oil company Petroleos de (PDVSA) exceeded one million barrels of crude produced per day at the end of 2021, double what it recorded a year ago, the country's Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami announced. This figure was reached despite the dozens of sanctions the US government has imposed on the South American country, El Aissami said in a Christmas message on Saturday. "Despite the threats of the criminal blockade of the US, here is a people standing with dignity and in the vanguard: the oil working class," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying. At the end of 2020, the Venezuelan state oil company reported a production level of 500,000 barrels per day, but production rose to 876,100 barrels per day at the end of November of this year. The Venezuelan government reported that from 2014 to 2019, the country experienced a 99 per cent drop in its foreign exchange earnings. President Nicolas Maduro said in September 2020 that "of every $100 or euros that the country obtained from the sale of oil in 2014, today it obtains less than one". The country has started a phase of economic recovery through the diversification of production and the rehabilitation of Venezuelan petroleum activity, according to the government. --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.) 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 A government change marked 2021 in as BJP's Northeast strongman took over as the chief minister, earning both bouquets and brickbats from varied quarters over his style of governance that drew accusations of "heavy-handed" tackling of the security situation. Sarma assumed power after leading the BJP, together with Sarbananda Sonowal, the incumbent chief minister, in the March-April assembly elections, decimating the 10-party opposition alliance comprising the Congress and Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF. Though the BJP did not project a chief ministerial face, Sarma was rewarded for his organisational skills as he helped the party secure a second consecutive term in office, besides expanding its base in the Northeast. Sonowal, who helmed the state since 2016, was accommodated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet as Minister of Shipping and Ayush after being elected uncontested to the Rajya Sabha. As Sarma realised his long-cherished goal of becoming the state's chief minister, he gave a "free-hand" to the police, leading to regular encounters. His government also extended the olive branch to banned militant groups such as ULFA, while border disputes with neighbouring states marred his first few months in office. He also steered the state through the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the upgradation of health infrastructure and swift rollout of the vaccination drive. Sarma's "free-hand" to law enforcers led to over 80 police shootings that resulted in the killing of 32 people named in various criminal cases and injury to at least 57 others. The opposition alleged police had turned "trigger happy" under Sarma, but the chief minister was unfazed and asserted the authorities had "full operational liberty to fight against criminals within the ambit of law". He also ordered a clampdown on drug trafficking, a menace in the Northeast, leading to seizure of narcotics worth crores of rupees that were publicly burnt by the government. Sarma's government was also accused of targeting Muslims -- from crackdown on "encroachers" belonging to the community, to asking them to adopt family planning for population control, besides bringing in a stringent cattle protection law. Two people were killed during an eviction drive in Darrang district in September as clashes broke out between police and alleged encroachers. At least 20 more were injured. A video showing a photographer stomping on an injured protester in the throes of death went viral, sparking outrage. On the first day in office, Sarma gave a call to the banned ULFA for talks and the outfit's chief Paresh Barua reciprocated by extending the unilateral ceasefire thrice. More than a thousand militants operating in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and the three hill districts of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong surrendered with their arms. Sarma, the convenor of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance and the party's chief troubleshooter in the region, faced his first major challenge as violence broke out at the Assam-Mizoram border, with six police personnel and a civilian getting killed in Cachar district in July. Flare-ups continued at the inter-state border even as the government formed a committee to resolve the issue. The government also took steps to resolve pending boundary disputes with Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The chief minister described the boundary disputes as the "biggest stumbling block" for the development of the region. The state continued to battle the pandemic in 2021, with 5,118 people dying of COVID-19 so far this year as against 1,037 in the previous year. The total number of cases rose to 6,20,081 till date this year from last year's 2,15,939. So far, 3,67,14,946 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered -- 2,16,88,360 first dose and 1,50,26,586 second dose. Amid the raging pandemic, the BJP secured 60 seats in the assembly polls, while its partner AGP bagged nine and the UPPL six. The opposition 'Mahajot', which fell apart after the election, could manage 50 seats in the 126-member assembly. Firebrand leader-activist Akhil Gogoi, who fought as an Independent also won, becoming the first politician in the state to win an election from jail. Sarma's sustained efforts to expand the ruling benches also bore fruit with Congress MLAs Rupjyoti Kurmi of Mariani and Sushanta Borgohain of Thowra, and AIUDF's Phani Talukdar of Bhabanipur switching over to the BJP and winning in bypolls. Congress MLA Sashi Das of Raha announced that he would support the BJP while remaining in his party. Sarma also faced attacks by the opposition, which accused a real estate company co-founded by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and BJP Kisan Morcha leader Ranjit Bhattacharya of illegally acquiring a government land. During the year, celebrated boxer Lovlina Borgohain who became the first sportsperson from the state to win an Olympics medal. She won a bronze at the Tokyo games. (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.) Britain's Plc has dropped lawsuits against the Indian government and its entities in the US and other places and is in the final stages of withdrawing cases in Paris and the Netherlands to get back about Rs 7,900 crore that were collected from it to enforce a demand. As part of the settlement reached with the government to the seven-year old dispute over levy of back taxes, the company - which is now known as Capricorn Energy PLC - has initiated proceedings to withdraw lawsuits it had filed in several jurisdictions to enforce an international arbitration award which had overturned levy of Rs 10,247 crore retrospective taxes and ordered India to refund the money already collected. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Cairn on November 26 withdrew the lawsuit it had brought in Mauritius for recognition of the arbitration award and took similar measures in courts in Singapore, the UK and Canada. On December 15, it sought and got 'voluntary dismissal' of a lawsuit it had brought in a New York court to seize assets of Air India to recover the money due from the government. On the same day, it made a similar move in a Washington court where it was seeking recognition of the arbitration award. Recognition of arbitration award is the first step before any enforcement proceedings like seizure of assets can be brought. Sources said the critical lawsuit in a French court, which had attached Indian properties on the petition of Cairn, is in the final stages of withdrawal. Paper work is expected to get completed in the next couple of days. The attachment of Indian assets, including some flats in Paris, in July used by the Indian government staff had triggered scrapping of a 2012 amendment to the Income Tax Act that gave taxmen powers to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India. The tax department had used the 2012 legislation to levy Rs 10,247 crore in taxes on alleged capital gains Cairn made on reorganisation of its India business prior to its listing in 2006-07. Cairn contested such demand saying all taxes due when the reorganisation, which was approved by all statutory authorities, took place were duly paid. But the tax department in 2014 attached and subsequently sold the residual shares that Cairn held in the Indian unit, which was in 2011 acquired by Vedanta group. It also withheld tax refunds and confiscated dividends due to it to settle part of the tax demand. All this totalled to Rs 7,900 crore. Sources said paperwork for withdrawal of a suit in the Netherlands too is in the final stages. Last month, Cairn had said it has agreed to drop litigations to seize Indian properties in countries ranging from France to the UK as it has accepted the Indian government's offer to settle tax dispute relating to the levy of taxes retrospectively. Meeting the requirements of new legislation that scraps levy of retrospective taxation, the company has given required undertakings indemnifying the Indian government against future claims as well as agreeing to drop any legal proceedings anywhere in the world. Seeking to repair India's damaged reputation as an investment destination, the government in August enacted new legislation to drop Rs 1.1 lakh crore in outstanding claims against multinationals such as telecom group Vodafone, pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and brewer SABMiller, now owned by AB InBev, and Cairn. About Rs 8,100 crore collected from under the scrapped tax provision are to be refunded if the firms agreed to drop outstanding litigation, including claims for interest and penalties. Of this, Rs 7,900 crore is due only to Cairn. Subsequent to this, the government last month notified rules that when adhered to will lead to the government withdrawing tax demands raised using the 2012 law and any tax collected in the enforcement of such demand is paid back. For this, are required to indemnify the Indian government against future claims and withdraw any pending legal proceedings. Cairn gave such undertaking and is now withdrawing cases. The 2012 legislation was used to levy a cumulative of Rs 1.10 lakh crore of tax on 17 entities including UK telecom giant Vodafone but nearly 98 per cent of the Rs 8,100 crore recovered in enforcing such a demand was only from Cairn. An international arbitration tribunal in December overturned the levy of Rs 10,247 crore in taxes on a 2006 reorganisation of Cairn's India prior to its listing, and asked the Indian government to return the value of shares seized and sold, dividend confiscated and tax refund withheld. This totalled USD 1.2 billion-plus interest and penalty. The government initially refused to honour the award, forcing Cairn to identify USD 70 billion of Indian assets from the US to Singapore to enforce the ruling, including taking flag carrier Air India Ltd to a US court in May. A French court in July paved the way for Cairn to seize real estate belonging to the Indian government in Paris. All these litigations are being dropped one by one, sources added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: The Canadian Press Ghislaine Maxwell, left, speaks to her defense attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca after the reading of the jury's second note during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Ghislaine Maxwell reached her 60th birthday behind bars Saturday as she awaited the outcome of her sex trafficking trial. The British socialite is scheduled to return to a Manhattan courthouse Monday to await word from a jury entering its third full day of talks after hearing over two dozen witnesses and viewing dozens of exhibits over three weeks. Messages sent to her lawyer and a website where items expressing support for Maxwell are regularly posted were not returned Saturday. Prosecutors said in their closing arguments last Monday that the crucial evidence was the testimony of four women who say they were sexually abused as teenagers by financier Jeffrey Epstein with help from Maxwell when she was his girlfriend, and later when she morphed into his close confidante and an employee valued highly enough that he gave her over $20 million. Prosecutors called her the lady of the house from 1994 to 2004, saying she recruited and groomed teenagers as young as 14 to meet Epstein's seemingly insatiable need to be touched by vulnerable girls who came from impoverished and despairing backgrounds or who counted on his claims of wealth and connections to aid their quests for success and fame in the performance arts. Defense lawyers, though, say she was a U.S. government scapegoat after Epstein killed himself in the Manhattan federal jail cell where he was awaiting his own sex trafficking trial in August 2019. They said the memories of her accusers were corrupted by the passage of time and the influence of lawyers steering them toward multimillion-dollar payouts from a fund set up to compensate Epstein victims. The jury already has asked to review the testimony of the four women, along with former Epstein housekeeper Juan Patricio Alessi, but they have given little hint of their overall progress on six charges, including a sex trafficking count that carries a potential penalty of up to 40 years in prison. Alessi testified that when he worked at Epsteins sprawling Florida home from 1990 to 2002, he saw many, many, many female visitors, appearing to be in their late 20s, often lounging topless by the pool. He also testified that two accusers, underage teens at the time, were repeat visitors to the Epstein mansion. Each day of deliberations without a verdict seems to boost the defense team, which is aware that fast verdicts almost always go in the government's favor and that deliberations that stretch out can sometimes indicate dissension or confusion among jurors. On Wednesday, two defense lawyers gave each other a high-five. The deliberations are happening as a wave of coronavirus infections fueled by the omicron variant sweeps through New York state, particularly severe where jurors live. The anxiety over the spread was evident when U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan asked jurors to deliberate Thursday. They declined. When she sent them away Wednesday for the long holiday weekend, she told them there would be new courthouse protocols Monday to fight the coronavirus, including a requirement that the most protective masks be worn. And she offered to give them the masks to protect themselves and others through the weekend. Please stay safe over the long weekend. Obviously weve got the variant, and I need all of you here and healthy on Monday," Nathan said. So please take good care and take cautions. Photo: The Canadian Press Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Christmas arrived around the world Saturday amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that kept many families apart, overwhelmed hospitals and curbed religious observances as the pandemic was poised to stretch into a third year. Yet, there were homilies of hope, as vaccines and other treatments become more available. Pope Francis used his Christmas address to pray for more vaccines to reach the poorest countries. While wealthy countries have inoculated as much as 90% of their adult populations, 8.9% of Africas people are fully jabbed, making it the worlds least-vaccinated continent. Only a few thousand well-wishers turned out for his noontime address and blessing, but even that was better than last year, when Italys Christmas lockdown forced Francis indoors for the annual Urbi et Orbi ("To the city and the world") speech. Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of goodwill to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects, Francis said from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica. Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care and vaccines in particular are provided to those peoples who need them most. In the United States, many churches canceled in-person services, but for those that did have in-person worship, clerics reported smaller but significant attendance. Our hopes for a normal Christmas have been tempered by omicron this year still filled with uncertainties and threats that overshadow us, the Rev. Ken Boller told his parishioners during midnight Mass at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City. Breakthrough used to be a happy word for us, until it was associated with COVID. And in the midst of it all, we celebrate Christmas. The Rev. Alex Karloutsos, of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church of the Hamptons in Southampton, New York, said attendance at the Christmas Eve liturgy was a third less than last year's, with the reality of the omicron virus diminishing the crowd, but not the fervor of the faithful present. St. Patricks Church in Hubbard, Ohio, held Mass on Christmas Eve in a nearby high school because of a church fire this year. The Mass drew about 550 people, said Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar, who presided. In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II noted another year of pain particularly personal after losing her husband, Prince Philip, in April and urged people to celebrate with friends and family. Although its a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. This year, especially, I understand why. Thousands of people across Britain got a vaccine booster shot for Christmas as new cases hit another daily record of 122,186. The Good Health Pharmacy in north London was one of dozens of sites that stayed open Saturday to administer jingle jabs amid a government push to offer booster shots to all adults by the end of the year. The head of intensive care at a hospital in Marseille, France, said most COVID-19 patients over Christmas were unvaccinated, while his staff are exhausted or cant work because they are infected. Were sick of this, said Dr. Julien Carvelli, the ICU chief at La Timone Hospital, as his team spent another Christmas Eve tending to COVID-19 patients on breathing machines. Were afraid we wont have enough space. On the other side of the globe, hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines, Asias largest Roman Catholic nation, spent Christmas without homes, electricity, or adequate food and water after a powerful typhoon left at least 375 people dead last week and devastated mostly central island provinces. Gov. Arthur Yap of hard-hit Bohol province, where more than 100 people died in the typhoon and about 150,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, appealed for help. He was happy many Filipinos could celebrate Christmas more safely after COVID-19 cases dropped, but he pleaded: Please dont forget us. At least one American Christmas tradition was revived after the pandemic drove it online last year: the annual reenactment of George Washingtons daring crossing of the Delaware River in 1776. Reenactors in three boats completed the crossing in about an hour Saturday. Crowds were in the hundreds, down from the usual thousands. COVID-19 testing continued unimpeded in some places, while other sites closed for the day. Lines that in previous days wrapped around the block at a small testing center in Chicagos Lincoln Square neighborhood shrank considerably Saturday, when the only customers inside were Shayna Prihoda and Michael Boundy, whose negative tests freed them to visit Boundys parents in Michigan. We would have stayed home and quarantined, Boundy said. Swelling numbers of cases in Florida made tests almost as popular as Christmas ham. Florida hit a new case record for the second day in a row. Hours before a testing site opened at Tropical Park in Miami, dozens of cars lined up. To alleviate demand, county workers had distributed 12,500 at-home test kits Friday at libraries. Most of New York Citys 120 testing sites were closed Saturday, a day after police were summoned to a Brooklyn neighborhood to quell an angry crowd that had been expecting to receive free at-home testing kits, only to have the supply run out. Chairs went empty at some dinner tables after airlines around the world canceled hundreds of flights as the omicron variant jumbled schedules and reduced staffing. Airlines scrapped nearly 6,000 flights globally that had been scheduled to take off Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with nearly a third involving U.S. flights, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. At a reception center for asylum-seekers in Cyprus, Patricia Etoh, a Catholic from Cameroon, said she did not have any special plans because it just did not feel like Christmas without her 6-year-old child, whom she had to leave behind. But she added: Were grateful, were alive, and when were alive, theres hope. Photo: Facebook Chad James Whiteside was fined $75,000 in fisheries offences from 2019 after pleading guilty on Dec. 7 to five offences The Provincial Court in Prince Rupert has fined the general manager of Sandspit Adventures $75,000 for five offences in 2019 against the federal Fisheries Act and provincial Fish and Seafood Act. On Dec. 7, Judge David Patterson ordered that Chad James Whiteside must pay a $45,000 fine by Dec. 31, 2024, for buying, selling, trading, bartering or offering to buy, sell, trade or barter fish not caught and retained under the authority of a licence issued for the purpose of commercial fishing. As well, for other counts, he was ordered to pay $20,000 by Dec. 7, 2022, and a further $10,000 by Dec. 7, 2023. Sandpit Adventures was owned at the time by 1369277 Alberta Ltd., an Alberta company that has been registered in British Columbia as an extraprovincial company. The fishing lodge, located on Haida Gwaii in Sandspit, conducts fishing and eco-tours through Skidegate Inlet to Cartwright Sound. Whiteside, who was the general manager since 2017, has since purchased the company, in January 2020, Fishery officers found in 2019 that fish caught by the lodges patrons, at their request and sometimes at the direction of staff, were prepared by the kitchen and fed to guests contrary to the Fishery (General) Regulations section 35(2). Officers further determined, in addition to Sandspit Adventures allowing their guests to eat recreationally caught fish at mealtime, the company did not have a proper labelling and storage system in place, as required by the Fish and Seafood Licencing Regulations, resulting in multiple offences under the Fish and Seafood Act. Specifically, recreationally caught fish was sometimes not properly labelled with the species of fish, date of processing and the name of the fisher who caught it. Fishing guides were found to have brought back fish and to have stored them at the lodge for the kitchens use at the direction of the owner. Patterson considered Whitesides moral blameworthiness to be middle of the scale because the judge concluded the man did not set out to break the law, but neither did he attempt to reach out to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to ensure Sandspit Adventures policies and practices were in keeping with the federal Acts. I was horrible with my staff. I didnt monitor them [or] how they were catching their fish, Whiteside testified at an Aug. 11 hearing. I accept that Mr. Whiteside feels horrible about breaking the law and that Sandspit Adventures did so out of ignorance and Mr. Whitesides failure to properly research what he was getting himself into, Patterson said. Mr. Whiteside clearly did not know what the actual rules were for operating a fishing and eco-tour business such as Sandspit Adventures. In other words, there was a failure to exercise due diligence. The damage and harm done in this particular case, what the offences committed by Mr. Whiteside did, was enable commercial level supplies to be taken out of the recreational supply and then supplied into the restaurant run by Sandspit Adventures. The result of the offences gave Sandspit Adventures a competitive advantage over other fishing lodges in Haida Gwaii, which otherwise would have cost them thousands of dollars spent on purchasing commercial fish, the judge added. BTS RM is off Namjooning again. The rapper stopped at the Guggenheim, the MET, and other iconic New York art exhibits and galleries. Here are most of the museums and iconic locations that RM visited while in New York City. The BTS members, including RM, embarked on their second vacation since their debut RM of BTS speaks with other members of the band at the SDG Moment event as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at United Nations Headquarters | JOHN ANGELILLO/AFP via Getty Images Hot off of the heels of their SoFi Stadium Permission to Dance performances, HYBE Corporation announced the BTS members would take a break from rehearsals to recharge, sharing they worked through 2020 and 2021 and achieved dazzling results in the process. This period of rest will provide the members of BTS who have tirelessly committed themselves to their activities, a chance to get re-inspired and recharge with creative energy, HYBE Corporation said in a statement. It will also be the first time for them since their debut to spend the holiday season with their families. As a result, the BTS members scattered to enjoy some time off. J-Hope traveled to Hawaii while Jungkook spent time with his dog, Bam. RM traveled across the United States, spending extra time in New York City. Here are the New York City museums RM visited in 2021 As one of New York Citys most iconic locations, RM stopped at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. He captioned his post adnandinsky, referencing an exhibit that combined two artists Vasily Kandinsky and Etel Adnan. One art piece shared by RM on his Instagram was by Brian Donnelly also known as Kaws. The exhibit was on display at the Skarstedt Gallery, located on the Upper East Side, through Dec. 11. Although RM didnt share many of his dining locations, he did post a picture of a gravy boat from the Peter Luger Steak House, a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. RM tagged the Whitney Museum of American Art as the location of one Instagram post, making another stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One of the last pictures from his New York City trip was of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. RM even sparked the phrase Namjooning Before his journey into the city, RM stopped by the Glenstone Museum, a private contemporary art gallery in Potomac, Maryland. The artist also tagged Dia:Beacon, a contemporary arts organization in Beacon, New York, in an Instagram post. The rapper also spent time in Texas, visiting art exhibitions and sharing his favorite moments with ARMYs. This wouldnt be the first (or last) time RM was seen spending his free time at an art exhibit. In fact, this BTS members birth name, Kim Namjoon sparked the verb Namjooning, which means when someone is relaxing, riding a bicycle, enjoying art, or admiring nature. RMs solo trip wouldnt be the first time a BTS member explored New York City, either. In conjunction with their appearance on The Late Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook took the New York City subway, ate at Katzs Delicatessen, and performed in Grand Central Terminal. RELATED: RM Saying Sorry To Bother You at His Own Concert Proves Just How Sweet This BTS Member Is Over the years Ben Afflecks father, Timothy Affleck, has been a topic of conversation during interviews. In a December 2021 interview, Affleck recalled a particular moment at the Academy Awards that changed what hed previously thought about his dad. Not because of something Timothy said but rather Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman. Ben Affleck grew up thinking his dad had a horrible fantasy about having had movie star friends Ben Affleck | Stephane Cardinale Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Timothy wasnt a steady presence in Afflecks life during his childhood in Cambridge, Mass. However, the two did have a relationship. I did have a father and I did have a relationship with him, Affleck told The Wall Street Journal in December 2021 while discussing his latest film, The Tender Bar. But at times he was removed from my life. Before he got sober, he was present intermittently, he added. During the time they did spend together, Afflecks father talked to him about his famous friends, particularly Dustin Hoffman. When I was a boy, my father would tell stories about being an assistant director at the Theater Company of Boston and about him and Dusty, Affleck recalled. Affleck continued, saying at the time he hadnt believed a word his father said about his so-called celebrity friends. I remember thinking, This is tragic, hes bull****ting. Hes building this horrible fantasy about having had movie star friends, he recalled. It got to the point where the Argo star internalized a kind of shame that you carry when you feel ashamed of your dad. Dustin Hoffman confirmed he knew Timothy Affleck at the Academy Awards It wasnt until the 1998 Academy Awards Affleck learned his father had been telling the truth about knowing Hoffman. He and his best friend, Matt Damon, were nominated for an Oscar thanks to the screenplay they wrote for Good Will Hunting. Ultimately the 1997 Gus Van Sant film they also starred in alongside Robin Williams won them the Oscar. But it wasnt the only standout moment of the night. Afflecks fathers stories were confirmed by Hoffman, which The Way Back star recounted to The Wall Street Journal. That night, Dustin Hoffman came up to me and said, Is your father named Tim? Affleck recalled. I said, Yes. He said, Your father and I lived together. With those words, Affleck had this massive sense of embarrassment that hed misjudged his father. Ben Afflecks father didnt know about his rekindled romance with Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck | Rb/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are back on the PDA after splitting in the early 2000s. The high-profile romance is much talked about but, apparently, Afflecks father didnt know the two were dating until recently. Of course, Ive heard of her, he told The U.S. Sun from his home in upstate New York, But Id no idea about any of this. I talk to my kids about their lives when I see them and they share with me what they want to share, Afflecks father added. He also noted that schedules and coronavirus (COVID-19) mightve been a factor in him not knowing about the romance. Meanwhile, Afflecks described getting back together with J. Lo as a great love story hed rather keep to himself. RELATED: Ben Affleck Says Matt Damons Helped His Sanity and Mental Health Though they seem like polar opposites, Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean have been happily married for the better part of their lives. They met when Parton was 18 and married two years into their relationship. According to Parton, though, the proposal wasnt too romantic. He hadnt even said I love you before their wedding. She explained how this made her feel. Dolly Parton | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns Dolly Parton met Carl Thomas Dean on her first day in Nashville The day after she graduated from high school, Parton packed a bag and moved from her familys home in Sevier County, Tennessee, to Nashville. That same day, she met Dean. I had brought some dingy, dirty little clothes from home, she told NPR. And so I was just down there doing my laundry and walking around on the sidewalk. And Carl Dean came riding by. And he pulled over and said something to me, and I said something to him and 50 years later, were still talking. Dolly Parton with her husband Carl Dean. Theyve been married since 1966. pic.twitter.com/F5iRjaEzxo Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) November 1, 2021 Parton said that she felt an instant connection with Dean. I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me), she said on her official website. He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about. She said he didnt outright propose The couples differing personalities work well for them. Parton is all about her rhinestoned glam and limelight, whereas Dean prefers to stay out of the spotlight entirely. He likes to keep things simple, as evidenced by the couples first date. When I met my husband, he wanted to take me out to dinner, Parton told People. He pulled up to the drive-in window and got our food at McDonalds. Though they rapidly grew close, Parton said that Dean kept the relationship lowkey so much so that he didnt say I love you until after their wedding. According to the book Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton, Dean never dropped the three big words during their courtship. Parton said that his emotional style left her as mixed up as a road lizard in a spin dryer. Deans proposal was also without any fanfare. Parton was living in Madison, Tennessee, and Dean was in Nashville. The distance wore him down. He said, Youre gonna have to move closer into town or were gonna have to get married, Parton shared, per the book Smart Blonde: Dolly Parton by Stephen Miller. The proposal worked, though, and the couple has been married for over five decades. Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean had a second wedding on their 50th anniversary Because Partons record label didnt think marriage was a good career move, Parton and Deans wedding was small and private. On their 50th anniversary, Parton finally got the big wedding of her dreams. Dolly Parton celebrates her 50th anniversary with Carl Dean, reminds us love is real: https://t.co/uEUVuFgw9y pic.twitter.com/YsYVUbh9xX E! News (@enews) June 9, 2016 I never really felt like I had the wedding that we really wanted, she said. He got all dressed up and I got all dressed up. Fifty years is a long time for anything, and I felt that we needed to do something to commemorate this. Its been a good 50 years and I dont know how many more years well have left. RELATED: Dolly Partons Sister Says Parton Isnt Always Truthful With the Press: Shes Full of Crap Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar are one of the few Hollywood success stories when it comes to marriage. The two first met on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997 and then worked together on the set of Scooby-Doo in 2002. Some even imply that the two may have become engaged on the set of Scooby-Doo. Even though the set of movies is what brought them together, Prinze has no interest in working with Gellar on the set of other movies. His reasoning is simple. It simply wouldnt be exciting for them to work together pretending they hadnt been married for the last 20 years. The life and love between Freddie Prinze Jr. and his wife Between the two movies and the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer in 1998, there was a little behind-the-scenes action between Gellar and Prinze. The two officially announced that they were a couple in early 2000. The ceremony took place at a resort in Mexico on September 1, 2002. They continued to work both together and separately in the years that followed. They appeared together again in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed in 2004. However, it all changed when they began to have children since both wanted to trade-off work schedules to ensure someone would be home for the kids. In September 2009 the couples first child was born, Charlotte Grace. In September 2012, Rocky James was the next to make an appearance. Why is there zero interest in working together? Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar arrive at the premiere of Summer Catch | Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor Considering how long Gellar and Prinze have been together, you may think that their natural chemistry would work well in a movie or sitcom that featured the two of them. However, they disagree. According to Insider, he said in a recent interview that he figures that if they worked together, it would likely be a romantic comedy and, It wouldnt be very exciting for us to pretend to struggle to be together for 96 minutes when we go home together every night. Prinze continues throughout the interview stating that they have had plenty of opportunities to work together, but they are the happiest making just silly or small projects, similar to their dish detergent commercial in 2020 where they got to make jokes about doing it, the dishes, each night. What are they doing now? Although both Gellar and Prinze were very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, they have faded from the spotlight. This does not mean that either of them isnt still very successful. Whether they ever share another scene together or not, there is no denying that no one will completely forget their names. Most recently, Gellar has appeared on the television series Masters of the Universe: Revelation and The Big Bang Theory, though most people will always know her best for her earlier roles of being Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions. Prinze has been very busy in recent years with Robot Chicken, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and Punky Brewster. He has even expanded into gaming by giving voice to Lt. James Vega in the video game Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. Food is a part of the relationship between Prinze and Gellar. Therefore, beyond the big screen, both Gellar and Prinze have published their own cookbooks. Stirring Up Fun with Food by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Gia Russo and Back to the Kitchen Freddie Prinze Jr. with Rachel Wharton, forward by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Her book focuses on fun and creativity in the kitchen with kids. His contribution is a book that is devoted to sharing his love of cooking with everyone. RELATED: Who Makes More Money: Freddie Prinze Jr. or Sarah Michelle Gellar? Mindy Kaling has had a hand in many popular projects, but one of her latest could prove to be the biggest yet. Sex Lives of College Girls is a show that premiered on HBO Max in mid-November and has already made waves with critics and fans. The series, which has been heralded as diverse and funny, has become especially popular with young girls who see some version of themselves in the four main characters. Sex Lives of College Girls is a show that brings viewers right into the lives of the characters, and to that end, showrunners worked hard to find the perfect place to film the series. Where does Sex Lives of College Girls take place? Alyah Chanelle Scott, Pauline Chalamet, and Amrit Kaur | Photograph Courtesy of HBO Max Sex Lives of College Girls tells the story of four college freshmen who become roommates when they start attending Essex University in Vermont, according to Elle. Not only do the girls struggle to adapt to the new world of college, but they also deal with their burgeoning sexuality, discovering the trials and tribulations of the dating world. Part comedy and part drama, Sex Lives of College Girls was created by Kaling, who also serves as an executive producer on the series. Although Kaling attended Dartmouth, the show takes place at a fictional university called Essex College. She admitted in an interview with Popsugar that she didnt really model the show after her own college experience. All the characters are way sexier and cooler than I ever was, Kaling joked. I was so harsh on everything when I was that age. It took years and having children and just being in the world to develop a little bit more patience and kindness. Sex Lives of College Girls was filmed in New York Sex Lives of College Girls takes place in Vermont and is infused with the flavor of the state. However, fans of the show might be surprised to learn that the show was actually filmed in Poughkeepsie, New York, at Vassar College. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, showrunners on the project actually looked for extras and supporting actors at Vassar and the surrounding areas, in order to inject an element of reality into the series. In the report, which was published prior to the show debuting on HBO Mx, Laurent Rejto, director of the Hudson Valley Film Commission, noted that Were trying to get as much local crew involved with the project as possibleMost of the filming will be at Vassar, as well as different areas around Poughkeepsie. What are critics saying about Sex Lives of College Girls Yay, #SexLivesofCollegeGirls is renewed and I feel like @POPSUGAR's amazing coverage is one of the reasons for that. https://t.co/Kmcmqx8BI2 Jada Gomez (@JadaGomez) December 7, 2021 Sex Lives of College Girls dropped on HBO Max on November 18, and critics were quick to praise the series. Variety notes that not only does the series feature a topic that isnt often addressed realistically on television, but it also includes great actors who are able to immediately settle into the kind of fast intimacy that defines so many early college friendships. Recently, fans were delighted to learn that Sex Lives of College Girls will be returning for a second season. HBO showrunner Sarah Aubrey said in a statement, according to TV Fanatic, that Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble have created and written a show that is full of heart, female friendships, and awkward naked parties. We cant wait to see where these uniquely complex yet relatable characters will go next. Although a release date has not been announced yet for the second season, theres no doubt that viewers will be on board for the next evolution of this popular, hilarious series. RELATED: Mindy Kaling Reveals Her Post-Baby Pandemic Workout Routine South Africas Archbishop Desmond Tutu [who died on December 26, 2021] has spent half his life in the front lines of the fight against apartheid and is one of the movements most prominent leaders. In 1986 the Nobel laureate became spiritual leader of the Anglican Church in southern Africa when he was named archbishop of Cape Town. His position has helped him avoid much of the repression his anti-apartheid colleagues have suffered. It also allowed him to assume interim leadership while many of them were exiled or behind bars. Since the 1990 release of many prisoners and the unbanning of political parties, Archbishop Tutu has kept a lower profile. But he is as committed to biblical justice and reconciliation as ever. And, it seems, the battle is far from over. The night before he spoke to CTs Thomas Giles and Timothy Jones, he attended the funeral of the 42 people massacred in June at Boipatong in the violence that brought talks on multiracial democracy to a halt. What role has faith played in your life, and how has it led you to the fight against apartheid? I have come to understand that a persons worth derives not from extraneous things, such as achievement, status, or race. Ones worth is intrinsic and comes from being created in the image of God. God values his own image in mankind even after the Fall. God has also sent his Son to further underline our infinite worth. He says, You are of such worth that I will ransom you from the clutches of the Devilnot with perishable things, such as gold and silver, but by the precious blood of my Son. As if that were not enough, God says, I will sanctify you by the gift of my Holy Spirit. So human beings are of worth not only because they have been created in the image of God and are offered redemption by the precious blood of our Savior, but also because they may become tabernacles of the Holy Spirit. It is like spitting in the face of God to treat a child of God as if he or she were anything less. Injustice and oppression are not simply wrong or evil, they are positively blasphemous. And that is the passion we have. We are inspired not by political or any other kind of ideology, but by our faith. If we are followers of Jesus Christ and accept the implications of our faith, we dont have any other option than to oppose oppression, injustice, and evil. What is the biblical basis for political activism on behalf of the oppressed? It is the whole nature of God. He is a gracious God. And grace means he operates on behalf of those who do not deserve it, those who have no claim on him. We see that right at the beginning, in the Exodus, when he intervenes on behalf of a rabble of slaves who have done nothing to deserve his intervention. What is true religion? In Isaiah 1, God says, I will not accept a religion merely of outward observances. If you want to repent of all the wrong you have done, show it by doing justicenot just to anybody, but to the widow, the orphan, the alien, the most voiceless of the voiceless. And what is the true fast? In Isaiah 58, God says, The fast I want is not that you be bent like a reed and starve yourself, but that you loose the prisoners chains. When God intervenes decisively in the lives of human beings, he does not come as a disembodied spirit, he becomes a human being; this also gives us a clue as to how we should operate. For the parents of his Son, he chooses not the high and the mighty, but a village lass married to a carpenter. Jesus is not born in the home of a king, but in a stable. And very soon this child becomes a refugee. He identifies with those who are the least in any community. There are people who think in terms of a dichotomy between the secular and the sacred. But Jesus does not say, I am concerned only with the spiritual side of you that is your soul, but rather, I am concerned for the whole of you. When you are hungry, I feed you. When you are sick, I heal you. When you are a sinner, I forgive your sins. Article continues below Can we take activism too far? We can easily think we have a hotline to God and that our purely human insights have divine approval. And activism based on religion, in and of itself, is not necessarily a good thing. It has been religious fanatics who have done some of the greatest damage in the world; many of the worlds wars have been sparked or exacerbated by religion; and a great deal of the prejudice and tyranny in the world today has a religious base. We can also be intolerant. Activism can mean dismissing those who hold a different point of view as being beyond the pale. When we identify with a good cause, we must as well have proper distance from it and maintain respect for those on the other side. How do you balance the spiritual and the political aspects of your life? I do not have a sense of tension between the two. I have come to learn that spirituality is absolutely essential to an authentic Christian life. That is how it was with almost all Gods servants. Their encounters with God were not for their own self-aggrandizement but for the sake of others. You meet God as a burning bush in order to be sent to Pharaoh to redeem captives. You see this pattern in the life of our Lord; you see a rhythm of disengagement and engagement. He spent whole nights in prayer, then spent himself prodigally on behalf of others. He was constantly replenishing his spiritual resources. I, too, have learned to replenish mine. What are your personal priorities for your church and for your country? The church has to be Gods instrument for the extension of his kingdom in any setting. Even in democratic systems, those who form the government are not transformed into gods. They are mortal, and they will be tempted by the blandishments of power. At the same time, there will always be voiceless, marginalized ones who feel miles away from the corridors of power and that they count for nothing. And the church has got to be there on behalf of them. It has to vigilantly declare to those in power, Thus saith the Lord. It must also be an agent of reconciliation. People often evacuate that word of its meaning, making it almost a term of abuse. They think reconciliation means crying peace, peace where there is no peacethat it does not mean confrontation. But true reconciliation confronts people with the sinfulness of sinpolitical sin, personal sin, structural sin. In our setting, reconciliation means calling those who have benefited from apartheid to confession and penitence for the hurt they have inflicted. Then, those who have been forgiven must demonstrate the genuineness of their contrition. There must be restitution wherever possible. We must also help people not be embittered or to seek revenge. And it is we who are to be a kind of audio-visual aid of how human society ought to be. How is the church to do that? The church has to model the fact that Jesus Christ is our peacethat he has in fact broken down the dividing wall. Warring factions are at war no longer. There is now neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor free. We are one in Christ. Together, we must work to transform our society into one that says human beings matter more than things and profits. Our society must set a high premium on sharing rather than on hoarding, on cooperating rather than competing. Article continues below What steps should Christians in the U.S. take toward racial reconciliation? You shouldnt be overly despondent. Actually, on the whole, you have had a wonderful capacity for self-criticism. Yes, people often tried to turn a blind eye, but more and more people were aware that something was wrongthat there was a disease. And recognizing that there is a disease is an important part of the cure. But it is also important for you to hear what the wrongedthe ones who are discriminated againstactually say. We must not be the ones who say, This is the hurt and this is the cure as infallible know-alls. Let us hear what they identify as points of hurt and what can be done to redress that hurt. How can we stand with our brothers and sisters in South Africa? We depend so much on your love and prayers, and we deeply appreciate what people have done in that regard. Many of you in your churches pressured your legislators and business people to impose sanctions that worked. Those sanctions have gotten us to where weve come. One of the pressures you could continue to exert is to impress on the South African government that you look to them to do something to end the violence. Are you hopeful as you look ahead? I am always hopeful. A Christian is a prisoner of hope. What could have looked more hopeless than Good Friday? But then, at Easter, God says, From this moment on, no situation is untransfigurable. There is no situation from which God cannot extract good. Evil, death, oppression, injusticethese can never again have the last word, despite all appearances to the contrary. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the man who became synonymous with South Africas nonviolent struggle against apartheid, died Sunday at the age of 90. Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer almost two decades ago. The feisty spiritual leader of millions of Black and white South Africans seized every opportunity at home and abroad to rail against the racially oppressive regime that stifled his country for decades. His struggles earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and appointment to the leadership of a commission that sought to reveal the truth of apartheids atrocities. Nicknamed the Arch, the diminutive Tutu became a towering figure in his nations history, comparable to fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule who became South Africas first Black president. Tutu and Mandela shared a commitment to building a better, more equal nation. Tutus death is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. From the pavements of resistance in South Africa to the pulpits of the worlds great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a nonsectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights, he said. Former US President Barack Obama hailed Tutu as a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries. His legacy is moral strength, moral courage and clarity," Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said in a video statement. He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt peoples pain. And he laughedno, not just laughed, he cackled with delightwhen he shared their joy. A seven-day mourning period is planned in Cape Town before Tutus burial, including a two-day lying in state, an ecumenical service, and an Anglican requiem mass at St. Georges Cathedral in Cape Town. The southern citys landmark Table Mountain will be lit up in purple, the color of the robes Tutu wore as archbishop. In later years, Tutu carried his work for justice into other areas beyond racial reconciliationfrom AIDS to poverty to gay rights. All, all are Gods children and none, none is ever to be dismissed as rubbish, he said in 1999 to the God and Us class he taught as a visiting professor at Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology. And thats why you have to be so passionate in your opposition to injustice of any kind. Long before South Africa elected its first democratic government in 1994, Tutu dreamed of and spoke fervently about what it will be like when apartheid goes. But there were times in public speeches and in interviews when the cleric doubted whether, after decades of agitating for social justice, he would live to witness the decay of apartheid. During the 1970s and 80s, when other Black leaders critical of white majority rule were being violently snuffed out or silenced, Tutus prominence in the church made his one of the few Black voices strong enough to resonate around the world. But at times, not even his stature in the church or powerful international religious connections were enough to keep the government at bay or from confiscating his passport. Protests by the worlds leading clerics, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, came but failed to buffer Tutu from the brutal regime. Tutu said a disciplined prayer life helped him through apartheid and continued to sustain him decades later. I could myself not have survived had I not been buttressed by my spiritual disciplines of prayer, quiet, and regular attendance at the Eucharist, he told Religion News Service in 2011. In a 1992 interview with Christianity Today, Tutu explained his biblical basis for political activism on behalf of the oppressed. What is true religion? he said. In Isaiah 1, God says, I will not accept a religion merely of outward observances. If you want to repent of all the wrong you have done, show it by doing justicenot just to anybody, but to the widow, the orphan, the alien, the most voiceless of the voiceless. And what is the true fast? he told CT. In Isaiah 58, God says, The fast I want is not that you be bent like a reed and starve yourself, but that you loose the prisoners chains. Tutu also explained how religious activism can be taken too far. We can easily think we have a hotline to God and that our purely human insights have divine approval, he said. And activism based on religion, in and of itself, is not necessarily a good thing. It has been religious fanatics who have done some of the greatest damage in the world. We can also be intolerant. Activism can mean dismissing those who hold a different point of view as being beyond the pale, he told CT. When we identify with a good cause, we must as well have proper distance from it and maintain respect for those on the other side. His bold protests against racial segregation and public campaigns for international economic sanctions made Tutu a thorn in the side of the South African government. But to many Blacks in the country, Tutu wasnt radical enough. Some even chided him for being dedicated to crafting a nonviolent resolution with whites for racial reconciliation in South Africa. Tutu never set out to be a controversial figure or even a priest. In fact, as a child, Tutu was baptized a Methodist, but he later converted to Anglicanism with the rest of his family in Klerksdorp, South Africa, where he was born. The son of a schoolteacher, Tutu wanted to become a physician but with no money or scholarships available, he enrolled in a teacher-training program. His career as a teacher was short-lived. After resigning from his teaching post in protest of the governments educational policies toward Blacks, Tutu turned to the priesthood and to the church. His would be a career of firsts. In 1975 Tutu was named the first Black Anglican dean of Johannesburg and in 1976 he was elected bishop of Lesotho, an independent African country encircled by South Africa. Two years later he became the first Black general secretary of the South African Council of Churches. Tutu used his post as general secretary as a platform to peacefully advance the anti-apartheid movement. In 1984, the Anglican bishop was teaching in New York on sabbatical when he learned that he won that years Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent crusade against apartheid. His fellow Black South Africans bestowed a rapturous welcome on the laureate when he returned home and it was to them Tutu dedicated his prize. This award is for you, the 3 1/2 million of our people who have been uprooted and dumped as if you were rubbish, said Tutu in a speech delivered at the headquarters of the South African Council of Churches. It was a stellar year for Tutu. Just one month after winning the Nobel Prize, he was elected the first Black Anglican bishop of Johannesburg. There were expectations that Tutus episcopacy would squelch his passion and protest. That never happened. In 1996, a decade after he was elevated to Anglican archbishop of Cape Town and primate of much of southern Africa, Tutu laid aside the staff of his episcopate, but he did not abandon the work that consumed much of his adult lifebringing freedom and healing to a racially fractured South Africa. Tutus quest for a free South Africa put him on the front line of politics and protest, but he often dismissed claims that he had political ambitions. He would respond to the curious by saying: It just so happens that I am myself Black, but the most important thing about me is that I am a Christian leader in South Africa at a critical period in its history. I have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Content with being the priest, even in the new South Africa, Tutu was determined to maintain what he called a critical distance from the government that being the politician wouldnt allow. Said Tutu: If it is evil, it is evil, and Im going to tell you so. In the mid-1990s, Tutu was chosen to head South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Despite his illness and cancer treatment, Tutu kept watch over the commission as victims, perpetrators, the police, and the countrys former president aired the misdeeds of the era he fought against. As the world watched the commissions proceedings, television cameras often caught the quick-witted Tutu sobbing audibly over the recounting of some horrible atrocity that was being disclosed. Years later, he continued to preach about the need for reconciliation and forgiveness. [F]orgiving is a gift to the forgiver as well as to the perpetrator, he told RNS in an interview in 2014, when he coauthored The Book of Forgiving with his daughter Mpho Tutu. As the victim, you offer the gift of your forgiving to the perpetrator who may or may not appropriate the gift but it has been offered and thereby it liberates the victim. In an adapted 1998 essay for Christianity Today, Tutu reflected on how if reconcilication could happen in South Africa, it could happen elsewhere: We are going to succeedwhy? Because God wants us to succeed for the sake of Gods world. We will succeed in spite of ourselves, because we are such an unlikely bunch. Who could ever have thought we would ever be an example, except of awfulness? Who could ever have thought we would be held up as a model to the rest of the worldnot eminently virtuousclearly not with an evil system. Not too bright. God wants to say to the world, to Bosnia, to Northern Ireland, et cetera: Look at them. They had a nightmare called apartheid. It has ended. Your nightmare too will end. They had what was called an intractable problem. They are solving it. No one anywhere can any longer say their problem is intractable. We are a beacon of hope for Gods world, and we will succeed. Tutu was presented with top honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 from then-President Barack Obama. As a man of the cloth, he has drawn the respect and admiration of a diverse congregation, reads the medals citation. He helped lead South Africa through a turning point in modern history, and with an unshakeable humility and firm commitment to our common humanity, he helped heal wounds and lay the foundation for a new nation. When Tutu was honored four years later with the Templeton Prize, regarded as the most significant award in the field of spirituality and religion, he credited the people of South Africa, as he had with his Nobel win. (W)hen you are in a crowd and you stand out from the crowd, its usually because you are being carried on the shoulders of others, he said in 2013. Tutu, who was lauded as the conscience of South Africa, lived a life of moral strength, vision, and hope that allowed him to serve his church and his people faithfully and at times with peace and humor even in the face of persecution. I am always hopeful. A Christian is a prisoner of hope, said Tutu in his 1992 interview with Christianity Today. What could have looked more hopeless than Good Friday? But then, at Easter, God says, From this moment on, no situation is untransfigurable. There is no situation from which God cannot extract good. Evil, death, oppression, injusticethese can never again have the last word, despite all appearances to the contrary. Additional reporting by Andrew Meldrum and Christopher Torchia for The Associated Press and CT. Church leaders pay tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu who died at age 90 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a pivotal figure in ending apartheid in South Africa, has died at age 90. Tutu, known affectionately as 'Arch,' was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and worked closely with Nelson Mandela to end racial segregation in South Africa. He also broke barriers in the Anglican church, becoming the first black archbishop of Cape Town. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called Tutu a "pioneer" and said his death was "a great loss." He said he had received news of Tutu's death with "profound sadness" but also "profound gratitude" because of the impact of his life. "Arch's love transformed the lives of politicians and priests, township dwellers and world leaders. The world is different because of this man," he said. "Archbishop Tutu was a prophet and priest, a man of words and action, one who embodied the hope and joy that were the foundations of his life. He was a man of extraordinary personal courage and bravery: when the police burst into Cape Town Cathedral, he defied them by dancing down the aisle. "He was a man of enormous vision: seeing the possibilities for building the Rainbow Nation long before anyone else, except perhaps President Mandela. "His vision and bravery were allied with a canny political sense and wisdom, enabling him to be a healer and apostle of peace while so many still saw wounds and war." The present Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, remembered Tutu as a man who took God, prayer and the Scriptures "deadly seriously." "Prayer, the Scriptures and his ministry to the people God entrusted to his care were at the heart of his life," he said. He also remembered him as someone committed to justice who leaves behind a legacy of "moral strength, moral courage and clarity." "He wanted every human being on Earth to experience the freedom, the peace and the joy that all of us could enjoy if we truly respected one another as people created in the image of God," he said. "Because he believed this, and because he worshiped God, he feared no one. He named wrong wherever he saw it and by whomever it was committed. "He challenged the systems that demeaned humanity. He could unleash a righteous anger on those especially the powerful who inflicted suffering upon those the Bible calls 'the least of these, my brothers (and sisters).' "And when the perpetrators of evil experienced a true change of heart, he followed the example of His Lord and was willing to forgive. "Desmond Tutu's legacy is moral strength, moral courage and clarity. He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt people's pain. "And he laughed no, not just laughed, he cackled with delight when he shared their joy." The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said Tutu was "a giant" not only of the faith but of his nation of South Africa. "One of the great and abiding images of the second half of the 20th century was Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela dancing in the courtroom at the end of the closing session of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Cape Town. Nelson Mandela asked his friend Desmond Tutu to chair the Commission," Cottrell said in a statement. "It was a bold and creative way of helping a nation divided brutally between black and white learn to live in glorious technicolor by facing up to the horrors of its past and by putting the Christian imperative for forgiveness alongside the need for truth as the only way of achieving reconciliation. "And Desmond Tutu was asked to chair it because this incredibly joyful little disciple of Jesus Christ was one of the few people in South Africa other than Nelson Mandela himself, who could unite the nation and carry the trust of everyone. "In this respect, he was a giant. "The world itself feels a little smaller without him." The World Council of Churches called him "a unique character." "His contagious sense of humor and laughter has helped to resolve many critical situations in South Africa's political and church life. He was able to break almost any deadlock. He shared with us the laughter and grace of God many a time," it said. South African newspaper TimesLive reports that church officials are planning a weeklong send-off for the church leader that will include a lying in state ceremony, an ecumenical service and a requiem mass. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Tutu for the gift of "a liberated South Africa." He said Tutu's death marked "another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Tutu. "He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humor," he said. Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called Tutu a "true humanitarian." "The friendship and the spiritual bond between us was something we cherished," he said. Originally published at Christian Today How should parents talk to their kids about Santa Claus? Al Mohler weighs in Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler Jr. suggested to Christian parents that they shouldn't treat Santa Claus as an imaginary figure. In an episode of his podcast The Briefing that was posted on Friday, a listener asked Mohler about his views on how parents should talk to their children about Santa Claus. Mohler recommended that parents do not speak of Santa Claus as an imaginary figure, but instead, when asked about him, focus on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas. There is something you're able to say to a child which is, you know, there was an early Christian who lived long ago who was very kind to children and gave gifts, Mohler explained. But the reality is, you don't have to say there never was a Santa Claus, you just have to say, you know, our attention at Christmas isn't toward any particular human being at all. Mohler went on to state that Christmas is about the baby born in Bethlehem's manger and that is something that took place, not just as a story but is true. Christians need to be generous. The reality is that Christians need to love children. And so, we don't have to go around talking about how much we don't believe in Santa Claus; we go around talking about how much we do believe in Jesus, he added. Mohler was also asked by a different listener about whether Nativity displays violated the Second Commandment, which prohibits the creation of any graven image. The Southern Baptist leader explained that while he was not fond of putting images of Jesus in his office or home, he did not consider the practice to be inherently wrong. I'll simply say, I do not believe that having a Nativity scene in your home obscures the truth of Christmas, said Mohler. But it does need to be the opportunity to tell the truth about Christmas. Recently, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Noto, which is based in Sicily, issued an apology when its bishop told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist and that his red outfit was created primarily to help market Coca-Cola. I express my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that [Bishop Antonio Staglianos] intentions were quite different, said diocesan spokesman the Rev. Alessandro Paolino in a post shared on the diocese's Facebook page. He also said that the diocese certainly must not demolish the imagination of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life. Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, sharing. But when this image loses its meaning, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again, then you have to revalue it by giving it a new meaning, Paolino said. 16 killed, Catholic church burned by suspected Islamic rebels in DRC attack Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A suspected Islamic extremist group raid resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians and three soldiers, as well as the burning of a Catholic church on Sunday morning in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to an initial assessment. Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamic terrorist group, was blamed by an army spokesperson for being behind the deadly massacre in Ndakya village. But the groups involvement is not yet confirmed, according to Reuters. ADF has been prevalent in the area since the 1990s and killed around 850 people in 2020, according to a United Nations estimate. Christophe Munyanderu, the coordinator of the Convention for the Respect of Human Rights, told the news agency that gunmen opened fire upon entering the village Sunday morning. Army spokesperson Jules Ngongo Tshikudi stated that military troops are now occupying the village and four perpetrators were killed. The United States-based persecuted church advocacy group International Christian Concerns Regional Manager for Africa Nathan Johnson said there is lots of violence in eastern DRC due to over 100 active rebel groups in the region. He said ADF is one of the largest, most active militant groups and is believed to have ties to the Islamic State terrorist organization. The attacks are daily, Johnson told CP. There is vast underreporting. Even though DRCs population is around 95% Christian, violence from Islamic extremism continually worsens, especially in the eastern region. Johnson said many Islamic militant groups aim to create an Islamic caliphate, which is difficult because the Christian population outnumbers them. He contends that many of the attacks are conducted to terrorize people and gain power in the area. Johnson said several hundred had been killed already this year. The U.N. reported last July that intensified ADF attacks in the previous 18 months had resulted in over 1,000 people's deaths and could amount to crimes against humanity. I ask for people to pray for those who have been killed and for their families, Johnson said. Thats the No. 1 thing were always asked for when were overseas is [for] prayer for them and their families. Due to Islamic oppression, DRC is ranked No. 40 for Christian persecution on the 2021 Open Doors USA World Watch List, which ranks countries for their severity of persecution. This is the first time DRC ranked in the top 50. The country was ranked No. 57 last year. Those rebel groups are just creating chaos, but people dont know that because nobody reports on it, Johnson said. Johnson said the DRC government and military have had very little control in the eastern region for years and have largely been pushed hundreds of miles to the west toward the capital city of Kinshasa. This is due to the high volume of rebel groups being pushed into eastern DRC from the neighboring countries of Uganda and Rwanda, especially during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. One of the things youll find is that the Western world really doesnt care too much about what goes on in Africa, specifically countries like DRC where theres just mass amounts of violence, Johnson asserted. Civil wars have been continuous basically for decades. The Western world doesnt care, ... neither do news agencies who are going to be getting money from what they report. After attacks in the DRC in late December and early January, Open Doors Senior Analyst for Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sub-Saharan South Africa Illia Djadi said the DRC violence needs more attention. He said the majority of deaths in the DRC are believers. These predominately Christian communities are attacked by an Islamic extremist group with a clear Islamic expressionist agenda, Djadi told Baptist Press. We need to pay attention to these events because whats happening in eastern DRC, the killing of innocent civilians on an almost daily basis, is an underreported tragedy. In a late January report, Open Doors reported that Islamic extremists had killed at least 100 people, mostly Christians, in eastern DRC in 15 days. Last October, suspected Islamic extremists reportedly killed at least 18 people and burned down a church along with several homes in the North Kivu province. According to the Kivu Security Tracker, "at least 10 civilians were killed when suspected ADF extremists attacked Kalembo, a town in the Beni area of the North Kivu province, on Monday. Christian pastor killed over outreach to Muslims: Today Allah has judged you Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A radical Muslim has confessed to police in Uganda that he killed a 70-year-old pastor earlier this month because of Allahs word to kill all infidels who mislead Muslims by sharing the Gospel. The accused, identified as Imam Uthman Olingha, told police he killed Bishop Francis Obo, senior pastor of Mpingire Pentecostal Revival Church Ministries International in Odapako village Mpingire Sub-County, on June 11, Morning Star News reported. Olingha was one of the Muslim extremists dressed in Islamic attire who stopped Pastor Obo and his wife on their way home from a market at about 8:30 p.m., his wife, Christine Obo, said. Olingha openly confessed (to police) that he cant regret that he killed the bishop because he did it in the cause of Allahs word to kill all infidels who mislead Muslims. He added that Allah will be with him in jail, but the kafiri (infidel) deserved the killing. One of the attackers told the pastor, who oversaw 17 churches across the region and had been sharing Christ with Muslims, that he was an infidel who caused Muslims to leave Islam and blasphemes the words of Allah, and that, Today Allah has judged you. A week before the murder, the couple had invited a former Islamic teacher to testify on how he became a Christian at their church, Christine Obo recalled. Area Muslims were also upset with the church because it offered the former Islamic teacher a pig as part of a micro-enterprise livestock project that helped raise funds for the church, she added. Describing the incident, she said, As I moved a few meters in a hurry trying to save my life, I heard a little noise and wailing from my husband and realized that his life was in danger. When she reached home, she was trembling and unable to speak, she said, and her children took her to a hospital. When she regained consciousness the following morning, she told her oldest son and his siblings to go to the site. Reaching there, they were shocked and fearful as they found a big number of Christians and relatives gathered around the dead body mourning their bishop after being murdered by Muslims, Obo was quoted as saying. According to World Watch Monitor, a homegrown Islamist rebel movement organizing in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo has emboldened Ugandan radicals to persecute Christians. Voice of the Martyrs earlier noted that Ugandas history has made it vulnerable to the influence of Islam as Arab countries also continue to invest significant resources into furthering Muslim interests in the country. In Uganda, persecution is mainly seen in the form of local Islamists persecuting Christians, mostly in areas where radicals have been steadily encroaching. Radical Islams influence has grown steadily, and many Christians within the majority-Muslim border regions are facing severe persecution, especially those who convert from Islam, a Voice of the Martyrs factsheet explains. Despite the risks, evangelical churches in Uganda have responded by reaching out to their neighbors; many churches are training leaders how to share the Gospel with Muslims and care for those who are persecuted after they become Christians. Last December, a mob of Muslim extremists in Uganda reportedly killed 41-year-old former imam Yusuf Kintu a week after he converted to Christianity. Early Christian Good Shepherd ring discovered in 3rd century shipwreck off coast of Caesarea Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Archeologists discovered hundreds of artifacts scattered underwater off the coast of Caesarea in Israel from two separate shipwrecks some 1,000 years apart. One of the finds discovered by the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority was a gold ring featuring a green gemstone engraved with the figure of the Good Shepherd carrying a sheep or a ram on his shoulders, according to IAA. In a Facebook post, the IAA said the image of The Good Shepherd "is one of the earliest and oldest images used in Christianity for symbolizing Jesus; it represents Jesus as humanity's compassionate shepherd, extending his benevolence to his flock of believers and all mankind." The owner of the right was most likely an early Christian aboard a ship that sank it was heading into the port of Caesarea, the location of one of the earliest Christian communities. "The ships were probably anchored nearby and were wrecked by a storm," IAA added. "They may have been anchored off shore after getting into difficulty, or fearing stormy weather because sailors know well that mooring in shallow, open water outside of a port is dangerous and prone to disaster." Helena Sokolov, a curator at the IAA's coin department who researched the Good Shepherd ring, told Agence France-Press that the image of the Good Shepherd on a ring is a rare find. "This was a period when Christianity was just in its beginning, but definitely growing and developing, especially in mixed cities like Caesarea," she told AFP, noting the rings small size might indicate that it belonged to a woman. The other artifacts that were uncovered, which are believed to have been owned by people living in the Roman and Mamluk periods (1,700 to 600 years ago), consisted of hundreds of coins, silver and gold rings, rare gems, figurines, bells, the remains of the ships cargo and the remains of their wrecked hulls. Among the items was a red gemstone for setting in a "gemma" ring, IAA added, with a carving that shows a lyre, which is called Kinor David or David's harp in Jewish tradition. Other items discovered by the Marine Archaeology Unit of the IAA include: Over 100 people, largely Christians, killed in mass attacks in DRC: Open Doors Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A militant Islamic group with an expansionist agenda has killed at least 100 people, mostly Christian, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks, according to a report by the persecution watchdog Open Doors. More than 100 people were killed in three large attacks by the Islamic extremist group called Allied Democratic Forces in the Christian-majority country, Open Doors reported. On Jan. 14, about 46 people belonging to the Pygmy ethnic group were killed in Ituri province by suspected militants of the extremist group, which is known for attacking, kidnapping, and killing Christians, as well as training and sending jihadists to other countries in Africa. The roughly half a million Pygmy people face extensive persecution and discrimination in the country, Open Doors noted. On Jan. 4, about 22 civilians were estimated to be killed with guns and machetes in an overnight attack on Mwenda village in the Beni region of neighboring North Kivu province. Militants from the Allied Democratic Forces, which is based in neighboring Uganda, killed 25 more people in Tingwe village in the same region the same day. At least 17 nearby villagers had been murdered with machetes a week earlier in Mwenda village. The majority of those killed in the three attacks in the Beni region were Christians. Islamic extremist groups have a clear Islamic expansionist agenda, Illia Djadi, an Open Doors spokesperson on freedom of religion or belief in sub-Saharan Africa, said. It is a reminder of what is happening in other parts of the central Sahel region groups like Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, for example. The ideology, the agenda of establishing a caliphate in the region, and the way they operate is the same, and we can see how they afflict terrible suffering on innocent people. Between Nov. 20 and Dec. 3 last year, men from the Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 30 Christians, raped 10 young women and girls, and abducted several others from churches in a string of attacks on five villages in North Kivu province, according to the Barnabas Fund. Last October, militants believed to be from the Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 18 people, and burned down a church and several homes in an overnight attack in Baeti Village in the North Kivu province, Reuters reported at the time. The Allied Democratic Forces was formed in 1996, merging several existing rebel groups. In a 2020 report, the U.N. acknowledged that widespread, systematic and extremely brutal human rights abuses by the Islamic militant group could constitute, by their nature and scope, crimes against humanity and war crimes. While the militant group has not formally linked itself with the Islamic State terrorist group, IS has claimed responsibility for some of their attacks, calling Congo the Central Africa Province of the caliphate. DRC is at No. 40 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2021, up from No. 57 the previous year. Suicide bomber kills 6, over a dozen others suffer injuries in Christmas Day attack Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A suspected Islamist suicide bomber from a rebel group aligned with Islamic State killed at least six people, including children, and injured more than a dozen others when he used an explosive device to kill himself at the entrance of a busy restaurant where Christmas was being celebrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the Christmas Day attack on a restaurant called In Box in the city of Beni in the eastern province of Ituri, green chairs could be seen scattered across the road, some melted or smoldering, and four bodies, including that of a small girl, as per images shared on social media, according to Reuters, which said six people died and 14 were injured, including two local officials. I was sitting there. There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise, local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila told AFP. The suicide bomber, prevented by security guards from entering a crowded bar, activated the bomb at the entrance of the bar, the regional governors spokesman, General Ekenge Sylvain, was quoted as saying in a statement. A Congolese partner agency of the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern called the blast an action of terror, saying the Islamist rebel group Allied Democratic Forces could be behind it. The deadly rebel group has been attacking Christians and clashing with the army in Nord Kivu and Ituri provinces which have been under a state of siege since May. The military, which has taken effective control in the two provinces, has still not been able to stop the armed militias attacks. The Anglican Bishop of Beni Diocese described the Christmas Day attack as a cowardice activity carried out by weak rebels who want to make followers of their faith by force, ICC said. Recently, the attacks have only been in the villages where there is not enough security watch but now it seems like the terrorists are trying to make a statement that they are still present even in cities, the bishop was quoted as saying. They targeted the hotel because they knew that many people would gather in the evening to continue celebrating Christmas. Today, churches met as usual to begin the Christmas holiday but now things have taken a new turn. However, we shall not let fear diminish the joy of Christ in this season, and we shall stand in prayer with the families of those killed today. ICCs local partner also called the attack unexpected because we are used to hearing incidences of Christians being killed in the villages. The last time we had such terror attacks in this town of Beni was in May and June, where the attackers also planted bombs in churches, but that was stopped by the government forces, the source recalled. In June, one woman was killed and others injured when a bomb planted inside a churchs compound exploded. Another bomb had been trapped at a bar that killed several revelers. The rebel group, against which Congo and Uganda launched a joint operation on Nov. 30, has killed hundreds of Christians and left thousands homeless and displaced this year. This week in Christian history: It came upon a midnight clear published, Pentecostal movement leader weds 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. 26 through Jan. 1 marks the anniversary of the first time the Christmas carol It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was published, the founding of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and the Father of the Pentecostal movement gets married. 1 2 3 4 Next Trump says Evangelicals 'love Israel more than Jews' in America, accused of antisemitism Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former President Donald Trump has been accused of authoring an antisemitic trope when he recently claimed that Evangelical Christians in the United States love Israel more than Jewish people in the U.S. In an interview with Tel Aviv-based Israeli journalist Barak Ravid for a new book on how the U.S.-led Abraham Accords are changing the political dynamics of the Middle East, Trump recounted his relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and offered his thoughts on the state of U.S.-Israeli relations. Ravids book, which was just released and is available only in Israel, is titled Trumps Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East. In comments that some in the mass media saw as jaw-dropping, Trump also remarked in his 90-minute interview about which religious groups in the U.S. love Israel. The comments were first heard on Yonit Levis podcast Unholy. Levi is a journalist with Israels Channel 12, who together with a Guardian journalist, played audio sound bites from Ravid. There are people in this country that are Jewish [yet] no longer love Israel, Trump said. Ill tell you, the Evangelical Christians love Israel more than Jews in this country. It used to be that Israel had absolute power over Congress, he continued. And today, I think its the exact opposite. And I think Obama and Biden did that. Yet in the election, they still get a lot of votes from Jewish people, which tells you that the Jewish people ... in the United States either dont like Israel or dont care about Israel. New quotes from Trump to @BarakRavid: Most US Jews don't love Israel. Exclusive for Unholy podcast @Freedlandpic.twitter.com/Hv4joYkbCN Yonit Levi (@LeviYonit) December 17, 2021 He expressly referred to The New York Times, claiming that the national newspaper hates Israel and that the Sulzberger family that runs The New York Times is Jewish. Major Jewish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, issued statements in response, saying that Trumps remarks were outrageous and furthered antisemitic stereotypes. His past support for Israel doesnt give him license to traffic in radioactive anti-Semitic tropes or peddle unfounded conclusions about the unbreakable ties that bind American Jews to Israel. Enough! the AJC said in a Friday tweet. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told CNN in an interview Friday that Trumps comment plays into this trope about Jews controlling media. Antisemitism is a conspiracy theory, he said. It adapts and it morphs and it shapes to the times and the particular pathologies of the person pushing out the prejudice. That is what we have here. Ravid, however, said on the Unholy podcast that he does not consider the 45th president antisemitic, noting that Trump's son-in-law is Jewish, his daughter converted to Judaism, he has Jewish grandchildren and has several Jewish advisors. Conservative Jews were not surprised by Trumps remarks. In a retweet of Levi, Newsweek opinion editor Josh Hammer clarified: The actual quote is, either dont like Israel or dont care about Israel. Hammer added: And sadly, hes right. Echoing Ravid, Josh Mandel, a Jewish man and former state treasurer of Ohio running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, tweeted: Unlike most liberal Jews, President Trump actually has Jewish grandkids. Trump was the best President for Israel and the Jewish people. Period, Mandel argued. During the interviews Ravid conducted in April, which totaled 90 minutes, Trump reportedly revealed that he hadnt spoken to Netanyahu since the 2020 elections and felt blindsided when Netanyahu announced at the White House in January 2020 that Israel intended to apply Israeli sovereignty to approximately 30% of the West Bank. The West Bank is often referred to as either disputed territories or occupied territories, depending on ones political perspective. The author said that then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman did not tell Trump of Netanyahus plan and that Trump later said to his advisors in a private meeting, What the Hell was that? Friedman has claimed that Ravids version of this is false," according to AllIsrael.com. Ravid also reported that during the winter of 2020, Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and one of the leading figures working on the peace deal, once became so angry with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer that he threw Dermer out of his office. Ravids account also notes that Trump was furious with Netanyahu for publicly congratulating Biden when the 2020 presidential election results were declared, going so far as to drop the F-bomb and accuse the former Israeli prime minister of being disloyal. Another aspect of the tension between Trump and Netanyahu, as described by Ravid in Trumps Peace, is one day before the historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was announced in August 2020. Netanyahu reportedly tried to leave the agreement, afraid it could damage his re-election campaign. Earlier this year, Netanyahu was ultimately ousted and replaced by his former ally Naftali Bennett, who formed a coalition with left-wing and secular Israeli political parties. Yair Lapid, the leader of one of those parties, formed a rotation government with Bennett and is the alternate prime minister. Missionaries staged daring escape from kidnappers in Haiti, CAM reveals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The final 12 of the 17 Christian Aid Ministries missionaries who were kidnapped in Haiti on Oct. 16 executed a daring escape plan after they prayed, allowing them to gain freedom last Wednesday, the international charity has revealed. Over the time of their captivity, God gave various hostages a desire to attempt an escape, but it took them a while to all agree on when or how this should take place. To attempt such a thing would be dangerous! They sought God in prayer over and over again, seeking direction from Him, CAM spokesman Weston Showalter revealed in a statement shared at a press conference Monday. The group, he explained, included a married couple, a 10-month-old baby, a 3-year-old child, a 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, four single men, and two single women. It took time and Gods work, but after much discussion and prayer, they became solidly united and decided God was leading them this way. The hostages shared that this eventual sense of unity was in itself a great miracle, he said. On several occasions, they planned to escape, but they had decided if specific things didnt happen, they would accept that as Gods direction to wait. Twice when they planned to escape, God gave clear signs that this was not the right time. On both occasions, on the very minute they had discussed, the exact thing took place they had requested as a sign. God was at work, but the timing was not right, Showalter added. The group kept strategizing and praying until they miraculously united and agreed that they would make their great escape from a barricaded house where they were being held on Dec. 15. During the night, as God directed, they prepared, put on their shoes, and packed pouches of water in their clothes for the journey. They stacked their mattresses in a corner and prepared to leave, Showalter said. When they sensed the timing was right, they found a way to open the door that was closed and blocked, filed silently to the path they had chosen to follow, and quickly left the place they were held, despite the fact that numerous guards were close by. Once they were away from the hostage camp, the missionaries moved toward a mountain feature identified as a landmark and journeyed northwest under starlight, according to CAM. With Gods help, protection, and leading, they quickly made their way through the night. They walked for possibly as much as ten miles, traveling through woods and thickets, working through thorns and briars. One of the hostages said, Two hours [of the walk] were through fierce brambles. We were in gang territory the whole hike, Showalter noted. The moon provided light for their path. During times they werent sure which way to go, they stopped and prayed, asking God to show them. The group eventually found someone who helped them make a phone call for help. Later that day, all of them flew on a coast guard flight to Florida, Showalter said. Prior to this final deliverance, we praise God for how He made a way for the other hostages to be released. All of these steps were obviously leading up to the end of this two-month journey of difficulty. No doubt your prayers to Almighty God played a part in all the hostages now being reunited with their loved ones. The international charity first announced the final 12 missionaries were free 11 days after the release of three others on Dec. 5 by the 400 Mawozo gang. Some two weeks prior to that, the gang released two missionaries described as sick adults. In discussing best practices learned from the kidnapping of the missionaries, which included 16 Americans and one Canadian, David Troyer, general director of the Ohio-based ministry, acknowledged that while all the missionaries were aware of the dangers of working in Haiti, and tried to take proper security precautions, they intend to improve their security protocols. We appreciate the desire of our staff to minister, even in dangerous places. However, this event has given us a heightened awareness of the need to strengthen our safety protocols and better instruct our people about the dangers involved, Troyer explained in a statement. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Indias famed Emperor Ashoka was an ancient convert from Hinduism to Buddhism. He demonstrated that a person is NOT forced by others to convert from one religion to another. Today, religious conversions are forced, is the flawed premise of all anti-conversion laws of India. Who could have forced mighty Emperor Ashoka to change his religion? The Emperors famous religious conversion was his choice. His accomplishments are recognized both inside and outside India. In his book, The Outline of History (1920), H.G. Wells wrote, "Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history, their majesties and graciousnesses and serenities and royal highnesses and the like, the name of Ashoka shines, and shines, almost alone, a star. India is proud of its celebrated religious convert Emperor Ashokas famous religious conversion, which occurred about 2400 years ago, is proudly recorded in Indian history books and is taught in every Indian school. Between 268-332 BC, Ashoka the Great, an Emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent, except parts of the southernmost states of India. After a successful but bloody victory in the Kalinga (Odisha/Orissa) war in the year 260 BC, the realization of the extent of cruelty and deaths caused by this historic war convinced the emperor to convert to Buddhism and to embrace an extreme form of non-violence or ahimsa. He did not stop there; he sent Buddhist monks to places in and around India to spread non-violence and Buddhism. He remains a highly revered Indian ruler. Legal opinion on Indias anti-conversion laws Mr. Alok Prassana Kumar, a legal scholar, in his article Myth and rhetoric: Dissecting the anti-conversion law, which appeared in the Indian newspaper Deccan Herald (Dec. 19, 2021), asked this pertinent question to lawmakers aggressively pushing for anti-conversion laws in India: Constitutionally, one can choose ones religion or choose none at any point of time in ones life. The Constitution doesnt say one is free to practice only ones birth religion (or worse, only one state-mandated religion). So where do anti-conversion laws such as the one currently being contemplated by the Karnataka [one of the Indian states] government fit in? He implies Indias anti-conversion laws are making the Hindu birth religion a de facto state-mandated religion; such a mandate is not consistent with Indias constitution because it has no state-mandated religion. Further, in the same article, Mr. Prassana Kumar addressed a spurious claim behind these anti-conversion laws the claim of forced conversions is the imagined excuse for the anti-conversion laws. He said, The people alleged to have been forcibly converted, if at all, turned out to have converted voluntarily. Yet the claim is vociferously and vigorously repeated and never substantiated. The new attempt is to stretch it to include anyone who says that their religion is better than others a leap of logic, which if applied elsewhere would make every advertiser a fraud and every politician guilty of a corrupt practice. We must learn to look past this forced conversions strawman that props up anti-conversion laws before we can truly understand the deeper cultural issues that lie hidden behind Indias anti-conversion laws. How the anti-conversion laws work Krittivas Mukherjee noted this intrusive aspect of the anti-conversion laws in the article, Indian Hindu outcasts convert to end social stigmas: Under some of the new laws, anyone planning to leave the Hindu fold must obtain certificates from officials and affidavits from courts saying they were converting out of free will and not by inducements. Thus, anti-conversion laws require a Hindu convert to report the details of his/her conversion to government officials, who are invariably upper-caste elites or one of their sympathizers. This demand of the law on converts has the potential to be extremely intimidating to the new convert when he or she is a member of a non-elite, low caste, or outcast community. As intended, this requirement dissuades conversion and prevents the exercise of religious freedom for fear of the consequences of reporting their conversion to upper-caste elites in positions of authority in the police force, and the court system, who are required by anti-conversion laws to record each and every conversion. Additionally, advance notice of conversion prior to the decision/event is another requirement under Indian Anti-Conversion Laws. Aneesha Mathur, in her article, Anti-conversion laws in India: How states deal with religious conversions, (India Today, Dec. 23, 2020) said, In all other states [with anti-conversion laws], advance notice by the priest or religious convertor as well as the converted person is required. Uttar Pradesh [one of the Indian states] has the strictest provisions, requiring a person who wishes to undergo a conversion to give a 60-day notice to the district authorities. The priest is required to give the notice one month in advance. Alas, in some Indian states, Indias constitutionally-granted freedom of religion has been distorted to demand a 60-day notice to authorities before a Hindu could change his/her faith! India is run by its elites Consider the NBC News report, Harvard adds caste bias protections for graduate student workers, (Dec. 2, 2021), where Shakshi Venkatraman noted, Harvard University is the latest U.S. school to add measures protecting caste-oppressed students... She explained it saying, Those born into lower castes, known as Dalits in India's deeply rooted hierarchies, have faced violence and oppression on the subcontinent for thousands of years. India was always run and controlled by its elites. Hindu religion identifies who the elites are and who are not. Indias elites dislike the conversion of the non-elite lower caste and outcast Hindus to other religions. Given their disproportionate influence over policymaking, elites have enacted anti-conversion laws in ten Indian states to prevent the disproportionate religious conversions of non-elite Hindus and outcastes. Anti-conversion laws penalize only those who leave Hinduism, their birth religion. Thus, Indias anti-conversion laws are discriminatory by selectively hitting hard ONLY those who convert out of Hinduism. An unconstitutional remedy for hurt feelings? A legitimate question for Indians to ask is: Why is India selectively depriving constitutionally granted religious freedom from her non-elite, low caste, or poor Hindu citizens? Right now, anti-conversion laws are placating elitist Hindus, whose feelings are hurt because some Hindus are converting to another religion this is not an adequate reason to peel away the constitutionally granted rights of some Hindus, who want to leave the Hindu faith and take on another faith such as the Christian faith. Why are Hindus converting to the Christian faith? A few of the converts to the Christian faith are from privileged upper castes and elites, but most are not. Poor, non-elite Hindus, who make up the lower castes or from outside the caste system tend to pay closer attention to the claims of Jesus Christ in the Bible. In the article, Indian Hindu outcasts convert to end social stigmas (Jan. 19, 2007), Krittivas Mukherjee writes: The ancient caste system has persisted in India mostly in villages despite the countrys spectacular economic success and exposure to Western culture... Further, Mukherjee notes, For millions of low-caste Hindus...a switch in their faith is not so much a spiritual choice as a matter of dignity. Anti-conversion laws are intended to put an end to this. What would Emperor Ashoka say about India today? If Emperor Ashoka came to life in India, he would be disappointed and embarrassed by the anti-conversion laws and the fear it generates among Hindus, who voluntarily seek religious conversion. Further, non-violence-promoting Emperor Ashoka may shed tears upon seeing India listed in Open Doors annual list, The 10 Most Dangerous Places for Christians; Indias inclusion in this humiliating Top 10 list is partly attributed to the anti-conversion laws of India, which have contributed to violence against religious converts. Indias inclusion in this ignominious Top 10 amounts to a betrayal of its famous non-violent Emperor Ashoka. India could dump its anti-conversion laws and most likely exit this humbling list. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When I was born again, I glorified God in seeing nine of my closest family and friends be born again. When my wife and her parents were converted, the six siblings at home all followed suit. And my close friend Che Ahn also saw his entire family come to faith in Christ. For over 50 years, Ive equipped Gods people to not limit the Holy One of Israel (Ps. 78:41 KJV) but be missional, persevering, and trusting His divine initiative and intervention in reaching lost family and friends. There are some important questions to ask yourself to cooperate with God and see people you genuinely care about converted. The miracle of salvation is a beautiful blend of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man, with the accent on God from start to finish! What do you believe? What exactly do you believe about how people get saved? Does God want everyone to be saved? Does God predestine some people to hell? Do we have free will? What you believe about how people are converted to Christ is not an insignificant topic. It is not just a theological issue best left to scholars and intellectuals. This is a matter of eternal importance that affects our entire understanding of God's character. Passivity in evangelism and intercession for those outside of Christ are usually byproducts of people who deep down inside dont really believe God longs to redeem all humanity. Pastors who are so inclined usually dont lead the people in much outreach, share personal illustrations of their evangelistic engagement, and often delegate Great Commission work to an evangelism team, usually of energetic young people in campus ministry. Asking questions today on doctrines often brings up embarrassing responses. Are you a Calvinist? A jeans designer? A character in Hobbs comic strip? Are you Reformed? A former criminal? Are you Armenian? Someone from a former Soviet republic? I believe the time has come for a Theology for Dummies examining a balanced approach to understanding the way people are saved. Embracing the ABCs To see those you love and care about saved, here are the scriptural ABCs: A. Acknowledge: "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-4). B. Believe: All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). C. Cooperate: So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christs stead: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Calvinist view of salvation In the 1500s, theologian John Calvin's core beliefs on salvation can be summarized by the acrostic T.U.L.I.P. There are hyper-Calvinists (beware) but historic Calvinism looks basically like this: T. Total Depravity (man has no free will and cannot repent unless God brings it about). U. Unconditional Election (God, by a sovereign decree, has determined before the foundation of the world, who shall be saved and who will be damned). L. Limited Atonement (Jesus' sacrificial, substitutionary death was for the predestined elect). I. Irresistible Grace (Gods grace overcomes mans refusal and brings him to faith in Christ). P. Perseverance of the Saints (the elect don't lose their salvation). According to Calvin: God has once for all appointed, by an eternal and unchangeable decree, to whom He would give salvation, and whom He would devote to destruction (Calvins Institutes 3.7). Another alternative According to John Wesley (1700s), there was another way and he rejected Calvinism stating: "Call it therefore by whatever name you please, Election, Predestination, or Reprobation, it comes in the end to the same thing. By virtue of an eternal, unchangeable, irresistible decree of God, one part of mankind are infallibly saved and the rest infallibly damned; it being impossible that any of the former should be damned, or that any of the latter should be saved." Throughout church history, there have been many iconic Christian leaders who have embraced the doctrines put forth by Calvin. Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Lloyd-Jones, J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, and John Piper are some and they are to be honored. Other titans of the faith took an alternative view, usually being very passionate in their pursuit of evangelism, like Jerome, John and Charles Wesley, Charles Finney, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, D.L. Moody, General William Booth, Billy Graham, John Wimber, Pat Robertson, and David Wilkerson. Their alternative would be something like the following that many "reformers" embrace in part. T. Tremendous value of men and women. Although we are all dead in our sins we are made in the image of God in need of His mercy. U. Unfathomable love of God toward sinners. God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Eph.2:4). L. Limitless opportunity offered to all who are lost. Whosoever is thirsty, let him come; and whosoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Rev. 22:17). I. Irrefutable goodness of our Savior. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). P. Promise of security in Christ to His faithful. We are cautioned to continue in the faith (Col.1:23), abide in Him (John 15), and not fall away (Luke 8:13). Whatever view, uphold unity and humility We live in tumultuous times. "The harvest is the end of the age" (Matt.13:39). We can no longer afford the luxury of divisions holding us back from being passionate to reach the lost while the fields are white to harvest (Jn.4:35). In the essentials unity. In the nonessentials diversity. In everything charity towards all. When someone tried to bait Charles Spurgeon asking him how he could ever reconcile "enemies" like the sovereignty of God with the responsibility of man, the Prince of Preachers wisely responded, Reconcile them? I never try to reconcile friends! A woman once approached Wesley and asked him, Do you expect to see dear Mr. Whitefield (who held a different doctrinal view on salvation) in heaven? No, Madam but do not misunderstand me. George Whitefield was so bright a star in the firmament of Gods glory, and will stand so near the throne, that one like me, who am less than the least, will never catch a glimpse of him. Heres the deal: Whatever your position, how about reaching out to those you love? You can use this free resource, the 50th anniversary of this quarter-million bestseller audiobook Clap your hands!. "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" (Is. 55:1-2) Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author and cultural commentator with over 40 years of trusted ministry experience. His passion is to bring perspective, analysis and insight from a biblical worldview. He loves people and loves awakening them to today's cultural realities and the responses needed for the bride of ChristHis churchto become influential in all spheres of life once again. He is also a public policy advisor with Liberty Counsel. Nothing leaves a mark on the heart quite like rejection. I still remember the first time somebody tasted one of our sauces and said, Ugh, not for me, Lisa Tran says. She just left the sample on the counter, didnt even throw it in the trash can. I went to the bathroom and cried. People can be so blunt, and I didn't know how to not take it personally because our family well, the sauces we make are so personal. Fifty years before Tran, 39, stood behind a demo counter in a gourmet grocery store in Portland, Oregon watching a woman wrinkle her nose at her moms hot chili sauce Trans grandparents were selling pho on their stoop in the Southern Vietnamese village of Soc Trang. It was a way to make a living during the war, Tran says. My grandfather was a politician in our little village, and my grandmother wasn't very educated, but she was a wonderful cook. She raised pigs and chickens, so she would use the meat from her pigs to buy beef and make pho soup. They called their little stall Pho for the People. Lisa Tran's grandparents with their pho stall in the village of Soc Trang, Vietnam // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Lisas parents, Vinh Tran and Mai Nguyen, fled Vietnam on a tiny fishing boat carrying 13 refugees in 1976. Two decades later, they opened Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen in the Portland metro area. Tan Tan means New Beginnings, and they were the first Vietnamese restaurant around. The venture began as a deli to showcase high-end Vietnamese meats, but word spread over time, the dishes became more elaborate, and the Tran family set up more tables for guests. In 2017, Lisa launched Tan Tan Sauces authentic Vietnamese vegan, gluten-free hot chili, hoisin, fish and peanut sauces taken straight from her moms restaurant recipes. The line is now sold in over 300 grocery stores in the Pacific Northwest, including Safeway and Albertsons. Please just let me do this for a year Lisas endeavor to bring her familys sauces to the retail marketplace was animated by tensions that exist in many multi-generational immigrant families. Her parents leaned on their cultural traditions to help them make ends meet in the U.S. so their daughter could become a doctor. But Lisa was drawn to the family business, and while she loved the restaurant, she also saw an opportunity to create something bigger. She recognized that her familys cuisine could be branded beautifully, distributed on a wider scale, and even become a more mainstream part of U.S. food culture. But as she pushed toward her entrepreneurial vision, she faced resistance from the very person who created the product she was trying to sell: her mom. My mom couldnt stand the financial uncertainty of it, Lisa says. She was like, You have kids, you are running this restaurant, this is a pipe dream. I don't see any money coming in. At least at the restaurant you have a paycheck every day. She would've rather opened a bigger restaurant than put that money into the sauces, because she felt like Vietnamese food was too niche. And you have to sell so much to make it big. But I begged her: Please just let me do this for a year and let me see what I can do with it. Given the traumatic story of how the Tran family came to the U.S., its entirely understandable why Mai would want a safer, less tumultuous path for her daughter. But how often do we follow in our parents' footprints, without even recognizing the path we're on? February 12 is the start of the Lunar New Year, or Tet in Vietnam. Its a holiday for relaxing with family, remembering ancestors, playing games, and eating classic comfort foods prepared in advance. And one traditional Tet dish the Tran family makes every year is Bitter Melon Soup. Bitter Melon is this kind of squash-looking thing with little bumps and nooks and crannies, like an oversized green bean, Lisa says. In Vietnamese its called Kho qua, which means the bitterness of the past. Its symbolic to eat this soup as a reflection on the bitterness and negativity of the past year along with the promise of the new year. So, in the spirit of Bitter Melon Soup, while looking forward to a new year of luck, Lisa reflected on her familys terrifying, tragic, and ultimately inspiring story of survival along with powerful lessons learned from their journey into entrepreneurship. Lisa's dad, Vinh Tran, making Bahn Tet, the New Year Cake // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Just when they thought all hope was lost Lisas mom, Mai, and her dad, Vinh, met while trying to escape the first time. When Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell in 1975, Mai was an elementary school principal, and Vinh was a seminarian just months from becoming a priest. Under the new communist regime, educated people were persecuted. Vinh was 23 and Mai was 20, and they both dreamed of starting a better life somewhere else. They happened to buy passage on the same escape boat but were intercepted before getting far. Vinh jumped out and swam away, leaving his jacket behind, and Mai grabbed the jacket to keep warm. She spent nearly two weeks in jail, and when she got out she asked around about who the jacket belonged to. A friend of hers recognized it as Vinhs. My dad was always a leader in his own right, so he was organizing the escape party and collecting money from people and doing all the communications, Lisa explains. My mom went to return the jacket, and my dad fell in love right away. He said she was so beautiful and chubby! In Asian culture, chubbiness is a sign of prosperity and health, so that really caught his eye. My dad loves to tell stories about how he would try to bike her around, but she was so heavy, it was hard for him to go up hills. Soon the couple was engaged, and in 1976, they tried to escape again this time with Vinhs younger brother and sister, as well as Mais younger sister. They chose a small fishing boat to avoid attention. They spent the first days of the journey terrified and seasick, but that was just the beginning of the horror to come. Within a few days they were attacked by Thai pirates, Lisa says. The women were raped, and the men were beaten. They were stripped and robbed of their belongings, and all of their food and water was taken. Then they were basically left to die out on the open ocean. Stranded at sea for days, Vinh led the group in prayer. Just when they thought all hope was lost, Lisa says, a Thai fisherman came and was able to feed them and give them water. He pulled them safely to Thailand, a triage point for thousands of other refugees fleeing South Vietnam. Heartbreakingly, once they were ashore, Vinhs younger sister died from internal injuries sustained during the attack. My dad lived with a lot of guilt from that, Lisa says. For a long time, Vinh and Main were reticent to talk about their harrowing journey from Vietnam, in part because they didnt see their pilgrimage as exceptional, however traumatic and painful it might have been. Our experience as Boat People is not very unique, Lisa says. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people fled, and when they were able to reach America or Canada or whichever country, they were more focused on the future and assimilating to the culture. From selling rice cakes in an Indonesian refugee camp to making pho in Portland, Oregon After some time in Thailand, Mai and Vinh were sent to Galang Refugee Camp on an island in Indonesia, where they stayed for over three years. Living in barracks and having no money and no sense of what was going to happen in the future really shaped who they are today, Lisa says. They got enterprising. My dad would take bark and carve little figurines to sell, and using that money, they would go to the commissary and buy the cheapest thing, which was rice flour. Then my mom would make little rice cakes and fry them up to sell. They were very entrepreneurial. Vinh Tran and Mai Nguyen at Galang Refugee Camp in Indonesia // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Despite the poverty and uncertainty, there were happy times during those years. My parents were very beloved there, Lisa says. My dad helped the priests build a church on the island, and my mom and dad were actually one of very few couples who were gifted a wedding at the camp. And then I was born there. Finally, in 1981, Vinh and Mai made contact with Lisas aunt, who was going to school in Oregon, and she was able to sponsor their immigration to the U.S. The first years were hard. But they joined a church, and one couple there helped them apply for a car loan and a mortgage. Members of the congregation also helped Vinh get landscaping work as he took night classes to become a machinist. After graduating with an associates degree, he got a job at Boeing, just a small airplane company back then. With her background in education, Mai spoke French but not English, so she started working as a seamstress while taking ESL classes. Eventually she got steady temp work in the warehouses of a then-nascent Nike. Mai worked at Nike for nearly two decades, until she retired because she was diagnosed with breast cancer. And after three decades at Boeing, Vinh was laid off, so the family started thinking about other ways to make money. Mai Nguyen and baby Lisa, just after they arrived in America // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Lisas aunt and uncle ran a popular Vietnamese meats shop in Vancouver, and they offered to teach Lisas parents how to open one themselves. Vinh and Mai figured, Why not? They took over the lease of an old Mediterranean deli in Beaverton (about ten minutes from downtown Portland) to open Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen. Lisa was 15 at the time, and she went to Beaverton High School, which happened to be across the street from the restaurant. In the morning, my parents would take my younger brother and I to the restaurant. We would help them fix things up or whatnot, and then walk across the street to school. After school we'd come back and there was an upstairs room where we would take naps and do our homework. Your hot chili sauce isnt as good as your moms As the years went on, Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen earned itself a loyal following. Meanwhile, Lisa went away to college and graduated on a pre-med track, even though she knew her heart wasnt in it. My brain is not wired for science, she says. When I was a kid I always played store with my little brother, and I wanted to be a teacher as well. But ever since we were little it was, You're going to be a doctor. So I just never felt like I had the option of doing anything else. But when I didnt get into med school after two rounds of applications, and I wanted to get married, I was like, I can't do this, you know? So I had a hard, long talk with my mom. And she said, Well, let's open up another location in Vancouver (Washington) for you to manage. So the new restaurant was going to be my project and give me a career. The family restaurant, in Beaverton, ten minutes from downtown Portland // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Lisa was excited for the new venture, though there were some inevitable mother-daughter dynamics to contend with. During that time I learned that I had very different managerial skills than my mom, she says, laughing. I was like, let's do timesheets so that people can know what time they came in and out. And lets really do an inventory. Let's write down all of our records and recipes, because regulars at the Beaverton location who just happened to find themselves in Vancouver would say, Why is the peanut sauce a little bit different here? Or, Your hot chili sauce isnt as good as your moms. And I would be like, really? Its the same recipe! And then my mom would be like, Well, are you using a cup of this? Id say, yes. But then it would turn out that my moms cup was not an actual measuring cup, it was whatever tool she had on hand. And with everything, when I would say, Show me how to do this, she would say, No, just let me do it for you. If I said, Can you show me how you did this dessert? My mom would say, No, I'll just make it for you and your brother will bring it along with the weekly meat deliveries. So thats how it always was. When Lisa became pregnant with twins, she began to wonder how sustainable 14 hours a day, seven days a week restaurant hours would be while raising kids. She decided that some formal business training would be useful, and signed up for a class on making a business plan at the local small business development center (SBDC). While there, she saw a flier for a class on Getting Your Recipe to Market. Over the years, Tan Tan Cafes hot chili sauce had become so popular with regulars that they often sold it in 32 ounce to-go containers for $5 a tub. Customers who bought tubs of sauce for years and years always told us, Why don't you bottle this sauce? Lisa recalls. We probably lost so much money selling those tubs, but we were just happy that people loved it. So I brought that flyer home to my husband and I was like, Let's try it. With twin babies (Grace and Seth) at home, Lisa took the plunge and signed up for the course. We learned everything from how to demo the product, to getting feedback, how to set up your products, what kind of labels to choose," she says. "And the final of the course was to pitch to New Seasons Market, which is kind of like a Gelson's for the Portland area. They ended up loving our sauces so much that Tan Tan was the very first company to go through this program that launched in all of their stores. So thats how Lisa wound up standing behind a demo counter in a gourmet grocery store in Portland, watching a lady wrinkle her nose at her moms hot chili sauce. Im just going to kill her with kindness That unpleasant moment happened early in Lisas demo days, when she was still learning the ropes. But, she says, I got some advice early on that Ive always taken to heart, which is that getting into stores is only half the work. The other half is actually selling the product. And thats so true: Some demo ambassadors stand there on their phones and just kind of stick a spoon in something. We really have to work hard at sharing these flavors with people, because so many consumers don't know what they are. Coming from a restaurant family, Lisa understood the importance of presentation. So she brought an induction stove to her station and cooked dishes with the sauces right there in the stores. I would actually make a mini-version of our pad Thai, tossing noodles with our peanut sauce, and then glazing tofu with our hoisin and hot chili sauce. Not only were customers drawn to my little table to see a live 'cooking show,' but they were able to taste our sauces and learn how to recreate this super simple recipe at home. Pretty soon I established a lot of wonderful relationships with the staff and employees at New Seasons, and they gave me the prime counter space where people would come in to grab their cart, grab a free cup of coffee and grab a sample. Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran Lisa was under a lot of pressure to make every moment count, because with her parents blessing (albeit a relectant one), shed sold the restaurant in Vancouver to launch the sauces line and promised her mom that she would devote one year to getting the sauces off the ground before coming back to work at the original restaurant. Honestly, looking back, I dont know how I made it through that period, she says. I was exhausted, getting no sleep, working through these double demos, picking up the babies and then coming home, feeding them and then taking care of the paperwork portion of the restaurant, because my mom didn't do any inventory. But over time, Lisas dedication, the network she built, and the hours she logged demoing began to pay off. My biggest triumph was when the very first woman the one who said, This isnt for me, and just left it there well she came back, Lisa says. It was a lot later, after Id kind of busted my chops and learned more about how to demo. I thought, Im going to kill her with kindness. Anyway, she tried the sample and was like, Oh, this is great. I love this. We had a conversation and then she actually walked away with a sauce. I was so emotional about it. When I got to the car, this time it was tears of happiness. I was just so grateful that I didn't give up after the first time or when it got hard. So how does Mai feel now, about her homemade sauces being sold in hundreds of grocery stores across the Pacific Northwest? Oh my mom is still thinking it's a side hustle, Lisa says, laughing. Every time I tell her I have to leave early because I have a demo or a meeting she gives me this look like, Oh, geez, your thing again even though she's my partner in all this! I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that our sauces are placed in a little bit more of a premium market and my mom and our whole family quite frankly is very frugal. We don't shop normally at these markets. My mom doesn't shop at Trader Joe's because she thinks it's too expensive. She's like, Who charges bananas by one banana?! So even if I got into Trader Joe's, she would not be very impressed. My mom is like, If you get into Costco, then I'll be very excited for you! But were not there yet. Related: 'Max' Brenner Was Pushed Out of His Own Company, Financially Destroyed, and Banned From Making Chocolate For Five Years. But He Learned: 'Hell Has Benefits.' Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers because it was mistakenly filed ahead of a scheduled embargo time. AP will publish a version of the story that can be published by customers at 11:59 p.m. PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) Construction is expected to begin Monday on a FedEx Ground distribution center in south Parkersburg, West Virginia, according to a published report. A 250,000-square-foot facility is planned to be operational at the site in 2022, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reported. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Karolos Papoulias, a former president of Greece has died at the age of 92, Greeces state news agency ANA reports. Papoulias, a longtime socialist lawmaker and minister, was close to Andreas Papandreou, the founder of the Socialist PASOK party, and an opponent of Papandreous successor, the moderate modernizer Costas Simitis. This opposition prompted conservative Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who succeeded Simitis in 2004, to propose Papoulias for the largely ceremonial position of president in early 2005. Papoulias was re-elected to a second term in February 2010, a term marked by Greeces financial crisis. Papoulias had little power to shape policy, but he was also temperamentally adverse to upstaging the successive governments he swore into office conservative, socialist, a conservative-socialist coalition and, in the final month of his term, the leftist Syriza-led government. His 10-year tenure was mostly free of controversy. Karolos Papoulias was born on June 4, 1929, in a village near the city of Ioannina, in northwestern Greece, the son of an army officer who retired as a Major-General. He owed his rather unusual name for a Greek to his godfather, a general and close friend of his fathers, who was an admirer of the Austrian Marxist politician Karl Kautsky. At a very young age, he was involved in the resistance against the German occupation of 1941-44. After the liberation, Papoulias finished secondary school and studied law at the University of Athens. He was also heavily involved in sports, taking part in several track and field events and becoming Greeces youth champion in the pole vault. He was also a member of the Greek national volleyball team. Later in life, he served as President of Athens-based Ethnikos Athletic Club for 25 years. Papoulias finished his law studies with a graduate degree from the University of Milan and a doctorate in private international law from the University of Cologne. In 1963, Papoulias settled in West Germany and in 1967, when a military junta seized power in Greece, he founded a resistance organization. It was during the 1967-74 period that he met and became close to Andreas Papandreou. Returning to Greece in 1974, Papoulias was a founder member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and was elected to the Greek Parliament from 1977 to 2004. He was a member of all Papandreou governments, primarily in foreign affairs roles. Papoulias was well-known for his close relations with Arab leaders, including PLO head Yasser Arafat and Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, and, in general, was cool to Western policies. As a lawmaker, he protested vigorously against NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999 and voiced support for Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic; as president, his first official trip was to Libya. One of his few official trips abroad was to attend the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi as a guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Papoulias is survived by his wife, Maria, and three adult daughters. MEVO HAMA, Golan Heights (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday the country intends to double the amount of settlers living in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights with a multimillion-dollar plan meant to further consolidate Israels hold on the territory it captured from Syria more than five decades ago. Bennett said the new investment in the region was prompted by the Trump administration's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the swath of land and by the Biden administrations indication that it will not soon challenge that decision. This is our moment. This is the moment of the Golan Heights, Bennett said at a special Cabinet meeting in the Golan Heights. After long and static years in terms of the scope of settlement, our goal today is to double settlement in the Golan Heights. Bennett's office said the government would invest some 1 billion shekels (over $300 million) into developing the Golan, including the establishment of two new settlements as well as investments in tourism, industry, clean energy and technology that would create several thousand jobs. Entrenching Israeli control over the territory would complicate any future attempt to forge peace with Syria, which claims the Golan Heights. Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the territory, promoting settlement and agriculture there as well as creating a thriving local tourism industry. The U.S. was the first country to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied. Bennett said the decade-long war in Syria made the idea of Israeli control of the territory more acceptable to its international allies, adding that the alternative would be much worse. Israel has long argued that the strategically important area has, for all practical purposes, been fully integrated into Israel since it was captured from Syria - and that control of the strategic plateau is needed as protection from Iran and its allies in Syria. Some 50,000 people live in the Golan Heights roughly half Jewish Israelis and half in Druze Arab villages that formerly were part of Syria. Some of the Druze population opposes Israeli control. The Israeli development plan aims to double the Jewish population in the coming years. Shortly after making his remarks, Bennett's office said he was notified that his daughter tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the Israeli leader to leave the Cabinet meeting and head into self-isolation at home. Bennett's office said he had tested negative in a rapid test taken before the meeting and that Bennett's daughter, 14, was vaccinated. Israel's education minister, Yifat Shasha-Biton, missed Sunday's meeting after her daughter tested positive for COVID-19. Her office said she had gone into self-isolation while she awaited the results of a coronavirus test. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in the West Bank in an area that has seen a recent uptick in friction, the Israeli military and Palestinian medics said. The clashes late Saturday were part of days of tension in the area surrounding a West Bank settlement outpost and a spike in violence elsewhere in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. During the clashes, the military said, hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks and burned tires and shots were fired in the area. The military said forces responded with live fire and riot dispersal means, typically tear gas and stun grenades. The military also said shots were fired from a passing vehicle toward a military post near the West Bank city of Nablus, which is south of Homesh. It was not clear if the shooting was related to the clashes. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 10 people were wounded by live fire. The Palestinian Health Ministry said one of them, a 17-year-old, was seriously wounded. Dozens of others were wounded by rubber bullets. A soldier was lightly wounded, the military said. Homesh, in the northern West Bank, was dismantled as part of Israels withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. But in recent years, Israeli settlers have returned to pray and established an unauthorized outpost at the site. Last week, at least one Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car filled with Jewish seminary students next to the outpost. Yehuda Dimentman, 25, was killed and two others were wounded near Homesh, which is considered illegal by the Israeli government. On Thursday, thousands of Jewish nationalists marched to Homesh to mark the end of the mourning period for Dimentman and on Friday, Israeli forces dismantled structures that settlers had erected at the outpost. According to Israeli media reports, Jewish settlers were expected to march again to the outpost on Saturday night, drawing calls on Palestinian social media for nearby villagers to be on alert. The clashes come amid an increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence elsewhere in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem. Earlier this month, an ultra-Orthodox Jew was left seriously injured after being stabbed by a Palestinian attacker outside the walls of Jerusalems Old City. A week before, a Hamas militant opened fire in the Old City, killing an Israeli man. Both attackers were killed by Israeli forces. Settler violence against Palestinians has seen a similar increase during the olive harvest. In mid-November, Jewish settlers attacked a group of Palestinian farmers with pepper spray and clubs in the farmland surrounding Homesh, injuring four people. Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, and the territories are now home to over 700,000 Israel settlers. Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements illegal obstacles to peace. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem and the West Bank as parts of a future independent state. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access 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. Elizabeth Bathory was an unfortunately easy target to create a vampire narrative around. Sure, Vlad the Impaler gets all the credit for being the OG Dracula these days, but the legends of Bathory paint her as the prototypical vampire. And the cruelest twist in this tale of cruelty? She may have been innocent. Bathory was a Transylvanian countess who lived between 1560 and 1614. Her castle was supposedly used as a house of torture and sadistic murder, and her body count is often thought to be the highest of a single person in history. Guinness World Records recognizes her as historys deadliest woman with 600 kills. The popular narrative around Elizabeth Bathory states that she had torture chambers in her castle, and she would torment peasant girls and even nobles. Her methods were painful and involved creatively brutal acts like shoving things under her victims fingernails. There was a ritualistic element to her violence, and it was believed that she bathed in the blood of young women as a way of maintaining youth. Her reign of terror came to an end in either 1609 or 1610 when an investigation conducted by Gyorgy Thurzo, Palatine of Hungary, found that Bathorys Castle of Csejte was the site of a multitude of murders. Bathorys servants were interrogated about alleged murders, and the trial concluded that Bathory was guilty. All of her servants believed to have conspired with her were executed, and Bathory was imprisoned in her castle. Apparently, nobles werent executed and were just allowed to be confined in their own estates. After only a few years of imprisonment, Elizabeth Bathory died, but the legends of her murders continued to spread. The last Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus is the representative head of His people. In Adam every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race when considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor, and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him: It is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure forever. Whatever Christ has done, He has accomplished for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is in this way that the Church has fulfilled the law and is blessed in the Beloved.1 She is regarded with satisfaction by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adams righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same way, all that the Second Adam is or does is ours as well as His because He is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution, which moved Justin Martyr to cry out, O blessed change, O sweet permutation! is the very groundwork of the Gospel of our salvation and is to be received with strong faith and rapturous joy. 1) Ephesians 1:6 As a thank-you from us for your gift, we'll send along this month's resource: The All-Sufficient God Click here to learn more about Truth For Life Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright (c) 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says he would support efforts to revive the initiative process, months after the state Supreme Court ruled that the process was outdated and invalid. The issue could come up during the legislative session that begins in January. I think that access to the ballot is important, Republican Reeves said in response to questions at a news conference last week. I dont think that one person writing a 2 or 3 million dollar check on any one issue to put it in our state constitution is the correct way to do it, he said. But I do think the citizens should have access to the ballot, and it ought to be done in a way where its challenging to get on the ballot but that it is possible. Since the 1990s, Mississippi had used an initiative process that allowed people to propose constitutional amendments. If they gathered enough signatures from each congressional district, the initiative could go on the ballot. The court invalidated the initiative process in May, when it handed down a ruling that also tossed out a medical marijuana initiative approved by voters six months earlier. Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler challenged the medical marijuana measure shortly before the November 2020 election, arguing it was not properly on the ballot because signatures were gathered from Mississippi's five old congressional districts instead of the four current ones. After a hearing detailed legal arguments, six of the nine justices agreed. Their ruling halted the state Health Department's work in developing a medical marijuana program. It also left Mississippi without an initiative process. Some proposed initiatives were left in limbo by the Supreme Court decision. People had been gathering signatures for months on one initiative that would put several proposed state flag designs on the ballot. The effort was promoted by those unhappy that legislators in 2020 retired the last state flag in the U.S. that included the Confederate battle emblem. Days before the Supreme Court ruling, health care professionals announced they were starting to gather signatures on an initiative to expand Medicaid. They were trying to bypass the Republican-led Legislature, which has steadfastly rejected expanding the government health insurance program to people who work in low-wage jobs without private insurance. Medicaid expansion is an option under the health overhaul signed into law in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama; Mississippi is among the dozen states rejecting it. Medical marijuana remains an unresolved issue. A small group of legislators spent months negotiating a proposal that was similar to the initiative approved by voters. House and Senate leaders urged Reeves to call a special legislative session during the fall so the proposal could be put into law, but Reeves never did. At the news conference last week, the governor said he would veto the current proposal because it could allow hundreds of thousands of people to have access to large quantities of marijuana enough, he said, to make 1.2 billion joints per year in the state of about 3 million residents. If there are 1.2 billion joints floating around Mississippi in any one year, I believe that is no longer medicinal, it is no longer for the purpose of helping those who badly need it, and it becomes recreational, Reeves said. He said the widespread availability of marijuana could hurt economic development by discouraging people from working. Mississippi already has a low rate of workforce participation among working-age residents. Reeves said he wants a medical marijuana program to include tighter control by physicians and a role for pharmacists. Legislators who have negotiated the proposal say they've done so in good faith, seeking to provide compassionate relief for people with debilitating illnesses such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or cancer. ____ Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina man was arrested on multiple charges Saturday after he dragged two deputies with his car while he attempted to flee from a traffic stop, according to a sheriff's office. Deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office stopped a car for speeding on northbound U.S. 52 at around 1 a.m. Saturday, a news release said. The deputies called a K-9 team for backup. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) One man was killed and another man was wounded in a shooting in North Carolina resulting from an attempted armed robbery at an apartment, police said Saturday. Winston-Salem police said officers responding early Saturday to a report of a shooting at a location northeast of downtown found two men with gunshot wounds. MORRO BAY, Calif. (AP) A surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack on Christmas Eve off the central coast of California, authorities said. The male surfer was pulled from the water north of the famous Morro Rock around 10:45 a.m., Morro Bay police said on Twitter on Friday. He was not responsive after being brought to land. Its been a bumper year for the hapless of Westminster and even more so for the diarists who cover them. Here are a few of my favourites. The Award for Worst Supporting Actress in a Disaster Movie goes to Allegra Stratton for uncontrollable crying while apologising for her Let them eat cake moment at a mock press conference on how to mislead the public if asked about a No 10 Christmas knees-up during the 2020 lockdown. Winner of the Mystic Meg Award is billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy, who at party conference called former London Mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey the future of the party. Two months later a snap emerged of Candy and Bailey at a Christmas party in City Hall last year. Bailey resigned as chair of the London Assemblys police and crime committee days later. Any views on the next Tory leader, Nick? The Award for Worst Supporting Actress in a Disaster Movie goes to Allegra Stratton for uncontrollable crying while apologising for her Let them eat cake moment The Pot Kettle Award goes to David Cameron, who last week said Boris Johnson had always been able to get away with things that mere mortals cant seem to such as ploys to bypass the media a bit like Daves month-long silence when asked by journalists about his lobbying for Greensill Capital, then. The Childs Play Award for embattled civil servants goes to those mandarins who took a break from their wfh Pelotons for Lego Serious Play. The taxpayer-funded workshops involved building answers to problems. Like how many of my Ministers mates can I give Covid contracts to? The Right to Silence Award goes to two absent peers. Firstly, Lord (Charles) Moore, who is yet to give a maiden speech in the House of Lords despite being made a Tory peer in October 2020. Until he can be bothered, Charlie cannot perform vital democratic functions such as tabling parliamentary questions. That said, who needs Parliament for political influence when a whisper in Boriss ear at the Garrick Club in support of Moores incorruptible mate Owen Paterson can trigger a Westminster tsunami and a by-election defeat? Moore is joint winner with Baroness (Shriti) Vadera, ennobled by Labour in 2007 but not seen in the Lords since 2011. The Speedy Tweet Deletion Award goes to Tory MP Joy Morrissey, who bravely attacked Chris Whitty, saying the Chief Medical Officer should defer to elected Members of Parliament, only to erase the tweet less than 30 minutes later. Speaking of punchy tweets, government adviser Ben Goldsmith (brother of Lord Zac) wrote: It is hard to resist a longing for the days of public execution in response to the horrific child abuse of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Allegra Stratton had laughed her way through a mock press conference on how to mislead the public if asked about a No 10 Christmas knees-up during the 2020 lockdown Would he consider the same for the chumocracy who enriched themselves on the public purse during the pandemic? Perhaps just a flogging? Adam Afriyie is my Dope of the Year Award winner for lobbying Parliament about medical cannabis, while reaching a new high in failing to declare his role as chairman of a distribution company for the drug. The Greed is Still Good Gong goes to husband and wife Philip Davies and Esther McVey, the MPs who love freebies from corporate giants almost as much as each other. Their six-week summer of love in 2021 involved more than 15,000 in paid-for jollies from Wimbledon to the Euros semi-final. The You Should Be Fired Award goes to Lord (Alan) Sugar, who, after I wrote about his outside interests and paltry attendance, called me a vindictive trouble-making non-achieving loser, all before signing off with: My friends call me Alan, you can call me Lord Sugar. Happy Christmas Al. Dominic Raab gets Rebuttal of the Year, for, when accused of paddle-boarding on his luxury Crete holiday while Kabul burned, saying: The sea was actually closed. But enough of the hapless. My 2021 Hero award goes to Baroness (Betty) Boothroyd, the former Speaker of the Lords, who told me: I never indulge in Zoom or remote [meetings]. Lets hope that in 2022, none of us has to. Phew. That's Christmas done for another year. My principal emotion is relief. Not just because, after weeks of build-up, exhausting preparations and expenditure, the pressure is finally off; but because, despite the best efforts of the Covid doom-mongers, we made it. Granted, I still didn't get to see my parents in Italy or my brother in Spain, and don't imagine I will any time soon. But I was lucky enough to stay with dear friends who made me feel very welcome. And against the odds, millions of other families somehow managed to carve out a relatively normal Christmas for themselves, too. Covid was less the uninvited guest glowering in the corner and more that annoying uncle with the bad breath and terrible jokes you just have to learn to live with at this time of year. Phew. That's Christmas done for another year. My principal emotion is relief. Not just because, after weeks of build-up, exhausting preparations and expenditure, the pressure is finally off Control It was, in some ways, a glimpse of things to come. If the ghost of Covid past is all of us cowering in our homes, terrified of a virus that robbed too many of their lives and livelihoods and all of us of our liberties, the ghost of Covid present seems far less apocalyptic. It's still worrying, still a huge drain on resources; but by no means the howling spectre that hung over us last year and blanketed the nation in misery. We have not yet conquered this disease but we are gaining ground against it. And while there will inevitably be setbacks, there is a definite sense that the tide is turning not just in terms of vaccinations and boosters; or of treatment protocols; but also as far as our own response to the threat is concerned. Last Christmas we were rabbits in headlights, confused by the science and fearful of the rules and regulations that made us feel like criminals in our own homes, too frightened to trust our instincts. We have not yet conquered this disease but we are gaining ground against it. And while there will inevitably be setbacks, there is a definite sense that the tide is turning This Christmas has felt very different. Yes, many people reined things in, simplified plans and cancelled parties once it was clear Omicron was on the rise. But we didn't let it stop us. Instead, we found ways to work around it. People used their common sense, depending on their circumstances. Many of my friends, for example, took themselves out of circulation in the final two weeks before Christmas, just because they didn't want their plans ruined. Many tested themselves daily; some carried on as normal, knowing they were triple-jabbed and happy to run the risk of infection for the sake of a little festive fun. Almost everyone I knew tested positive at some point yet no one felt seriously ill, despite most of my friends being over 50. The point is, the spirit of Covid present is nowhere near as scary as Covid past you are up to 70 per cent less likely to need medical care; and 45 per cent less likely to land up in hospital. The boosters provide at least 85 per cent protection against serious illness; and almost half the population (32 million) has had theirs. New antiviral drugs further reduce the chance of hospital admission (molnupiravir by 30 per cent, sotrovimab by 79 per cent), and of the 132 patients with Omicron who had been admitted to hospitals by December 20, 14 had died. That's 14 too many, needless to say. But it's a far healthier picture than last year. That said, of course the ghosts of that horrible time still haunt us. One thinks of poor Derek Draper, seen this week returning from a pantomime, still confined to a wheelchair, his wife Kate Garraway still uncertain if he will ever make a full recovery. This Christmas has felt very different. Yes, many people reined things in, simplified plans and cancelled parties once it was clear Omicron was on the rise. But we didn't let it stop us And of the Queen, who this year said goodbye to that 'familiar laugh' isolated and alone, her solitary presence in St George's Chapel at Windsor, a reminder of what so many have endured. Has any monarch in history ever shown so much affinity with her people in a time of crisis? But despite all this, and all the heartache of loved ones lost, the spirit of Covid future looks so much more hopeful than perhaps we could ever have imagined. With every victory against the virus, we move one step closer to getting our lives back and, ultimately, learning to live with this thing. There is a sense that we are finally starting to take back control (to coin a phrase). And boy, does it feel good. That is why the decisions the Prime Minister makes in the next few days are so important. Unless the numbers post-Christmas go completely bonkers, it seems unlikely he will recall Parliament and that is a good thing. But he needs to go further. What is required now is a fundamental shift in the Government's response to Covid, and Boris Johnson must lead the way. It is a very simple choice, between continuing to treat us all like children; and handing back our autonomy and freedoms (as well as responsibilities) and trusting in the innate common sense of the British people to do what is right when necessary. The boosters provide at least 85 per cent protection against serious illness; and almost half the population (32 million) has had theirs Optimism The second option is not just the right decision for the country as a whole our economy, our sanity, our overall health. (Let's not forget all those missed urgent referrals for suspected cancer during the pandemic, which some fear could be as high as 740,000, or the 100,000 vulnerable 'ghost' children lost to the system in lockdown). It's also the right choice for Johnson politically. The voters didn't elect this Conservative Prime Minister with a thumping 80-seat majority because they wanted a prescriptive, controlling, anti-libertarian Government, or to live in a country hamstrung by rules and regulations, their every move tracked, their privacy and autonomy non-existent. They elected him because they saw in Johnson a certain spirit of invincible optimism. He was a man who always seemed to see the possibilities of a situation, rather than the drawbacks. Someone who embraced life, unencumbered by what in another incarnation he would have dismissed as 'pettifogging diktat', the pusillanimous limitations of a timid mind. That enthusiasm, at times reckless but always rather infectious, has been scarcely visible of late. He has become almost as joyless as Scrooge, a Prime Minister who has allowed the spectre of Covid to eclipse almost everything else about his premiership. One thinks of poor Derek Draper, seen this week returning from a pantomime, still confined to a wheelchair, his wife Kate Garraway still uncertain if he will ever make a full recovery Brave If he doesn't do something soon, he will be defined by it, for ever associated in voters' minds with one of the most painful periods in recent history. But it is not too late. He still has the power to change all that, if only he can rediscover his faith in human ingenuity. We know Boris has it in him. He was very good at lifting lockdown on 'Freedom Day' this summer, against the advice of scientists at Sage. He now needs to overrule the shroud-wavers again and put his faith in the ability of individuals to manage the risk from Covid sensibly and responsibly. Leadership is not about taking the path of least resistance, or always opting for the safest course of action. As Johnson's great hero Churchill showed, it is about making difficult choices in impossible circumstances and, ultimately, having the courage of your convictions. The risk-free thing to do would be to impose further restrictions in the weeks to come. The brave thing would be to make the case for freedom and argue that with the boosters and the anti-virals, and the fact that Omicron appears so mild, the case for restrictions is weaker than it has ever been. I think I know what the British Bulldog would have done. Let's see what Boris decides. Founded in 1910 as a small millinery business in Paris, Chanel has evolved into one of the recognisable names in fashion. Named after couturiere Coco Chanel, the company is owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, the grandsons of Chanel's early business partner Pierre, and remains a tightly controlled family business. But now the duo have handed over the day-to-day operations to a rare outsider, London-based businesswoman Leena Nair, who will take over as global CEO after stepping down as Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever. She was the first woman, first Asian and youngest ever person to hold the role. The appointment of Indian-born businesswoman Leena, 52, has been praised as a landmark for diversity within the industry and marks the latest step in a remarkable career for Nair, an engineering graduate who worked her way up the ranks of Unilever after starting her career in the company's factories. Pioneer: Leena Nair, pictured, will take over as global CEO of Chanel after stepping down as Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever Fashion forward: Gigi Hadid, centre, with models on the Chanel catwalk in March 2020 Leena was born in a small town in Kolhapur, Maharashtra and is the daughter of late industrialist Ram Menon and attended Holy Cross Convent High School. She later became a student of The New College Kolhapur before earning a degree in electronic engineering at Walchand College of Engineering in Sangli - where she found she had a 'flair for management'. 'One of the best pieces of advice I ever had was before my career even began, from my college professor who sat me down and said, 'You know what, you're going to make a pretty lousy engineer. But I think you have a flair for management. You like being with people', she wrote on Instagram. After deciding against becoming an engineer, Leena began studying for a masters at the Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur where she did an MBA in HR. After graduating in 1992, she began work as at Unilever as a management trainee where she became the first woman to take a role working in factories around India for the company. When Leena joined program, the majority of the workforce was male - but the businesswoman says her time studying a male-dominated degree meant she was well-equipped to deal with the gender divide. Indian-born British businesswoman and former Unilever executive Leena Nair, 52, London, (pictured) was announced as French luxury fashion house Chanel's new chief executive 'It was 3,000 boys and 18 girls in engineering college and the four years there toughened me up, made me thick skinned and I learnt how to claw my way through a largely male dominated space', she told the Khaleej Times. When she began working at Hindustan Unilever more than two decades ago, the factories didn't even have women's toilets and after ensuring some were built for her - they were jokingly dubbed 'Leena's Loos'. 'I learned so many lessons, about the factory and production, the shop-floor ecosystem, the importance of resilience. It's made me who I am', she told Time magazine. A year after graduating the trainee program, Leena became the factory personnel manager of the Lipton factory in Kolkata, where she spent three years. Leena then became Employee Relations Manager of the company, headquartered in Mumbai and continued to rise up the ranks, becoming the general HR manager in ten years. In 2016, by which time the businesswoman had spent over twenty years climbing the career ladder at the company, she was promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer of Unilever in London. She was the first female, first Asian and youngest ever CHRO of the company and had overall responsibility for the 160,000 workforce operating over 190 countries. Leena was the first female, first Asian and youngest ever CHRO of the company and had overall responsibility for the 160,000 workforce operating over 190 countries In January this year, while Leena was CHRO, the consumer giant said it would refuse to do business with any firms that do not pay their staff a 'living wage' from 2030 onwards. The Ben & Jerry's and Marmite manufacturer was one of the first large-scale companies to make such a commitment due to worsening inequality due to the pandemic. Leena called social inequality a 'systemic issue' and said the company sees it biggest challenges in it's supply chain in Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and India. As well as her work for Unilever, Leena worked as a non-executive board member of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for two years from 2018. I am so inspired by what Chanel stands for. It is a company that believes in the freedom of creation, in cultivating human potential and in acting to have a positive impact in the world Leena, who has two children with husband Kumar, was announced as Chanel's chief executive last week, becoming a become a rare outsider at the helm of the tightly controlled family fashion house. 'I am humbled and honoured to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of Chanel, an iconic and admired company', she wrote on social media. 'I am so inspired by what Chanel stands for. It is a company that believes in the freedom of creation, in cultivating human potential and in acting to have a positive impact in the world.' The French fashion house have previously spoke of their desire to diversify their brand, hiring Fiona Pargeter as head of diversity and inclusion in 2019 as 'a sign of Chanel's commitment' to inclusivity. Meanwhile, Bernstein luxury goods analyst Luca Solca said Chanel was following a trend of attracting top executives from the consumer packaged goods industry. 'Unilever and P&G stand tall as management reservoirs for the relatively young luxury goods industry,' he said, pointing to Antonio Belloni, general manager of LVMH and a former president of Procter & Gamble in Europe, and Estee Lauder head Fabrizio Freda, also a P&G veteran. Chanel said Leena would join at the end of January and be based in London. It added that the new appointments would ensure its 'long-term success as a private company.' From the rise of double denim and mini-skirts to the death of skinny jeans, it's been impossible to ignore the impact Y2K style has had on the fashion landscape this year. Shoppers' love for all things '90s and early 2000s has been confirmed by the ASOS Annual Trends report, which reveals exactly what Britons have been buying in 2021 - and predicts the styles that will be popular next year. Floral, botanical and psychedelic prints took centre stage this year as customers looked for uplifting clothes to raise their spirits during difficult months. The lifting of lockdown restrictions sparked a surge in the sale of black trousers as people returned to the office. When it comes to trousers, skinny jeans were nowhere to be scene and instead have been replaced with straight or bootleg cuts, dramatic flared trousers or baggy sportswear. However glamour was also on the cards this year, with Brits keen to dress up in killer heels and stylish jumpsuits to party after spending months in and out of lockdown. 90s-MANIA The 1990s and noughties look caught fire in 2021 and according to the annual ASOS Trends Report will continue to set the style over the next 12 months. Pictured, Dua Lipa The 1990s and noughties look caught fire in 2021 and will continue to be influential over the next 12 months, according to the annual ASOS Trends Report. They are a particular hit with fashionistas in their teens and early 20s, who didn't get to experience the styles first time around. This tribe of Y2K fashionistas are led by modern fashion icons like Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa, who have championed 90s classics like handkerchief tops, exposed thongs and double denim. Women were stepping out in cargo pants, mini skirts, low-rise jeans and 'double denim', sales figures revealed. SKINNY JEANS ARE OUT The standout style of trousers this year was flares - with 446,000 pairs flying from the ASOS shelves. Pictured, Olivia Wilde wearing mustard yellow flares in California this month When it comes to trousers, skin-tight cuts very much fell out of fashion this year, with shoppers opting for dramatic flares, mom jeans or stylish wide leg culottes instead. Shoppers purchased over 200,000 pairs of baggy skater and cargo jeans. But the standout style of trousers this year was flares - with 446,000 pairs sold. The return to the office in the second half of the year also had an impact on our wardrobes. ASOS reported a 30 per cent uptick in the sale of black trousers. BAGGY UNISEX CLOTHES Research from the brand showed that a quarter of 18-35 year-olds planned on wearing baggy clothing in the new year. Pictured, Billie Eilish wearing baggy sportswear this year STATEMENT PRINTS Floral and botanical prints took centre stage, alongside supportive slogans championing self-care, which became more important than ever in the midst of the pandemic. The trend even extended to knitwear, with bright and bold printed jumpers and cardigans reigning supreme in winter. Advertisement Research from the brand showed that a quarter of 18-35 year-olds planned on wearing baggy clothing in the new year while a fifth will be going for big and bold colours. This is a continuation from 2021 where oversized styles accounted for 60 per cent of male jersey tops sales and there was a 135 per cent increase in the number of women's flares sold. And the award for the most searched ASOS brand goes to Collusion, a sustainable, vegan, unisex brand with inclusive sizing. JUMPSUITS AND KILLER HEELS The end of lockdown this year was marked with a huge rise in the sale of jumpsuits - with mesh growing in popularity in the summer months until super-soft velvet became the star of autumn/winter. British shoppers were ready to celebrate come July with a pair of party heels selling every 13 seconds throughout the month. WEDDING TRENDS Shoppers seemed to take inspiration from the wedding gown worn by Carrie Johnson who hired her 2,870 wedding dress by designer Christos Costarellos for just 45 from MyWardrobeHQ when she married Boris Johnson in May With a flurry of weddings delayed in 2020 going ahead this year, it's no surprise that 1.5 million bride and bridesmaid dresses were sold on the platform. The most popular dress on the platform was the Iris, a long sleeve lace bodice maxi wedding dress with a pleated skirt which sold 15,000 times. Shoppers seemed to take inspiration from the wedding gown worn by Carrie Johnson who hired her 2,870 wedding dress by designer Christos Costarellos for just 45 from MyWardrobeHQ when she married Boris Johnson in May. When it came to the wedding party, sage green was the colour of choice for bridesmaids and in the UK shoppers purchased 100,000 complete suits, with sales of formal shoes up 80 per cent. HALTERNECKS TO TREND IN 2022 With 37,437% more searches for 'halter tops', shoulder-baring halterneck tops were huge on ASOS Marketplace this year. Pictured, Miley Cyrus wearing a halterneck jumpsuit in Los Angeles With 37,437 per cent more searches for 'halter tops', shoulder-baring halterneck tops were huge on ASOS Marketplace this year, and are predicted to have a major moment in 2022, too. 'We're also going to see 00s trends have a revival next year, so expect low rise jeans, double denim and mini-skirts to feature in lots of edits', said Vanessa Spence, ASOS Commercial Design and Visual Director. 'If you need inspiration after living lockdown in muted colours, pop bright colours were seen across all the catwalks in the recent shows so are going to be huge in 2022.' An Australian skincare brand that hit the market less than three months ago is making waves of its 'miracle' cleansing balm, which claims to melt makeup right off your face. Urban Jungle has four products in its popular beauty arsenal - a cleanser, exfoliator, clay mask and serum - but it's the first step that has customers shaking their head in astonishment. 'I have very sensitive skin so it's really hard for me to find products that I can use. Especially ones for my face. This is an incredible product that does its job and leaves my skin feeling refreshed. Many skincare products leave my skin feeling dry and itchy. This was the exact opposite, I cannot recommend this enough,' one customer has written online. Scroll down for video Urban Jungle has four products in its popular beauty arsenal - a cleanser, exfoliator, clay mask and serum - but it's the first step that has customers shaking their head in astonishment The $36 Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm dropped online in September and is already selling one tub every 12 minutes, so what makes it such a foolproof choice? The $36 Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm dropped online in September and is already selling one tub every 12 minutes, so what makes it such a foolproof choice? This fragrance free oil contains both sunflower seed oil and chamomile flower oil to gently loosen the molecules of makeup on your face and remove them with a quick swipe of a towel. Abbie Chatfield, Karina Irby and Flex Mami have all been spotted using the product on social media, increasing brand awareness for the newly minted Urban Jungle. 'These kind of balms are always my favourite. So easy to cleanse skin and even remove makeup if you're a little bit lazy like me,' wrote one shopper. Abbie Chatfield, Karina Irby and Flex Mami have all been spotted using the product on social media, increasing brand awareness for the newly minted Urban Jungle 'I started double cleansing years ago when the 12-step Korean skincare routine was popular. I really like how this cleansing balm takes off all my sunscreen at the end of the day. I haven't tried the other products yet but the four step system seems really simple,' said another. Even men are getting in on the action: 'As a male with olive skin, I always found it really difficult to find a cleansing balm that would have a gentle reaction to my skin. 'But after trying the Urban Jungle Cleansing balm I won't have to look anywhere else, I finally found the perfect combination for my skin type, it is gentle, nice and soft to my olive skin. LOVED it! Highly recommend.' All of the products are made in Korea - which some believe to be the beauty capital of the world - with natural, wholesome ingredients that aren't tested on animals. This is not a suggestion that would necessarily make my pulse race: Darling, do you fancy going to stay in the words first carbon-neutral hotel for the weekend? I like the sort of posh hotels that have 12 towels per guest, a big bed, an even bigger bath, a well-stocked mini-bar and a decent breakfast buffet. Call me spoiled, but an eco-hotel which sounds like it might skimp on the hot water and where you have to sleep on scratchy linen made from hemp? No, thank you. So it was with trepidation that I made my way to room2, a new hotel on a quiet residential street in Chiswick, West London, which claims to be exactly that: the worlds first carbon-neutral hotel. I say made my way. I drove, but theres no car park at this eco hotel (Wed love to encourage our guests to use public transport whenever possible, a leaflet explains in my room), so I parked and paid on the street nearby. Sophia Money-Coutts gives her verdict on room2 in Chiswick, West London, ahead of its official opening in February. Pictured: Sophia at room2s bar Not so bad for me; I only had a small overnight bag, but if you were a family laden with multiple bags and buggies, you might feel less of a warm glow about this green initiative. Still, at first glance, the building is impressive. Once a dull grey lump which served as the Wimpy headquarters, this has been pulled down and in its place is a four-storey red-brick hotel with large, loft-style Crittall windows which wouldnt look out of place in New York. I stepped through sliding entrance doors and through what appeared to be a small rainforest (a lobby filled with pot plants) to the reception area. The interiors are surprising, too. It doesnt look drab or joyless. The ground floor is essentially one large room: reception, plus seating and dining area. Its inviting and cosy. Fashionable, even. There are vast sofas, yet more pot plants, pendant lights hanging over several tables, colourful art on the walls and a long, promising-looking bar. The hotel doesnt officially open until February 1, but has been in its soft-opening phase since the start of the month so there are a few guests milling around, drinking tea and deliberating over a plate of muffins and brownies at the bar. Luana Giaveri, the smiley general manager, checks me in and sends me up to my room on the third floor. The rooms cant possibly be that nice, I think, walking down the corridor towards mine, along a spongy red and green carpet which, I later learn, is made from old fishing nets recovered from the sea. Im expecting something spartan and monkish; a small bed, probably quite a chilly room with no frills and certainly no mini-bar. But Im wrong here, too. Sophia explained that her room had a kitchenette because the hotel isn't just targeting short-term overnight guests. Pictured: Sophia in her hotel room Some years ago, I visited Chicago to review the citys new Soho House hotel and this room isnt wholly different: wood floor, a large bed with a pretty blue and white striped headboard, rattan chairs, a Roberts radio and marbled wallpaper in the bathroom where there is also, and (I promise this is true) the biggest shower I have ever seen. There are huge bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the shower made by vegan brand Doers of London. There are pretty, dried flowers in a vase (they only use dried flowers because they last, and, therefore, theres less waste). Theres a patterned blanket on the end of my bed which is made from 80 per cent recycled yarn. I brush my hand across a pillowcase to check the linen. Perfectly crisp. Not scratchy at all. I open the fridge to find its stocked with beers from a small Yorkshire brewery, along with small bars of vegan chocolate made by a London-based company called Seed & Bean. The only indication in the room that youre staying somewhere uber environmentally-conscious is a large blue wooden bin containing three different chambers for recyclables, food and non-recyclable waste. This feels like a first. Sure, I recycle at home. But when was the last time you recycled anything in a hotel room? I also have a kitchenette a small counter and wooden cupboards, a Smeg oven, a kettle and a sink because this hotel isnt just targeting short-term overnight guests, but those who might wish to stay for longer. Months at a time or more, says Rob Cahn, head of group operations, citing the nearby Chiswick Business Park as a pool of potential guests. This explains why the room2 website declares its not just a hotel, but a hometel a place to live, work and entertain. Sophia (pictured) said the entire building has been designed to create as little waste as possible, as the brainchild of brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin Its the brainchild of brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin, who run a property development business called Lamington Group. Last year, they opened their first hometel in Southampton, which has 71 rooms and the same hipster aesthetic exposed metal pipes and wooden floors. But it wasnt as environmentally ambitious as the Chiswick one. Think of your average upmarket hotel. Theres a lot of waste from people like me who use every towel when they take a bath, turn the air-conditioning up, leave the lights on, drink the bottled water on the bedside table and so on. The Chiswick hotel aims to be 89 per cent more efficient than that, so its not just the 86 en-suite bedrooms and communal areas that are eco-friendly. Work on the site started in 2019, and the entire building has been designed to create as little waste as possible. They dug down 200 metres to install a state-of-the-art heat pump, for instance. Why so deep, I ask Keith Crawford, the hotels chief engineer, who explains that at such a depth, its possible to extract heat from the ground to funnel into the heating system. Think of the London Undergrounds Central Line, he tells me, when I look confused. Think of how hot it is down there. Its the same principle with the pump. Every watt used comes from renewable sources and there are solar panels on the roof (along with three beehives, home to 75,000 bees, which make the hotels honey). These panels, along with the heat pump, provide 100 per cent of the energy needed for the hotels heating, cooling and hot water. Sophia (pictured) said the hotel has no phones in the bedrooms but instructions pinned beside the door for a WhatsApp number should guest require any help The showers, fitted with restrictors, use 40 per cent less water than your average one, but use air pressure to ensure the water flow doesnt feel feeble. All the furniture comes from within ten miles to reduce its carbon footprint, and is made with natural, recycled or reclaimed materials. The food has been considered, too. But this doesnt mean its chickpeas and unappetising weeds foraged from pavements. The hotel restaurant is called Boca and headed up by Elisabetta Boi, an Italian chef trained at Aqua Shard on the 31st floor of The Shard in London. The burrata comes from a Puglian in Shoreditch; the salami from an Islington butcher who uses only British meat; the coffee beans delivered in great big buckets (less packaging) from a roastery around the corner. When it officially opens in February, the aim is that this restaurant wont just be used by guests, but locals, too, to drop in for a sustainable dinner. Any unavoidable carbon emissions, such as in its construction, or from food or supplies that cant be sourced locally, are offset with a reforesting business in Nicaragua, thus taking the hotels carbon footprint to zero. Later, after eating my Shoreditch burrata and homemade focaccia, I decide to test the room service and order a glass of wine. There are no phones in the bedrooms but instructions pinned beside my door tell me I can WhatsApp a number should I require any help. Dubious about this, I message the number asking for a glass of red wine; less than five minutes later it appears at my door (its delicious, but Italian, so I presume the carbon footprint from this is offset in Nicaragua, too). Sophia (pictured) said if youre after a night away in a hotel which feels futuristic and innovative, this might just be the place There are various other perks which have been designed to appeal to Greta Thunberg fans. In the basement is an impressive gym not large, but stocked with weights, yoga mats and two gleaming Peloton bikes. Theres also a laundry room with eco-friendly washing powder on the house for guests. Pets are welcome, and if you book a room you get it for a full 24 hours. Theres none of that check-in-at-4pm-and-check-out-by-10am nonsense. Here, you can arrive from 2pm and check out at 2pm the following day. Theyre little initiatives, but they feel forward-thinking. John Wiltshire, the director of the restaurant, adds that theyre hoping to launch their own brand of vodka in time for the official opening, made from potato peelings and from the same Yorkshire brewery as the beers. As for the downsides, well, if Im being picky the hot water took a while to come through in my shower, so perhaps that heat pump takes longer to get going than a gas boiler. Chiswick might also seem a funny place to stay if you were a tourist looking to explore central London. Youre six and a half miles from Big Ben, although the nearest tube station (Turnham Green) is a short 500-metre stroll away. But its also a green leafy area, close to the Thames, and the prices arent bad. The average cost for a hotel room in Mayfair is 318 a night; here, a room with its own kitchenette, TV area and those free beers, starts from 123. Sustainable tourism is a booming business. Or, at least, thats what those in the industry hope once travel gets properly going again after the pandemic. The global eco-tourism market was worth an estimated 135 billion in 2019 and is set to nearly double by 2027, according to Allied Market Research. In 2022, eco-friendly hotels in far-flung places including Greece and Australia are set to open their doors, offering eco-approved sunny, sandy holidays. Alright, Chiswick isnt quite the same, but if youre after a night away in a hotel which feels futuristic and innovative, this might just be the place. Just have a think about how you get there first, because the parking situation is tricky. We are all subject to its whims and impulses, from the tummy butterflies of that first flush to the physical pain of its withdrawal. We all know its unique power to shape the parent-child relationship and, if were lucky, weve felt its gentle warmth as weve looked at the face of a friend. Even a fluffy one. But what do we really know about love? The poets have long given us their thoughts, but now science is getting in on the act too. Thanks to ever-improving technology, modern scientists are able to look inside the human and non-human brain to find answers to some of our oldest questions on all things amorous. They can pinpoint the neurochemicals that form the very foundations of love, calculate the equations that add up to sexual attraction, and even suggest a scientific basis for why your husband forgets your wedding anniversary. Now Oxford University anthropologist Anna Machin has scoured the studies and spoken to the leading experts for a new book, called Why We Love. So read on for all you ever wanted to know about that sweetest and strongest of all human emotions . . . Anna Machin reveals her findings on love after scouring studies and speaking to the leading experts for a new book, called Why We Love (file image) DRESS SIZE DOESNT MATTER BUT THE HIPS DO The human mating game is a competitive market akin to the stock market, but rather than our worth being expressed in pounds, its expressed in mate value. Evolution wants women to be able to get pregnant and be healthy enough to live to raise the child. For men, its all about their ability to protect, provide and commit to their family remember when this system evolved, women were either pregnant or breastfeeding constantly, so were very vulnerable. To be able to make this calculation, your brain uses your senses to take in key indicators. A womans waist-to-hip ratio, for example, is one of the most robust indicators of health and fertility, and cross-cultural studies of female body shape have repeatedly shown that the most attractive waist-to-hip ratio is 0.7 the classic hourglass. This might surprise you because of our overwhelming focus on thinness, in the West at least. But remember it is the ratio of waist to hips thats key, so you can be a size 8 or 18 and the 0.7 is still whats important. Indeed, weve observed its importance not just in the lab, but in real life. In a 2015 eye-tracking experiment, scientists in Texas showed that men, and interestingly women, focused first and spent the longest time looking at an unknown womans midriff before moving on to her face, suggesting that when deciding who to approach as a potential mate or checking out the competition the waist-to-hip ratio is one of the first pieces of information processed by our brain. Men are meanwhile assessed on their shoulder-to-waist ratio a 1.4 is the goal, although thats rarely displayed nowadays by anyone other than an Olympic athlete or gym junkie. In a fling rather than committed relationship, women are more apt to go for good looks in the form of a symmetrical face. For both sexes, symmetry is a sign of good genes, and if hes not in it for the long haul, his genes are the only thing shell be getting from him. Overall, however, the sexiest organ in the human body is arguably the brain. The use of creative language, artistic expression and humour are indicators of our cognitive flexibility, which wed all like our offspring to inherit because its linked to intelligence. Its for this reason, in part, that famous rock stars or even politicians think Mick Jagger with eight children or, ahem, Boris Johnson with seven seem to have above-average reproductive success. Women seem to find them irresistible despite the fact they dont stick with one mate. Cross-cultural studies of female body shape have repeatedly shown that the most attractive waist-to-hip ratio is 0.7 the classic hourglass (file image) CAN A POTION MAKE ME SEXIER? For thousands of years, humans have sought to control love through potions and elixirs. In Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, for example, Oberon, king of the fairies, administers a love potion to his sleeping wife Queen Titania which has the effect of making her fall in love with the first being she sees on waking; in this case, an ass-headed man called Bottom. But for the first time, as our knowledge of the neuroscience and physiology of love continues to grow, the possibility of an elixir that actually works is tantalisingly close. Fancy adding a squirt of oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, to your pre-going-out ritual of a couple of glasses of prosecco and a dance around your bedroom? Oxytocin is available for next-day delivery from Amazon and eBay, in the form of various products which claim to reduce social anxiety, make orgasms more powerful and potentially be a helpful aid to increase your confidence during the search for a mate. Does it really work? Well, we know that oxytocin lowers our inhibitions to forming new relationships and increases empathy. One study found that couples who had been together for three months had significantly higher levels of circulating oxytocin than singletons. And its certainly the case that a squirt or two of oxytocin up the nose works well for some, although many of the reviews on Amazon attest to its power not to make him fall for you, but to encourage milk let down in breastfeeding mothers (oxytocin plays a crucial role in childbirth). We also know it can have negative effects too. As one reviewer puts it: [Oxytocin] just made me tired and emotionally crotchety like an oestrogen-dominant bag of self-pity. Oh dear. In fact its becoming clearer with every scientific study that the impact oxytocin has on you is highly individual. For those of us who study the neuroscience of love, this is unsurprising. The brain chemistry that prompts us to form and maintain our relationships is incredibly complex and finely balanced, and we still dont have a clear picture of which chemicals complement each other and which are antagonistic. Perhaps stick to a squirt of Chanel No.5 instead (and not up the nose). Advertisement ARE WOMEN MORE ROMANTIC THAN MEN? Take 32 people who are romantically in love, 16 men and 16 women, and place them individually in an fMRI scanner, which maps brain activity. Show them a series of pictures of incidences of love, from the classic couple holding hands in front of a sunset to carrying out the weekly supermarket shop. What would you see? One psychologist and her team did this to try to understand whether differences we think we know about mens and womens approaches to love had any biological truth. Overall, what they found was that, regardless of sex, the more romantic the scenario sunsets rather than supermarkets the more the emotional centres of the brain lit up, in both men and women. But if we look beyond these similarities, differences do emerge. Some studies have shown that by the time children are eight, boys and girls are beginning to conceptualise romantic love in different ways (file image) Areas of the brain engaged in thinking rather than feeling are more active in men, suggesting that evaluating and considering romantic scenarios is a more effortful process than it is for women, where it is more instinctive. Could this be his excuse for forgetting your wedding anniversary? My husband finds the conclusion to this study profoundly patronising, because it implies that men are less emotionally literate, or evolved, than women. But perhaps its nothing to do with evolution. We know that the human brain is highly plastic. It can change, particularly in our earliest years, and our environment has a key role in moulding it. So it may be that our culture which tells boys that they are the rational sex while women are at the mercy of their emotions has caused our brains to appear the way they do on the scanner screen. Other studies have shown that by the time children are eight, boys and girls are beginning to conceptualise romantic love in different ways. And we also know the pink aisle in the toy shop is full of hearts and flowers while the boys aisle, well, isnt. MAKE HIM FALL FOR YOU GO TO THE GYM! By harnessing the power of that heady love chemistry in other ways, you might just increase your chances. Oxytocin is one of the ingredients of the romance cocktail, but its also joined by dopamine, serotonin and beta-endorphin all happy chemicals which influence the fine detail of brain activity. Beta-endorphin is perhaps the most important of all. This is the bodys natural opiate, like heroin or morphine, so once someone has experienced an interaction that causes a release of it, they will keep coming back for more. Anna Machin revealed a date full of endorphin-inducing activities can lead to success, such as exercise, dancing or a comedy club (file image) We are addicted to the wonderful feelings of warmth, closeness, euphoria and happiness that it engenders. When we interact with someone we love, we get a hit of opiate, but if we go away our levels drop, our cravings begin and we are motivated to return to the source, meaning that we are constantly drawn back to the relationship. The downside of this is that if we get dumped we go into a massive opiate withdrawal, which is why losing love is such a physically and psychologically painful experience. What does this mean for dating success? Arrange a date full of endorphin-inducing activity. Exercise will do it, as will laughing, so a work-out session, ballroom dancing or a comedy club are good bets to increase the chances that the object of your desire will fall for you. By contrast, since breaking up leads to a severe case of cold turkey, going for a run, or having a massage, which stimulates the production of oxytocin as well as beta-endorphin, will top up your supplies. A good chocolate-eating session will meanwhile restore your dopamine levels. DO MUM AND DAD LOVE US DIFFERENTLY? Yes, thanks to an evolutionary quirk that means homo sapiens dad was roped into childcare much later than mum. The quirk relates to the massive size of the human brain its six times bigger than it should be for a mammal of our size, which means that if a baby went full term, her head would not fit through the birth canal, mum and baby would die and the species line would come to an abrupt end. Weve evolved therefore to birth our babies very early, resulting in a baby whose brain is not yet fully developed and hence is incapable of doing anything alone for a significant period of time post-birth. Anna said mothering is as old as time, present in the earliest reptiles, whereas human fatherhood is hardwired into the newest areas of the brain (file image) At the start of human evolution, mums turned to their female kin to help look after their growing horde of babies and toddlers, and human fathers were nowhere to be seen. But about 500,000 years ago, evolution caught up with men too, and dads finally began to pick up the slack. We can still see that evolutionary time-lag today. In 2012, Israeli scientists put 15 pairs of parents of six-month-old babies in an fMRI scanner to have their brain activity assessed while they watched videos of their children playing. Both mums and dads showed activity in the areas of the brain linked to empathy and understanding others feelings, equally demonstrating the strong attachment they felt to their child. But in other areas of the brain, there was a distinct difference. In mothers, the evolutionarily-ancient limbic system, which reflects the key characteristics of mothering giving affection and nurturing was the most active part of the brain. By contrast, in fathers the relatively young neocortex, which is associated with social cognition, was set alight, seeming to reflect dads role in teaching and encouraging his child to strive towards independence. Mothering is as old as time, present in the earliest reptiles, whereas human fatherhood is hardwired into the newest areas of the brain. DOES MY DOG REALLY LOVE ME? One of the amazing things about human love is our ability to extend it to other species too. Our three dogs Bear, Sam and Scruffy are definitely key members of my family. But do they love me in return? We might now have concrete neuroscientific evidence to finally lay the matter to rest. One brave professor at Emory University in the U.S. has trained dogs to lie still in an fMRI scanner, allowing him to draw conclusions about the brain of the domestic dog. In 2016, Professor Greg Berns published his findings on 15 pet dogs, comparing brain activity when offered a food reward as opposed to a social reward, in this case, human verbal praise. Before the scan, each dog went through training to teach them to associate the receipt of a particular reward with the appearance of a particular object. A toy car indicated the arrival of a food reward in the form of a piece of hot dog sausage; a toy horse the promise of some human verbal praise from their owners, and as a control, a hairbrush indicated no reward. In both the case of the food and social reward there was activation in the part of the brain that underpins the unconscious elements of human love and are crammed with receptors for the love hormones, oxytocin and dopamine. But, in all cases apart from two, the activation linked to social reward was equal to, if not greater than, that linked to a food reward. These dogs loved their owners more than food. Advertisement Adapted by ALISON ROBERTS from Why We Love by Anna Machin (18.99, Weidenfeld & Nicolson) out January 6. Anna Machin 2022. To order a copy for 17.09 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Offer price valid until 10/01/22. Who in midlife wants younger-looking skin? Quite a few of us, judging by the global anti-ageing industry which will be worth an estimated 60.7 billion in 2022, according to market research firm Statista. Were all looking for that magical potion that rolls back the years. Well, hot flush! I mean, news flash! I may have found it. Dr Marion Gluck is the worlds leading pioneer of the use of bio-identical hormones (chemically identical to the ones your body produces) to rebalance your own and improve well-being. She trained as a doctor in Hamburg more than 30 years ago, and is founder of the private Marion Gluck Clinic in London, which is popular with celebrities seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone-balancing therapy. Dr Marion Gluck (pictured), who is the world's leading pioneer of the use of bio-identical hormones, has created a customised hormone facial cream Now she has created a customised hormone facial cream lets call it HRT for the face. Only available on private prescription as it is essentially a medicine, the Estra-, Estri- & Pro-Radiance Formula Range contains either the active bio-identical hormones oestrogen (in varying strengths as estriol or estradiol) or progesterone, plus other skin-friendly ingredients. It sounds amazing an elixir of youth, in a pot. Could it be a game-changer? Im excited, and only a little sceptical. Many women take systemic HRT (i.e. HRT that travels through your bloodstream) to offset the symptoms of the menopause. Aged 52, Im one of them. But while oestrogen gel and a progesterone pill daily boost my energy and focus, disappointingly, they havent done much for my skin. Its dryer than it was five years ago and has lost elasticity if I sleep on a creased pillow, the indentation on my cheek remains until lunchtime. I book a consultation with Dr Valeria Acampora, hormone specialist and skin specialist at The Marion Gluck Clinic in London, and Dr Gluck herself. Dr Acampora explains: In peri-menopause and menopause our hormones oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone decline. Apart from general health, this also affects our skin, which becomes crepey and sagging, and then dry. Women may develop pigmentation and spots. And these arent just cosmetic issues, she says. Anna Maxted (pictured) had a consultation with Dr Valeria Acampora, hormone specialist and skin specialist at The Marion Gluck Clinic in London, and Dr Gluck herself We want flawless beautiful skin, but these are actually diseases. When our skin becomes wrinkled it becomes weak; our epidermis becomes thinner. Medically speaking its also a sign our skin is not as healthy as when we were younger. As for why my systemic HRT hasnt rejuvenated my skin, Dr Acampora says: When we are menopausal, our body is really craving hormones. All the hormones we take systemically are kept mainly by the vital organs, the brain, the bones and the heart, and the quantity that reaches the skin might not be enough. Latest scientific studies have shown that we also need to apply hormones locally. And we add some antioxidants, anti-pigment and other molecules that help with dryness to create a product tailored to that patients specific needs. But cant I just dot some of my systemic oestrogen gel on my face? Please dont, says Dr Gluck aghast its alcohol-based, not for sensitive skin and could even cause pigmentation. Could there be a problem with double-dosing, as it were? She reassures me: Its absolutely fine if you are on HRT. We are using topical hormones in very low doses, and we take everything into account during your consultation. It is not one or the other. Great news. So how do hormoneceuticals improve our skin? It seems cells in our dermis called fibroblasts which contribute to skin health become lazy as we age. Progesterone and oestrogen stimulate these skin cells to work. Anna (pictured right) was prescribed the Pro-Radiance and the stronger oestrogen EstraRadiance to be used on alternate days Dr Gluck adds: We know if we have too much oestrogen, we become bloated. As in premenstrual syndrome, for example. The reason being that oestrogen attracts fluid. But its actually very nice if we put a little oestrogen on our face it attracts fluid and the skin plumps up a bit. While these unique formulations of HRT for the face are new, Dr Gluck notes: The knowledge that topical hormones are good for the skin, and the science behind it, has been there for a long time. When Dr Gluck was a medical student in Germany working on hospital delivery wards, placentas were frozen and sold to the beauty industry (until the 1970s when regulations changed), as they contain progesterone. While its not compulsory, she encourages patients to have blood tests to check their hormone levels. A peri-menopausal patient might only need the Pro-Radiance, as progesterone is the first hormone to decline; a post-menopausal woman might require the stronger oestrogen. Im prescribed the Pro-Radiance and the stronger oestrogen EstraRadiance (theyre very low dosage, so they dont become systemic) to be used on alternate days. Dr Acampora explains how shell create my cream: I will start with a base made specifically for dehydrated skin because of the decline of hormones. I will add some vitamin C you dont have a significant pigmentation problem, but it will help prevent any further pigmentation. Its a powerful antioxidant so will also help with the skin ageing process which we can slow down. I will also add a little bit of retinol [vitamin A]. The cost for a three-month supply is around 90 and mine is delivered a few days later. Anna (pictured) was told by Dr Acampora that it will take around three more months for her fine lines to improve Its certainly a simple routine. I apply one blob every evening before bed (alternating between oestrogen one day and progesterone the next) after washing my face. I dont use any other product and, after six weeks, I look undeniably fresher-faced and my skin is dewier. At a follow-up consultation, Dr Acampora says it will take around three more months for my fine lines to improve. While the difference isnt huge, my skin has acquired luminosity. I check this improvement regularly in the mirror but its a constant. My only worry, I tell Dr Acampora, is that when I use lip balm for a week, once I stop using it, my lips become even dryer. Would that happen with my hormone facial cream? No, she says. In the cosmetic industry, she explains, many skincare products formulated to attract water sit on the surface of the skin. So the top layer of our skin becomes very moisturised and sends a signal to the fibroblasts which produce hyaluronic acid and hydrate the skin from within Oh she puts a lot of water on me, I have enough. Dont produce water from inside. So from putting on all these skincare products, our skin becomes dryer and dryer. Our physiological mechanism is the opposite, she says. It starts from within. Hormones and vitamin A dont hydrate your epidermis, they mainly penetrate the dermis and stimulate the fibroblasts to be more active. The fibroblasts need to be trained. Then our skin becomes healthy. Its the gym for our skin. It surely is, because Im starting 2022 with a glowing complexion that belies the psychological ravages of the last 18 months. And, as Dr Gluck says: If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you look good. Happy New Year indeed! For some, Twixmas this lazy, liminal period between Christmas and Hogmanay is the most wonderful time of the year. No present-buying or turkey-wrangling to fret about, plus you can enjoy the cream of the TV schedules. The Quality Street tub may be down to everyones least favourites, but the stilton is still going and smelling strong. Me, well, I like a bit of structure to push against. Traditionally, it is around now, feeling broken after several days of overindulging in an overheated house, that I will lose the plot completely if not taken out and briskly exercised. Patricia Nicol reveals a selection of the best books on Twixmas - including Nick Hornbys A Long Way Down and Zadie Smiths White Teeth (pictured) I also miss the traditions this period used to have. In my childhood, shops closed properly; and when they reopened with grand sales, it was genuinely exciting. These days, consumers are bombarded by a constant dribble of discounting. Many of us will be having a different kind of run-in to the New Year than planned. In the story Rumpole And The Health Farm Murder, collected in Rumpole At Christmas, the epicurean criminal barrister is dismayed by the decision of his wife Hilda to book them into Minchingham Hall health retreat over Christmas. Theyll make sure theres less of you by the time you leave, enthuses Hilda. But things dont really work out as she hopes. Twelve Nights, by acclaimed Swiss author Urs Faes, is a short but profound winters tale, recording a mans retreat into the memories and landscape of his childhood. Manfred has come to the Black Forest, over the Christmas period, to try to bridge a decades-long rift with his brother Sebastian. There, walking the snow-bound landscape, he must face down his demons. Just his own? In this period between the years, superstitious locals believe that unhappy spirits wander. Zadie Smiths White Teeth and Nick Hornbys A Long Way Down both begin with characters looking back unhappily on the past year and despairing of the future. Then they meet the people who restore a sense of agency. Whatever your Twixmas and New Year plans, make the most of them. A mother-of-three who started using marine collagen after suffering from significant hair loss has turned the hero ingredient into a successful brand - selling one product every four seconds around the world. Anna Lahey, 33, started Vida Glow in 2014 with just one major product - hydrolysed natural marine collagen - after noticing visible improvement to her postpartum hair woes. She turned the supplement into sachets that can be added to a glass of water to provide its drinker with stronger nails, thicker hair and glowing skin and seven years later has added 'radiance' capsules, protein powder and even skincare to her range. Anna Lahey, 33, started Vida Glow in 2014 with just one major product - hydrolysed natural marine collagen - after noticing visible improvement to her postpartum hair woes She turned the supplement into sachets that can be added to a glass of water to provide its drinker with stronger nails, thicker hair and glowing skin and seven years later has added 'radiance' capsules, protein powder and even skincare to her range Business is booming with Vida Glow now seen as the global number one marine collagen brand and a pioneer of ingestible beauty. 'I first discovered marine collagen at a time when I was suffering from significant hair loss,' Anna told FEMAIL from her home in Sydney. 'I tried so many products with little to no signs of improvement, so I was amazed when I noticed a substantial decrease in hair loss within weeks of supplementation. 'Not only that but my skin looked plumper, my hair was stronger and my nails were growing longer. Women and men who use her range have reported less redness, fewer pimples, a plumper complexion and an overall higher energy BEFORE AND AFTER: Customers are reporting fewer breakouts and glowier skin in just a few weeks 'I created Vida Glow so I could share the real, transformative results I attained from collagen supplementation.' Women and men who use her range have reported less redness, fewer pimples, a plumper complexion and an overall higher energy. 'It's so motivating when I hear from our community about the positive impacts our products have had on their skin. It really brings our efficacy and brand to life,' Anna said. 'Ingestible supplements optimise the skin on a cellular level. Where concerns are met at their core and tangible results are seen with consistent supplementation. 'Think of our natural marine collagen as the base of your ingestible regime. After just four weeks of supplementation, skin's hydration levels and glow are amplified. 'Around six weeks increased collagen production begins to soften fine and expression lines around the eyes and smile. The company's antioxidant supplement Anti-G-Ox addresses the root causes of premature ageing triggered by busy, active living 'By nine weeks, elasticity is increased, and the dermis is thickened and strengthened to firm the complexion and smooth deeper wrinkles.' The company's antioxidant supplement Anti-G-Ox addresses the root causes of premature ageing triggered by busy, active living. It dissolves into the bloodstream within 15 to 20 minutes and protects the body against age accelerating inflammation, Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) and skin-damaging free radicals. The latest range of capsules, dubbed Radiance, is part of a broader targeted advanced repair range, offering benefits to dull and uneven skin. 'In as soon as four weeks, skin is more luminous and from eight weeks of supplementation, dark spots, discolouration and melasma are softened, and dark under eyes are improved,' Anna said. 'Age Defiance is our cosmeceutical skincare range. It works in conjunction with our ingestibles to deliver an advanced, bidirectional regime,' Anna (pictured) said 'Age Defiance is our cosmeceutical skincare range. It works in conjunction with our ingestibles to deliver an advanced, bidirectional regime. 'The streamlined system consists of three steps, the Rapid Renewal Serum is an all-in-one serum to protect barrier function and offer a rapid smoothing effect - visibly reducing wrinkles within 30 minutes. 'The Eye Contour Cream is an anti-wrinkle formulation to address signs of ageing around the eye - and reduce crow's feet after 14 days. 'And the Hydra-Memory Cream is a moisturising gel-cream for 24-hour hydration. BEFORE AND AFTER: The Radiance collection, which launched earlier this year, sold out within six minutes when Anna's team offered it to the international markets 'All our results are evidence-supported and substantiated by clinical studies.' The Radiance collection, which launched earlier this year, sold out within six minutes when Anna's team offered it to the international markets. In 2022 the brand plans on expanding its Advanced Repair range - a collection of targeted ingestible treatments for specific beauty concerns. 'Every new product released in 2022 will be backed by extensive clinical trialling and visible, concrete results,' she said. After weeks of dreary Omicron, enforced isolation and shattered plans, we could all do with a Christmas story to cheer us up a bit. This one is set in the pretty market town of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and involves a penniless Dutch brother and sister, a desperate appeal for help, a few thousand books and an extraordinary community which enveloped them in kindness, love and bubblewrap. And also provided them with somewhere to live, free of charge. It all started on September 23, when, with their publishing company in freefall, credit cards pushed to their limits and nothing left for the next month's rent, Arnold, 59, and Bernadette op de Haar, 63, realised things were desperate. 'We had no choice we had run out of money, we had nowhere to live. We had to think outside the box,' says Bernadette. So they composed a short script, printed it out and, standing smartly dressed and straight-backed in their cosy sitting room, with Harry their black labrador between them, they made a video appeal for the town's Facebook site. 'We are in a bit of a pickle,' said Bernadette. 'We live in Malmesbury and we are about to lose the roof over our heads. Within 24 hours they had even received two offers of free accommodation for a few months one a few miles away with some literary acquaintances, the other from a lady called Lisa in Malmesbury itself 'We don't need something large, or with amenities. Something dry, with an internet connection, will enable us to continue publishing fabulous books.' Standing by her side, brother Arnold chipped in. 'If you need someone to keep an eye on property, I am an ex-officer of the Dutch Grenadier Guards. It is now all or nothing. We need a roof, so we are open to any suggestions.' It is a very poignant video. Two extremely dignified people, in late middle age it was actually Arnold's birthday hardworking, well-educated, fiercely intellectual, who had ploughed everything into their publishing company but now had not a bean between them. The response was immediate and astonishing. Within minutes, offers of help from total strangers began to flood in. There were pledges to provide everything from bubblewrap to packing cases, and people of all ages offered to help them move their 180-odd boxes of books and all their furniture into storage. Within 24 hours they had even received two offers of free accommodation for a few months one a few miles away with some literary acquaintances, the other from a lady called Lisa in Malmesbury itself. 'Two lovely furnished rooms at the top of her house, with shared kitchen. It's perfect . . . we'd never even met her, a total stranger. And no rent, just that we pay into the bills.' Others piled in to help pack, shift and store boxes: 'I can't really lift them because of my arthritis,' says Bernadette. The past couple of years must have been a nightmare for the pair, as they poured their hearts, souls, all Bernadette's savings, the proceeds from the sale of her London flat and a large chunk of her pension into their business in a desperate attempt to keep it afloat The helpers were a brilliantly motley crew, including a cross-Channel swimmer, a 15-year-old rugby player who leapt up the stairs with three boxes at a time and an 81-year-old grandmother who marshalled her sons and grandsons into helping. 'The kindness! I don't know what we'd have done,' says Bernadette. 'We had run out of options.' The past couple of years must have been a nightmare for the pair, as they poured their hearts, souls, all Bernadette's savings, the proceeds from the sale of her London flat and a large chunk of her pension into their business in a desperate attempt to keep it afloat. Founded in 2009, Holland Park Press is their passion: a wonderful company that, unusually, specialises in giving unpublished authors of all ages a chance at success, and welcomes unsolicited manuscripts even in longhand. They deal only in prose and poetry and clearly have an eye for talent. Nearly a fifth of their books have been nominated for awards; and they were the first to spot and sign long-listed Booker Prize author Karen Jennings back in 2012, with her debut novel. But Covid has nearly done for them. With many bookshops closed and events and markets erratic, takings have shrunk by two thirds and the only book they could afford to publish this year was Arnold's latest novel, Schurft, in Dutch. 'We have to keep the company going because if we let that go, we'd have nothing,' says Bernadette. Of course, as things became trickier, they trimmed their cloth smaller and focused on simple pleasures walking the dog, a beautiful day. 'Here in Malmesbury the people are amazing they are warm, they are kind, they are emotional and they have saved us; helping us over the hump so we can get our business back on track next year, find somewhere permanent to live and move forward again' Bernadette gave up her beloved theatre trips several years ago. Arnold now limits himself to one 'tiny' cigar a day. Gone were holidays (other than a two-day camping trip), new clothes, new books, meals out. She is a pescatarian, but now she has stopped eating fish, too. 'It's too expensive,' she says. 'But we eat well I always cook meals from scratch. I love cooking and we still have a glass of wine to relax in the evenings. 'And there's a new Aldi in town which has made a massive difference!' says Arnold. The one thing they never scrimped on was promoting great literature. 'It is so important. It is what is left when we are not there. It always exists. It tells us about society,' says Bernadette. Meanwhile, the kindnesses kept coming some from the most unexpected quarters. Their landlord was selling their cottage but waived their last two months' rent, then let them stay on even longer until they were sorted out. 'He is one of the many good people of Malmesbury,' says Arnold. 'There's something very special going on here people help each other.' If you need someone to keep an eye on property, I am an ex-officer of the Dutch Grenadier Guards. It is now all or nothing. We need a roof, so we are open to any suggestions. The van they hired to put all their furniture into storage was mysteriously upgraded to a bigger version, which meant they could fit everything in. There were multiple offers of storage spaces for their mountain of books. When Arnold took their 20-year-old Ford Fiesta to be fixed at the local garage, there was no charge. 'He just sort of waved it away. Said it would all get mopped up in the MoT. I think he must have known our situation but he did it so nicely.' Every time they thought they were done for, someone stepped in such as the day just before the big move when, in the middle of packing chaos, Bernadette's computer died. 'It was the end for me. No laptop, no work,' says Bernadette. But then their former neighbour came to the rescue. 'He's terribly ill with stage-four bowel cancer,' says Arnold. 'But within a day he had bought a new one and hand-delivered it, even though he could hardly talk because of the morphine. It was so very kind.' Bernadette and Arnold are an unusual pair. They are gentle, thoughtful, eccentric, humble, but also unbowed. There is not a shred of self-pity or anger between them, despite what scant security they have to show for all their hard work. She has a PhD in theoretical chemistry from Bristol University (she has been living in the UK since 1983) and decades of experience in the publishing industry. He was a Dutch war hero a red beret and commanding officer of the 200-strong unit that helped secure Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia for Nato forces in 1994. He left the army in 1995 'it was not a sufficiently intellectual environment for the long term' to write poetry and novels, and moved to Britain in 2016. 'I've never had much money, so I'm used to it,' he says. 'It took me four years to get my first novel published and Bernadette has helped me out, until now.' Neither of them ever married. 'I had a girlfriend in the Netherlands but I saw her just two times in the pandemic. So that is not going that well!' says Arnold with a laugh. Bernadette never came close. 'It has just never sort of really worked out for me,' she says simply. 'But we are family. We are very close.' So instead, they take joy in each other's company, finish each other's sentences, live together, work together and jump in quickly to praise each other Bernadette to applaud Arnold's wonderful writing; he to admire her courage. 'I have done some brave things in my life. In the army I've been shelled, all sorts,' he says. 'But she is the braver one because she always moves forward and stays positive.' Which must have been tough when the money ran out and they had nowhere to live. 'We really feared we might end up out on the street,' says Arnold. You'd think they would also find it hard adjusting to their new temporary life in two loaned attic rooms, rather than their previous four-bedroom cottage, with all their worldly goods in a storage container. But Bernadette insists it has been strangely uplifting. 'There is something oddly liberating about the whole thing. The world is very materialistic,' she says. 'Now we have less to worry about. We have our two rooms. We can cook and sleep and do our job, which we love. We can move forward again and we will. 'I just wish I could buy everyone here a Christmas present to say thank you.' For Arnold, it confirms everything he has always thought about his adopted nation. 'In the Netherlands there is a bit of anti-British sentiment right now, but we always thought this was the country to live in and it still is,' he says. 'And here in Malmesbury the people are amazing they are warm, they are kind, they are emotional and they have saved us; helping us over the hump so we can get our business back on track next year, find somewhere permanent to live and move forward again.' For now, they are recovering from Christmas Day, when they joined Lisa's parents and three children for a huge jolly feast in their temporary home. Two months ago, they were all strangers ('Can you imagine, we hadn't even met!' says Bernadette'); now they're welcomed to the bosom of her family. How utterly fantastic. Perhaps the libation we could most do with right now is a nightcap. Like the garment of that name, this traditional late-night drink is meant to make you feel warm, cosy and ready for bed. And if we are likely to be spending more time at home, we can all indulge in one for the road, as theres no actual road to hit. Helen McGinn picks some of the best . . . Winter jumper whisky Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter, 70cl, 74.95, thewhiskyexchange.com UK-based drinks expert Helen McGinn picks out a selection of the best nightcap beverages - including Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter (pictured) A special winter edition of the famous Scotch created by Glenmorangies renegade head distiller Dr Bill Lumsden, this blend was inspired by winter jumpers and roaring fires. Yes, really. On first sniff, you are transported fireside by the smell of orange, spice and smoke. As the spirit is aged in casks previously used to age Marsala, the sweet wine from Sicily, there is plenty of fruit, cinnamon, ginger and a touch of honey on the palate, too. Serve this on its own or with a splash of water, or make an Old Fashioned by mixing a measure with a touch of sugar, water and bitters muddled in a glass with a slice of orange to garnish.5/5 Honey & spice Drambuie Honeyed Scotch Whisky Liqueur, 50ml, 14, Asda Helen said Drambuie Honeyed Scotch Whisky Liqueur (pictured) is gloriously sweet, warm and comforting When neat whisky doesnt appeal, this whisky-based liqueur might be the answer. Made from aged Scotch blended with honey, herbs and spices, its gloriously sweet, warm and comforting. Drink it on its own or make a Rusty Nail by mixing equal parts Scotch whisky and Drambuie. Serve neat or over ice in a tumbler.4/5 Luxe amaretto Disaronno Velvet Liqueur, 50cl, 15, Tesco Helen said Disaronno Velvet Liqueur (pictured) comes in a lovely festive white bottle and looks and tastes luxurious If, like me, your guilty pleasure at this time of year is a small (OK, large) glass of Amaretto, this will wow you. Its a cream liqueur version of the Italian almond-flavoured drink that comes in a lovely festive white bottle and looks and tastes luxurious. Sip on its own or over ice with a late-night mince pie on the side.5/5 Boozy chocolate Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Liqueur, 50cl, 18, Waitrose Helen said Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Liqueur (pictured) is best served on its own over ice or added to your bedtime hot chocolate These are a few of my favourite things: chocolate, cream, caramel and booze, all in one bottle. The chocolate is velvetised melded with vodka and lashings of cream to make this rich, moreish drink. Serve on its own over ice in a tumbler, or add a splash to your bedtime hot chocolate. Youll sleep like a baby.4/5 Rum reward Marksologist Cacao & Aged Rum Old Fashioned 50cl, 18, M&S Helen said Marksologist Cacao & Aged Rum Old Fashioned (pictured) is an aromatic drink, best served with a twist of orange peel to garnish A neat twist on the Old Fashioned cocktail (see Glenmorangie, above left) and you dont even have to make it yourself with this pre-mixed bottle. It is made with Venezuelan rum rather than whisky, mixed with cacao liqueur and a dash of bitters for a heady, aromatic drink. Drink on its own or with ice, with a twist of orange peel to garnish. With five servings in a bottle, its good value.3/5 Pre-mixed treat Bottle Aged Brooklyn, 10cl, 8, Mothership scotland.com Helen said Bottle Aged Brooklyn (pictured) is a smoky, sweet drink with orange and cherry flavours Another pre-mixed gem, this one comes from the cocktail connoisseurs behind one of Edinburghs best bars, Bramble. This is their take on a Brooklyn, which is itself a variation on a Manhattan. Made with bourbon, Amer Picon (an orange-flavoured, bittersweet aperitif), Noilly Prat and maraschino liqueur, its a smoky, sweet drink with orange and cherry flavours. Serve neat or over ice and sip with your feet up on the sofa.4/5 Brandy beauty Tariquet VSOP Carafe Armagnac Brandy 70cl, 37, Majestic Helen said Tariquet VSOP Carafe Armagnac Brandy (pictured) has notes of vanilla, liquorice and spice No nightcap round-up would be complete without brandy, and this is from one of the top Armagnac producers. Aged for at least seven years in Domaine Tariquets cellars, it is fresh and mellow, with notes of vanilla, liquorice and spice. Serve on its own in a balloon glass or mix 80ml in a cocktail shaker over ice with 50ml each of creme de cacao and double cream. Pour into two small coupes and sprinkle fresh nutmeg on top. Delicious.4/5 Alcohol-free fix Three Spirit The Nightcap, 50cl, 24.99, Amazon The team behind Three Spirit are on a mission to make non-alcoholic drinks inspired by botanicals. The range is also free of artificial flavours or colours and low in calories. This is made from botanicals including lemon balm, valerian root, various hops and ashwagandha. Its an acquired taste but if you like bittersweet concoctions and dont want the booze, its worth trying.3/5 Of all the places around the country that Ive visited to report on health news, a pub is perhaps the most unexpected. Yet here I am at the Britannia Inn, just outside Leicester, sipping a pint. But it is not just any old pint. It is, in fact, Heineken 0.0, the UKs first alcohol-free lager pulled from a tap and I am the first British journalist to try it. Heineken, the worlds second-largest brewer, has launched its booze-free pints in just five pubs but plans to roll them out nationwide in the New Year, in time for the healthy resolutions we love to make, and inevitably break. More Britons plan to give up alcohol than ever before this January as part of the Dry January charity campaign according to research by the charity Alcohol Change. A record 7.9 million adults will adopt this health kick next month, 22 per cent more than in 2021. It speaks to a wider trend playing out across the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of Britons who do not drink alcohol has risen by at least five per cent in the past decade and currently stands at one in five. Young Britons are the most booze-averse, with a quarter of 16-to-24-year-olds describing themselves as non-drinkers. The most regular drinkers are in their 50s and 60s, and even those who do imbibe drink less than they did a decade ago. To cater to the increasing number of alcohol-free customers, manufacturers have created all manner of non-intoxicating wines and spirits over the past few years. But until now the majority of low-alcohol or alcohol-free beers, from giants such as Peroni, Becks and Stella Artois, have been served in bottles, because kegs, the barrels in which draught beer is stored, attract yeast, which finds its way into the beer pipes and ferments, eventually turning non-alcoholic beer alcoholic. Heineken, the worlds second-largest brewer, has launched its booze-free pints in just five pubs but plans to roll them out nationwide in the New Year, in time for the healthy resolutions we love to make, and inevitably break Now Heineken has cracked the problem. Willem van Waesberghe, Heinekens global master brewer, says: We use specially designed cooling technology to keep the equipment and pipes that transport the beer to the tap at freezing temperatures. At these extreme temperatures yeast cannot grow, which means alcohol is not produced as a by-product. But while light drinkers drank less in the past year, amid the restrictions of the pandemic, those who drink larger amounts drank more in many cases taking consumption to dangerous levels. Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease rose by 20 per cent between 2019 and 2020. Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and a host of cancers is also related to drinking too much alcohol. What's wrong with me? This week: Excessive belching Over-indulging can cause bloating and belching, but chronic burping may mean theres a health problem. A burp is usually the release of air that has been swallowed into the system when we eat or drink. But chronic belching may point to a hiatus hernia, when part of the stomach bulges up towards the oesophagus, causing a build-up of stomach acid and air that needs to escape. Another condition, called SIBO (or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), also triggers excess belching as it increases gas production. It is treated with a course of antibiotics, as is H.pylori, a bacterial infection and common cause of stomach ulcers that also causes belching. Advertisement But does removing the alcohol make a pint hugely healthier? Importantly, removing the alcohol also removes a significant number of calories roughly 100 in a pint of beer. This is done via a process called distillation. First, booze-free beer, like most alcohol-free products, actually begins life with alcohol in it. Alcohol is produced during the fermentation process, which happens when sugar or starch is mixed with water and yeast. In the case of beer, grains such as barley are combined with water before the yeast is added. To create non-alcoholic versions, the liquid is gently heated, burning off the alcohol. Some manufacturers, including Heineken, then add flavourings to replace some of the taste lost during this process. When I asked exactly what these flavourings are, or how they are made, Heineken couldnt, or wouldnt, provide an answer. The brand says its booze-free drink is low in sugar, which it is if you drink a quarter of a pint. A full pint has a teaspoon and a half, about the same as in three McVities Rich Tea biscuits. The alcoholic version contains no sugar at all. Still, the calorie savings are impressive: 115 instead of 227 in a traditional pint. But compared with other alcohol-free spirits, its not the best. A double measure of Gordons alcohol-free gin contains just six calories, compared with 104 in the alcoholic version. When I asked exactly what these flavourings are, or how they are made, Heineken couldnt, or wouldnt, provide an answer. But at least one of these additions must be sugar. Pictured: Ethan Ennals A glass of Eisberg alcohol-free sauvignon blanc contains just 22 calories compared with 99 calories in an alcoholic equivalent and the same amount of sugar as youll find in a Heineken 0.0 pint. And although there are far fewer calories than in an alcoholic pint, the numbers add up quickly, especially if you drink beer in the way most Britons do. In other words, we rarely stop at one. Two pints of Heineken 0.0 has roughly the same amount of calories as a McDonalds Big Mac. The key question was: could I bear to drink two pints of the stuff? ALCOHOL FACT Britons drink an average of about four-and-a-half pints of beer every week, according to recent global statistics. Advertisement Initially, I was sceptical. Id had a brief brush with alcohol-free beer in 2019 when I attempted Dry January. I managed three weeks before the unsatisfying taste of bottled booze-free beer such as Becks Blue drove me back to the real deal. But I was pleasantly surprised by Heineken 0.0. Theres no doubting it lacks the strong aftertaste that all alcoholic drinks have, and I found myself expecting and then missing that punchy kick. But it has none of the tepid, watery flavour of previous alcohol-free beers Ive tasted. Also, it smells exactly like a beer should. And the serving vessel made all the difference. Any British beer drinker will tell you that any drink tastes better in a pint glass. The biggest sell is that it looks exactly like a regular pint, says publican Phil Jones who, along with his wife Kate, has run the Britannia Inn for 18 years. Just because people dont drink doesnt mean they dont want to go to the pub. But if theyre holding a bottle, while all the other lads have pint glasses, theyll stand out from the crowd. Despite polishing off a full pint, I wasnt exactly craving another in the way I would usually. But on my way back from Leicester, I stopped in at another pub and ordered a proper pint. And Id have to say, while I struggled to tell this pint apart from the Heineken 0.0 Id drunk several hours before at the Britannia, this time I was struck by a familiar temptation and I had to talk myself out of ordering another. So it turns out that self-control is the key to healthy beer-drinking booze or no booze. Forget the Baftas, forget the Emmys, forget the Golden Globes here are the Ross Awards, the only TV gongs that matter... The Best TV Moment Of The Year Award The contenders are: Kendall weeping in the Tuscan dirt (Succession, Sky/Amazon); Rose and Giovannis dance with the 20-second silent sequence (Strictly Come Dancing, BBC iPlayer); Gerald and Clarkson combine-harvesting together (Clarksons Farm, Amazon Prime Video). It should be Kendall, or Rose and Giovanni, but our judging panel, which consists of me, have opted for Clarksons Farm for the sheer pleasure of having Gerald turn up in person to accept it. I int thar thankun yar. Hootn good, tar. Wish-washed sudden like, har! Our judging panel, which consists of me (Deborah Ross), have opted for Clarksons Farm (above) for The Best TV Moment Of The Year Award The New Great British Bake Off (NO IT ISNT) Award The jewellery one, All That Glitters: Britains Next Jewellery Star (BBC iPlayer) with the seemingly embalmed judges and the carpentry one, Handmade: Britains Best Woodworker (All4). Will Jane finish her bookcase in time? Will she? Will we see her sanding some more? Oh, there you have it. However, we do like the sewing one, The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC iPlayer) Esme and Patrick, the dream team and the pottery one (The Great Pottery Throw Down, BBC iPlayer) with Big Crying Man. Most Hypnotically Boring Show Of The Year Peter Jacksons eight-hour Beatles documentary, Get Back (Disney+). Much as you thought to yourself This is boring, Ive never been more bored, this is boredom like you wouldnt believe, even the tips of my fingers and my eyelashes are bored, you could not tear yourself away. The panel was blown away by how boring yet hypnotic this was. The Special Death By Peloton Award Big in the Sex And The City reboot, And Just Like That (Sky/NOW). However, I think we can consider it a mercy killing. A mercy killing, any coroner in their right mind would say. At least someone was put out of their misery, any coroner might have added. The Most Horribly Misguided Reboot Award The Sex And The City reboot was every shade of No, no, please tell me this isnt happening. Please tell me this is a cheese dream. The cast was more diverse but, from what I saw, the black characters and non-binary characters were only present so the straight, white characters could learn lessons about themselves. Ugh, ugh, ugh, a million times over. Kim Cattrall (Samantha) refused to return. She may be high-fiveing herself at this very moment. (Runner-up: Netflixs Tiger King 2. For Gods sake, stop giving this man publicity and just let him rot in prison.) The With Hindsight I Should Have Given It Fewer Stars Award Landscapers (Sky/NOW), the drama about Christopher and Susan Edwards, who murdered her parents. I gave it four stars, but on reflection I can see I was seduced by its stylish inventiveness and treatment of true crime as black comedy. But it was strangely unsatisfying, I now think, because it paid no attention to the victims, and none to the fact that this was a coldly calculated, premeditated double murder. What we wanted to know was: when did they sit down and plan it? (On the plus side, it did star Olivia Colman, who cant help being great in everything.) The Ending That Wasnt An Ending Award, Goddamn It The winner has to be the recent courtroom drama You Dont Know Me (BBC iPlayer), and that ending. All details have now been passed to the National Society for the Necessity of Proper Conclusions, which is investigating, but it doesnt look good for the show. We believe this series denied viewers their right to a Proper Conclusion, a spokesperson has already said. The Id Rather Stick Rusty Nails In My Eyes Than Sit Through That Again Award Could be given to any of those formulaic posh-house/kitchen-island thrillers with bannister-less staircases and raw cement walls and titles like Too Close, Close To Me, Close To Us, Getting Closer, Thats Close Enough, and so on. That said, the winner has to be Angela Black (ITV Hub) for trading so excitedly on female fear and for its message to victims of domestic abuse: dont inform the police or assume you have right on your side or anything like that. Just turn vigilante, love. The Come On, Buckells Cant Be H! Award A tough category I got very heated with myself! but in the end it was decided that Line Of Duty (BBC iPlayer) had to be the winner. Line Of Duty, starring Vicky McClure and Martin Compston (above), wins the 'Come On, Buckells Can't Be H!' Award We are hoping Joseph, Mary, Jesus and the wee donkey will collect the award on the night, and I cant wait to see what theyll be wearing. (As has already been leaked, Mary has opted for Oscar de la Renta, while the wee donkey will be dressed from Armanis wee donkey range from A/W 22.) The I Never Expected To Cry Throughout Like A Baby But Did Award. (Sponsored by Kleenex) The winner has to be the Strictly final (BBC iPlayer). The finalists Rose and Giovanni, John and Johannes were bliss, frankly. Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice (above) rightly won the glitterball. They touched each others hearts and ours and anyone who happened to be passing It wasnt just their sublime dancing, but the way they touched each others hearts and ours and anyone who happened to be passing. Rose and Giovanni rightly won the glitterball. She is the first deaf person to appear on Strictly but, more, she was just so full of joy and loveliness, and something shifted within Giovanni, you could tell. Im welling up again! (Runner-up: Its A Sin (All4).) Award For Documentary That Actually Changed Things Davina McCall: Sex, Myths And The Menopause (All4). This shone a light on an otherwise little- discussed subject, even though it affects, let me see, 51 per cent of the population. And one out of every one woman. It was less a documentary, more a rallying call. Women! No more fanning ourselves apologetically sorry, sorry, sorry for an entirely natural process that comes about just because we are not dead yet! Award For The Series Thatll Ruin Your Holiday (If We Ever Get To Go On Holiday Again, That Is) The White Lotus (Sky/NOW), the excellent comedy drama about rich people holidaying in a luxury resort, which had an unfortunate consequence because now youll never be able to go away without thinking that the staff despise you. One tip: if you do visit such a resort, dont lead the spa lady into thinking youre about to invest in her. Its not nice. Itll break her heart. Outstanding Actor With Unashamed Bulgy Bits Award Kate Winslet in the grippingly desolate thriller Mare Of Easttown (Sky/NOW). She had bulgy bits, of which she was not ashamed, and had sex which, television usually tells us, isnt for women with bulgy bits. I am now reconciled to my own bulgy bits, which I have called Fiona, Jane and Michelle. Award For The Show Everyone Kept Moaning About But Avidly Watched Anyhow Vigil (BBC iPlayer). It was terrible. You dont semi-drown in a torpedo tube and then emerge with perfect hair and make-up. Submarines arent laid out like that. Moan, moan, moan, moan. Ohhhhh, its on tonight. Cant wait. Four Best Shows Of The Year Award So I Dont Have To Choose Just The One Its A Sin, Mare Of Easttown, The White Lotus, Succession. We are hoping Gerald will present this award at the ceremony, and he said he would be thrilled. We think. Hard to know. (Har!). Intimidating, icy cool, irrepressibly chic PHILIPPINE LEROY-BEAULIEU plays the formidable boss to perfection in the hit TV series Emily in Paris. She tells Laura Craik how she found her inspiration surprisingly close to home Jacket and dress: Renaissance. Jewellery: Marie-Helene de Taillac. Even if she wasnt starring in Netflixs smash-hit Emily in Paris playing the formidable Sylvie boss and nemesis to Lily Collinss Emily with such froideur, Id still feel terrified about interviewing Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu. While its never polite to generalise, 20 years of working in the French capital have led me to conclude that while Parisian women are many wonderful things intelligent, passionate, focused, droll lighthearted chit-chat isnt their thing. Banter? Theyd sooner wear Crocs. That Philippine has chosen to meet in a chichi London hotel is not surprising. That she is smouldering in a semi-transparent blouse and softly tailored jacket is not surprising either. That she looks radiantly beautiful in a natural its just my genes Jane Birkin way is so far, so very French. And then she orders in impeccable English: Earl Grey tea, please. And a little piece of cake. Philippine, I discover as we chat, is warm, quick to laugh and deliciously candid, even if shes unable to give away details about the second season of Emily in Paris, the show created by Darren Sex and the City Star that was viewed by 58 million households in its first month of release. Im not supposed to say anything, she demurs. Lets just say that well get to see a totally different side of Sylvie. French viewers will be hoping that this side includes fewer cliches, for its fair to say that in France, the first season of Emily in Paris went down like a lead baguette. The berets. The croissants. The hostile waiters. The inveterate philanderers. The lovers and the mistresses. Name a cliche about France and the French, and youll find it, sniffed the French news outlet 20 Minutes. Although arguably, the entire cast is composed of caricatures: Emily is as stereotypical a portrait of the self-centred, over-confident American millennial as Sylvie is of her haughty, intimidating, chain-smoking French boss. What does Philippine think of the criticism the show has received? My answer is that Parisians have no sense of humour, she retorts. A lot of the stuff that is said is true. To Philippine, Sylvie is a far more nuanced character: Shes strong and vulnerable. She stands her ground. She doesnt appreciate a little American telling her what to do or say. She says the casting process was very simple. Although they were looking for a much-younger woman, she says slyly, with a throaty laugh. But I read for them, and then it happened. You could say Philippine was born into the role: My mother worked in fashion with Dior for 20 years. Ive known women like Sylvie since I was a kid. Theyre basically scared: scared of losing their beauty, scared of ageing. Philippine playing Sylvie with Lily Collins as Emily in the second series of Emily in Paris When Philippine says her mother, Francoise worked with Dior she isnt exaggerating: as head of accessories, she oversaw the jewellery and handbags for each collection. It was a big thing, she concedes. The people she worked with were full of sh*t, but fun. Theyre superficial, but at the same time, theyre creative geniuses. For someone who grew up in such a gilded world, Philippine is very down to earth. I wasnt sitting in the front row. I was backstage with the models, thinking theyre goddesses, and how Im never going to look like that. That gave me a huge complex, but it was a lot of fun. I was already an actress in my head, because what really interested me was how they put the show together, and how the models expressed themselves. The girls used to smile, play around and do little dances. Did she ever want to be one? No, never. Perhaps because she saw the drawbacks that beauty can bring? My mother was very beautiful. She made other, older women jealous. I saw that jealousy, and how mean they could be to each other. It came from being frightened of losing your job, your place, your territory. And that was very inspiring when it came to playing Sylvie. If Sylvies character was familiar to Philippine, so too was her look, which she worked on with costume designer Patricia Field. With her pencil skirts and vertiginous heels, Sylvie reminds me of Carine Roitfeld, the former editor of French Vogue who wore this uniform religiously, even in the snow. Maybe it was subconscious, but when we designed the costumes we focused more on classical Hollywood actresses like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Ava Gardner. British women have always revered French style: does Philippine? I admire how British women dress, because theyre so free. She doesnt think were scruffy? Thats the charm! French women are impeccable. Everything goes with everything. Its a bit boring. She also admires British warmth, which she frequently encounters when visiting her daughter, Tais, 30, an artist who lives in East Sussex. Paris is not a very easy city, she notes. People are like closed shells. It makes it hard for people to integrate when theyre new. She speaks from experience: after her actor father, Philippe, and her mother divorced when she was 11, she and her mother moved to Paris from Rome. Im French with a French name, and I was still treated like a foreigner. And because I had a little accent at that time I was hated by my peers at school even by the teachers. Youre not one of us! Parisians, theyre not welcoming. Whether Philippine has always been outspoken or, at 58, feels she has earned the right to be is immaterial: her candour is refreshing. She clearly doesnt suffer fools, and speaks with the pragmatism of a person who has been in the business for a long time. Its simple, she says of her decision to become an actor. My fathers an actor. Its in the genes. After starting out in commercials as a teenager, she enrolled in drama school, picking up bit parts in films throughout her 20s. Her breakout role was playing a single mother in the 1985 comedy Trois Hommes et un Couffin, a runaway hit in France that earned her a Cesar nomination for Most Promising Actress (the movie was remade by Disney in 1987 as Three Men and a Baby). Years of smaller parts followed, until Dix Pour Cent (better known in the UK as Call My Agent!) came along, in which she played Catherine, the formidable but long-suffering wife of agency boss Mattias Barneville. First shown on Netflix in 2015, it was an international hit. I was at that moment in an actors life when youre thinking, Am I going to have to stop? when the director Cedric Klapisch cast me for that part. I told him he was bringing me out of the tomb, she laughs. I wonder whether older French actresses suffer from the same paucity of roles as their British counterparts. Yes, it is true, she concedes. Thats why Im so happy to have Sylvie because I can play something other than a mother or a grandmother. It is slowly changing, thanks to people like Meryl Streep who have been fighting for better roles. Weve never written films about all the adventurers, painters and musicians that were women. Weve been writing roles for men. She has strong feelings on the MeToo movement, but has avoided the victim role herself, saying the threat of rejecting a mans advances never caused her to acquiesce. F*** it just take the risk [of saying no]. I took it many times, and I didnt do the movie. When youre in the business, you see it coming. You know how it works. I dont go to certain parties. You dont put yourself in that position. You have to be careful. You know that hell exists: you just dont walk in it. We return to Emily in Paris and what the future holds. Stuff is happening. Theres going to be more Emily, unless this is a disaster. But I dont think so. I dont think so either. No matter that shes in high heels and a pencil skirt: Sylvie will run and run. Seasons one and two of Emily in Paris are available to stream on Netflix Location: Academie des beaux-arts, Institut de France. Hair and Make-up: LOreal Paris. Starling Bank is gearing up to buy a lending business in an attempt to fuel growth ahead of a stock market flotation. The digital bank which is backed by large institutions including Fidelity and Goldman Sachs is on the hunt for companies ranging from small business lenders to mortgage providers. Anne Boden, founder and chief executive of Starling, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We're looking for a new lending business. We're out there looking for one or more lending platforms. We have deposit balances which we need to make work for us.' Anne Boden is the founder and chief executive of Starling Starling launched in 2014 and is a branchless, app-based bank that provides digital services for its customers. It has grown its customer deposit base to 8billion, while its loan book sits at about 3billion. Starling acquired Fleet Mortgages earlier this year for 50million in cash and shares, giving it a foothold in the buy-to-let market. Boden said: 'We've acquired Fleet. That's been very successful. We're likely to do one or more similar acquisitions in the same sort of model. We expect there's going to be a lot of activity in the first half of next year.' The bank, which turns a monthly profit, is eyeing a flotation as soon as the end of next year. Starling was valued at $1.5billion (1.1billion) earlier this year. Boden hopes the flotation will take place in London. She said: 'Lots of financial technology businesses would find it difficult to float in London because they're not profitable and they don't have good governance. 'But Starling is a bank, so we have a huge amount of governance and we're very profitable.' From accused terrorists to paedophiles, alleged fraudsters, money launderers and drug smugglers, these British nationals are among the world's most wanted criminals. The International Criminal Police Organisation, known as Interpol, is charged with hunting them down. There are currently 7,000 people worldwide who have 'Red Notices' served on them by the international policing operation. These 13 criminals are all British nationals with 'Red Notices' on Interpol's website, meaning they're actively being sought. But many posses dual citizenship or contacts in foreign countries which have so far allowed them to dodge police. Below is a full rundown of the wanted fugitives: Asif Iqbal Mohammed Memon Wanted for: Money laundering Wanted by India for money laundering charges, alleged Indian underworld gangster Asif Iqbal Memon fled the United Arab Emirates in 2013 after an investigation was launched into his use of 'drug money' to acquire a portfolio of global properties Alleged Indian underworld gangster Asif Iqbal Memon fled the United Arab Emirates in 2013 after an investigation was launched into his use of 'drug money' to acquire a portfolio of global properties. Wanted in India for money laundering charges, the fugitive reportedly helped run an international drug syndicate after his father, Iqbal Mirchi, died of a heart attack in London in 2013. A UK national, Memon's family was named in the Panama Papers leak of 2016 as being involved in the stashing of money in foreign bank accounts. Indian media reports have linked him to drug trafficking operations, money laundering, betting, match-fixing and the smuggling of liquor. Masood Ul Haq Wanted for: Planning terror activities UK national Masood Ul Haq, 48, is wanted by Pakistan for a string of terrorism charges Born in the Kashmir province of Pakistan, UK national Masood Ul Haq, 48, is wanted for a string of terrorism charges. He was involved in planning terrorism activities, plotting against his home nation and allegedly headed up a terror group that is banned in Pakistan. Ul Haq is approximately 5ft 6in, has a distinguishable black mole on his left cheek and walks with a slight limp. He is known to speak both fluent Urdu and English. Ramesh Philippe Dusoruth Wanted for: Fraud Fraudster Ramesh Philippe Dusoruth, 51, scammed investors out of millions of pounds as the head of life insurance company St George's Ltd in Bermuda Fraudster Ramesh Philippe Dusoruth, 51, scammed investors out of millions of pounds as the head of a life insurance company based in Bermuda. His company, St George's Ltd, was registered to an address in Knightsbridge, London according to the official government register of businesses. Dusoruth had been arrested by Bermudan authorities in the summer of 2019 and appeared before magistrates charged with fraud, providing misleading information and removing criminal property from the North Atlantic island. After fleeing the country, he was placed on Interpol's most wanted list. He has registered business interests in Malta, Cyprus and the Netherlands. He also owns residential properties across the United Kingdom and in Belgium. Dusoruth was arrested in the Netherlands in 2019, and he officially filed for bankruptcy in October 2020. Ibraheem Masood Pakistan and UK national Ibraheem Masood is wanted for his links to terrorism offences Wanted for: Terrorism offences 23-year-old Pakistan and UK national Ibraheem Masood is wanted by global authorities for his links to terrorism offences. He has previously been charged with planning terrorist activities and heading up a banned organization in Pakistan. Terror threat Masood has been on Interpol's most wanted 'red notice' list for the past two years. Newer pictures show him sporting a long, dark coloured beard and scruffy hair. Other distinguishing features include a noticeable black mole on his neck. John Collin Wanted for: Culpable homicide British national John Collin, 67 is wanted by Malaysian authorities for punishment for murder An international manhunt was launched for British national John Collin, 67, after he was accused of culpable homicide in Malaysia. Not much is known about Collin, although he is wanted by Malaysian authorities for punishment for murder. Mohammed Ali Ege Wanted for: Murder, fraud and forgery offences Mohammed Ali Ege fled to India before he could be arrested in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Aamir Siddiqi, who was stabbed at his family home in Cardiff in 2010. Mohammed Ali Ege, 44, is wanted in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Aamir Siddiqi and a string of fraud charges Born in Dubai and also wanted in India, the 44-year-old is accused of a string of fraud and forgery charges. He became one of Europe's most wanted men after fleeing the country and evading arrest and later extradition. After he was captured by Indian authorities and awaiting extradition in 2017, he told officers he needed to use the toilet while in a train station before launching a daring escape through an open window. Ege also stands accused of harbouring an offender and disposing of evidence of an offence. Newly released photographs from 2021 appear to show Ege sporting a scruffy beard and a hat, with officers convinced he may have significantly changed his appearance since 2010. In 2013, Jason Richards and Ben Hope were sentenced to 40 years in prison each at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of Aamir's murder and the attempted murder of his parents. They had each been paid 1,000 in blood money to kill a middle-aged man who owed money to a businessman. But the balaclava-wearing assassins went to the Siddiqi family home by mistake where they killed the teenager. New images have been released by police of Mohammed Ali Ege, 42, who is being hunted in connection with the murder of a teenager in Cardiff in 2010 Samantha Lewthwaite Wanted for: Possession of an explosive, Terrorism charges Known as the 'White Widow', British jihadist Samantha Lewthwaite, 37, is understood to be responsible for the deaths of more than 400 people internationally Known as the 'White Widow', British jihadist Samantha Lewthwaite, 37, was born in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, went to school in Buckinghamshire and later studied in London. She converted to Islam as a teenager and went on to marry Jamaica-born extremist and 7/7 London terrorist bomber Germaine Lindsay. Her 'The White Widow' nickname came after Lindsay blew himself up on July 7, 2005 during a series of bombings across London which killed 52 people. He killed 26 civilians in his suicide attack. Lewthwaite was eight months pregnant with their second child, a daughter, at the time of his death, and their first child, a son, was 14 months old. The mother-of-four, who grew up in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, was reportedly trying to gather a team of fanatics to attack popular tourist resorts across the globe in 2018. Previously, she was linked to grenade attacks at non-Muslim places of worship, an explosion at a Kenyan bar in 2012 and the Nairobi shopping mall attack in 2013. Lewthwaite is understood to be responsible for the deaths of more than 400 people internationally. The 37-year-old terrorist fled the UK for South Africa in 2009, later crossing into Tanzania in 2011 and then Kenya. Investigators later tracked her to Somalia, where she sheltered with al-Shabaab militants, before travelling around 200 miles across the Gulf of Aden to war-torn Yemen three years ago. British intelligence officials believe Lewthwaite relocated to war-torn Yemen after being linked to atrocities in Kenya and Somalia in Africa. In Yemen, she is understood to have recruited female suicide bombers with bribes of 3,000. She is also thought to have sent male suicide bombers as young as 15, high on heroin, to their deaths. Lewthwaite, who is the daughter of a British soldier who served in Northern Ireland, is believed to be under the protection of fighters from the militant network Al-Shabaab. MailOnline understands she has visited Dubai in recent years and security experts fear she may be plotting further terror attacks, including strikes on London. Lewthwaite's 'White Widow' nickname came after her husband Lindsay blew himself up on July 7, 2005 during a series of bombings across London which killed 52 people Arti Dhir Wanted for: Punishment for murder, punishment for kidnapping, kidnapping in order to murder, criminal conspiracy According to the Gujarati police, Arti Dhir (above) planned to claim 150,000 from a life insurance policy taken out on Gopal after agreeing to adopt him before hiring a gang to kill him Arti Dhir is accused of being part of a conspiracy to adopt an 11-year-old orphan in India, insure him for 150,000 and then murder the boy to collect the life insurance payout. The 57-year-old, of Hanwell in London, faces six charges in India and was arrested in the UK in 2017 at the request of Indian authorities. Dhir denies the allegations and has not been charged in the UK. Court documents filed in the UK allege that in 2015, Dhir and her husband Raijada agreed to adopt orphan Gopal Sejani from the poor village of Maliya Hatina, in rural Gujurat, with the promise of a better life in England. The adoption process and a passport application for Gopal was almost complete but he was killed before he had a chance to visit his new home. The pair were air freight representatives for Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) who were sacked, the company confirmed, for a breach of contract in 2016. Dhir, pictured with Kaval Raijada in Hanworth, London, are accused of murdering their adopted son in India for a six-figure insurance payout Her adopted son, Gopal Sejani, 11, was kidnapped by a gang on motorbikes, stabbed and left to die on a road in rural Gujarat in 2017. His older brother-in-law, Harsukh Kardani, sustained serious injuries as he tried to defend the youngster and would later die in hospital. Court files allege that Kenyan-born Dhir, who arrived in the UK as a child, paid two insurance premiums totalling 30,000 into a wealth builder policy before Gopal died in 2017. In 2019, an extradition request for Mrs Dhir from the Indian government was rejected by judges at Westminster Magistrates' Court Harris John Italo Binotti Wanted for: Murder After fleeing Myanmar, Harris Binotti is now said to be living in a flat back in Scotland with his girlfriend Elsy Dovlder, under the noses of officers at nearby Govan police station Harris John Binotti is wanted in connection with the death of a fellow teacher in Myanmar in 2016. The 30-year-old, originally from Dumfries in Scotland, is believed to have fled to Thailand the day after his colleague, Gary Ferguson's body was found. Binotti has been the subject of an international man hunt for more than four years after Mr Ferguson was found with fatal head and chest wounds in November 2016. The pair, who taught English at Horizon International school in Yangon, had reportedly gone drinking before neighbours said they heard a fight and the victim's body was found. After fleeing Myanmar, Mr Binotti is now said to be living in a flat back in Scotland with his girlfriend Elsy Dovlder, under the noses of officers at nearby Govan police station. In 2018, the Home Office faced criticism for refusing to extradite Mr Binotti to Myanmar over fears for the former teacher's human rights. Robert Timmins Wanted for: Manslaughter, unlawful handling of firearms, drunk driving 70-year-old seafarer Robert Timmins allegedly killed a neighbour while in Kuremae, Estonia in July 2011 70-year-old seafarer Robert Timmins allegedly killed a neighbour while in Kuremae, Estonia in July 2011. After initially co-operating with police, the fugitive sold his farm and left the country after he was reportedly not ordered to remain in Estonia. After fleeing from police, Timmins's case was referred to Interpol. Ahmad Omar Sheikh Wanted for: Conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, hostage taking resulting in death, conspiracy to commit hostage taking, hostage taking Ahmad Omar Sheikh is a notorious Pakistani terrorist with links to Al-Qaeda. He is currently in prison but the US wants to extradite him London-born terrorist Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh, 47, is a well known figure inside Pakistan's prisons. Omar Sheikh was born in London to middle-class Pakistani immigrant parents and attended private schools before starting a degree at the London School of Economics. But the hulking 6ft 2in amateur boxer dropped out in his first year and began delivering aid to support Muslims besieged by Serbs during the Bosnian war in the 1990s. He was on Death Row for more than 16 years after he was arrested, charged and sentenced to die for arranging the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. The 38-year-old journalist had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard C Reid, dubbed the Shoe Bomber after he tried to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. Omar Sheikh was on Death Row for more than 16 years after he was arrested, charged and sentenced to die for arranging the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 Nearly a month later, after a string of ransom demands were made, a graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate in Karachi. His body was discovered in a shallow grave soon after. In 1994, posing as a Hindu in Indian-administered Kashmir, Sheikh arranged the kidnapping of four foreign tourists to demand the release of jailed Islamic militants. He was captured in a shootout and imprisoned in New Delhi, but freed in a hostage exchange in 1999 when militants hijacked an Indian Airlines flight and forced it to land in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Daren Michael Elarmo Wanted for: Kidnapping, child sex abuse Suspected paedophile and former pilot Daren Elarmo, 52, is wanted in the United States for the alleged kidnap and grooming of two teenage boys Suspected paedophile and former pilot Daren Elarmo, 52, has been on the run for a decade and is wanted in the United States for the alleged kidnap and grooming of two teenage boys. Originally from Wokingham, Berkshire, Mr Elarmo allegedly groomed two boys on social media websites in the US between 2005 and 2008. He used the alias Daren Jones and allegedly arranged to meet his teenage victims and took them back to his house where he performed sexual acts on them. Police believed the pilot has existing links to Britain, South America and the expat community in Spain. Philip Jepson Egglishaw Wanted for: Conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth, Money laundering Philip Egglishaw, 68, the man known as the 'Bowler hat Englishman,' is the alleged mastermind behind Australia's biggest tax evasion scheme Philip Egglishaw, 68, the man known as the 'Bowler hat Englishman,' is the alleged mastermind behind Australia's biggest tax evasion scheme. Financial advisor Egglishaw is accused of absconding or spending all of Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan's 22million fortune after helping the Australian film star conceal his earnings through offshore tax havens. He fled Australia in 2004 and was last known to be living in Geneva, where locals said they only saw the well-spoken Englishman when he walked his dog. He was arrested in 2017 after triggering an Interpol 'red notice' when trying to holiday in neighbouring Italy. The money laundering case against him collapsed that same year, allowing Egglishaw to walk free. His laywers successfully argued the time allowed for charges to be laid in Italy had long expired, because under Italian law, prosecutors have seven a half years to charge a suspect with fraud, and 10 years for money laundering. Egglishaw, originally from Jersey, had operated his financial firm, Strachans from Switzerland since the 1990s. But in 2003, Australian tax inspectors found evidence that his 200m tax efficient schemes breached the law, after searching his five-star hotel room in Sydney. When Egglishaws laptop was seized, it revealed names of numerous wealthy clients taking part in a tax evasion scam totaling 2.2billion Australian dollars. But by then he had fled to Switzerland. Operation Wickenby, a joint investigation by the Australian Crime Commission and the Australian Tax Office, discovered that Strachans was setting up fake companies for high-earners, who sent money off shore with fake invoices that were later used to seek tax deductions. The inquiry has so far reclaimed approximately 2.3 billion Australian dollars in tax liabilities and led to the conviction of 46 people. Advertisement Salcombe has topped the list for British city dwellers' most sought-after second home town followed by Falmouth in Cornwall and North Berwick in East Lothian. Second homes and holiday lets in the South West are the most popular, with Salcombe, Falmouth, St Ives, Brixham and Newquay all within the top six in demand, according to a study by Lakeshore Leisure Group. Meanwhile, separate data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also names the South West as the region with the most second homes, making up 27 per cent of the UK's total. The Government figures, which are the most recently available for second homes per area in the UK, place the South East second at 14 per cent, followed by London at 12 per cent and Yorkshire and Humber at 10 per cent. It comes as house prices of 2million properties in rural areas rise by the fastest rate in a decade, with wealthy people in cities hunting for countryside retreats across the UK amid a staycation boom during the pandemic. A map showing the most sought-after second home towns for British city dwellers, with Salcombe, Falmouth, St Ives, Brixham and Newquay in the South West all within the top six in demand Meanwhile, separate data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also names the South West as the region with the most second homes, making up 27 per cent of the UK's total (pictured: Salcombe in Devon) Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, which was named as the second most popular second home town for city dwellers. It comes as house prices of 2million properties in rural areas rise by the fastest rate in a decade In Scotland, North Berwick and Ullapool are the most popular locations for a rural dwelling, while Tenby is the only Welsh town in the top twenty second home towns. Lakeshore Leisure Group said: 'Whilst many of these towns thrive on a tourist economy, there are downsides to these increases in second home ownership particularly for the locals. 'As these areas become more desirable for second home purchases, property prices rise and often locals are priced out of buying a permanent residence in their local area. 'Not only does this result in a property that is occupied often less than half the year, the towns become increasingly seasonal; overcrowded in the summer and holiday months, but quiet and lifeless during the off-season.' The company compiled the data, released earlier this year, by looking at the combined Google search history of 101 urban cities for 'second homes in [town name] and 'holiday homes in [town name]'. A total of 19,990 Google searches were made by city dwellers for Salcombe between April 2020 and August this year, while 12,370 were made for Falmouth and 12,140 for North Berwick. In Scotland, North Berwick (pictured above) and Ullapool are the most popular locations for a rural dwelling, while Tenby is the only Welsh town in the top twenty second home towns. St Ives in Cornwall, which was named as the fourth most popular second home town for city dwellers. Separate data from the Government names the South West as the region with the most second homes, making up 27 per cent of the UK's total In 2018-19, three per cent of households in the UK reported having a second home, with the proportion remaining unchanged from 2008-09, according to the Department for Levelling Up. The most common reason for having a second home is for use as a holiday home or weekend cottage, while 35 per cent say they view it as a long-term investment or income and 16 per cent once used it as their previous home. Overall, 57 per cent of second homes are located in the UK while 34 per cent are in Europe and nine per cent are in non-European countries, according to the latest figures. In the government department's English Housing Survey 2018-19, it said: 'Since 2008-09 there has been an increase in the proportion of second homes in the UK and a corresponding decrease in European and non-European second homes.' Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, which placed fifth for the most sought-after second home towns by city dwellers. In 2018-19, three per cent of households in the UK reported having a second home Brixham harbour in south Devon, pictured above. The small fishing town placed sixth for the most sought-after second home towns by city dwellers Meanwhile, it was revealed in September that ministers were preparing a triple clampdown on second homes amid warnings that they are squeezing the life out of holiday hotspots. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick planned a range of reforms that give councils powers to ban the creation of new second homes if they are deemed to be damaging to the local community. They would be able to impose such bans without having to first hold and win a local referendum on the issue. Councils will also get new rights to insist developers build more starter homes, instead of focusing on properties likely to be attractive to 'incomers' seeking a holiday home. The moves, which were included in planning legislation over the autumn, are designed to provide respite to communities in areas such as Cornwall, the Lake District and the Cotswolds which have high concentrations of second homes. Revenge porn reports have soared during the pandemic after the number of offences increased by 329 per cent over a 13-month period in London - with some victims as young as ten. The data, released by the Metropolitan Police through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, showed the number of cases had risen by 698 between October 1, 2020 and October 31, 2021. Shockingly, victims who are between the age of 10 and 17 have quadrupled compared to last year. Female reports have also risen by a total of 572 cases when compared to the 177 reports last year - whilst male offences have increased by 162. SWGfL, a UK charity who operate the Revenge Porn Helpline, saw cases double last year following the ongoing pandemic and say the number of cases have shown 'no signs of slowing down'. Revenge porn reports have soared during the pandemic after the number of offences increased by 329 per cent over a 13-month period in London The amount of female cases have also risen by a total of 572 cases when compared to the 177 offences last year. Whilst m ale offences have risen by a total of 162 reports Shockingly, victims who are between the ages of 10 and 17 have quadrupled compared to last year and the total number of cases has increased by 120 The number of revenge porn cases has risen by 698 between October 1, 2020 and October 31, 2021 The charity recently released their five-year report, which covers the period between 2015 - 2020, and one of their key findings showed that cases of sextortion - webcam blackmail - tripled last year. It also revealed that when a female reports images to the helpline, an average of 42 images are recorded, whereas it is less than two for male victims. Senior Helpline Practitioner, Zara Ward, told MailOnline: 'We have seen a double increase in reports for intimate image abuse practically overnight during the Covid pandemic. This can be to do with a variety of reasons, though we can only postulate. 'Relationships were put under immense strain, leading to the breakdown of many couples. Furthermore, the line between what was real and virtual became skewed. 'Several relationships were formed online last year as people spent more time at home, which meant sexual behaviour was happening virtually. 'Subsequently, we saw the number of intimate image abuse cases double in 2020 and sextortion reports triple. We believe that prior to 2020 we were just seeing the tip of the iceberg. But now reports are further increasing - which have been propelled forward by the pandemic - they show no sign of slowing down. Revenge porn is a criminal offence as classified in Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. If you are accused of revenge porn and found guilty of the criminal offence, you could face a sentence of up to two years in prison. Folami Prehaye, 51, who lives in Bristol, said revenge porn is becoming an increasingly common way for 'cruel' former partners to 'inflict pain' at a 'worrying rate'. Folami Prehaye, 51, who lives in Bristol, said revenge porn is becoming an increasingly common way for 'embittered former partners to inflict pain' at a 'worrying rate' Her former partner, Thomas Samuel, posted explicit pictures of Folami online using a fake Facebook account after she called off their relationship - and shared them with her family, work colleagues and friends. Although Facebook removed the pictures quickly, they were viewed 48,000 times in February 2014 - and were uploaded by Samuel to various porn websites. Despite the deep level of humiliation she felt, Folami was determined to get the photos removed and see Samuel punished for his crime. Speaking to the MailOnline, she said: 'Being a victim of image based sexual abuse was one of the most emotional times in my life. 'After the incident, I suffered with depression and would constantly blame myself. I'd have thoughts going round in my head analysing every single detail. Thomas Samuel posted the explicit pictures of her using a spoof Facebook account after a bitter break-up 'I would spend hours thinking about our relationship and how I made excuses when friends would tell me he was controlling or there "was something off". It was my own form of torture. 'I also found that during the relationship, I had slowly changed how I looked and dressed to please him. I slowly realised how controlling he was and that he never loved me. 'Someone who loves you, would never abuse your trust in this way and that realisation was a huge moment for me.' Folami pursued the case to Bristol Magistrates' Court, where although Thomas was found guilty, he avoided prison after his six-month sentence was suspended for two years. He was also given a restraining order to stay away from Folami and ordered to pay court fines. She added: 'Once I knew he was finally out of my life. I knew I wanted to make something positive out of the experience. My life had been turned upside down. I knew starting over and learning to trust again wouldn't be easy - but I wanted to try. 'I have a son, who was 14 at the time of the incident, and a daughter, then 24. I wanted them both to see that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.' Following her horrific ordeal, Folami set up Victims of Image Crime (VOIC), a support and recovery group to help those who have suffered image based sexual abuse, the same year. The website is a one-stop resource of free information and signposting on what victims can do in the aftermath of an online crime - and victims can speak about their ordeal and know they are not alone. Folami said: 'I'm trying to empower other people who have gone through the same experience. I want them to feel they can stand up, speak out and take back their power. 'I have supported many victims for over six years, some of whom I have never met. These scars don't just miraculously go away, it takes time. 'Setting up VOIC was like my own form of therapy because I knew I was making a difference and helping others who had gone through a similar experience to me. 'I went through emotional turmoil for years to get to where I am today - and this is the same for many others who have had a similar experience. It changes your life completely. 'Raising awareness is one of the key messages in changing how people think, feel and act in relation to this crime. 'From this experience I am able to talk from a professional and victim's perspective by using my experience to help aid the recovery of those that reach out to me for emotional support.' Folami previously waived her right to anonymity and opened up on ITV's This Morning about how the act had 'ruined her life' in October 2014 Following her horrific ordeal, Folami set up Victims of Image Crime (VOIC), a support and recovery group to help those who have suffered image based sexual abuse, the same year Folami says she 'isn't surprised' by the dramatic increase in cases across London and says social media platforms need to do more. She added: 'Image based sexual abuse - known as revenge porn - is still in its infancy. There's not many deterrents because people are still sharing explicit content without consent. 'Perpetrators who are brought to justice through the courts are commonly given a six-month suspended sentence over two years - there's not many custodial sentences. 'Social media platforms are doing a lot more than ever before, but it's still not enough. Police forces are overstretched and don't have the funding, understanding or training to properly support victims that have been through it. 'Young people live in the digital world - image has never seemed more important. I don't think it's going to change anytime soon, it's simply going to perpetuate. It's going to get worse before it gets better, unless we find more creative ways to aid discussions around this. 'TikTok has made it so content can be put into a one minute video and receive millions of views from across the world. 'Our appetite for the way information is delivered is constantly changing - but it remains digital. You have access to everything at the touch of a button. 'On top of that we have the ongoing pandemic, which forced us to spend time at home and meant our only means of interaction was to go online. 'Enough is enough, these crimes are appalling and leave victims with life-changing scars. Social media reforms are urgently needed and prison sentences need to be increased. It is time we see the end of this disgusting crime.' You can visit VOIC and donate by clicking here. The extraordinary scale of the Channel migrant operation is underlined today with figures showing staff have racked up tens of thousands of pounds on official cards for takeaway pizza, Subway meals, roll mats and blankets. The Home Office is being urged to 'get a grip' after spending logs showed the strain of coping with the unprecedented numbers risking the potentially deadly crossing from France. More than 28,000 have navigated the 21-mile Dover Strait this year - and tragically not all who tried have made it safely. Border Force officers have struggled to deal with the level of arrivals, with some complaining that the temporary Tug Haven base being used for initial processing is just a 'tent in a car park'. Desperate staff have resorted to putting in huge orders from Dominos and Subway to feed migrants, as well as bulk-buying blankets and roll mats for them to sleep on. The Home Office is being urged to 'get a grip' after spending logs showed the strain of coping with the unprecedented numbers risking the potentially deadly crossing from France More than 28,000 have navigated the 21-mile Dover Strait this year - and tragically not all who tried have made it safely Border Force officers have struggled to deal with the level of arrivals on the Kent Coast, with some complaining that the temporary Tug Haven base being used for initial processing (pictured) is just a 'tent in a car park' A group of migrants are brought to shore in Dover on a Border Force vessel earlier this month Large sums have also been spent on instant camera film to snap photographs of arrivals for ID purposes. Home Secretary Priti Patel has been trying to quell the numbers crossing the Channel by providing funds for France to step up enforcement, as well as considering a range of tactics including attempts to turn boats around at sea. However, there is little sign of the issue abating with people desperate to find sanctuary and a better life in the UK, often after fleeing war zones and barbaric regimes. The Home Office regularly publishes details of spending above 500 using departmental procurement cards. Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, told MailOnline: 'These shocking figures are only a small slice of the cost of the migrant crisis' The staff needed to manage the migrants have also required feeding, which has seemingly been bought in bulk from local eateries at significant cost It is only a small portion of the wider costs of responding to the crisis. But the register shows that in August and September alone, nearly 32,000 went on food for newly-landed migrants. On September 27 and 28 five transactions were listed with Dominos in Dover, totalling 7,915. A note attached to the cost says there was 'no other option' because Tug Haven 'does not have a kitchen'. Another Dominos order from September 23 came to 2,748.75. On August 23 942 was spent at Subway to provide sustenance for arrivals, and thousands of pounds more has gone on bottled water. On September 6 and 7, huge orders for rollmats went in for migrants 'overnighting at Tug Haven' - totalling 2,789. On the last day of August more than 5,500 of blankets were purchased, while on September 13 there was a 1,719.50 bill for camera film as every migrant must have an instant photo snapped on arrival. The staff needed to manage the migrants have also required feeding, which has seemingly been bought in bulk from local eateries at significant cost. There was also a 1,409.10 bill for 'several tows and boatlifts of migrant vessels at Ramsgate'. Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, told MailOnline: 'These shocking figures are only a small slice of the cost of the migrant crisis. 'From pizzas to polaroids the Home Office needs to get a grip. 'Taxpayers deserve a better deal. This money, and the millions spent on housing and other costs would be better spent strengthening our borders. 'It's time to stop the small boat crossings.' A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'We are committed to delivering the best value for money for the British taxpayer. 'We ensure all spending is carefully scrutinised to make sure that every pound of taxpayers' money is spent in the most effective way.' Vice President Kamala Harris said during her CBS interview Sunday that 'democracy' is the most significant national security threat facing the United States. She had been trying to echo Democrats' warning about threats to the 'integrity' of the American democratic system as her boss, President Joe Biden, tries to push his voting rights agenda through Congress. In the final portion of her wide-ranging interview released over the week, Harris also defended the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, instead blaming its predecessor for first setting the deadline to leave, and added that climate change was one of the biggest emerging threats against US security. 'What do you see is the biggest national security challenge confronting the U.S.? What is the thing that worries you and keeps you up at night?' Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked. The vice president answered, 'Frankly, one of them is our democracy. And that I can talk about because that's not classified.' 'There is I think no question in the minds of people who are foreign policy experts that the year 2021 is not the year 2000. You know, I think there's so much about foreign and domestic policy that, for example, was guided and prioritized based on Sept 11, 2001. In the final portion of her wide-ranging CBS interview this week, Kamala Harris discussed the Afghanistan withdrawal, threats to national security and her role as border czar 'And we are embarking on a- a new era where the threats to our nation take many forms, including the threat of autocracies taking over and having outsized influence around the world.' She adjusted her initial comments, urging the need to 'fight for the integrity of our democracy.' Harris, who has long campaigned for climate change awareness, added that 'fighting for the integrity of democracy' 'is obviously about what we need to do in the climate crisis.' She explained that global warming is directly linked to global security because it represents a threat that the US and its allies have the best chance of overcoming if they work together. At a different point the vice president lauded Biden for departing from another piece of post-9/11 policy in withdrawing from Afghanistan after a 20-year occupation. Biden and his top officials faced bipartisan criticism for the botched withdrawal effort that left as many as 200 American citizens and thousands of Afghan allies of the US military behind, despite the president's promise to remain until every American was out. Amid the crowded and chaotic scenes outside Kabul airport in August, a suicide attack slaughtered 170 Afghan civilians and 13 American service members. Harris, who has said she was the 'last person in the room' when Biden made the critical decision, did not give a clear answer when asked if she feels any responsibility for the shambolic operation. She also noted that it was Donald Trump's agreement with the Taliban to withdraw the US military that Biden was following. In negotiations which left out the American-backed Afghan government, Trump brokered a deal that all US troops would depart from the country months earlier than Biden ultimately did. Harris didn't say whether she felt responsible for the chaos of the Kabul evacuation, instead laying blame with the Trump administration 'I fully supported the president's decision to after what was taking on the fact of being an endless war, of pulling American troops out, and I think it's really important to remember that the previous administration negotiated a deal with the Taliban, did not invite the Afghan government to be at the table, and negotiated a deal that- that required and promised as part of an agreement that we would pull out by the end of May,' Harris said. 'So, we were saddled with that responsibility based on an agreement between the United States and the Taliban.' She added that she doesn't 'regret' following through on the deal, claiming the alternative could have been an even greater conflict. 'We made the decision that if we were to break the agreement, it would have been a whole other situation, and right now I strongly believe that had we broken that agreement, we would be talking about the war in Afghanistan,' Harris claimed. 'And American troops in Afghanistan, and we're not talking about that. I don't regret that.' Brennan asked Harris how she squared her decades-long career championing women and girls with concerns about the plight of Afghan females under the Taliban's repressive rule. 'One of our big issues in terms of any conversations with the Taliban is exactly this point, which is the condition, the status and the treatment of women and girls, including for girls, access to education, not to mention our concern about counterterrorism and what we need to do in terms of that threat,' Harris said, adding, 'these are real issues there's no question.' She said the US was working with the United Nations in 'bypassing the Taliban' to make sure necessary aid got to women and girls. Harris vowed to continue fighting for women and girls in Afghanistan, who are now forced to live under the Taliban's oppressive rule Earlier this week the Biden administration said it wanted to expand the flow of aid to humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan in an effort to ease the country's post-upheaval economic crisis without fears the Taliban would squander it in other ways. 'I worry that the Taliban has not complied with what we know to be the appropriate treatment and the right treatment of girls and women, and that's why we are taking the posture that we are with the Taliban right now, because that is one of our greatest considerations and concerns,' Harris said. The vice president was faced with her own criticism of her handling of the Afghanistan crisis as the evacuation was plodding along in late August. On August 23 video emerged of a reporter attempting to ask Harris over the roar of a jet engine about the Americans still stuck in Afghanistan and trying to leave. 'Hold on, hold on, hold on,' Harris said before the reporter could finish. 'Slow down, everybody,' she said after a big laugh. 'I want to talk about two things,' Harris then said. 'First, Afghanistan, we couldn't have a higher priority right now,' 'And in particular high priority is making sure that we safely evacuate American citizens, Afghans who worked with us, Afghans at risk, including women and children, and that is one of our highest if not the highest priority right now.' 'And it's a big area of focus for me in the past days and weeks, and will continue to be,' she added. But she still caught heat for going several days without speaking out about the plight of women and girls before pledging the US would continue to seek their protection. In her CBS interview Sunday Harris was also asked about her role as Biden's border czar. Since the president tapped her to lead the federal government's response to out-of-control migration to the southern border in March, Harris only spent two days in Guatemala and Mexico working on the issue. She took criticism from civil rights groups and members of her own party for infamously delivering a message to people in Guatemala to 'not come' to the US border. 'When I was in Guatemala, I talked with the Guatemalan people about what I've talked to folks in this very room who have convened about this issue, which is the vast majority of people, wherever they are from, don't want to leave home. They don't want to leave the language they speak,' Harris said on Sunday. Harris and Guatemala's Minister of Foreign Affairs Pedro Brolo wave at her arrival ceremony in Guatemala City, Sunday, June 6. Guatemala's president said he hasn't heard from Harris since this trip Harris also insisted that dealing with the 'root causes' of migration is still her primary focus, despite Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei telling Fox News just weeks ago that he hadn't heard from the vice president since June. She refused to concede to criticism that her boss dealt her a tough hand by assigning mammoth tasks like illegal immigration and voting rights to his deputy, defiantly declaring she hasn't been 'set up to fail.' 'But more important I'm the Vice President of the United States, anything that I handle is because it's a tough issue, and it couldn't be handled at some other level,' Harris said. 'And there are a lot of big, tough issues that need to be addressed. And it has actually been part of my lifelong career to deal with tough issues and this is no different.' Harris refused to take an opportunity to ascribe her criticism to racism and misogyny, stating: 'I'll leave that for others to deal with.' Brennan bluntly asked Harris what her biggest failure has been this year, to which Harris joked: 'To not get out of D.C. more.' Hundreds of aged care residents have been plunged into lockdown as Covid outbreaks hit facilities with few if any visitors allowed in. More than 100 aged care centres suffered outbreaks over Christmas, with 385 cases detected across residents and workers as the highly contagious Omicron strain sweeps across Australia. There are 65 facilities in NSW managing outbreaks, with many centres denying entry to visitors - despite high vaccination rates and fewer severe cases among residents. It is the most active aged care outbreaks reported this year, prompting calls for state and federal governments to make changes to visitor policies to preserve the mental health of residents. There are 105 aged care homes around the country battling Covid outbreaks as Omicron fuels a surge in infections nationwide. Pictured: Lillian Wells North Parramatta, which has more than 20 cases Ian Yates, chief executive of Council on the Ageing, the national peak body for elderly Australians, said locked-down residents should be entitled to see one caregiver to combat the ill-effects of isolation. 'It is a very difficult situation for providers right now. We are seeing so many complaints about people being locked in rooms. Which is leading people to question if their lives are worth living,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'It is essential residents be permitted at least one visitor, but there is confusion about what is and isnt allowed in the guidance from state and federal governments.' As of Christmas eve, there were 105 active Covid outbreaks in nursing homes, more than double the 54 reported last week, Commonwealth data shows. Of the NSW aged care outbreaks, 27 homes have two or more cases and four facilities are grappling with at least a dozen infections among staff and residents. Two of the hardest-hit homes are in Sydney - St Basil's Lakemba and Uniting Lillian Wells North Parramatta - which are collectively dealing with more than 40 infections among residents. Aged care residents have been eligible for booster shots since November, but thousands of residents are yet to receive a third Covid vaccine shot. Pictured: Scott Morrison receives his booster shot on November 19 in Blacktown, Sydney Since November, high risk groups, including the elderly, aged care residents, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, and health workers, have been able to receive a third Covid vaccine as phase one of Australia's booster program. However, there are still tens of thousands of aged care residents who are due to receive a booster shot as the virus runs rampant. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said aged care facilities had ample time to organise booster shots among residents. 'Every aged care facility that has been able and willing to receive because they were eligible and they were ready has had their deliveries done so far,' he told reporters on Thursday. 'Those that are still to be done are on the basis of their own timing. And so, were well ahead of schedule.' As Omicron drives outbreaks across the country, the federal government has moved to hasten the nation's booster rollout. From January 4, boosters will be brought forward to four months after the second dose, down from five months, to help combat Omicron. Then from January 31, people can get boosters after three months. About 7.5 million Australians will be eligible for their booster shot come January 4. This will jump to 16 million at the end of the month once the time frame is dropped to three months. The alarming rise in outbreaks comes as Covid case numbers continue to soar across the country over the festive season. St Basil's aged care centre in Lakemba (pictured) has more than 20 cases among its residents On Sunday, NSW recorded 6394 new daily infections, Victoria 1608, Queensland 714, South Australia 774, the ACT 71, and Tasmania 44. Despite the rise in infections, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state's health system would cope and urged residents to go ahead with holiday plans. However, state authorities are calling on NSW residents to use rapid antigen tests rather than PCR tests - unless advised by officials, travelling interstate, or symptomatic - to relieve pressure on clinics. Meanwhile, South Australia introduced new rules to address the state's growing Omicron outbreak. From midnight, house gatherings will be capped to 10 and density limits will apply to hospitality venues and gyms. Interstate travellers will no longer need to PCR test before entering the state, but will need to do a rapid antigen test upon arrival. Compulsory mask-wearing is in place in most states and territories as leaders try to limit the spread of the highly-infectious variant over the festive season. An 11-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after she was dragged along the road for 173m by a car when its teenager driver mowed her down. Sarah Degier, now aged 12, holds 'no grudge' against the teenager who ran into her with his SUV last May and thought he just hit a bird. The brave girl was dragged along face down under the Toyota LandCruiser, with her foot trapped in the undercarriage. She put her hands on road, holding her face away from the ground. Her screams alerted passersby, who chased after the car, shouting at the driver to stop. Sarah Degier (pictured) was dragged 173 metres under an SUV before it stopped. The teenage driver thought he'd hit a bird A woman called to Sarah's home in Dalby, in Queensland's Western Downs, and told her dad, Shane, that his daughter had been hit by a car. Sarah's mum Kate, who is an engineer, was in north Queensland working for BHP. When Shane got to nearby Condamine Street, Sarah was in an ambulance and badly injured. The teenager who hit Sarah was in shock with an oxygen mask over his face. 'She was riding to school on the footpath and he came out of a shop and hit her,' Shane told The Courier Mail. 'He hit her because at that particular spot, the cars could only come from the right. So he only looked right. Sarah came from the left.' Seven months on, Sarah said the ordeal felt both like an eternity and an instant. 'A lady got underneath the car with me, telling me not to move my head or anything,' Sarah said. Sarah Degier (pictured) is leading a relatively normal life now, but still needs years of medical attention The woman stayed there with her until an ambulance arrived, asking Sarah her dad's name, phone number and address. Senior Constable Brad Davidson also got down on the ground to comfort her. 'Brad, the officer, climbed underneath the car and grabbed her hand to tell her everything was OK,' Mr Degier said. Nine of Sarah's fingers were burned from the friction as she was dragged backwards and trying to pull herself up to keep her head off the ground. She was on the ground and under the car for 10 minutes while emergency services tried to figure out the safest way to get her out. In the end, she just crawled out. When her dad arrived, Sarah cried for the first time in the whole ordeal. 'She said she was sorry that she got hit by the car. That was the first thing she said. She said I'm sorry and, can you call school and let them know that I won't be in today,' Mr Degier said. Sarah Degier was dragged 173 under a car on Condamine Street (pictured) in Dalby, Queensland Sarah had severe burns and grazes on her hips, legs, arms, fingers and cheeks, but also even worse injuries. 'The left side of her back was broken and then the left side of her pelvis and the left elbow was split open from the impact, and as it was dragged down the road, it was shaving the bone off,' her dad said. Sarah's mother Kate's employer BHP called another company and asked them to give up a seat on the next flight to Brisbane. Sarah was taken by helicopter to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where doctors found she did not have life-threatening injuries. And that's when her dad broke down. Shane and Kate Degier (pictured left and right) are Sarah Degier's parents 'So, here's Sarah not crying throughout the whole thing, apart from when I first got there, and here I am an absolute mess.' Sarah has already had several surgeries and will continue to have medical treatment for years to reduce her scarring. The driver who hit her was given a good behaviour bond. Mr Degier asked the police to ensure he was given the help he needed. 'Kate and I were angry that it happened, but the last thing we want is for him to have issues and it ruin his life over something that clearly wasn't intentional,' he said. 'And Sarah also understood that.' 'I have no grudge against him,' Sarah said. She hopes to one day become a surgeon. The ex-wife of former footy star Michael Jennings said a civil court finding him guilty of raping her four times during their marriage showed other survivors another way to find justice. The full extent of the breakdown with Kirra Wilden, his ex-partner, was laid bare in the NSW District Court last week when the former NSW State of Origin star, 33, was ordered to pay Ms Wildren $500,000 in damages. She sued Jennings for personal injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, she said was suffered during their relationship. Ms Wilden, still too traumatised to be interviewed publicly, sent a statement through her lawyer giving hope to other survivors of sexual assault. 'I am happy that the case gives an opportunity for victims of harm in marriage of either gender to seek relief in civil proceedings,' she said. 'I now have an opportunity through this system to heal.' Former NRL star Michael Jennings is pictured with his ex-wife Kirra Wilden at the 2015 Dally M Awards. She has ben awarded $490,000 in damages, plus court costs, after alleging he abused her throughout their relationship More than 200 pages of written submissions by Ms Wildren and Jennings were considered in the case, including 47,000 text messages exchanged between the pair. The civil case heard graphic details of four alleged sexual assaults of Ms Wildren by Jennings during the relationship. Friends, family members, a GP and a psychologist gave evidence during the trial of the terrible effect of the alleged assaults in causing depression and anxiety in Ms Wildren after the relationship broke down in March 2016. Jennings denies all the allegations of sexual assault, or that he caused Ms Wildren's PTSD. He has never been charged with a crime over any of the allegations raised in the case. Ms Wildren alleged the first assault took place in October 2014 when the couple lived in Kensington in Sydney. Ms Wilden, still too traumatised to be interviewed publicly, sent a statement through her lawyer paying tribute to other survivors of sexual assault (pictured on their wedding day) Jennings was in his second year playing for the Sydney Roosters, having won the NRL premiership with the team the previous season. The court heard Ms Wilden answered banging on the front door some time between 2am and 4am in the morning to find Jennings on his hands and knees before he crawled through the front door, laughing. She testified that he touched her in bed while accusing her of sleeping with other men and called her 'a s**t'. Ms Wilden said she resisted Jennings' advances but that he 'pulled my underwear down'. 'He smelt of alcohol, cigarettes. I was telling him, 'No,' that I don't want to have sex with him. He said, 'Why? Because you're sleeping with other people? With other guys?' 'He... then began having sex with me and I just laid there, looking away and crying.' She said she sat in the shower afterwards feeling 'violated and disgusting'. Ms Wildren said when she later complained to Jennings about his behaviour, he 'just shrugged his shoulders'. Mr Jennings has has never been charged in relation to the case. He denies sexually assaulting Ms Wilden and said if she suffered PTSD, he was not the cause Ms Wildren alleged a similar incident took place in late 2014 at the same place, after Jennings arrived home between 3 and 4am. She told the court she again pushed him away after he tried to initiate sex. 'Then he started to call me a s**t and told me that I had been sleeping with everyone else and he said, 'Is that why you don't want to sleep with me because you're sleeping with other guys.' 'He told me that I was a joke and that I never want to have sex with him.' Ms Wildren testified that she then slapped Jennings across the face but that he nevertheless persisted in trying to have sex with her. A third assault was alleged to have occurred in 2015 during winter, after the couple had moved to Bella Vista in Sydney's north-west, when Ms Wildren said Jennings again forced himself on her. 'I just remember laying there and feeling, like, dead. I didn't feel it. I just, no feeling but blank. Like I was actually dead. Like my soul had left my body,' she described her reaction during the alleged assault. 'I just remember feeling dirty, feeling disgusting and like I had to just wash it off. And the following morning, I woke up and he had wet the bed from being so drunk.' Ms Wildren detailed a fourth alleged assault after the couple had moved to The Ponds, another north-western suburb of Sydney, sometime in 2015 or 2016. Jennings represented NSW in the 2016 State of Origin series (above) and represented Australia seven times The court heard that after a 'challenging' childhood in which Ms Wildren was at one stage, as a 13-year-old, responsible for the care of her six siblings following her parents' separation, she met Jennings in 2010. The began an informal relationship that year after she went to Brisbane to watch him play for NSW in the State of Origin series. The court heard that, according to Ms Wildren, he first began verbally abusing her in March 2011. In June of that same year Jennings was fined $10,000 by the NRL for drinking in Kings Cross whilst injured, contrary to instructions. Two months later he was fined a further $20,000 for turning up to a training session 'heavily intoxicated'. The couple became engaged in December 2013 and married at St Mary's Cathedral in October 2015. Expert evidence found that Ms Wildren presented with 'post-traumatic stress disorder in the context of a highly difficult first marriage'. She also confided in a friend that a subsequent relationship broke up as a result of 'intimacy issues' because of the earlier alleged sexual assaults during her marriage. In the judgement handed down by Judge David Wilson, he found 'inconsistencies in his [Jennings'] evidence which caused doubts as to his reliability'. Mr Jennings would often smile or laugh while giving evidence, 'which raised concerns as to the seriousness which he attached to the proceedings generally.' 'He also gave evidence that he had a history of lying to Ms Wilden, mostly as to his social life.' Text messages between the pair showed Ms Wildren often messaged to find out where Jennings was. On the night of the first assault, for example, Jennings had attended a wedding when Ms Wildren texted 'where the hell are you' at 1.30am. She then tried to call him eight times before sending another text: 'See what I mean, your a f***ing arsehole! I knew you were (sic) coming home after the wedding you liar!!! I knew listening to you last week and giving you another chance was a mistake!' Ms Wildren then called a further seven times before Jennings responded: 'I'm at Cas [Casino]. I'm coming home y pissed me off I'm sorry.' In another series of texts from October 2013, it was apparent Mr Jennings had called Ms Wilden a c*** during an episode in which he was 'acting crazy, punching the car and burning (his) left hair off'. Mr Jennings acknowledged that he would get angry when drunk, but attributed the anger to the behaviour of Ms Wilden. Jennings was considered one of the NRL's premier centre during a 13-year first-grade career playing with the Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels (above) The court heard evidence of Mr Jennings' drug use, including using cocaine during Mad Monday celebrations, which reflected poorly on his credibility or reliability. Justice Wilson found Jennings' evidence during the case contradicted what he told Parramatta Eels' officials in November 2016 after he returned a positive test for cocaine. The test result was kept secret under the NRL's 'first strike' policy until revealed during the court case. During cross-examination Jennings testified that he used cocaine during Mad Monday celebrations after the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. The admission included celebrations after the Roosters' 2013 premiership win, two further end-of-season celebrations with the Roosters and his first season with the Eels. But Jennings had told the NRL he had only used the drug on two occasions, in 2015 and 2016. Ms Wilden told the trial she had found small plastic containers with white powder residue in his trousers while doing his washing during the course of their relationship. Jennings admitted to using cocaine but said he had never purchased the illicit drug. Justice Wilson issued an order protecting Mr Jennings from prosecution for his drug use in exchange for his testimony in the case. The award of damages to Ms Wildren included $200,000 in general damages, $51,000 for costs related to future treatment, and $100,000 for economic loss. 'It is plain that Ms Wilden has suffered enormous insult, humiliation, embarrassment and shame by the conduct of Mr Jennings, and that ought to be reflected in an award of damages,' Judge Wilson said. Jennings was also ordered to pay Ms Wilden's legal costs. Judge Wilson also referred the case to NSW police for further investigation. The wife of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested on Christmas Eve at their Austin, Texas, residence for domestic violence charges that the Infowars founder said stems from a 'medication imbalance.' Travis County Sheriff's deputies took Erika Wulff Jones, 43, into custody and booked her into an Austin jail around 8:45 p.m. on Friday. Jail records show Erika faces misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and resisting arrest, search or transport. The victim has not yet been named. Erika Jones had not received a bond as of Saturday afternoon. Erika Wulff Jones was arrested on domestic violence charges on Christmas Eve. Husband Alex Jones said the incident was caused by a 'medication imbalance' Erika, left, was arrested at the couple's home in Austin, Texas. Jones did not say who the victim of the assault was and called the episode a private family matter Jones, a popular conspiracy theorist, declined Saturday to say whether he'd been injured or elaborate on what happened beyond that he believes it was related to his wife's recent change of medication. 'It's a private family matter that happened on Christmas Eve,' Jones told The Associated Press in a brief interview. 'I love my wife and care about her and it appears to be some kind of medication imbalance.' The Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request Christmas Day for the report on Wulff Jones' arrest and a spokeswoman said she could not provide more information. An attorney for Wulff Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident comes as Jones sued this week seeking to block subpoenas he'd been issued by the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He said he did not want to testify before the committee because he fears Congressional leaders will accuse him of lying under oath. Infowars founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, right, has sued in order to block a subpoena issued for him to testify about the events. (Jones pictured in 2018) Supporters of then President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol in Washington during the January 6 insurrection 'I don't want to testify before them because they will lie and say I lied,' Jones said. Jones spoke at a rally in support of then-President Donald Trump that proceeded the riot, and his Infowars colleague, Owen Shroyer, was charged with crimes related to it in August. Shroyer has said he's 'innocent of the charges.' Jones said his wife's arrest 'doesn't concern my politics' and that 'it wasn't some kind of personal hateful thing or anything.' A rare California 'tornado' touched down in Santa Barbara on Christmas Day night. Metal car port awnings at an apartment complex in the Goleta area were ripped off while trees were also knocked down by the apparently brief but ferocious storm at around 10pm on Saturday evening. Witnesses say a small tornado caused the damage, although there do not appear to be any injuries. One social media user said the storm disappeared as quickly as it came and was all over in under a minute. 'Steel beams bent and thrown 20+ feet. Whole thing lasted under 60 seconds,' Marie wrote. An uprooted tree could be seen after the tornado struck Santa Barbara on Saturday night The tree landed on top of a metal car awning which subsequently collapsed The structure appeared to buckle following the tree's collapse on top of the car port The size of the tree is an indication of just how strong winds from the storm were as it passed Photos from those on social media show the storms strength as large trees at the apartment complex were felled with their roots exposed. Cars parked under a metal awning were also badly damaged after a tree collapsed on top of the structure. Poles that were used to keep the structure up buckled after the tree landed a direct hit. Away from the apartment complex, the powerful tornado also appeared to down power lines. Weather maps show the storm, coming across the California coastline late into the evening Instagram user baughershawn posted damage to a carport after a possible tornado in the Goleta area of Santa Barbara, California Emergency crews were quickly on scene to deal with any damage that may have resulted Yellow tape is erected around the car port which collapsed One resident of the apartment block took time to take photographs of the damage The carport awning had no chance against the metal structure of the car port The metal roof of the car port was ripped off by the strong winds on Saturday evening A car awning could be seen having been blown over and onto nearby vehicles Social media users were quick to capture images of the storm's aftermath Weather maps show the storm, coming across the California coastline late into the evening Anyone out on the water was advised to seek safe harbor with the storm December has been an unusually destructive month weather-wise when it comes to tornadoes. At least 79 people lost their lives in the nation's heartland when the storms which passed over several states overnight on December 10 to the early morning of December 11. 'The scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief,' said US President Joe Biden after touring the damage in Mayfield, Kentucky. The December 10 tornadoes killed six in Illinois, five in Tennessee, two in Arkansas and two in Missouri. The victims in Kentucky range in age from 2 months old to 98 years old. The continuous tornado path spanned 163.5 mi, making it the longest continuous tornado track in Kentucky history. It's also the deadliest tornado outbreak in the US since May 2011, when more than 170 people were killed. In Mayfield, more than 100 employees of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory braved a tornado inside the facility, with some saying they were trapped under as much as five feet of rubble. Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria travelled to the Hamptons for Christmas with their children, as he continues to remain entwined in the ongoing investigation over the accidental shooting on the set of Rust. Hilaria, 37, posted pictures on her Instagram of the family enjoying the festivities on Christmas Eve on Friday, where the Rust actor was seen disguised in a Santa Claus outfit next to their six children. 'Reality vs.well.reality. This was the best we got from the photo batch,' Hilaria captioned the snaps, adding: 'Happy Christmas Eve y Feliz Nochebuena. Our love to you and your families. Amor, amor!!!!' The family picture showed some of their younger kids in tears, visibly unhappy, while the older kids stood next to their father, looking happy and cheery in front of their well-sized Christmas tree. Hilaria also shared other joyful moments of the family's Christmas Eve antics including spending time together to cook in the kitchen. She later shared snapshots of their excited kids unwrapping their gifts from under the tree. Alec, dressed up as Santa Claus, and Hilaria Baldwin decided to celebrate Christmas with their six children in the Hamptons this year, following the actor's controversy of accidentally fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on October 21 Hilaria, 37, did her best to take a nice family photo but instead took a family picture of her youngest children throwing fits while the older ones stood happily next to their father Alec, 63, and Hilaria have two daughters and four sons together including: Carmen Gabriela, eight, eight-month-old Maria Lucia Victoria, Rafael Thomas, six, Leonardo Angel Charles, five, Romeo Alejandro David, three, and 13-month-old Eduardo 'Edu' Pao Lucas Hilaria, posing with one of her younger children in the family home's bathroom, with the caption: 'Christmas Mama and Baby Bath' Alec, 63, and Hilaria share two daughters and four sons together: Carmen Gabriela, 8; 8-month-old Maria Lucia Victoria; Rafael Thomas, 6; Leonardo Angel Charles, 5; Romeo Alejandro David, 3, and 13-month-old Eduardo 'Edu' Pao Lucas. The couple, who married in 2012, chose to have a discreet holiday with their kids in the Hamptons this year, a source close to them told People. The family snaps come two days after Alec posted a video on Instagram on December 23 where he appears to wallow in self-pity over the 'really tough time' he has been having in recent weeks after accidentally shooting dead a cinematographer on the set of Rust. The actor uploaded a video of himself speaking directly into the camera two months after the tragic shooting on his Western movie set in New Mexico, when the actor accidentally shot and killed Halyna Hutchins, 42. In a three-minute long rambling video, Alec appears despondent and weary as he tells followers how the only thing he is living for right now is his wife and children The video, which was posted on Thursday afternoon, shows Alec looking drained and tired, hair unkempt and his face unshaven as he unloads in a stream of consciousness rant where he says he is looking to the future. Actor Alec Baldwin has posted a video in which he appears to wallow in self-pity over the 'really tough time' he has been having in recent weeks after accidentally shooting dead a cinematographer on the set of Rust First, though, he took time to thank the 'support' he had received from family, friends and fans. 'I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of the people who sent me such kind words and best wishes and strength and hope and prayers and so forth and thoughts and lots of encouragement and lots of really really great sentiments from so many people,' Alec began while standing outside. 'I got hundreds and hundreds of emails from friends, family and colleagues and people I haven't heard from in quite a while to send me strength and good wishes and so forth. I'm really grateful to them. Many people commenting on Instagram seem very very supportive about this difficult situation.' 'I'm looking forward to some aspects of this being behind me, of course,' he continued. 'For everyone who is involved in this, it'll never be behind us because someone died so tragically. I never lose sight of that. Not a day goes by I don't think about that.' Alec is currently the focus of an investigation into the death of Hutchins, who was shot dead on the film set of Rust in October. The cinematographer was killed after a prop gun that Alec was holding went off. The director of the film, Joel Souza, was also shot in the shoulder and survived. 'I'm home with my family, the only thing I care about,' Alec continued. 'It's true, the only thing I care about is my wife and my kids and just want forward with my life try to get through through a tough time, a really tough time,' Alec said in the emotional video message. 'I wanted to say thank you to all the people who sent me good wishes and send me support I'm very grateful for that. I feel very awkward going through this. It has been very difficult. I wanna say happy holidays happy Hanukkah and Christmas and a happy Kwanzaa. Whatever holiday you're celebrating,' he continued in clip, which appeared to have been filmed in the Hamptons where the family have a home. The actor said he was going through 'a really tough time' since the Rust shooting but there were plenty of supportive messages in response to his video message Halyna Hutchins, 42 (left), was fatally shot in October. Pictured: Her husband, Matthew, 48, top right, and their 9-year-old son Andros The set of Rust, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Santa Fe where the shooting occurred Alec Baldwin is seen on October 21, after speaking to investigators about the fatal shooting Hutchins was shot just moments after the crew entered a church set to rehearse a scene (pictured) 'I hope that you're as lucky as I am in one department and that you're home with your family. I'm home with my family. It's all I've got. The only thing that matters.' 'I don't have anything smart or original to say, just thank you to the people who sent me these great wishes. Be safe, wear a mask, get the booster. Don't let Santa Claus down the chimney without a mask,' Alec said when signing off. In the latest development in the Rust case, investigators issued a search warrant for Alec's phone as local authorities in New Mexico continue to investigate the tragic accident. Alec has not been charged, though the investigation continues and lawsuits have been filed. Authorities still do not know how a live round ended up in the prop firearm, and Baldwin has said he did not pull the trigger. Halyna Hutchins, 42, died on the set of Rust when a gun Baldwin was handling 'went off' and shot her A young boy has drowned after wandering away from his parents' waterfront property on Christmas night. The three-year-old's body was pulled from Lake Macquarie by neighbours about 6.30pm on Saturday after playing in front of his home. It's believed the child walked off from his family and fell into the water where he was unable to get out. The three-year-old's body was pulled from Lake Macquarie by neighbours at around 6:30pm on Saturday after walking away from his family home Emergency services were called to the scene on Fishing Point Road in Rathmines early on Saturday evening after a local found the young boy. The passerby attempted CPR on the three-year-old after discovering him in the water and dragging him to shore. Paramedics also attempted to revive the child but he was unable to be saved. Police are investigating the moments leading up to the boy's death and are preparing a report for the coroner. The Royal Life Saving Society Australia said the eight days from Christmas Day to New Year's Day are the most dangerous for drownings, with 201 deaths reported in the 15 years from 2005 to 2020. Emergency services were called to the scene on Fishing Point Road in Rathmines early on Saturday evening after a local found the young boy Emergency services are also continuing their search for a teenager who went missing while swimming in the Murray River in Albury. The teen was reported missing on Saturday afternoon after being separated from his friends. Local police, paramedics, and the State Emergency Service joined the search for the 18-year-old but it was suspended due to bad light just after 8.30pm. The efforts continued on Sunday morning, with divers from Victorian Police's Search and Rescue team assisting. Unvaccinated people who catch Covid are up to 60 times more likely to end up in an intensive care ward than those who have been jabbed, startling figures reveal. And the difference that vaccination makes to the chance of needing intensive care is starkest among older people who are more likely to suffer serious Covid illness in the first place. It comes as Covid hospital admissions in London Britain's Omicron ground zero are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country. Latest NHS data shows there were 386 new admissions for the virus in the capital on December 22, marking a 92 per cent rise on the figure last week. Covid hospitalisations are now doubling roughly every 10 days - though they are still a far cry from the 850 at the peak last January. Ministers are said to be watching admission rates in the capital before pulling the trigger on more national curbs because London is a few weeks ahead in its Omicron outbreak. Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), which covers units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, show that between May and November the rate of admission for double-jabbed Covid sufferers in their 60s was just 0.6 cases per 100,000 people per week. But among people of the same age who remained unvaccinated, the rate was 37.3 per 100,000 per week equating to a relative risk about 60 times higher. Reports have claimed ministers are watching hospitalisation numbers in the capital, with a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown set to be imposed if daily numbers surpass 400 The UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of the Omicron variant, SAGE have warned Unvaccinated people who catch Covid are up to 60 times more likely to end up in an intensive care ward than those who have been jabbed, startling figures reveal Among those in their 50s and 70s there was almost a 30-fold difference in average weekly admission rates between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. In younger age groups the difference was lower but still marked unvaccinated people in their 30s and 40s were between ten and 15 times more likely to end up in intensive care with Covid than those who had received their jabs. Last night an intensive care consultant in London said the unvaccinated were putting extra pressure on intensive care units (ICUs), which also care for people with a wide range of problems from accidents to medical emergencies. The doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, said: Their presence puts extra pressure on our service. If these people had been jabbed they would be enjoying their Christmas and not filling our wards. 'The worry is more unvaccinated with Omicron coming through our doors. Even though people who have forsaken the jab make up only seven per cent of the countrys adult population, they are now responsible for the lions share of Covid admissions to ICUs. Separately, a survey by the Intensive Care Society found that at least two-thirds of Covid patients were unvaccinated in 12 of 16 ICUs they asked. At present, between 25 and 30 per cent of some 800 intensive care beds in Londons hospitals are filled by Covid patients, which is thought to be slightly higher than the national average. Last week Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged unvaccinated people to think about the damage that they are doing to society. Last week Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged unvaccinated people to think about the damage that they are doing to society He told Sky News: They take up hospital beds that could have been used for someone with maybe a heart problem, or maybe someone whos waiting for surgery. But instead of protecting themselves and protecting the community, they choose not to get vaccinated. The consultant said despite Omicron being less likely on average to cause serious illness than Delta, there was nothing mild about it for those who did need hospital treatment. 'Those who end up in hospital after catching the variant are quite unwell and many need oxygen continuously through a mask, he said. People should know that having to be admitted to hospital with Omicron means they are seriously ill, he added These people are quite sick and some of them have reached intensive care. But even being on a general ward with this mutation requires a lot of treatment to get people better again. Typically, they are going to be in hospital for a couple of weeks. So my message to anyone who thinks its not worth getting vaccinated or is not fully protected, is to get jabbed because you could be one of those who ends up spending weeks in hospital. Pictured: Covid hospital admissions in London are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country Covid hospitalisations are now doubling roughly every 10 days Pictured: A daily count of confirmed Covid-19 patients in hospital at 8am. An age breakdown of the number of covid patients admitted to hospital since the start of the pandemic (left) and as the rate per 100,000 people since the start of the pandemic (right) Meanwhile, Covid hospital admissions in London are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country. The latest NHS data shows there was a 92 per cent rise in admissions on last week with 386 new admissions for the virus in the capital on December 22. Covid hospitalisations are now doubling roughly every 10 days - though they are still a far cry from the 850 at the peak last January. Ministers are said to be watching admission rates in the capital before pulling the trigger on more national curbs because London is a few weeks ahead in its Omicron outbreak. A national two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown has been mooted after Christmas if London's daily admissions breach 400 this week which would signal 'unsustainable' pressure on the NHS. London became the epicentre of the UK's Omicron outbreak two weeks before the super mutant variant became dominant across the country and experts are treating trends in the city as a sign of what could come for England. But NHS data recording lags mean it will be after Christmas before it is known whether admissions surpassed 400 in the last two days. MPs and experts have now demanded the Government distinguishes between people who are being hospitalised 'with' or 'for' Covid before deciding on social restrictions. MailOnline's analysis of London Covid admissions show that a third (127) of the 386 new patients only tested positive after arriving at hospital for a different illness. The proportion of so-called 'incidental admissions' was around 12 per cent in the last two weeks of the Delta variant at the end of November, for comparison. An Afghan interpreter for The Mail on Sunday who escaped during the fall of Kabul has revealed that the Taliban is torturing a cousin he left behind. Bakhtiar Shoresh, his wife and their four children, aged between two and 14, were evacuated to Britain more than four months ago. But in a video call from home as they prepared for Christmas, they discovered that the cousin, 29, had been arrested and tortured. 'It was heartbreaking to see him,' says Bakhtiar, 46. 'I could see his face was bruised and battered and I suspect the Taliban arrested him simply because of his connection to me.' Bakhtiar Shoresh, his wife and their four children, aged between two and 14, were evacuated to Britain more than four months ago Bakhtiar had spent 20 years working as an interpreter for The Mail on Sunday and many other Western media organisations. He also worked with British security companies in Afghanistan and was the Kabul representative of a UAE company manufacturing armoured vehicles. His family escaped after a nerve-shredding taxi ride to Kabul airport, talking their way through four checkpoints as Taliban gunmen took control of the city. They have since been staying in a Liverpool airport hotel with hundreds of other evacuees while they await news of where they will be rehoused. 'The wait has been much longer than expected but we are safe at least,' Bakhtiar said. 'We are in limbo, although my two eldest children are now in schools. 'All of them are excited by Christmas and have enjoyed seeing all the decorations. The people of Liverpool have been very welcoming and friendly.' The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer who opened fire on an assault suspect inside a Burlington Coat Factory on Thursday has been placed on leave after a stray bullet killed a 14-year-old girl. The teen, Valentina Orellana Peralta, was shopping for a quinceanera dress with her mother at the store in North Hollywood before noon when an officer confronted Daniel Elena Lopez, 24. Lopez had allegedly assaulted a woman with a bike lock inside the store, and the unnamed officer shot him when the suspect was reportedly moving to attack another shopper. Peralta had been hiding inside the store's dressing room with her mom when one of the bullets fired at Lopez, killing him, went through the wall and killed her, as well. The shooting is being investigated by the California Department of Justice under Attorney General Rob Bonta. Scroll down for video A 14-year-old girl who was shot dead by a Los Angeles police officer's stray bullet during Thursday's confrontation with an assault suspect at a Burlington Coat Factory was in a dressing room trying on gowns for a quinceanera with her mother. Pictured: Shoppers are seen outside the store after the shooting Valentina Orellana Peralta, 14, was shopping for a quinceanera gown with her mother at this Burlington store in North Hollywood on Thursday when she was struck by cop's stray bullet Police say they came upon the male suspecting assaulting a woman and opened fire, killing the man. Pictured: a broken glass door is scene at the Burlington Coat Factory People are seen sobbing after the deadly shooting that took the life of the 14-year-old The woman who had been assaulted was taken to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries. She was filmed lying on a gurney with blood on her face. 'Its just absolutely heartbreaking, and I cannot find words to try to comfort a mother and a family, but I will ensure them and the public and our people that we will conduct a complete and thorough investigation,' LAPD Chief Michel Moore. He added that to provide full transparency, the department will compile and release all video of the incident, as well as radio calls and other available information. The shots were fired around 11.45am on Thursday. Police initially responded to reports of a person being assaulted with a deadly weapon as well as reports of shots being fired, said Los Angeles police Capt Stacy Spell at a news conference. Spell said officers opened fire when they saw the suspect assaulting another person. The suspect was struck by the officers bullets and killed, Spell said. One of the bullets went through a dressing room wall and struck Peralta as she was trying on quinceanera gowns, as Los Angeles Times first reported, citing law enforcement sources. LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said officers later found the teen's lifeless body inside the changing room. 'You cant see into the dressing rooms and it just looks like a straight wall of drywall,' Choi said at a second news conference. Investigators do not yet know whether the teenager was in the dressing room before the violence began or ran in there to hide, he said. The California Department of Justice was investigating the shooting, Attorney General Rob Bonta said. Police say the officer who fired the fatal shots did not know Valentine was inside the dressing room behind a wall A woman wipes her eye as police officers investigate the scene where two people were struck by gunfire in a shooting at a Burlington store ) Shoppers are seen at the scene after the officer-involved shooting, which is now under investigation No gun was found near the male assault suspect after his killing at the Burlington store Moore said it did not appear that the officer who fired the fatal shots 'would have known that there was anyone behind there or that he was looking at anyone other than the suspect and a wall.' The officer, who has not been named, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which could take weeks. 'Theres not a police officer in America who would ever want this type of circumstance to occur,' Moore added. Choi said authorities do not yet know the suspect's motive or whether he knew the woman he initially assaulted in the store. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Nicholas Prange said the woman was transported to a hospital. It wasnt immediately known if shed been shot but Choi said she had injuries to her head, arms and face. Police found a very heavy metal cable lock near the suspect that they say may have been used in that assault. Spell said the injured woman was the victim in the first assault report. It was not immediately clear what weapon was involved in that assault, but no gun was found. He added that police had received calls about the suspect acting erratically before the incident. Imelda Garcia said her sister works in the store and was on break when she heard gunshots and everyone started running. Garcia said she spoke to her sister on the phone and that shes OK but sounded 'really nervous.' Police escorted people out of the store nearly two hours after the shooting. The shooting recalled a July 21, 2018, confrontation in which LAPD officers accidentally shot and killed a woman at a Trader Joes market. Officers got into a gunfight with a man who authorities say shot his grandmother and girlfriend before leading police on a chase that ended when he crashed his car outside the market. A police bullet killed Melyda Corado, 27, the assistant store manager, as she ran toward the stores entrance after hearing the car crash. The suspect, Gene Evin Atkins, took employees and shoppers hostage for three hours before surrendering, authorities said. Atkins has pleaded not guilty to the killing. Prosecutors found two police officers acted lawfully when they returned Atkins gunfire. Thursday's shooting comes come as homicide rates have soared 52 percent in the past two years, and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is under fire for his soft-on-crime policies. Gascon continues to be called out for a zero-bail policy that some critics say is exacerbating the region's crime problems by freeing criminals to offend safe in the knowledge they'll be straight back on the streets after. At this time in 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department recorded 251 homicides. As of December 18, there have been 382 slayings in the city, representing a 52 percent increase, according to LAPD data. Homicide rates in LA have skyrocketed over the past two years. At this time in 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department recorded 251 homicides. Burglaries have dipped in recent years A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have recently taken place in Southern California Burglaries have dipped over the past few years. Property crimes are up in California as a whole as well, according to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Year-over-year through October, violent crimes spiked five percent statewide, with Oakland up 17 percent and Los Angeles up about one percent, PPIC data shows. Homicides during the same period rose 17 percent, from 523 last year to 613 as of October. In LA, homicides rose 17 percent, the institute said. Gascon, one of many progressive DAs bankrolled by billionaire Democrat donor George Soros, has survived one recall effort and faces another that was launched December 6 after he was accused of being soft on crime amid an epidemic of brazen smash-and-grab robberies perpetrated by organized groups of thieves. During the first week of December, LA police arrested 14 suspects alleged to have been involved in 11 recent smash-and-grab robberies at stores last month, where nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise was stolen in strikes on an LA Nordstrom, a Lululemon in Studio City, a Fairfax district store, and a CVS pharmacy in South LA. However, due to city's zero-bail policies, the suspects were all released within hours of being handcuffed and are currently walking the streets while they wait for their cases to go to court. It is the sort of news worth raising a glass to the pint bottle of champagne is set to return to Britain as Ministers prepare to overturn an EU ban. The serving, once a favourite of Winston Churchill, who hailed it the 'ideal size', was outlawed in 1973 when Britain joined the Common Market and fell into line with a Brussels ban on the use of imperial measurements. However, the Government is now expected to lift those restrictions along with other unwanted EU legislation, according to the Daily Telegraph. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is thought likely to lead the review. The pint bottle of champagne is set to return to Britain as Ministers prepare to overturn an EU ban A Government source said: 'Pint-sized bottles were a victim of the EU's war against imperial measurements, which are widely used and understood in this country. 'Now we've left the EU, we can rid ourselves of rules like this. Work is under way to make this change happen.' Before Britain joined the Common Market, about 60 per cent of all champagne sold in the UK was in pint-sized bottles. Champagne which must be produced in the Champagne region of France from seven grapes can be sold to British customers in pint bottles if French producers wish to do so. The move marks a victory for the Rathfinny Estate, which produces sparkling wine in East Sussex and laid down 800 pint-sized bottles in the wake of the Leave vote. The winery, which has been campaigning for the return of the pint of champagne since long before Brexit, hopes to release a batch of sparkling wine in pint-sized bottles late next year if the rule is ripped up in time. Winery co-owner Mark Driver said: 'This is great news and something we've been lobbying hard for.' South Africa has scaled back contact-tracing and requirements for people to self-isolate as it moves towards living with Covid rather than trying to contain it. The government announced a raft of changes on Friday including that people who have been in contact with a confirmed Covid case no longer have to isolate if they show no symptoms. They need only to monitor their health for five to seven days and avoid large gatherings. All quarantine in facilities outside the home is to be stopped, while contact tracing efforts will be scrapped apart from in specific scenarios such as tracking cluster outbreaks. Deputy health minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo told broadcaster SABC the move was based on advice from our scientists that it is not really having an impact any more. Harry Moultrie, of the countrys National Institute for Communicable Diseases, welcomed the changes. He tweeted: South Africa cancels contact tracing and quarantining and pivots to mitigation. Good decision. South Africas health department cited the emergence of the highly infectious, but milder Omicron strain as one of the reasons for the change. The above graphs show how Covid cases are falling in South Africa compared to when the Delta variant took hold. Both waves were set to begin the first time a case of the variant was reported, which was May 8 for Delta and November 25 for Omicron. It reveals that hospitalisations are also dropping earlier than they did when Delta took hold. Deaths are still rising, but this is a lagging indicator because of the time taken for someone infected with the virus to become seriously ill Other reasons were that at least 60 per cent of the population has some form of protection from vaccination or because they have previously been infected. Daily Covid cases in Gauteng province, where Omicron first exploded, have been in retreat for more than a week despite the lack of strict social-distancing laws, leading to hopes that the variants natural course is a sharp but short wave of infection. South Africa, which has 60 million people compared to the UKs 68 million, has recorded almost 91,000 Covid-related deaths while the UKs figure is just under 148,000. Taxpayers have been hit with a total bill of more than 50 million for controversial childrens charity Kids Company after a failed court battle left the public to pick up legal costs of almost 10 million. It followed a three-and-a-half-year case that saw the High Court throw out an attempt to ban the charitys trustees from holding senior jobs amid claims of mismanagement. Kids Company collapsed in 2015, despite receiving 42 million from taxpayers as well as the backing of former Prime Minister David Cameron and celebrities such as Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The case, brought by the Official Receiver, earlier this year failed in its bid to ban seven former Kids Company executives from holding future directorships, including its founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh The organisation spent tens of thousands of pounds of public money helping migrants to claim benefits and even allegedly arranging for one client to have sex-change surgery. The case, brought by the Official Receiver, earlier this year failed in its bid to ban seven former Kids Company executives from holding future directorships, including its founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh. Following the case, taxpayers have been left with an additional bill of 9.5 million, including legal fees of 8.25 million for the trustees of the charity. The Official Receivers fees came to 1.2 million. The legal costs came to light after the case was raised in the House of Lords by former Labour MP Kate Hoey. The Baroness said last night: There is no doubt about it public money has been wasted. Im determined to get to the bottom of this. A Charity Commission report into Kids Company which has taken almost as long as the seven-year Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War was due to be published after the trial ended in February. Judges have been told to drop the term 'postman' for 'postal operative' under new guidelines designed to make UK courtrooms more 'gender-neutral'. In a 566-page document, bosses at the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary also advised that women not be called 'ladies', as the term is considered patronising. Critics have said the governing body should instead focus its efforts on tackling the current backlog of cases caused by the Covid pandemic, reported the Sun. It comes as there are currently 60,000-plus cases waiting to be heard at crown courts across England and Wales. Tory MP Nigel Mills said: 'This is just ridiculous. It is nonsense and bizarre. 'The priority shouldn't be this woke agenda, which doesn't work in the real world. 'It is a waste of time, effort and money better spent supporting the public.' It comes after it was revealed in September how fed-up victims of crime are refusing to proceed with prosecutions in nearly a million cases as faith in the justice system dwindles. Judges have been told to drop the term 'postman' for 'postal operative' under new guidelines designed to make UK courtrooms more 'gender-neutral' (file photo) there are currently 60,000-plus cases waiting to be heard at crown courts across England and Wales Figures revealed by the Mail on Sunday showed the number withdrawing cooperation has been rising year-on-year since 2014-15 when it accounted for just under seven per cent of all offences. The level now stands at a staggering 21.8 per cent or 945,000 cases in the year to March 2021 for England and Wales. Victims' groups have blamed the logjam in the courts system which was already struggling before the pandemic. While the crown court backlog stood at 37,000 cases before Covid-19, it reached 59,000 by July. And there were almost 400,000 outstanding cases in the magistrates' court system. Britains economy will vastly outstrip that of France in the next 15 years, according to a landmark report published today. Booming tech investment and the economic reforms of the Thatcher era are giving the UK a clear lead over its neighbour and historic rival, according to independent think-tank the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Its latest World Economic League Table, which looks at the prospects for all 193 countries, forecasts the UK economy will be 16 per cent larger than Frances by 2036. The UKs is currently estimated to be worth 2.1 trillion, 3.6 per cent larger than Frances. The research will further strengthen Britains case in the battle with France for bankers and other highly qualified staff. Britains economy will vastly outstrip that of France in the next 15 years, according to a landmark report published today Douglas McWilliams, deputy chairman of CEBR, told The Mail on Sunday: Tech is the dynamic factor in economic growth and Britain is investing more in this area than France and Germany put together. 'Between half and three-quarters of UK economic growth has come from the tech sector. By contrast, Germany has a hefty legacy economy, based on car manufacturing and similar. The UK is the worlds fifth-largest economy and is estimated to have a gross domestic product of 36,357 per head. The report predicts Britain will drop to sixth position behind India in 2026, where it is expected to remain until 2036. France, currently the sixth-largest economy, is predicted to fall to seventh position next year and remain there. There had been hopes in Paris that Brexit would lead to an exodus of financial jobs from the UK. But consulting firm EY has reported that fewer than 8,000 posts have been relocated from London to the Continent. The Mail on Sunday revealed last weekend that the European Central Bank is trying to raise this figure, threatening to take licences from banks that fail to shift substantial financial assets and staff from London to the eurozone. Mr McWilliams said Brexit allows Britain to retain Thatchers economic legacy but warned tech firms may find it harder to recruit talented workers from overseas. The CEBR report notes that Brexit had cost the City no more than ten per cent of its business, despite dire forecasts from politicians and commentators in the run-up to Britains exit from the EU. The UKs is currently estimated to be worth 2.1 trillion, 3.6 per cent larger than Frances The UK suffered one of the biggest economic shocks from the pandemic globally, but is tipped to bounce back this year. Economists surveyed by the MoS expect UK growth of 4.7 per cent next year, following a 7 per cent rise this year. The economy shrank 9.4 per cent in 2020, its worst performance for a century. Businesses in the science, technology and grocery sector are tipped to do well next year, while the recovery of travel and hospitality firms will be dependent on Covid restrictions. Britains biggest industries include financial services, consumer goods and electrical engineering, while Frances leading business sectors include manufacturing of machinery, chemicals and textiles. Both nations are world leaders in making aircraft and motor vehicles. While admitting the path of the world economy is hard to predict, the CEBR suggests that by 2036, China, currently in second place, will have the worlds largest economy, overtaking the United States. India, currently ranked seventh will rise to third place, and Germany will stay in fourth. Japan, currently in third place, will fall to fifth. The number of NHS executives pocketing at least 250,000-a-year has risen by more than 50 per cent in 2021, new data has revealed. 36 managers working within the National Health Service's trusts or clinical commissioning groups now earn more than a quarter of a million pound, compared to just 23 earning within the same pay bracket in 2020. The exponential rise in high-earners was criticised by one senior Tory MP, who blasted the figures as 'unacceptable' and expects a backlash from voters after April's planned 36bn National Insurance hike, reports The Telegraph. It also emerged on Saturday that Health Secretary Sajid Javid had given the green light to overhaul NHS management and rip up established pay brackets to help attract the 'best leaders' across the country. Earlier this year, critics slammed the creation of 42 chief executives of integrated care boards in England, whose job will be to 'deliver joined-up services' across the NHS and social care. And those positions appear to already be attracting significant salaries, with online adverts revealing each executive will be paid an average of 223,261. It comes after members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) earlier this month voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action as a warning shot to No10 about their anger over a purported 3% pay rise offer. 36 managers working within the National Health Service's trusts or clinical commissioning groups now earn more than a quarter of a million pound, compared to just 23 earning within the same pay bracket in 2020. [File picture] Health Minister Edward Argar provided new data on Saturday that showed more than 7,000 NHS managers were earning between 80,000 and 129,999 this year. That figure includes a total of 1,071 whose pay ranges from 130,000 to 199,999, 114 others who pocket between 200,000 and 249,000 and 36 top ranked executives whose annual compensation is 100,000 higher than the Prime Minister's pay packet. The total number of 'very senior managers' within the NHS has also risen from 944 in September 2009 to more than 2,700 in the last year, per the most recent data. It comes as new polling figures showed almost 50 per cent of people (48%) feared there was too much waste within NHS spending, compared to just 21 per cent who disagreed. In the poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, 34 per cent of those surveyed believed the health service will not be able to spend the new 12bn National Insurance tax hike efficiently. 37 per cent argued that it would. An NHS spokesman said: 'The NHS is one of the most efficient health services in the world, with administrative costs of less than 2p in every pound of NHS funding, compared to 5p in Germany and 6p in France. 'Managers are essential to ensuring that the NHS has the right staff, with the right skills to deliver the improvements for patients set out in the Long Term Plan.' British taxpayers have been warned that Boris Johnson's manifesto-busting NHS handout will be 'gobbled up' permanently by the health service, with waiting lists and delays here to stay. The cash injection has been given to the NHS without any firm targets to meet, which has raised fears the money will simply be swallowed. NHS bosses have already complained the sum isn't enough to clear the backlog. Under proposals, half of the 10bn a year will be spent on social care in 2023 before the full amount is devoted to the care sector in 2025 and, in theory, the NHS reverts to its normal budget. Critics have raised doubts about the plan, claiming that if the NHS goes on a recruitment spree to plug staffing gaps then a higher budget will become 'baked into the system'. Mr Javid is also understood to have written to the independent review body for pay, requesting updated salary recommendations for 'very senior managers... for 2022 to 2023'. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has given the green light to overhaul NHS management and rip up established pay brackets to help attract the 'best leaders' across the country In his request, the Health Secretary explained the NHS should 'recruit, retain and motivate its senior workforce' and would therefore require the Senior Salaries Review Body to propose a 'revised VSM pay framework', reports the Telegraph. Earlier this month, the RCN union said it has not decided on next steps yet after more than 89 per cent of its most recent balloters said they would be prepared to take part in industrial action. Responding to the results, nursing leaders said members felt 'disrespected and devalued' over the 3 per cent offer and that it would do noting to address huge staff vacancies. However Government has insisted the 3 per cent pay rise, which it says increased nurses pay by an average of 1,000 a year has been 'rightly received'. The RCN, like many other NHS staff unions, disagrees, and has been campaigning for its members to receive a one-year 12.5 per cent pay rise. New York Presbyterian Hospital administrators are accused of grilling a female surgeon about her sex life and ruining her as retribution for past discrimination complaints after she saved a rectal patient by removing a 'large foreign object' from his butt. In a lawsuit filed against the hospital in Manhattan Federal Court, Dr. Deborah Keller, 41, claimed she was targeted by administrators after she assisted doctors struggling to help the patient in February 2020. After successfully dislodging an unidentified item from the man's body, Keller said she was put on administrative leave and 'interrogated' by hospital admins who 'sexualized the object as a dildo,' questioned her about allegedly sleeping with a male surgeon, and accused her of circulating pictures of the patient, the New York Post reported. She was ultimately let go and claimed the hospital submitted false reports about the incident to National Practitioner Data Dank, destroying her reputation and making it virtually impossible for her to get another job as a surgeon. 'They are literally trying to ruin my career,' she said. Dr. Deborah Keller (left) claimed the New York Presbyterian Hospital administration ruined her career despite her efforts to save a rectal patient. She said she was targeted for filing eight gender discrimination lawsuits against her boss. Dr. Pokala Ravi Kiran Keller was called upon multiple times to help a patient who had a 'large foreign object' stuck in his butt. She claims the hospital's administrators joked about the case and accused her of violating the patient's privacy for sharing a picture of the object. Keller, the only female doctor involved in the case and the only one to lose her job, claimed the hospital gunned for her because of eight prior complaints of gender discrimination she filed against the hospitals' chief of colorectal surgery, Pokala Ravi Kiran. Kiran's alleged 'relentless sexism' includes comments on her body and appearance, taking away her office, diverting new patients to male colleagues and sabotaging a prestigious National Institutes of Health research grant Keller won. The New York Presbyterian Hospital did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Keller, a colorectal surgery specialist, said she was called in multiple times to help extract what she called a 'massive missile-shaped item' from the patient's body. She said after the procedure, the hospital's internal hearing committee made 'demeaning and embarrassing jokes' about the incident. 'They kept using inappropriate terms for the foreign [object], it was just getting contentious and questions that just didn't have anything to do with the practice of medicine or patient care or colorectal surgery, making what I do seem like a joke,' Keller said in the lawsuit. Keller admitted to sharing a photo of the lodged object in order to help educate a surgical resident who could not remove it. She said the doctor in charge of the case also took pictures and video for education purposes and was never asked about his sex life They also accused her of having sex with the doctor in charge of the patient's care, Mark Kiely, who himself took pictures and videos of the procedure with the patient's permission. Keller said Kiely was never asked about his sex life and although he was initially suspended, Kiely was eventually reinstated. Keller admitted to sending pictures of the lodged object to a surgical resident who had been struggling to remove it from the emergency room. She claimed she did so in order to educate the resident about the procedure and show him that it was too large to remove without going to the operating room. Keller's attorney, George Vallas, told the Post that the alleged takedown of the surgeon's career was 'vicious in a way that we very rarely see.' Keller currently works as a researcher and assistant professor at the University of California, Davis. The Archbishop of Canterbury used his Christmas sermon to celebrate the work of volunteers helping refugees, saying: 'The Christmas story shows us how we must treat those who are unlike us.' The Most Rev Justin Welby used his sermon at Canterbury Cathedral to compare migrants' plight with that of Joseph and a pregnant Mary. He said that the biblical search for shelter demonstrates the need to treat with compassion those people 'who have far less than us, who have lived with the devastating limits of war and national tragedy those who risk everything to arrive on the beaches'. Border force brings in a group of migrants, including small children, into Dover Marina this Christmas His words came as 67 more migrants, including young children, made the perilous crossing between France and the UK on Christmas Day. Images showed the group being ushered to safety having been rescued from a small dinghy in the freezing waters by Border Force. Mr Welby also praised the rescue teams, including the RNLI adding: 'I saw them the other day, a couple of days back, just getting on with it five times as many shouts, callouts, as they've ever had in the history of the Dover lifeboat, and they do one thing save life at sea,' he said. 'It's not politics, it's simply humanity. And volunteers today in food banks and other places of comfort and help show this country as it should be, at its best, as we dream of it to be: a beautiful sign of compassion, of generosity, of living out that saying 'it's not about me'.' The Most Rev Justin Welby (pictured last month) used his sermon at Canterbury Cathedral to compare migrants' plight with that of Joseph and a pregnant Mary Last week it was confirmed that the total number of migrants to make the Channel crossing this year surpassed 28,000 more than three times the 8,410 who made the journey in 2020. In previous years, smugglers avoided using the sea route during the bitter winter months but the use of larger inflatable dinghies has allowed traffickers to continue sending migrants across the 21-mile stretch of water. It comes as at least 16 people died after a migrant boat capsized in the Aegean Sea on Friday. l POPE Francis used his Christmas Day address to pray for an end to the Covid pandemic and call for vaccines for the poor. Amid a record-setting rise in Covid cases in Italy last week, only a few thousand people flocked to St Peter's Square in Rome for his address, an event that is normally attended by tens of thousands. The Pope also lamented ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an 'unprecedented crisis' in Lebanon. He delivered his speech hours after celebrating a midnight Mass service for some 2,000 people. Boris Johnson has vowed to keep schools open in the New Year despite fears of a January Omicron surge and its potential impact on Britain's hospitals. The Prime Minister has told Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi he is 'absolutely determined' to see children back in the classroom following the festive break. The pair are understood to be in constant communication about the delicate balance of keeping children in school and curbing any resurgence of the mutant strain once the Christmas holidays are over. Mr Johnson and Mr Zahawi are said to believe that education is the 'number one priority' within Government and school closures are not currently being considered. The news will come as a welcome reprieve for parents, pupils and teachers who faced chaos last January when the government was forced into a fresh u-turn on its guidance for primary schools to remain open. A number of unions had called on the government to tell head teachers 'promptly and clearly' about what new measures to expect next year, amid concern that schools would be left to decide whether or not to open themselves. But a source with close links to Zahawi told the Times: 'There is a shared commitment across government to make sure they [schools] stay open.' Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (right) have vowed to keep schools open in the New Year despite fears of a January Omicron surge and its potential impact on Britain's hospitals The Prime Minister has told Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi he is 'absolutely determined' to see children back in the classroom following the festive break. [File image] Fears have mounted for the January return to school after SAGE warned that the UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of Omicron. In minutes from a meeting on December 23 published last night, the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that the peak on hospital admissions may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks including the second wave in January. In London, now regarded as the UKs Omicron ground zero, there were 386 new Covid hospital admissions on December 22, according to the latest NHS data. Though they are still a far cry from the 850 admissions achieved at the peak of the second wave in January, they mark a 92 per cent rise on the figure last week, and are within touching distance of the Governments threshold of 400 for further lockdown curbs. Reports have claimed ministers are watching hospitalisation numbers in the capital, with a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown set to be imposed if daily numbers surpass 400 Scores of pupils across England were already sent home early for their Christmas holiday before the scheduled break because of staff shortages caused by illness and Covid-related isolation. The Welsh government has already opted to delay the start to school pupils' spring term, with staff being allocated two days of planning to organise alternative remote learning. That prompted unions to call on the government to tell schools before the end of term what the plan is for reopening in January. Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Schools and colleges in England have been asked by the government to review their contingency arrangements during the final week of this term in order to be prepared for measures which might be introduced next term because of the risk posed by the Omicron variant of Covid. 'It is imperative that the government communicates the introduction of any additional measures to schools and colleges promptly and clearly. It does not have a good record on either front.' Operational guidance made for schools by the government had left teachers and parents confused after it appeared to suggest each school is responsible for making its own decision. 'Schools and trusts should work closely with parents and carers (future references to parents should be read as including carers), staff and unions when agreeing the best approaches for their circumstances,' the document stated. And in a blog post published this week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair's Institute for Global Change said: 'We believe the government must take further urgent action to protect the upcoming school term. 'It must authorise vaccines for all 5 to 11-year-olds and accelerate the existing vaccine programme for teenagers, given that only 50 per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds and 70 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds have so far had one dose of the vaccine.' Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman warned that many of the youngest children's progress and development 'faltered' amid the pandemic It comes as the annual report from Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, into the devastating impact the pandemic had on children's education was released this week. Ms Spielman warned most children had suffered thanks to school closures and lockdowns, with young people facing loneliness, boredom and misery throughout the past 18 months. One of the UK's most dangerous serial killers will die in an underground glass box after his last-ditch appeal to live alongside other prisoners was rejected. Robert Maudsley, 68, is being held in a private underground cell beneath the general population of HMP Wakefield, after killing four men between 1974 and 1978. The Liverpudlian, who killed child molesters and one wife killer, was told this week that he will be incarcerated in his 'glass box' until he dies. It came after bosses at the prison ruled him too dangerous to mix with prisoners and guards at the West Yorkshire jail, reported the Daily Star. An insider told the paper: 'He was told no last month but appealed against the decision and wanted to spend Christmas in the presence of other humans. But he's just been told no for the final time. 'Being alone for that long does something to you. He isn't OK and they cannot take the risk of what he might do. 'They simply cannot take the risk.' Robert Maudsley (pictured), 68, is being held in a private underground cell beneath the general population of HMP Wakefield, after killing four men between 1974 and 1978 Maudsley must now live out the rest of his days in a 5.5 x 4.5 metre cell, which was built especially for him in 1983 and is protected by bullet proof glass. He spends 23 hours of each day in the cell, sleeping on a concrete slab and using a toilet and sink which are bolted to the floor. He also has a table and chair made of compressed cardboard. The convicted killer, from Toxteth, Liverpool, committed his first murder in 1974, aged just 21. He killed John Farrell in Wood Green London, after he showed Maudsley pictures of children he had sexually abused. He handed himself in to police and was deemed unfit to stand trial, and was sent to Broadmoor Hospital, home to some of Britain's most violent inmates. Maudsley generally stayed out of trouble for his first few years behind bars, before he and fellow prisoner David Cheeseman locked themselves in a cell with child molester David Francis in 1977. They tortured Francis to death before dangling his body for prison guards to see. Maudsley was convicted of manslaughter and sent to HMP Wakefield. In 1978, Maudsley strangled and stabbed Salney Darwood, 46, who had been jailed for killing his wife. He hid Darwood's body under bed before sneaking into the cell of paedophile Bill Roberts, 56, who had sexually abused a girl aged seven. He stabbed Roberts, hacked his skull with a makeshift dagger and smashed his head against a wall. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he never be released. In 2000, he begged the courts to allow him to die, writing in a letter: 'What purpose is served by keeping me locked up 23 hours a day? The Liverpudlian, who murdered child molesters and one wife killer, was told this week that he will be incarcerated in his 'glass box' until he dies (Pictured: HMP Wakefield) 'Why even bother to feed me and to give me one hour's exercise a day? Who actually am I a risk to? 'As a consequence of my current treatment and confinement, I feel that all I have to look forward to is indeed psychological breakdown, mental illness and probable suicide. 'Why can't I have a budgie instead of flies, cockroaches and spiders which I currently have. I promise to love it and not eat it? 'Why can't I have a television in my cell to see the world and learn? Why can't I have any music tapes and listen to beautiful classical music? 'If the Prison Service says no then I ask for a simple cyanide capsule which I shall willingly take and the problem of Robert John Maudsley can easily and swiftly be resolved.' The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on the cases of individual prisoners. NHS doctors are to trial a new 'three-in-one' pill for high blood pressure which they believe will save lives and lead to fewer patients having to switch between drugs. About seven million people in Britain about a tenth of the population take pills to control the condition, while a similar number have high blood pressure but don't know it. Labelled the 'silent killer', it is responsible for about half of heart attacks and strokes. But many people find it difficult to identify the right medication, or a combination, that works to lower their blood pressure without causing unpleasant side effects such as swollen ankles, headaches and dizziness. NHS doctors are to trial a new 'three-in-one' pill for high blood pressure (file photo used) Most have to take two or three separate pills each day to control their blood pressure, increasing the chance of side effects or that they simply don't take the tablets. Now doctors are to trial a new approach in which low doses of three widely used drugs are put into a single pill. They hope the combination will work better, on average, than putting patients on a higher dose of one drug to start with. The tablet, created by George Medicines, is to be tested in a trial of around 500 NHS patients led by Imperial College Trials Unit in London. Another 1,000 patients are testing the pill overseas. Unit director Professor Neil Poulter said: 'There is lots of evidence to show that giving two drugs at low dose is more effective than one drug at full dose. Most have to take two or three separate pills each day to control their blood pressure. Pictured, a file photo of medical pills 'It gets blood pressure down more quickly, and with fewer side effects. This pill is taking that approach a step further.' Because the three drugs lower blood pressure in different ways, they should work together to have a more pronounced effect. Stefan Konig, chief executive of George Medicines, said: 'There's a need for drugs that are designed for easier intake and are more efficacious than what's currently out there. 'Our combination therapy offers simplicity for the patient and the treating physician.' If the trials go well, he hopes the pill will be available in 2023. Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland, 62, is being pressured to turn in his badge An Idaho county prosecutor as well as a city mayor and its police force are calling on a county sheriff to resign, following claims he threatened a youth church group by pointing a gun at them over concerns they might have been 'drunk Indians'. Bingham County Prosecutor Paul Rogers and Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll on Friday called on Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland, 62, to step down. The Idaho attorney general's office last week charged Rowland with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun. State investigators accused him of threatening a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group with a firearm. The group had dropped a thank-you note off at his front door prior to the threat. In court documents, investigators with the Idaho Attorney General's office wrote that the religious youth group was participating in an activity on November 9 where they delivered door-to-door thank-you notes to members of the congregation. The girls, aged 12 to 16, taped the notes to the church-goers' doors and then rang their doorbells, running away before they could be seen. After the group of Church of Latter-day saints girls placed the thanksgiving thank you note (pictured) on Sheriff Rowlands property, he chased them down and grabbed their chaperone driver by her hair, fixing a gun on her head, before telling them to never come back Seven of the youth group members and an adult leader went to Rowland's neighborhood to leave a note for the sheriff and his wife, according to court documents. In separate interviews with investigators, members of the youth group and Rowland both reportedly said that after the group left the note, Rowland stopped their car from driving away, pulled the adult driver out of the vehicle - who he had known for 30 years - by her hair and pointed his handgun at her head, yelling profanities at her, such as 'get the f**k out of the car.' After the chaperone clarified that the group was only dropping off a Thanksgiving card, Rowland reportedly told the woman and young girls to never come back to his property again, before letting them go. Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll called for Rowland's resignation, after saying that the sheriff had 'admitted to physically assaulting a neighbor and threatening her with his service handgun.' 'A trusted Law Enforcement officer has admitted to physically assaulting a neighbor and threatening her with his service handgun,' Carroll wrote in a statement released on Friday calling for Rowland to resign. Rogers, a local prosecutor, said in his statement that at 'some point the damage to the Sheriff's Office becomes irreparable regardless of the outcome of the newly-filed case.' Rowland agreed to take a leave of absence shortly after the allegations arose in November, but returned to the job several weeks ago. Rowland has said he has received threats in recent months and worried about people coming to his home. He has not yet entered a plea on the charges. 'I have been doing this job for 36 years,' Rowland said in an affidavit released by state prosecutors, in which he also disparaged the people on the nearby Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' Fort Hall Reservation, referencing intoxication and calling them 'not good people' and saying their proximity was the reason for his actions. 'I've had drunk Indians drive down my cul-de-sac, I've had drunk Indians come to my door,' Rowland said, according to court documents. 'I live just off of the reservation, we have a lot of reservation people around us that are not good people.' The Shoshone-Bannock tribes have also called on Rowland to resign through a statement posted on Facebook The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes is a recognized by the U.S. government as sovereign nation located in southeast Idaho. The tribes, which are federally recognized as a sovereign nation, have also called on Rowland to resign, calling his statements racist. 'We ask Rowland to officially step down as Sheriff and offer a public apology to the Fort Hall community,' Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Devon Boyer said in the statement last week. 'Rowlands [sic] use of racial slurs about "Indians" is extremely offensive,' Boyer added. 'Local law enforcement has a long history of violent criminal conduct towards tribal community members, stemming back decades. Race relations between local law enforcement has been controversial and sometimes violent.' A man was bashed by a Coles worker on Christmas Eve after asking the shelf stacker to wear his mask over his nose, leaving him bloodied and bruised. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, headed to the Balgowlah store, in Sydney's Northern Beaches, about 9.40pm on Friday to pick up a few last minute groceries before Christmas Day. As he was walking down an aisle, he came across two employees stacking shelves and noticed one man's mask was sitting beneath his nose. The shopper asked the worker to adjust his face covering, after NSW reintroduced mask mandates indoors that day to combat the state's soaring Covid outbreak. But the worker refused, and replied: 'What's it to you?' before punching the man twice in the face - knocking him flat to the ground. A man (pictured) was brutally bashed by a Coles employee after asking him to wear his face mask correctly Poll SHOULD SUPERMARKET WORKERS WEAR MASKS? Yes No Only if they're unvaccinated SHOULD SUPERMARKET WORKERS WEAR MASKS? Yes 930 votes No 278 votes Only if they're unvaccinated 64 votes Now share your opinion 'I was felt like I was going to vomit,' the man told Daily Mail Australia. 'He thumped me on my head and mouth, and then as I fell to the ground I hit my head. The man suffered cuts to his head, leaving blood dripping down his face, as his injured gums also filled his mouth with blood. As he laid on the floor, the shopper shouted out for help, concerned about another attack. Other employees rushed to the aisle and directed the attacker, understood to be in his early 20s, to walk away while the man called the police. Four officers arrived a short time later, cleaning the man's injuries and bandaging his head before calling an ambulance as a precaution. After assessing his injuries, paramedics sent him home with Panadol about 11.40pm to avoid catching Covid in hospital ahead of the festive season. 'It ruined my Christmas. I spent most of yesterday in bed,' he said. The man was visiting the Balgowlah store (pictured), in Sydney's Northern Beaches, to pick up last minute Christmas groceries when he was violently assaulted 'My family are all overseas and I didn't want them to talk to me over Zoom, because I didn't want them to know what had happened to me and worry.' The shopper explained to Daily Mail Australia that after initially requesting the staff member wear the mask properly and being ignored, he went to seek help from a manager. A manager followed the shopper back to the aisle, but at one point stopped and turned around, leaving the customer in the aisle with the un-masked staffer. It was during this second interaction when he was bashed, after asking the staff member to put the mask on properly again. He said he was shocked by the manager and staffs' response to the situation. 'I felt like the manager was accusing me of being the aggressor,' the man said. 'He said "stay with him". Then he started shouting at me when I was on the phone to emergency services. The man suffered several gashes across his face and near his mouth, but feels lucky his injuries were not worse 'Nobody in Coles came up to me and said sorry for what happened. In fact, nobody asked if I was ok or asked if I needed a glass of water.' The man said he is still recovering from an ongoing headache two days later and a bump on his head. He said 'disappointed' is a mild expression for his feelings towards the supermarket giant and he now fears returning to his local shop. 'You shouldn't have to be afraid to go to your local Coles. It is understandable to be afraid of catching Covid, but you shouldn't expect to be afraid of getting attacked. 'It is one thing to be attacked by a shopper, but it is another when it is an employee.' NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the Northern Beaches Police command are still conducting inquiries into the investigation and no one has yet been charged. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles for comment. Mask rules were reintroduced on Christmas Eve to help quell the Covid outbreak surging through Sydney, which swelled to a record 6,394 new cases on Sunday. Face coverings must now be worn in all non-residential indoor venues, as well as on public transport. Actor Paul Bettany has said he experienced an 'unpleasant feeling' to have his private text messages between himself and Johnny Depp read out in public as part of Depp's 2020 libel case against The Sun newspaper. Depp sued the newspaper after it described him as a 'wife beater' in his relationship with Amber Heard, 35. He ultimately lost the case. An exchange that was both obscene and graphic between Bettany, 50, and Depp, 58, who have worked together on three films, was read out in court during the trial. The pair joked about drowning Heard to prove that she wasn't a witch. Johnny Depp swapped 'joke' texts with British actor Paul Bettany (pictured) about setting Amber Heard on fire and 'f***ing her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead' or drowning his 'witch' ex-wife Over texts Depp said he would 'f**k her burnt corpse to make sure she's dead' or drown her to 'make sure she's not a witch' During an interview with The Independent, Bettany appeared extremely uncomfortable when the topic was addressed. 'I think that's a really difficult subject to talk about and I think that I just pour fuel on the fire,' he said in answer to a question about why he wrote such caustic words. 'It was very strange. It was a strange moment. What was strange about it was you suddenly have one of the most scabrous newspapers in London and their lawyers pouring through your texts for the last 10 years. Can you imagine what it would be like, honestly, to have a bunch of lawyers go through every one of your emails and texts for 10 years? All I can tell you was that it was an unpleasant feeling.' Years earlier, Bettany had tweeted 'Known Johnny Depp for years and through several relationships. He's the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I've ever known. Just saying.' The texts between the two actors were sent in 2013 with Depp texting Bettany saying: 'Let's burn Amber!!!' Paul Bettany, right, has said he experienced an 'unpleasant feeling' to have his private text messages between himself and Johnny Depp, left, read out in public This photo shows Heard with what is claimed to be a bruise on her arm after an incident in March 2013. Heard said she was attacked by Depp after laughing at his tattoo and when he allegedly tried to torch a painting In response, Bettany is said to have replied: 'Having thought it through I don't think we should burn Amber she's delightful company and easy on the eye, plus I'm not sure she's a witch. We could of course try the English course of action in these predicaments we do a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool.' 'Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead,' Depp responded. Bettany replied: 'My thoughts entirely. Let's be certain before we pronounce her a witch.' During the 2020 trial, Depp said his 'sense of humor is slightly skewed' as the texts were read out. In another exchange he quipped with Bettany about 'shaving Amber Heard's beaver' - a reference to a pet beaver they considered buying her. The court heard how Depp told Bettany to buy Heard a pet beaver and record himself shaving the animal so that they could post the clip online titled: 'Johnny Depp shaves Amber Heard's Beaver.' 'First of all we buy Amber a pet beaver and then we take pictures of you shaving the pet beaver. All this is to create a domain name 'Johnny Depp Shaves Amber Heard's Beaver. Clearly there are many spin-offs. You could poke, joke, punch,' Depp suggested. Depp was asked, 'Do you think that's a respectful way of somebody, here Paul Bettany, talking about your girlfriend?', to which Depp replied: 'It is not a respectful way to talk about Ms Heard.' Actress Amber Heard is now the subject of a new $50 million law suit against her by Depp Depp ended up losing his lawsuit against The Sun in November 2020. The judge ruled that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in 'fear of her life' three times often while on drink and drugs binges, which he said turned the actor into a 'monster', in one of the most high-profile libel clashes of this century. But a new $50 million defamation lawsuit has been filed by Depp against Heard which is due to get underway next spring. Depp is suing his ex-wife through a court in Virginia over an op-ed article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 where she described how she was a victim of domestic violence. She never referred to Depp by name but he believes that it was obvious Heard was referring to him as the abuser. Depp has denied any abuse towards her. 'I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out,' she wrote in the December 2018 article, which didn't mention the Pirates of the Caribbean actor by name. Depp claimed, nonetheless, that it implicated him as the abuser, damaging his reputation and causing him to lose his prized role of Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp is suing his ex-wife through a court in Virginia over an op-ed article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 where she described how she was a victim of domestic violence. Amber Heard is pictured with bruises to her face in evidence from an earlier court case Heard cataloged the 'horrific' abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp's hands, describing him as 'the monster' and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises and scars (left and right) This is one of the clumps of hair left on the ground after Depp tore it from Heard during a December 2015 fight, she claims in legal filings His suit says he's the victim of an 'elaborate hoax' instigated by Heard to generate positive publicity and advance her career. 'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator,' it claims. 'She hit, punched and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.' Heard responded with a lurid 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the 'horrific' abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp's hands, describing him as 'the monster' and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises and scars, clumps of hair apparently torn from Heard's head and pictures of smashed up furniture to illustrate the violence she was allegedly subjected to after hooking up with Depp, her co-star in The Rum Diary, back in 2011. Johnny Depp and Amber Heart were married for two years from 20152017 Treasured nurse and midwife Rachel Wake has been named as the woman allegedly stabbed to death in front of two teenagers at a home in Hobart's east. Police arrived at the home on Binalong Road in Mornington at about 1.30pm on Christmas Day after reports a woman had injuries to her upper body. The woman, 52, was rushed to the Royal Hobart Hospital but was unable to be saved. Darren Mark Wake, 60, appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court in an out-of-hours session on Sunday charged with murder. He did not apply for bail and will be remanded in custody to reappear in court on Monday. Treasured nurse and midwife Rachel Wake (pictured) has been identified as the woman allegedly stabbed to death in front of two teens at a home in east Hobart on Christmas Day Police arrived at the home on Binalong Road in Mornington (pictured) at about 1.30pm on Christmas Day after reports a woman had been injured in her upper body A GoFundMe page dedicated to beloved midwife Rachel Wake has since been flooded with messages of love and support. The fundraiser states it is raising money for Rachel's teenage children who 'have experienced a huge loss'. 'She was a registered nurse and midwife, who cared for other women and helped many lives safely into this world,' the description reads. The campaign has raised nearly $34,000 in less than 24 hours with many expressing their grief at the midwife's shock passing. 'An amazing midwife and nurse who made a positive impact on our family. Words can not explain the sadness we feel for her family and friends,' one woman wrote. 'Rachel was a beautiful friend and work colleague who was so loving to her kids! And this tragedy is completely unfair and heartbreaking,' a second wrote. The beloved nurse (pictured) has been remembered as having the 'kindest soul' as well as an 'amazing' midwife, colleague and friend Tasmania Police previously confirmed a 60-year-old man believed to be known to the woman had been taken into custody. Detectives also interviewed the two teenagers who were witnesses at the scene at the time of the stabbing. 'The two teenagers were not physically injured but of course they are significantly distressed by this incident,' a spokesperson said. 'They are in good care and will be provided with support services. Our thoughts are with them.' Investigations are continuing. Thousands of motorists in NSW and ACT have been issued an urgent warning ahead of the public holiday as brutal double demerit penalties continue to be enforced. Drivers have been urged to remain extra vigilant while traffic offences such as speeding or using a mobile phone while driving are punishable with double demerit points from 12.01am on December 24 until 11.59pm on January 3. Those caught driving with two or more unrestrained passengers in the car will cop 12 demerits points, and could even lose their licence. Motorists caught using their mobile phone while driving will get hit with 10 points, while those who break the speed limit by more than 45km/h would receive 12, one less than the state's demerit point limit. Thousands of motorists have been issued an urgent warning as they return from celebrations interstate and double demerit penalties continue to be enforced (stock image) Police will punish driver's breaking any of the four D's: drink, drug, dangerous or distracted driving as thousands return home from Christmas interstate (pictured, police in Sydney) Police will punish driver's breaking any of the four D's: drink, drug, dangerous or distracted driving as thousands return home from Christmas interstate. DOUBLE DEMERIT OFFENCES IN NSW: Exceed the speed limit by 10km/h and under (2 points) Exceed the speed limit by over 10km/h (6 points) Exceed the speed limit by over 20km/h (8 points) Exceed the speed limit by over 30km/h (10 points) Exceed the speed limit by over 45km/h (12 points) Driver not wearing his/her own seatbelt (6 points) Driver penalty for each passenger not wearing a seatbelt (6 points) Rider on a motorcycle not wearing his/her own helmet (6 points) Rider penalty for passenger on a motorcycle not wearing a helmet (6 points) Using a mobile phone while driving (8 points) Source: NSW Police Advertisement In NSW and the ACT, drivers lose their licence for three months once they've accumulated 13 demerit points, while it's 12 points in Western Australia. Residents in WA are subject to an even harsher set of double demerit rules that can be enforced from Christmas Eve until January 9. Offences included in the double demerit rules include drink and drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, running a red light and illegal use of a mobile phone. Motorists who are caught using a scrambler device - used to block a speed camera - could receive 14 demerit points. Drivers in WA who exceed the speed limit by less than 19km/h will cost four demerit points, while using a mobile phone while driving is worth six points. In the ACT, exceeding the speed limit by less than 15km/h will lead to two demerits while using a mobile device equates to eight. Queensland, Victoria, the Northern Territory and South Australia do not enforce specific double demerit systems over the Christmas period. However, drivers across all Australian states have been warned to act with caution with additional police presence cracks down on dangerous drivers. Queenslanders caught committing an offence they have already been fined for in the last 12 months will be hit with double demerit points. Victoria Police has said it will have a strong presence on the state's roads over the festive period and will run a 'knocking on doors' TV advertisement campaign. The campaign highlights one of the worst parts of a police officer's job - telling someone their loved one has been killed in a road accident. Traffic offences such as speeding or using a mobile phone while driving are punishable with double demerit points from 12.01am on December 24 until 11.59pm on January 3 in the NSW and the ACT (pictured, a policeman in NSW) 'We hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas because we didn't. People are still speeding. Maybe next year,' NSW Police posted to Facebook on Sunday. Metropolitan Field Operations Deputy Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon said road safety-enforcement operations are in place to ensure everyone makes it home safe. 'This is the time of year for celebrating and being with those we care about, and anyone who travels to visit their friends and family needs to take special care to reduce the risk of not arriving safely,' Dep Comm Lanyon said. 'With rain predicted across the state in coming days, we also urge motorists to drive to the conditions and implore every road user to be aware of their surroundings and be courteous to others. 'So far this year, 262 people have lost their lives on NSW roads and we do not want any more families to be without someone these holidays, especially due to recklessness or carelessness.' Price gougers exploiting the national shortage of crucial diesel exhaust fluid will be 'named and shamed,' the competition watchdog has warned, as the crisis threatens to bring Australia's supply chains to a stand to a standstill. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating whether some suppliers of diesel exhaust fluids have been jacking up the price of AdBlue. Modern motors powering trucks, utes and four-wheel drives won't start unless an additive called AdBlue - which is 32 per cent urea - has been added to the exhaust system to reduce the levels of nitric oxide pollution. Half of all trucks on Australian roads run on diesel along with a quarter of all registered vehicles, meaning a shortfall in the fluid could create supply chain chaos on supermarket shelves. Price gougers exploiting the national shortage of crucial diesel exhaust fluid will be 'named and shamed,' the competition watchdog has warned The urea crisis threatens to bring Australian supply chains to a standstill meaning supermarket shelves could be bare (stock image) Why is AdBlue shortage a worry? Without AdBlue, diesel engines in truck, utes and four wheel drives won't start It contains urea, which is commonly used as a fertiliser A refined version of this urea is added to diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxide exhaust fumes This diesel exhaust fluid is marketed in Australia as AdBlue containing 32 per cent urea and 68 per cent de-ionised water China supplies 80 per cent of the Asia-Pacific region's diesel-grade urea But Australia's biggest trading partner has banned urea exports in a bid to contain food prices This has seen a scramble to source urea from alternative markets like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar Source: National Road Transport Association Advertisement Stockpiles of urea are running low globally after China this year banned exports in a bid to contain fertiliser prices and experts have predicted by mid January Australia could see a critical shortage. Outgoing ACCC chair Rod Sims said companies who are trying to take advantage of the global shortage in urea will face severe consequences. 'If we judge that it's unconscionable to be pushing up prices in this crisis we can take them to court and the fines are large. Unconscionable conduct is a high hurdle but that's an option,' he told The Australian. 'The third option, which is even more readily available, is to name and shame and that's quite powerful to do that.' Mr Sims said given the global shortage there are legitimate reasons why prices might go up, but the ACCC is working hard to determine if firms are 'trying to exploit the national shortage'. AdBlue normally sells for around 50c to $1 a litre, but in recent weeks prices have soared more than 150 per cent. In some parts of Australia, truckies say the prices have quadrupled. Energy Minister Angus Taylor has called on the ACCC to monitor the situation as mining giants and energy producers struggle to get their hands on enough supply. 'While the market is tight, we will not allow consumers to be potentially taken advantage of,' he said. 'Industry stakeholders have reported that prices for diesel engine fluids have quadrupled in parts of the country. Australia's existing supplies of AdBlue are expected to run out by the middle of January, which could stop half the trucks and many utes and four-wheel drives from starting (pictured is a road train in outback Australia) Modern motors powering trucks, utes and four-wheel drives won't start unless an additive called AdBlue - which is 32 per cent urea - has been added to the exhaust system to reduce the levels of nitric oxide pollution 'While some temporary price increases are to be expected due to supply pressures, I am concerned that price gouging may be occurring in some instances.' Last Week the federal government struck a multi-million dollar deal with fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot to start producing urea in Australia. The chemical company were preparing to shut its factory next year, but will instead be receiving $29.4million from taxpayers to keep it open and ramp up AdBlue production to avert Australia's diesel crisis. Without the move, Australia's existing supplies of AdBlue were expected to run out by the middle of January with no new local alternatives. Also set bolster Australia's dwindling urea stockpile is a shipment of 5000 tonnes from Indonesia expected arrive Down Under in January. Advertisement Scores of Britons have tested positive for Covid today following family Christmas gatherings - stoking fears that infections will sky rocket well above 100,000 when data reporting resumes tomorrow. Boris Johnson is poised to evaluate restrictions across the country tomorrow after SAGE experts warned that the Omicron variant could cause a surge of hospitalisations higher than last winter's peak - despite a string of studies showing the variant is milder than other strains. Pictures posted to social media showed the consequences of a positive Covid test, with one person in Sheffield sharing a photograph of them eating their Christmas lunch outside, under a gazebo and next to some bins. Meanwhile extra restrictions began in Scotland today, with football matches limited to 500, social gatherings capped at three households and table required in pubs. In Wales, the rule of six is being brought back in and social gatherings are limited to 30 people. Another person shared a picture of a positive lateral flow test with antlers and 'Merry Christmas' placed on the image using Instagram filters. The person wrote: 'And so the c***py #covid Christmas continues: 3 out of 4 of us test positive. Awaiting PCR test results for 2 but expecting ++. Symptoms are more like cold/flu than anything else.' Figures from the ONS on Friday showed 1 in 10 Londoners had the virus last week, with fears millions of Brits will be forced into seven day isolation - crippling essential services and the beleaguered hospitality industry. On Christmas Eve, SAGE warned that the UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and said the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of Omicron. Studies have found that the Omicron variant of Covid has up to a 70 percent less chance of hospitalising people it infects, but the lastest modelling from London School of Health and Tropical Medicine finds that it could still cause a high peak of hospitalisations. The most recent Covid infection figures available are from Christmas Eve, when a record 122,186 daily Covid cases were recorded. Covid hospitalisations in London also rose steeply, although there is some debate over how many of those are patients admitted primarily for the symptoms of coronavirus. In minutes from a meeting on December 23, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that the peak on hospital admissions 'may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks' including the second wave in January. MPs and hospitality bosses have warned not to bring in new restrictions before New Year's Eve or risk 'devastating' businesses. The Prime Minister is said to be determined to avoid closing schools, as last night Tory MPs issued a warning shot at Mr Johnson and his Government to resist any lockdown measures. Cabinet Ministers last week rejected Government scientists' suggestions to tighten rules before Christmas. Following studies last week that showed Omicron is significantly less likely to cause hospitalisation than the Delta variant, Mr Johnson is not expected to bring in legally binding restrictions or lockdown measures. In a more likely scenario the Premier could issue guidance telling people to limit their contacts. Amid changing restrictions as leaders attempt to curb the spread of Omicron, it also emerged today; New coronavirus restrictions are being introduced in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland today as the country's leaders try to combat rising cases; Football fans clashed with police at a premiership match in Scotland this afternoon as tensions boiled over amid stringent curbs imposed by Nicola Sturgeon; Figures from the ONS on Friday showed that 1 in 10 Londoners had the virus last week, stoking fears millions of Brits will be forced into seven day isolation - crippling essential services and the hospitality industry; Boris Johnson is poised to consider new coronavirus restrictions across the country tomorrow after SAGE experts warned the Omicron variant could cause a surge of hospitalisations higher than last winter's peak; Figures show unvaccinated people who catch Covid are up to 60 times more likely to end up in an intensive care ward than those who have been jabbed; Thousands of police and NHS staff are isolating in Scotland while absences among English health workers rocketed by 28 percent amid fears the United Kingdom could be crippled by quarantines Pictured: A picture posted to social media showing a positive lateral flow test, with antlers and 'Merry Christmas' superimposed over the top using filters. The person wrote: 'And so the c***py #covid Christmas continues: 3 out of 4 of us test positive. Awaiting PCR test results for 2 but expecting ++ Symptoms are more like cold/flu than anything else' Pictured: One Brit who tested positive at his family home in Sheffield was forced to eat Christmas lunch outside in a makeshift gazebo Football fans were pictured clashing with police at a premiership match in Scotland as tensions boiled over amid stringent curbs imposed by Nicola sturgeon. Pictured: Police stop fans attending the match at McDiarmid Stadium, in Perth Celtic fans unable to get into the stands during a Premiership match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park London is being battered hardest by the new variant, with one in 20 infected with the virus and ten of the worst hit postcodes in England located within a three square mile stretch between Wandsworth and Lambeth (highlighted in yellow above) Reports have claimed ministers are watching hospitalisation numbers in the capital, with a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown set to be imposed if daily numbers surpass 400 Pictured: People queue for the Selfridges sale on boxing day as the store opens at 11am to welcome shoppers on Oxford Street, London, to make the most of the Boxing Day sales, despite rising case numbers Graph shows: The infection rate per 100,000 in the ten worst affected postcodes in the UK compared to the general rate in the rest of England since the start of October ENGLAND: The ONS Covid-19 Infection Survey estimates around 1.5million people had Covid on any given day in the week leading up to December 19. The figure was up 65 per cent on the previous week Confirmed Covid case rate per 100,000 people in areas across the UK according to official UK Health Security Agency data New Covid restrictions introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from today New coronavirus restrictions are being introduced in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland today as the country's leaders try to combat rising Covid cases but politicians in England are unlikely to discuss further measures until Monday. The three nations have each imposed limits on the size of gatherings, requirements for social distancing and tighter rules for pubs, restaurants and leisure venues. The new rules mean that Boxing Day football matches in Scotland will be played in front of a maximum of 500 seated fans, while in Wales all large sporting events will be played behind closed doors. From today, a maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales and a total of 30 people will be allowed at indoor events while 50 people will be allowed at outdoor events. First minister Mark Drakeford also said the two metre social distancing is being required in public premises and offices, and nightclubs will close. The rules, in force from 6am this morning, are a revised version of alert level two. In Scotland, large events will have one metre physical distancing and will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors. A day later, up to three households can meet with a one metre distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service is also needed at places where alcohol is served. Northern Ireland is also bringing in restrictions on Boxing Day and December 27, with indoor standing events no longer permitted and nightclubs closing. Socialising will be reduced to three households while up to six people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants. Ten people will be allowed if they are from the same household. Only table service will be available. A two metre social distancing rule will be in place in public premises and offices. Advertisement It comes as a record 1.7million people had Covid last week and it was revealed the ten worst-hit by Covid areas in England are all within a three square mile radius in south London. The capital is being battered hardest by the super mutant Omicron variant after quickly becoming a hotbed for the strain earlier this month, with one in 20 infected in the capital according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. The ten postcodes all in Wandsworth and Lambeth have an average infection rate of 3,819 cases per 100,000 people, more than quadruple the 838 per 100,000 in the rest of the country. But writing in The Mail on Sunday, Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, warns Mr Johnson not to do anything to ruin New Year's Eve plans. 'Enough is enough,' he writes. 'There must be no new unnecessary restrictions this week whether the PM sees fit to recall Parliament for an emergency session or whether he resorts simply to more guidance.' Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UK Hospitality, said: 'For many beleaguered hospitality businesses the New Year period is the last chance they have of making some much needed revenue to be able to get them through the lean months of January and February.' Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said: 'The uncertainty is killing our sector at the moment. 'If the Government closes businesses for New Year's Eve, people will simply gather in people's households or at illegal events and it's going to be counterproductive.' Des Gunewardena, chief executive of the D&D London group, which owns 40 venues including Bluebird and Le Pont de la Tour, said: 'New Year's Eve is massive, it's the biggest night of the year for us across all of our restaurants.' Meanwhile the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has urged the Government not to close churches and places of worship once again. Speaking to the BBC, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: 'I think this country has shown that people can make good judgments themselves. 'We're at that point of saying we understand the risk. We know what we should do. Most people are sensible and cautious. We don't need stronger impositions to teach us what to do.' But a Government source told The Mail on Sunday there is a 'danger' that people who were careful in the run up to Christmas to be able to see their loved ones will start mixing more after today. However the source said the overall picture on Omicron is 'more optimistic than people thought'. Tomorrow a 'Covid-O' committee of Ministers and officials will discuss the frontline staff shortages as a result of Omicron spreading. The meeting will include Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid. The appeals from MPs and business leaders came as new Sage papers and fresh modelling warned that Omicron may yet lead to a higher peak of hospitalisations than last winter's despite its lower severity and widespread vaccination. Last January hospitalisations peaked at 4,583 daily admissions, over four times the current rate. But although three UK studies last week found that Omicron was much less virulent than Delta between 15 and 70 per cent less likely to lead to hospitalisation Sage cautioned against optimism. It warned these figures were largely based on younger people who have formed the bulk of infections so far. Those who shared news of their positive test results on social media included a woman who was forced to cancel plans to host her family on Christmas Day after her nine-year-old son tested positive in the morning. One user said her whole family had tested positive for Covid-19, while another woman said she tested negative in the morning and when she tested again in the evening she was positive. While another Twitter user said he was due to visit his in-laws for the first time since 2019, only for his youngest to test positive two hours before they got together. 'I literally know so many people who have tested positive on Christmas Day. That's not very Christmassy', said another. But while some people were disappointed, others said they had 'made the most of it'. As the wave of infections continues across the UK, ministers are planning to send door-to-door teams armed with Covid jabs to reach the estimated five million people yet to be inoculated. Government dashboard data shows there were 122,186 positive tests across the country on Friday, which was up about 30 per cent on the week before and more than double the figure a fortnight ago. Meanwhile, around 1 in 10 people in London were likely infected with COVID-19 on Sunday, according to new official estimates that underlined the relentless advance of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Daily modelled estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics showed around 9.5% of Londoners had COVID-19 as of Sunday, within a 95 per cent confidence interval of 8.43 per cent to 10.69 per cent. The figures came a day after Britain recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases as the Omicron variant swept across the country, with the daily tally reaching 119,789 from 106,122 a day earlier. The ONS report also showed a record 1 in 35 people in England had COVID-19 between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 - compared with a previous estimate published on Thursday of 1 in 45 in the week to Dec. 16. Many industries and transport networks are struggling with staff shortages as sick workers self-isolate, while hospitals in Britain have warned of the risk of an impact on patient safety. Omicron's rapid advance has driven a surge in cases in Britain over the last seven days, with the total rising by 678,165, government data showed on Thursday. As the Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson struggles to limit the economic impact of the latest COVID-19 outbreak, it said on Wednesday it was reducing the legal self-isolation period in England to seven days from 10. Unvaccinated people who catch Covid are 60 TIMES more likely to end up in intensive care, new research reveals Unvaccinated people who catch Covid are up to 60 times more likely to end up in an intensive care ward than those who have been jabbed, startling figures reveal. And the difference that vaccination makes to the chance of needing intensive care is starkest among older people who are more likely to suffer serious Covid illness in the first place. It comes as Covid hospital admissions in London Britain's Omicron ground zero are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country. Latest NHS data shows there were 386 new admissions for the virus in the capital on December 22, marking a 92 per cent rise on the figure last week. Covid hospitalisations are now doubling roughly every 10 days - though they are still a far cry from the 850 at the peak last January. Ministers are said to be watching admission rates in the capital before pulling the trigger on more national curbs because London is a few weeks ahead in its Omicron outbreak. Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), which covers units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, show that between May and November the rate of admission for double-jabbed Covid sufferers in their 60s was just 0.6 cases per 100,000 people per week. But among people of the same age who remained unvaccinated, the rate was 37.3 per 100,000 per week equating to a relative risk about 60 times higher. Among those in their 50s and 70s there was almost a 30-fold difference in average weekly admission rates between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. In younger age groups the difference was lower but still marked unvaccinated people in their 30s and 40s were between ten and 15 times more likely to end up in intensive care with Covid than those who had received their jabs. Advertisement The new infections meant nearly 900,000 Britons who tested positive in the last 10 days faced spending Christmas Day in self-isolation although people who tested positive a week ago in England can be let out early if they come back negative on lateral flows. Meanwhile separate ONS figures revealed nationally there were 1.69million infections per day in the week up to December 19 last Sunday rising 55 per cent compared to the previous week. The survey based on swabs of more than 555,000 people is regarded as the most reliable indicator of Britain's Covid pandemic because it uses random sampling rather than relying on people coming forward for tests. Despite there being a record number of infections last week, the ONS' findings are out of step with gloomy Government modelling that has suggested Omicron was doubling nationally every two days. Discussions between the Department of Health, NHS England and No 10 over the past week have looked at a nationwide drive to send vaccine teams to areas with low uptake rates as a crucial way to avoid lockdown and other restrictions. It is also seen as a way to get jabs to rural areas or households where people cannot easily get to a vaccination centre. This comes as SAGE warned the UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of Omicron. Meanwhile, hospitalisations in London were dangerously close to the Government's threshold of 400 for more national restrictions, reaching 386 on December 22. The rising statistics came as SAGE warned the NHS still faces a wave of Covid hospital admissions on par with or worse than previous peaks. Mounting evidence including findings of three key UK studies has indicated the Omicron variant is up to 70 per cent less likely to cause hospitalisation than Delta. But SAGE which has advised Government throughout the pandemic warns the variant is spreading so fast that it could offset any reduction in severity. In minutes from a meeting on December 23 published last night, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that the peak on hospital admissions 'may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks' including the second wave in January. But MPs and hospitality bosses have warned Boris Johnson not to bring in new restrictions before New Year's Eve or risk 'devastating' businesses. The vaccination drive continued throughout Christmas Day. NHS England said thousands of first, second and booster jabs were given yesterday. Meanwhile more than 220,000 first doses of the vaccine were administered in the week to 21 December, up by 46 per cent compared to the previous week. First dose uptake in 18-24 year-olds rose by 85 per cent in the same period, and 71 per cent in 25 to 30-year-olds. 'Drakeford and Sturgeon are RUINING Christmas': Uproar over Boxing Day curbs with only 500 fans allowed at Scottish FA games as First Minister bans indoor sports while Wales stops socialising with just SIX people able to meet in pubs and restaurants Restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are being brought in from today to combat Covid cases In Wales, a maximum of six people are allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants and social distancing is back while only 30 people will be allowed at indoor events with this being increased to 50 if it is outdoors Large Hogmanay celebrations effectively banned in Scotland by restricting size of crowds who can gather Northern Ireland nightclubs will be closed from today and dancing is now prohibited in hospitality venues But Boris Johnson has not imposed any similar rules in England because data is not yet sufficient to justify By Katie Feehan for MailOnline New coronavirus restrictions are being introduced in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland today as the country's leaders try to combat rising Covid cases but politicians in England are unlikely to discuss further measures until Monday. The three nations have each imposed limits on the size of gatherings, requirements for social distancing and tighter rules for pubs, restaurants and leisure venues. The Night Time Industries Association described the measures as a 'devastating blow' to the industry and urged the UK Government to reintroduce the furlough scheme. Social media was flooded with memes portraying the first ministers of Scotland and Wales as the Grinch as anger boiled over at the restrictions being brought in from today. The new rules mean that Boxing Day football matches in Scotland will be played in front of a maximum of 500 seated fans, while in Wales all large sporting events will be played behind closed doors. From today, a maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales and a total of 30 people will be allowed at indoor events while 50 people will be allowed at outdoor events. First minister Mark Drakeford also said the two metre social distancing is being required in public premises and offices, and nightclubs will close. The rules, in force from 6am this morning, are a revised version of alert level two. In Scotland, large events will have one metre physical distancing and will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors. A day later, up to three households can meet with a one metre distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service is also needed at places where alcohol is served. First minister Nicola Sturgeon has also refused to reduce the current requirement to self-isolate for ten days - avoiding bringing it in line with England's approach, where it has now been cut to seven with two lateral flow negative tests on days six and seven. One nightclub owner in Glasgow described the Scottish National Party as 'Grinches', while Twitter users posted memes of Mr Drakeford and Ms Sturgeon's faces over posters of the 2000 movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. First ministers Nicola Sturgeon (left) and Mark Drakeford (right) have been branded Grinches over the new restrictions being introduced in Wales and Scotland as the country's leaders try to combat rising Covid cases, as well as in Northern Ireland SCOTLAND -- People walk past the shut Edinburgh Playhouse on Thursday amid further Covid restrictions in Scotland WALES -- Empty chairs and tables outside a cafe in an arcade in Cardiff on Friday as Wales prepares for more restrictions BELFAST - A woman walks past a closed nightclub in Belfast on Wednesday as Northern Ireland prepares for more restrictions ENGLAND -- People in Leeds queue for JD Sports and Boxing Day sales as the country is facing no new Christmas curbs Northern Ireland is also bringing in restrictions on Boxing Day and December 27, with indoor standing events no longer permitted and nightclubs closing. Socialising will be reduced to three households while up to six people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants. Ten people will be allowed if they are from the same household. Only table service will be available. A two metre social distancing rule will be in place in public premises and offices. The restrictions have infuriated the hospitality sector at a time when studies have found Omicron to be a milder variant than Delta. Nightclubs were only allowed to reopen in August, having been shut for longer than almost every other sector during the pandemic, and had been subject to vaccine certification rules since October. The Scottish Conservatives said closing them again was 'a further setback to a sector already on its knees'. This week, UKHospitality Cymru warned hospitality businesses in Wales were already 'battered and bruised and at the end of their tether' by a collapse in customer numbers and said the new rules 'will only make matters worse'. In Scotland, the region's hospitality bosses said pubs and restaurants will now have 'little opportunity to trade' over the rest of the festive period following official advice for people to limit social contact - and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said the rules 'will be another hammer blow for employers and Scotland's economy'. (left to right) Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Paul Givan and Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, announcing new restrictions for Northern Ireland on Wednesday Over in Northern Ireland, the changes were branded 'unacceptable and unforgivable' by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce while the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation said it must now 'try to work within this new framework'. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to announce any further rules for England but indicated he will not hesitate to act after Christmas if required amid rising cases of the Omicron variant. The Government may choose to issue new voluntary guidance on limiting contacts rather than risk another damaging Tory rebellion by recalling Parliament to impose new rules beyond the existing Plan B measures. It is understood a Covid meeting is yet to be scheduled as ministers await further data, but No 10 did not rule out the possibility one could take place on Monday. However, it is understood school closures are not being considered for January. A source close to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: 'The PM and Nadhim are fully committed to keeping schools open, and there's a shared commitment across Government to do so. 'Education is a top priority and school closures are not something being considered.' Tory peer Baroness Stroud, a former special adviser to Sir Iain Duncan Smith when he introduced Universal Credit as work and pensions secretary, warned the Government against stricter restrictions which risk putting people 'into poverty'. She wrote in The Sunday Telegraph: 'Many of these measures cause social and health damage, and have a huge, negative impact on people's livelihoods. And they put people into poverty. Pictured: One nightclub owner in Glasgow described the Scottish National Party as 'Grinches', while Twitter users posted memes of Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon's faces over posters of the 2000 movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas How do Covid restrictions compare across Britain? ENGLAND One big change which has taken place from December 22 is the rules surrounding the self-isolation period. If a person in England has tested positive or has symptoms, they can stop self-isolating after seven days instead of 10 days if they receive two negative lateral flow test results on days six and seven. Those who are unvaccinated close contacts of positive cases must still isolate for 10 days. In terms of restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reassured people that no further curbs will be introduced in England before December 25. He has yet to announce a post-Christmas Covid strategy for England. England currently has the most relaxed rules in the UK, but a recent vote in Parliament saw some measures introduced, including Covid passes for entry into nightclubs and other venues as of December 15. This applies to indoor events with 500 or more attendees where people are likely to stand or move around, such as music venues, outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees, such as music festivals, and any events with 10,000 or more attendees, whether indoors or outdoors, such as sports stadiums. Face coverings have also been made compulsory in most indoor public settings, as well as on public transport, and people have been told to work from home if they can. People aged 18 and over are able to get their third jabs from this week. England's guidance is that people should work from home if they can. Anyone who cannot work from home should continue to go in to work - but is encouraged to consider taking lateral flow tests regularly. WALES From December 26, groups of no more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales. Licensed premises will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details collected and the two-metre social distancing rules are set to return in public places and workplaces. Sporting events will be played behind closed doors to help control the spread of the new Omicron variant. Nightclubs will also be closed from Boxing Day under the new rules, although the Welsh Government has announced a 120 million fund to support any businesses affected by the restrictions. Regulations will also be changed to include a requirement to work from home wherever possible. A maximum of 30 people can attend indoor events and a maximum of 50 people at outdoor events. There will be an exception for team sports, where up to 50 spectators will be able to gather in addition to those taking part. People attending weddings or civil partnership receptions or wakes are also being told to take a lateral flow test before attending. SCOTLAND From Boxing Day, large events will have one-metre social distancing and will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors. The following day, the one-metre physical distancing will be implemented between adults in all indoor hospitality and leisure settings, including pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and other settings where food and drink is served, gyms, theatres, cinemas, bingo and snooker halls and bowling alleys. Museums, galleries and other visitor attractions also have the same rules in place. Table service is also required where alcohol is being served. Ministers at Holyrood have announced a package totalling 375 million, including 175 million of additional funding from the Treasury, to support sectors affected by the latest protective measures to combat Omicron. Since December 14, people have been asked to reduce their social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more than three households. Allowing staff to work from home where possible has become a legal duty on employers. Care home visits have also been limited to two households. NORTHERN IRELAND Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said nightclubs will be closed from 6am on December 26. Dancing will also be prohibited in hospitality venues, but this will not apply to weddings. While nightclubs must close, other restrictions are coming into effect on the rest of the hospitality sector. People must remain seated for table service, while table numbers will be limited to six. Ministers also agreed that sporting events can continue with no limits on capacity, while the work-from-home message is being bolstered and legislation introduced to require social distancing in offices and similar typed workplaces. Weddings are exempted from the latest measures. From December 27, the guidance is for mixing in a domestic setting to be limited to three households. Advertisement 'I ask the Government to ensure that as they contemplate further restrictions, they are open about the active choice they would be making to damage the lives of our most vulnerable - who are doing all they can to work their way out of poverty.' Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, told the Observer it was 'time to move on from the lazy assumption that Government has the right to control our lives', adding that Britons should 'take responsibility for our own lives once again'. Charles Walker, a former vice-chairman of the committee, told the newspaper he hoped emerging data would support maintaining the current course of action. 'I think the PM has done extremely well to weigh up the information, hold his nerve and get us to this point,' he added. The amendment to Scotland's coronavirus regulations published on Friday ordered clubs to close, unless they could operate 'within regulation'. New restrictions will mean that hospitality businesses can continue to operate with social distancing and table service. Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney made the announcement before the Covid-19 Recovery Committee at Holyrood. 'We now propose to require that nightclubs should not operate as such for this three-week period,' he told the committee. 'While it would be open to them to operate with distancing and table service and that option will remain, we consider that closure in regulation, combined with financial support, may reduce losses and help these businesses weather what we hope would be a short period until they are able to operate normally again.' The rules - which will affect about 150 clubs - will come into effect from 5am on December 27, and will be reviewed three weeks later on January 11. Mr Swinney said the government was 'acutely aware' of the financial impact on firms, saying details of a 375 million support package would be set out shortly. On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon announced new restrictions on events, limiting outdoor events to 500 people and indoor events to 200 people seated or 100 standing, which will come into effect from Boxing Day. The legislation introduced to close nightclubs has no end date, meaning the restrictions could be lifted earlier or later than first intended. Scottish Tory Covid-19 recovery spokesman Murdo Fraser said: 'This news is a further setback to a sector already on its knees as a result of previously-announced restrictions to tackle the spread of Omicron. 'I understand that this is a fast-moving situation but, when announcing this enforced shutdown, John Swinney should have spelt out the exact details of the support package that will be given to nightclub businesses, rather than merely promising an update on allocation 'as soon as possible'. 'That's not good enough - businesses on the brink need to know now exactly what financial support they will receive, and when.' Anger boiled over at Scottish football matches on Wednesday night after Nicola Sturgeon introduced tough new Covid rules that will effectively ban fans from games. A crowd of young supporters at a game between Hibernian and Aberdeen chanted, 'Sturgeon, get tae f***'. Others held a banner saying 'open your homes for COP26, closed doors for fans, f*** SNP' - a reference to the climate change conference, which some have blamed for fuelling Covid cases. Businesses reacted with fury to the news that nightclubs would close in Scotland. Donald MacLeod, owner of the Garage and Cathouse nightclubs in Glasgow, described the SNP as 'Grinches'. 'The damage was done three weeks ago when Public Health Scotland started scaring everybody and saying Omicron was going to wipe out the human race,' he told BBC Radio 4's World at One. 'I must say I prefer the way that Boris and Westminster have dealt with it, looking at the evidence before pressing any panic buttons. 'This will decimate the industry. And what's really galling is that today Nicola Sturgeon said, 'right that's me off work, we're going to be off for the holidays'. 'Meanwhile, I've got 150 staff who are going to be worried sick about their jobs, as well as suppliers and freelancers who are in bits. That's a disgrace.' Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said Miss Sturgeon's new restrictions 'will be another hammer blow for employers and Scotland's economy'. 'Businesses across Scotland, who have been doing everything they can to keep their employees and customers safe, will be bitterly disappointed by these further restrictions,' she said. 'Some businesses and sectors will view this update as the equivalent of receiving a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking, further compounding the downturn in trade they have experienced in the crucial run-up to the festive period.' On Wednesday, it emerged that Wales is to bring back the 'rule of six' for pubs, cinemas and restaurants from Boxing Day. Two-metre social distancing rules will also return in public places and workplaces, first minister Mr Drakeford announced. Pubs and bars will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details must be collected. Outdoor events will be limited to 50 people, with 30 indoors. The number allowed to attend events such as weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and wakes will be determined by the size of the venue. From Monday employees risk a 60 fine if they are caught working in the office 'without a reasonable excuse'. Announcing the new rules, Labour's Mr Drakeford said they would come into force from 6am on Boxing Day. The regulations will bring back restrictions in hospitality and in cinemas and theatres when they reopen after the festive period. Nightclubs will also close. Mr Drakeford said 120million would be available for nightclubs, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by the measures. He added: 'We are facing a very serious situation in Wales. A wave of infections caused by the new, fast-moving and very-infectious Omicron variant is headed our way. We will do everything we can to protect people's health and livelihoods in Wales this means taking early action to try and control its spread.' There will be no restrictions on household mixing, but guidance will be issued on limiting numbers, taking a lateral flow test before a visit and meeting outdoors if possible. The Night Time Industries Association described the measures as a 'devastating blow'. In Northern Ireland, the latest Covid-19 restrictions were branded 'unacceptable and unforgivable' by a leading business representative organisation. Belfast Chamber of Commerce heavily criticised the fact that no additional financial support package was agreed to accompany the measures. Chief Executive Simon Hamilton, a former DUP minister in the Stormont Executive, said businesses had already suffered significant losses due to heighted consumers fears about the prospect of a lockdown. 'For weeks now, businesses who have experienced a difficult 2021, have been subjected to a drip feed of speculation and scaremongering about possible lockdowns and further restrictions,' he said. 'As the rhetoric ramped up, the impact on businesses was very real as millions of pounds of trade disappeared, causing owners and their teams huge distress. 'Today, the Executive has added insult to injury. As well as having to deal with the impact of additional measures, businesses haven't been offered a single penny in financial support. That is simply unacceptable and unforgivable. 'What sort of a message does that send to the thousands of people who rely on jobs in the affected sectors and their supply chains to heat their homes and feed their families? 'It is shameful that they now face into an uncertain future after all they've endured already. It feels like businesses, their owners and their staff have been cast aside without a care.' Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said his members were 'extremely disappointed' at the lack of financial package. 'To leave so many businesses in financial limbo like this is unfair and needs to be addressed immediately,' he said. 'We welcome the decision not to significantly change the regulations around retail. Our members have been and will continue to work hard to keep staff and shoppers as safe as possible throughout the pandemic'. In a statement, the CBI in Northern Ireland said: 'While Stormont is right to prioritise reducing transmission, the latest restrictions on hospitality, leisure and events businesses will leave them reeling after working tirelessly to claw back two years of lost takings. 'Once again the economy's hardest-hit sectors are being asked to carry the can for protecting public health, yet are not being adequately compensated for restrictions that will clearly put operations and livelihoods at risk.' Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) chief executive Janice Gault said the new measures had not come as a surprise. 'The hotel industry has in effect not been able to trade under normal conditions since March 2020,' she said. 'Many thought that we were moving beyond the Covid-19 crisis but once again we are moving into a period of increased restrictions. The hotel sector has shown its resilience and ability to adapt over the last nineteen months. These are attributes that the sector will need to draw upon for the foreseeable future. 'As always, the health of guests and staff remain the primary concern of hoteliers. The industry will continue to try to work within this new framework and hope that the future will bring better times for the sector and society as a whole.' SAGE issues a new Christmas Covid alert: UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and peak could STILL be higher than last winter despite Omicron's reduced severity, warn advisers - with Boris set to review rules on MONDAY The UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be higher than January SAGE this week warned that the peak of admissions 'may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks' Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance led calls for fresh restrictions after Christmas, and even next week The advisory group added: 'The earlier interventions happen, the more likely they are to be effective' By Jack Wright for MailOnline The UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of Omicron, SAGE have warned. In minutes from a meeting on December 23 published last night, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that the peak on hospital admissions 'may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks' including the second wave in January. An Imperial College analysis of Omicron found that people who catch the variant are up to 20 per cent less likely to be admitted than those who get Delta. It also found that the chance of having to stay in the NHS overnight was even lower, with a reduced risk of up to 45 per cent. Even 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, whose original modelling in early 2020 spooked the Government into the first national shutdown, said the fourth wave will be 'nothing like what we seen last year, with ICUs overflowing with patients' on the back of the new findings. However, new modelling by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests there could be a large number of hospitalisations this winter, even though the Covid variant is much less likely to cause severe illness, and even if fresh restrictions are introduced after Christmas. The modellers warned that December 28 is the last date that restrictions could be introduced before it is 'too late' for lockdown-type measures to have any effect. One of the models considered restrictions lasting three months until the end of March, but found there was little difference compared to restrictions ending in January. But they stressed there is a high degree of uncertainty about what the real-world impact of Omicron's reduced severity will be and any new restrictions will be fiercely opposed by Tory MPs. In London, now regarded as the UK's Omicron 'ground zero', there were 386 new Covid hospital admissions on December 22, according to the latest NHS data. Though they are still a far cry from the 850 admissions achieved at the peak of the second wave in January, they mark a 92 per cent rise on the figure last week, and are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for further lockdown curbs. In minutes of the meeting, chaired by England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Downing Street's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, SAGE said: 'The earlier interventions happen, and the more stringent they are, the more likely they are to be effective.' Advisers on the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, Operational sub-group said that even under 'rapidly enacted Step 2 measures, peak hospital admissions in the 20 per cent severity scenario are broadly similar to those seen in January 2021'. 'Peak admissions scale with the risk of admission given infection, so are 2.5 times lower in the 20 per cent severity scenario than the 50 per cent scenario and would be 4 times higher were Omicron 80 per cent as severe as Delta,' they said. The group added: 'More stringent measures would decrease the number of days when many people are in hospital.' SAGE's warnings are likely to pile pressure on Boris Johnson to impose curbs potentially including the Rule of Six and a ban on households mixing next week. The Prime Minister will decide on Monday whether to introduce stringent measures following a review of the latest data on Omicron. In a blow to the new year hopes of millions, Government scientists have indicated that these curbs could remain in place until March. As the coronavirus crisis lurches into its latest dramatic phase: Boris Johnson has come under pressure from advisers to impose fresh Covid restrictions, potentially including a ban on households mixing, from next week; Millions of people will get a text from the Government encouraging them to get a booster jab this Boxing Day as the race against Omicron continues; Covid hospital admissions in London are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country; A record 1.7million people had Covid last week and the ten worst-hit by Covid areas in England are all within a three square mile radius in south London; Government dashboard data shows there were 122,186 positive tests across the country in the last 24 hours; Six in 10 Britons would like to see Mr Johnson ousted after a grim few months for the Prime Minister; Nearly 900,000 could be forced to spend Christmas Day in self-isolation after catching Covid in the past 10 days; One in four NHS workers had developed PTSD because of working with Covid patients. The UK is about to be hit by a large wave of Covid hospitalisations and the peak could be even higher than last winter despite the reduced severity of the Omicron variant, SAGE have warned Boris Johnson hopped onto Zoom for video calls with his wife Carrie, their two young children, and their dog Dilyn, in photos released by Downing Street on Christmas Day Boris Johnson hopped onto Zoom for video calls with his wife Carrie, their two young children, and their dog Dilyn, in photos released by Downing Street on Christmas Day At the meeting, chaired by England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Downing Street's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, SAGE called for tough measures to contain the spread of the virus Reports have claimed ministers are watching hospitalisation numbers in the capital, with a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown set to be imposed if daily numbers surpass 400 Record 1.7MILLION Brits had Covid last week as it's revealed 10 postcodes with highest rates in England are within three square miles of south London A record 1.7million people had Covid last week and the ten worst-hit by Covid areas in England are all within a three square mile radius in south London, official figures showed as UK cases rose to another new high of 122,000. London is being battered hardest by the supermutant Omicron variant after quickly becoming a hotbed for the strain earlier this month, with one in 10 infected in the capital according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Daily modelled estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics showed around 9.5 per cent of Londoners had COVID-19 as of Sunday, within a 95 per cent confidence interval of 8.43 per cent to 10.69 per cent. The figures came a day after Britain recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases as the Omicron variant swept across the country, with the daily tally reaching 119,789 from 106,122 a day earlier. The ONS report also showed a record 1 in 35 people in England had COVID-19 between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 - compared with a previous estimate published on Thursday of 1 in 45 in the week to Dec. 16. Many industries and transport networks are struggling with staff shortages as sick workers self-isolate, while hospitals in Britain have warned of the risk of an impact on patient safety. Omicron's rapid advance has driven a surge in cases in Britain over the last seven days, with the total rising by 678,165, government data showed on Thursday. The ten worst-hit postcodes all in Wandsworth and Lambeth have an average infection rate of 3,819 cases per 100,000 people, more than quadruple the 838 per 100,000 in the rest of the country. Government dashboard data shows there were 122,186 positive tests across the country in the last 24 hours, which was up about 30 per cent on the week before and more than double the figure a fortnight ago. Meanwhile separate ONS figures revealed nationally there were 1.69million infections per day in the week up to December 19 last Sunday rising 55 per cent compared to the previous week. The survey based on swabs of more than 555,000 people is regarded as the most reliable indicator of Britain's Covid pandemic because it uses random sampling rather than relying on people coming forward for tests. Despite there being a record number of infections last week, the ONS' findings are out of step with gloomy Government modelling that has suggested Omicron was doubling nationally every two days. Testing positivity also suggests infection aren't increasing quite as quickly as expected, rising to 16 per cent on December 19 up from nine per cent at the start of the month. Advertisement MailOnline this week brought attention to concerns about a lack of transparency in NHS data on Covid hospital patients. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith emphasised that the issue of whether people are being hospitalised 'with' or 'for' Covid-19 was 'really important' for working out how much pressure the NHS really faces. Concerns are mounting that the figures are being inflated by routine testing. Sir Iain added: 'The Government has dragged its feet over showing those figures, I suspect because they know what will happen it will reduce the numbers that they have going into hospital with Covid in other words who are ill and have to go to hospital because of Covid.' MailOnline analysis of NHS England figures suggests two-thirds of new coronavirus admissions in the last fortnight arrived at hospital for a different ailment. With Omicron spreading rapidly, experts say the number of so-called 'incidental' Covid admissions will rise. Tory MP Craig Mackinlay also called for urgent clarity, telling MailOnline: 'This is the question we have been asking right the way back from day one in March (last year) what are these numbers? 'Are these people going in with coronavirus and that's the reason for their admission, or have they gone in with a broken leg, had a test and 'Oh God, you've got a positive test'. Those are very different numbers aren't they. Entirely different numbers.' Even SAGE has now appeared to admit that even patients on mental health wards who test positive in hospital are added to the daily admissions tally. In minutes from the group's most recent meeting, they said: 'The number of people in hospital with Omicron infection continues to increase with a doubling time of around 4-5 days. Some of this increase is due to nosocomial transmission including in mental health hospitals.' The modelling, made by experts from Warwick University looked at a package of measures, including some in line with the Step 2 restrictions in place in April in England. The Warwick research looked at imposing Step 2 restrictions on either December 28 or New Year's Day and keeping them in place until January 15, 28 or March 28. The modelling has not yet been seen by ministers, who are expected to make a decision early next week, potentially as soon as Monday, on extra restrictions. The work was completed before the latest data suggesting the Omicron variant may produce less severe illness than the Delta strain of coronavirus. A consensus paper by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, Operational sub-group (Spi-M-O) published today said 'rapidly enacted Step 2 measures reduce the peak of hospital pressure to about half its level under Plan B only'. It also included a model examining the impact 'non-mandated behaviour change' would have if it reduced mixing by half the amount that Step 2 would achieve. The Spi-M-O summary of the Warwick modelling said: 'A reduction in mixing equivalent to half that of Step 2 results in only a very small reduction in severe outcomes compared to Plan B alone. 'Step 2 has a much larger effect, reducing the number of deaths up to 31st May by 39% (24-54%) if kept in place from December 28 until March 28, and 18% (12-27%) if kept in place until January 15.' Minutes from a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies on December 23 noted 'the peak in (hospital) admissions is highly uncertain but, even with a reduction in severity, may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks in the absence of significant behaviour change or further interventions'. The minutes said 'the earlier interventions happen, and the more stringent they are, the more likely they are to be effective'. Ministers are said to be watching admission rates in the capital before pulling the trigger on more national curbs because London is a few weeks ahead in its Omicron outbreak. Any move to return to the kind of lockdown restrictions in Step 2 would be likely to meet with fierce resistance from Tory backbenchers. The Prime Minister suffered a revolt by around 100 MPs just to get England's current Plan B measures approved. The risk of another rebellion could encourage him to rely on guidance to reduce socialising rather than new laws, if ministers believe extra measures are required. A national two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown has been mooted after Christmas if London's daily admissions breach 400 this week which would signal 'unsustainable' pressure on the NHS. London became the epicentre of the UK's Omicron outbreak two weeks before the super mutant variant became dominant across the country and experts are treating trends in the city as a sign of what could come for England. But NHS data recording lags mean it will be after Christmas before it is known whether admissions surpassed 400 in the last two days. MPs and experts have now demanded the Government distinguishes between people who are being hospitalised 'with' or 'for' Covid before deciding on social restrictions. Covid hospital admissions in London Britain's Omicron ground zero are within touching distance of the Government's threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country Covid hospitalisations are now doubling roughly every 10 days - though they are still a far cry from the 850 at the peak last January A graph showing the daily count of Covid patients in mechanical ventilation beds. Johnson may have to make a call on more restrictions by Tuesday at the latest so they can be implemented in time for New Year's Eve An age breakdown of the number of covid patients admitted to hospital since the start of the pandemic (left) and as the rate per 100,000 people since the start of the pandemic (right) Shoppers on Oxford Street on Christmas Eve. Further Covid restrictions could be imposed just in time for New Year's Eve as Boris Johnson is set to review the latest figures on Monday People shopping on Oxford Street earlier this Friday. A national two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown has been mooted after Christmas if London's daily admissions breach 400 this week MailOnline's analysis of London Covid admissions show that a third (127) of the 386 new patients only tested positive after arriving at hospital for a different illness. The proportion of so-called 'incidental admissions' was around 12 per cent in the last two weeks of the Delta variant at the end of November, for comparison. Official figures today also showed that a record 1.7million people had Covid last week and the ten worst-hit by Covid areas in England are all within a three square mile radius in south London. UK cases rose to another new high of 122,000 and London is being battered hardest by the Omicron variant after quickly becoming a hotbed for the strain earlier this month, with one in 20 infected in the capital according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. The ten postcodes all in Wandsworth and Lambeth have an average infection rate of 3,819 cases per 100,000 people, more than quadruple the 838 per 100,000 in the rest of the country. In a drive to get the country boosted, millions will also be receiving texts encouraging them to get a third jab on Boxing Day, as more than 32 million booster and third doses have already been administered. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'We are texting this Boxing Day for all eligible adults to get boosted now. 'It has never been as important to get protected with the booster, so whether it is in between turkey sandwiches or before the Boxing Day fixtures, whatever your traditions make the booster a part of them this year. 'Millions of vaccine slots are available through the festive calendar so if you're not boosted and you get this text, take up the offer and get vaccinated.' Omicron's surge has also lead to international travel chaos as more than 3,000 flights were cancelled worldwide on the first Christmas getaway since 2019. The variant's spread meant airline companies have been unable to staff their flights, forcing a surge in cancellations. More than 2,300 flights were grounded today, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware, while a further 1,556 have already been cancelled ahead of tomorrow. The new strain also cancelled Christmas getaways for thousands of Britons following coronavirus restrictions imposed by destinations. Winter sports operator Crystal Ski has axed its trips to Austria departing on December 27 after the country introduced tougher entry requirements due to the new variant. Austria announced on Wednesday that arrivals from the UK will be required to quarantine for 10 days from Saturday unless they are fully vaccinated including a booster dose, and have evidence of a recent negative PCR test. The Netherlands has been put into lockdown until at least mid-January, while Germany has joined France in prohibiting UK tourists. London became the epicentre of the UK's Omicron outbreak two weeks before the super mutant variant became dominant across the country and experts are treating trends in the city as a sign of what could come for England. Pictured, shoppers walking along Regent Street on December 24 Meanwhile, Ryanair has reduced its planned January capacity by a third. Omicron's spread also saw Christmas Eve shopping plunge by 21% compared to 2019 as Britons preferred to shop online. Footfall levels in central London dropped by nearly a third (30.3%) compared with last Friday and city centres outside the capital saw a 10% fall in visits, data from Springboard showed. The day proved to be 21% worse for retailers across the country than in 2019, but it was more than 30% better than a year ago when there were more pandemic restrictions in place. But retail parks across the UK fared better than the high streets as they pushed footfall across the country up by nearly 14%. Springboard data also showed that footfall rose by 19.6% at shopping centres, while coastal towns saw a 26.3% rise and market towns a 14.3% increase. Two workers from the international Save the Children charity are missing in Myanmar after government troops shot and killed dozens of people on Friday. Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be women and children, and fatally shot more than 30 and burned the bodies, according to a witness and other reports. Purported photos of the aftermath of the Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Mo So village spread on social media in the country, fuelling outrage against the military that took power in a February coup. Mo So village is just outside Hpruso township in Kayah state where refugees were sheltering from an army offensive. The accounts could not be independently verified. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles. Myanmar has been in chaos since the February coup, with more than 1,300 people killed in a crackdown by security forces, according to a local monitoring group. 'People's Defence Forces' (PDF) have sprung up across the country to fight the junta, and have drawn the military into a bloody stalemate of clashes and reprisals. Pictured: Burnt vehicles in Hpruso township in Myanmar's Kayah state where it is believed at least 30 people - including women and children - were shot and killed on Friday by Government troops. Two workers from the Save the Children have been missing since A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmar's army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Save the Children said that two of its staff who were travelling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were 'caught up in the incident and remain missing.' 'We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out,' the group added in a statement. 'The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies.' 'We are horrified at the violence carried out against innocent civilians and our staff, who are dedicated humanitarians, supporting millions of children in need across Myanmar,' said Save the Children's chief executive, Inger Ashing. A villager told Reuters on Saturday that he had seen 32 bodies, while Save the Children said at least 38 people were killed. The US embassy in Myanmar said on Sunday that it was appalled by the 'barbaric attack in Kayah state that killed at least 35 civilians, including women and children'. 'We will continue to press for accountability for the perpetrators of the ongoing campaign of violence against the people of Burma,' it said in a statement. Save The Children said it was suspending operations in the region. Pictured: Smokes and flames billow from vehicles in Hpruso township, Kayah state, Myanmar, December 24, 2021, in this picture released by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be women and children, fatally shot more than 30 and set the bodies on fire, a witness and other reports said Saturday Mo So village, where the massacre is said to have taken place, is just outside Hpruso township in Kayah state where refugees were sheltering from an army offensive The London-based charity said it had suspended operations in Kayah and parts of neighbouring Karen state and in the Magway region. A report in the state-run Myanma Alinn daily newspaper on Saturday said that the fighting near Mo So broke out on Friday. It said members of ethnic guerrilla forces, known as the Karenni National Progressive Party, and those opposed to the military drove in 'suspicious' vehicles and attacked security forces after refusing to stop. The newspaper report said they included new members who were going to attend training to fight the army, and that the seven vehicles they were travelling in were destroyed in a fire. It gave no further details about the killings. A member of a local PDF group said its fighters had found the vehicles Saturday morning after hearing the military had stopped several vehicles in Hpruso after clashes with its fighters nearby on Friday. 'When we went to check in the area this morning, we found dead bodies burnt in two trucks. We found 27 dead bodies,' he told AFP agency on condition of anonymity. 'We found 27 skulls,' said another witness who did not want to be named. 'But there were other dead bodies on the truck, which had been burned to pieces so we couldn't count them.' The Myanmar Witness monitor said it had confirmed local media reports and witness accounts from local fighters 'that 35 people including children and women were burnt and killed by the military on 24th December Hpruso township'. Satellite data also showed a fire had occurred around 1:00 pm (0630 GMT) on Friday in Hpruso, it added. AFP news agency was unable to confirm the reports, but AFP digital verification reporters said the images purporting to show the incident had not appeared online before Friday evening. The Myanmar military denied the claims. People fleeing due to fighting between the military and the Karen National Union (KNU) line up to receive food at a temporary lodging for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Karen state, along the Thai-Myanmar border, on December 25, 2021 People fleeing due to fighting between the military and the Karen National Union (KNU) ride in a boat across a river in Karen state, along the Thai-Myanmar border, on December 25, 2021 The witness who spoke to the AP said the remains were burned beyond recognition, and children's and women's clothes were found together with medical supplies and food. 'The bodies were tied with ropes before being set on fire,' said the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. He did not see the moment they were killed, but said he believed some of them were Mo So villagers who reportedly got arrested by troops on Friday. He denied that those captured were members of locally organised militia groups. Myanmar's independent media reported on Friday that 10 Mo So villagers including children were arrested by the army and four members of the local paramilitary Border Guard Forces who went to negotiate for their release were reportedly tied up and shot in the head by the military. The witness said the villagers and anti-government militia groups left the bodies as military troops arrived near Mo So while the bodies were being prepared for cremation. The fighting was still intense near the village. 'It's a heinous crime and the worst incident during Christmas. We strongly condemn that massacre as a crime against humanity,' said Banyar Khun Aung, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group. Earlier this month, government troops were also accused of rounding up villagers, some believed to be children, tying them up and slaughtering them. An opposition leader, Dr. Sasa, who uses only one name, said the civilians were burned alive. People fleeing due to fighting between the military and the Karen National Union (KNU) board a boat in Karen state, along the Thai-Myanmar border, on December 25, 2021 A video of the aftermath of the December 7 assault - apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy - showed the charred bodies of 11 people lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut. Fighting meanwhile resumed Saturday in a neighbouring state on the border with Thailand, where thousands of people have fled to seek shelter. Local officials said Myanmar's military unleashed airstrikes and heavy artillery on Lay Kay Kaw, a small town controlled by ethnic Karen guerrillas, since Friday. The military's action prompted multiple Western governments including the U.S. Embassy to issue a joint statement condemning 'serious human rights violations committed by the military regime across the country.' 'We call on the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen state and throughout the country, and to ensure the safety of all civilians in line with international law,' the joint statement said. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military on February 1 overthrew the elected government of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to four years' detention and faces multiple other criminal charges. At least 1,375 people have been killed and more than 8,000 jailed in crackdowns on protests and armed opposition since the coup, according to a tally of the Association for Assistance of Political Prisoners. The military government disputes those numbers and says soldiers have also been killed in clashes. In October Save the Children said its office in the western town of Thantlang was destroyed in junta shelling that also razed dozens of homes following clashes with a local anti-junta group. The first heartbreaking photos of the five-year-old boy who was mauled to death by a dog on Christmas Eve have been revealed as he is remembered as a 'treasure'. Emmanuel, or Manny as he was known to loved ones, was attacked by the dog while housesitting at a property in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast on Friday. The little boy was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital for emergency surgery but died on the operating table just hours before Christmas Day. Manny's grandmother tried in vain to rescue the little boy during the shock attack and received injuries to her hands and arms. Emmanuel, or Manny (pictured) as he was known to loved ones, was attacked by the dog while housesitting at a property in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast on Friday Gold Coast City Council animal control officers removed two dogs from the property, including an English bull terrier-American bulldog cross A neighbour who witnessed the reportedly unprovoked attack propelled jumped over a fence to help save the little boy. A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said the five-year-old was bitten on the back and chest before going into cardiac arrest. Craig Kavanagh, who describes himself as a friend of the family, has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Manny's single father. 'Angus is a single father who is very dedicated to providing the best for his little bud. Manny was Angus' world. His love for his son was immeasurable,' he wrote. 'We are trying to raise funds to help Angus in this tragically difficult time. Manny was a treasure and what has happened has left a lot of people in shock and sadness.' A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said the the five-year-old was bitten on the back and chest before going into cardiac arrest (pictured, dog catchers at the scene) The mixed breed believed to be responsible for the attack remains in a council pound as police continue their inquiries (pictured, a street in Gold Coast suburb Varsity Lakes) The fundraiser has already surpassed its goal of $10,000 in less than eight hours with all donations to go towards Manny's funeral expenses. 'Sending love and prayers to all of the family,' one donor wrote. Gold Coast City Council animal control officers removed two dogs from the property, including an English bull terrier-American bulldog cross. The mixed breed is believed to be responsible for the attack and remains in a council pound as police continue their inquiries. The city council and the Coroner will also launch their own investigations. A suicide bomber attacked a restaurant in the city of Beni in east Congo on Christmas Day, killing at least five people as well as himself. More than 30 people were celebrating Christmas at the packed In Box bar and restaurant in Beni when the bomber struck, according to witnesses. Six people died in the blast and 14 were injured, with one city hall source reporting that two children were among the dead, as well as two local officials. Officials blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia, one of the deadliest armed groups in the region and claimed by the Islamic State group as its central Africa arm. The ADF did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, but the bombing marks the latest violence in a region where Congolese and Ugandan forces have been engaged in battles with Islamists. More than 30 people were celebrating Christmas at the packed In Box bar and restaurant in Beni when the bomber struck, according to witnesses. Six people died in the blast and 14 were injured, with one city hall source reporting that two children were among the dead, as well as two local officials. More than 30 people were celebrating Christmas at the packed In Box bar and restaurant in Beni when the bomber struck, according to witnesses. Beni is located in east Congo, roughly 50 miles from the Ugandan border, where there has been months of conflict between the ADF and Congolese forces. Shortly after the blast, Narcisse Muteba, the colonel running the city during the state of emergency in the east of the country, called on residents to return to their homes for Christmas for their own safety. More than 30 people were celebrating Christmas there when the bomb went off, and the remains of tables, chairs, bottles and glasses were seen scattered across the blast site. 'I was sitting there,' local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila said. 'There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise.' A police vehicle took the wounded to a nearby medical centre, which was immediately sealed off. 'The suicide bomber, prevented by security guards from entering a crowded bar, activated the bomb at the entrance of the bar,' the regional governor's spokesman, General Ekenge Sylvain, said in a statement. Sylvain said that insurgents from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group aligned with Islamic State, had activated a 'sleeper cell' in Beni to target citizens, but he did not provide evidence connecting them to the explosion. 'We call on people to remain vigilant and to avoid crowded areas during the holiday season,' said Sylvain. 'In the city and territory of Beni, it is difficult, in these times to know who is who.' Residents of Beni have repeatedly expressed anger over the ongoing insecurity despite an army offensive and the presence of U.N. peacekeepers (Pictured: A Congolese boy walks past a wall in Beni, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 1, 2019) Saturday's attack marked the first known time that a suicide bomber has killed victims in eastern Congo, where an Islamic State group affiliate earlier this year took responsibility for a suicide bombing near another bar in Beni who had caused no other casualties. Residents of the town have repeatedly expressed anger over the ongoing insecurity despite an army offensive and the presence of U.N. peacekeepers in Beni. On June 27, a blast from a improvised bomb at a Catholic church wounded two women, the same day a man died when the bomb he was carrying went off. The day before, another device blew up near a service station without doing any damage. The authorities blamed those attacks on the ADF. Beni, in North Kivu province on the DRC's eastern border with Uganda, has been the site of regular clashes between the army and the ADF. North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province have been under a 'state of siege' since May, an emergency measure in which the military has taken effective control but which so far has not succeeded in stopping the attacks from the armed militia. 'The suicide bomber, prevented by security guards from entering a crowded bar, activated the bomb at the entrance of the bar,' the regional governor's spokesman, General Ekenge Sylvain, said in a statement. Chairs, bottles and body parts were seen littering the scene A soldier with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) is seen at a checkpoint on the Mbau-Kamango road in the territory of Beni as Ugandan and Congolese troops worked to repair a key road in eastern DR Congo ahead of an expected push against the region's notorious ADF rebels (photo dated Dec. 10, 2021) A soldier with the DRCongo armed forces travels on the Mbau-Kamango road in the district of Beni on December 8, 2021 On November 30, the DRC and Uganda launched a joint operation against the ADF in the east of the country to try to quell the bloody ADF attacks. Uganda has also blamed the group for a string of attacks on its territory. The ADF was historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. But it established itself in eastern DRC in 1995, becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region. It has been blamed for the killings of thousands of civilians over the past decade in the DRC, as well as for bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The Islamic State group presents the ADF as its regional branch -- the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP. On March 11 this year, the United States placed the ADF on its list of 'terrorist groups' affiliated with IS jihadists. The Taliban have banned women from travelling distances longer than 45 miles unless accompanied by a male family member. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice today declared that women seeking to travel anything other than short distances should not be offered transport if they are alone, and insisted transport be offered only to those wearing Islamic hijabs. 'Women travelling for more than 45 miles (72 kilometres) should not be offered a ride if they are not accompanied by a close family member,' ministry spokesman Sadeq Akif Muhajir said, specifying that it must be a close male relative. The guidance, circulated on social media networks, comes weeks after the ministry asked Afghanistan's television channels to stop showing dramas and soap operas featuring women actors. The ministry had also called on women TV journalists to wear hijabs while presenting. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice today declared that women seeking to travel anything other than short distances should not be offered transport if they are alone, and insisted transport be offered only to those wearing Islamic hijabs. (Pictured: Afghan women ride on a vehicle along a road in Mazar-i-Sharif on December 21, 2021) Mawlavi Sheikh Mohammed (R), the Taliban's Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, listens during a ceremony in which the former office of Ministry of Women Affairs was replaced with the 'The Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan', in Kandahar, Afghanistan, 20 October 2021 This image shows a copy of the directive given by the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice The ministry's new directive preventing women from travelling alone over significant distances also said people should stop playing music in their vehicles. The Taliban's interpretation of the hijab - which can range from a hair covering to a face veil or full-body covering - is unclear, and the majority of Afghan women already wear headscarves. Since taking power in August, the Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and girls, despite pledging a softer rule compared with their first stint in power in the 1990s. In several provinces, local Taliban authorities have been persuaded to reopen schools - but many girls still remain cut off from secondary education. Early this month, the Islamist group issued a decree in the name of their supreme leader instructing the government to enforce women's rights. The decree did not mention girls' access to education. Afghan burqa-clad women sit in front of a beauty salon with images of women defaced using spray paint in Jalalabad on December 13, 2021. Afghan women take part in a protest at Shahr-e Naw in Kabul on December 16, 2021, demanding the right to education, jobs and political representation from the Taliban government. Some female news presenters have returned to work, but must wear hijabs according to the Taliban's directive Activists hope that the Taliban's battle to gain international recognition and get aid flowing back into one of the poorest countries in the world will lead to them making concessions to women. Respect for women's rights has repeatedly been cited by key global donors as a condition for restoring aid. Women's rights were severely curtailed during the Taliban's previous stint in power. They were then forced to wear the all-covering burqa, only allowed to leave home with a male chaperone and banned from work and education. The latest restrictions imposed by the Taliban come amid severe food shortages, with an ongoing drought and reduced aid packages causing a huge proportion of Afghanistan's population to go without food. Hundreds of Afghans gather in front of the governors office to requests humanitarian aid, in Qala-e-Naw, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 Severe drought has dramatically worsened the already desperate situation in Afghanistan forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and live in extreme poverty (pictured: farmer stands on a barren field, Dec 13, 2021) Necephor Mghendi, head of Afghanistan Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said drought is leading to 'worrying food shortages, with around 22.8 million people - more than 55% of Afghanistans population - experiencing high levels of acute food shortages.' Severe drought has affected more than 60% of the countrys provinces, 'but there is no single province not affected since some are facing serious or moderate drought.' 'If urgent measures are not taken, there will be a catastrophic humanitarian situation,' he said. 'It is arguably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world at the moment, and the saddest part is that early action and prompt action could have prevented it from escalating.' Oil canisters used to carry water stand in the middle of the riverbed of dried-out river, in Sang-e-Atash, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 The family members of those hit by the OxyContin painkiller scandal in the US have called for Dame Theresa Sackler to be stripped of her title and for museums to 'take down' the billionaire family's name. Families have called for the widow of Mortimer Sackler, one of Purdue Pharma's co-owners, to be stripped of her title in Britain after a judge ruled that the Sackler family could now be held to account for the harm caused to users of the prescription drug. Purdue Pharma, which is based in Stamford, Connecticut, introduced the fiercely addictive opioid OxyContin in 1996. The family members of those hit by the OxyContin painkiller scandal in the US have called for Dame Theresa Sackler (pictured with Mortimer Sackler) to be stripped of her title The families of those affected by the drug crisis have called on museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum (Sackler courtyard at the V&A pictured) to remove the billionaire family's name from its buildings Lawsuits against the company allege it sold OxyContin as a drug with a low chance of triggering addictions, despite knowing this to be not true. However Purdue denied wrongdoing and said that its products were approved by federal regulators and prescribed by doctors - despite agreeing to pay a multi-billion dollar settlement to its victims. Now the families of those affected by the drug crisis have called on the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate to remove the billionaire family's name from its buildings and for the dame to be stripped of her title. It comes after the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York dropped the Sackler name from its building. Mother Emily Walden, 49, from Kentucky, whose son TJ was just 21 when he died from an OxyContin overdose in 2012, was among those calling for the British institutions to 'take down' the Sackler name. She told The Times: It's not what they should be known for.' Meanwhile American artist Nan Goldin, who became addicted to OxyContin after a wrist injury, said it was a 'moral issue'. She told The Times: 'Museums are supposed to stand for something besides money. They have a mandate for education, learning and beauty. 'I know a lot of artists who don't want to show in galleries with the Sackler name.' The drug, which was prescribed to millions for long-term use, has since been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the US The opioid addiction crisis has caused more than 500,000 overdose deaths in the United States over the past 20 years. Since 2010, the Sackler Trust claims to have donated more than 60 million in support of medical science, healthcare, education and the arts in the UK. The Sackler Trust, alongside the Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation, has also supported arts institutions across London, including the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare's Globe. In 2018, Ms Goldin threatened to boycott the National Portrait Gallery if it accepted a 1million donation from the Sackler family. She told the Observer: 'My message is for all institutions everywhere, which are taking Sackler money. 'They are not going [to be able to] continue to operate ''business as usual''.People are pushing back and, if they want to maintain their standing as cultural institutions, they have to listen.' The intertwined history of some of Australia's most high-profile gangland murders was revealed in secret when police seized a stockpile of 27 guns from the boot of a car at an industrial unit four years ago. Three of the guns were traced back to the ruthless unsolved execution of Hells Angels enforcer Kemel 'Blackie' Barakat, 29, in 2017, while two others were linked to the cold-blooded killing of Calabrian crime family gangster Pasquale Barbaro, 35. Barbaro's hit was carried out by the murder-for-hire boss Abuzar Sultani 32, who studied accounting at Sydney's Macquarie University in the day and ran what police called a 'black-ops killing squad' by night. Police do not believe his crew of killers known as the 'the Afghanis' or 'Ab's Boys' were responsible for gunning down Barakat and that both cases are unrelated. Two guns found in the haul were linked to the cold-blooded killing of Calabrian crime family gangster Pasquale Barbaro, 35 (pictured) Abuzar Sultani 32 (pictured), studied accounting at Sydney's Macquarie University in the day and ran a 'black-ops killing squad' by night Details about the weapons haul in August 2017 was kept hidden under a court suppression order and only revealed at the trial of Siar Munshizada, 33, this month, when the triggerman was given three life sentences for the brutal murders of Barbaro, Rebels bikie Michael 'Ruthless' Davey and drug dealer Mehmet Yilmaz. Justice Des Fagan said the people in possession of the firearms had 'no connection' with the offenders so far as appears from the evidence before the court. A senior NSW police officer said the bizarre realisation shows how guns are often shared between underworld figures. 'The fact the guns involved in two murders were found among one batch seized from other criminals just shows how guns are passed around among themselves,' the officer told the Daily Telegraph. 'Guns are currency and the crims offloading them don't care if someone is caught with them. They could find themselves a suspect in murders or crimes they weren't involved in.' Sultani earlier this year was also slapped with three life sentences, while two other members of his hit squad Joshua Baines, 29 and Mirwais Danishayar, 28, received 15 and 36 years respectively. Details about the weapons haul in August 2017 was kept hidden under a court suppression order and only revealed at the trial of Siar Munshizada, 33 (pictured), this month Ballistics experts matched a 9mm calibre Beretta semi-automatic pistol (left) found in the back of the boot at Glendenning in Western Sydney to the Barbaro killing, along with a .45 calibre Norinco semi-automatic (right) Ballistics experts matched a 9mm calibre Beretta semi-automatic pistol found in the back of the boot at Glendenning in Western Sydney to the Barbaro killing, along with a .45 calibre Norinco semi-automatic. Barbaro, whose bloody death was featured on the Channel Seven miniseries Australian Gangster, was killed in a hail of bullets outside a home in Sydney's Earlwood in November 2016. Police firearms examinations also determined three other guns in the haul were used to kill bikie enforcer Barakat. The Sydney underworld figure was in bed with a woman he 'may have been having an affair with' when assassins burst into his unit and executed him in a hail of bullets, a court heard. Slain Sydney crime figure Kemel 'Blackie' Barakat is pictured with his wife, who Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name Barakat was murdered by masked assailants as he slept alongside Fatima Hage at his unit in Mortlake, in the city's south, about 2.30am on March 10, 2017. His one-time friend, Ahmed Jaghbir, 31, was jailed for 11 years after he supplied hitmen with a key but the four gunmen have never been caught. Sultani has also never revealed to police who hired him to carry out the three murders he was convicted for. 'They carried out killings as an enterprise and it took a very highly skilled and adept set of investigators to outsmart them,' NSW Police homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told the Sydney Morning Herald. An Iraqi man who murdered his Iranian girlfriend with a 6-inch long (15cm) knife and tried to cut her head off after she turned down his marriage proposals has been jailed for life. The defendant, who has been named only as Zyad S., 25, was on trial in Germany over the death of his girlfriend Fatemeh B., 28, who he stabbed with a meat knife on February 16, 2019. He received the life sentence on December 20 at a retrial of the case, after an initial 12-year sentence for manslaughter was deemed too lenient by Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH). Zyad S. will only be eligible for parole after 15 years. Judge Gesine Brunkow told the court that a deep cut found on the woman's neck 'suggests the impression of attempted decapitation'. Fatemeh B., a 28 year old Iranian woman living in Germany, was slaughtered with a meat knife by her boyfriend Zyad S. in 2019. The defendant, who has been named only as Zyad S., 25, was on trial in Germany over the death of his girlfriend Fatemah B., 28, who he stabbed with a meat knife on February 16, 2019. He received the life sentence on December 20 at a retrial of the case, after an initial 12-year sentence for manslaughter was deemed too lenient by prosecutors. The court heard how Fatemeh, who had only been in a relationship with Zyad for three months prior to her death, was subject to controlling behaviour and had refused her boyfriend's marriage proposals. '[The victim] loved freedom and wanted to try it out,' said the judge, telling the defendant during sentencing that he 'massively controlled' Fatemeh. After coming to the conclusion that his girlfriend would never accept his proposals, Zyad decided to kill her instead. On the evening of February 16, 2019, Zyad lured Fatemeh into his car, where he had concealed a 15cm long meat knife. He drove Fatemeh into the countryside and down a dirt road where he murdered her. She was found with 34 knife wounds and severe lacerations on her neck. The defendant admitted to stabbing Fatemeh but pleaded manslaughter, saying that he did so out of jealousy because the victim had deliberately provoked him. Fatemeh's father Kheirollah, 60, and sister Sara, 24, expressed disgust earlier this year upon Zyad's initial conviction for manslaughter, saying that he should never be let out of prison. '[The victim] loved freedom and wanted to try it out,' said the judge, telling the defendant during sentencing that he 'massively controlled' Fatemeh (pictured) At Fatemeh's funeral in 2019, the pastor spoke of a fun-loving young Iranian woman, who had arrived in Germany three years prior without her family. The pastor said: 'Your friends here were like family to you.' Fatemeh was studying German with only one thought in mind: to find a job and to work, according to German paper Bild. At the beginning of the trial, the prosecutors requested life imprisonment for murder, while the defence pleaded manslaughter and requested an eight-year prison sentence. The Luebeck Regional Court decided to convict the accused of manslaughter instead of murder, and sentenced him to 12 years in prison as the court found the accused acted 'deliberately, but not insidiously.' The decision was overturned earlier this week in favour of a life sentence, with possibility for parole only after 15 years. France has recorded more than 100,000 coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began. Covid cases in hospital have also doubled over the past month, as the fast-spreading Omicron variant complicates the government's efforts to stave off a new lockdown. More than one person in 100 in the Paris region has tested positive in the past week, according to the regional health service. Most new infections are linked to Omicron, which government experts predict will be dominant in France in the coming days. Meanwhile, a surge in Delta variant infections in recent months is pushing up hospital admissions. More than 1,000 people in France with the virus died over the past week, bringing the overall death toll to more than 122,000. Nurse Medina Bengler feeds a patient with COVID-19 in the COVID-19 continued care unit at the la Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. Marseille's La Timone Hospital, one of France's biggest hospitals, has weathered wave after wave of COVID-19 Medical workers tend to a patient suffering with COVID-19 and on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at the la Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021 People lining up to get a nasal swap at a mobile COVID-19 testing site on the Christmas Eve at the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The head of intensive care at La Timone hospital in Marseille, France, said most COVID-19 patients over Christmas were unvaccinated, while his staff are exhausted or can't work because they are infected. 'We're sick of this,' said Dr. Julien Carvelli, the hospital's ICU chief. 'Were afraid we wont have enough space.' The government is holding emergency meetings on Monday to discuss the next steps. Some scientists and educators have urged the return to schools after the Christmas break to be delayed, or for a curfew to be re-imposed. But the education minister says schools should open as usual on January 3, and other government officials are working to avoid measures that would hammer the economy's recovery. Instead, the government is hoping that stepped-up vaccinations will be enough. The government is pushing a draft law that would require vaccination to enter all restaurants and many public venues, instead of the current health pass system which allows people to produce a negative test or proof of recovery if they are not vaccinated. Emergency room nurse Sonia Harrat takes a break while working on Christmas day at the la Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. A medical staff prepares nasal swaps to test a woman with her children at a testing site on the Christmas Eve in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, west of Paris, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. Hospital worker Houda Mokrani takes a selfie with her colleagues on Christmas day in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the la Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France, Friday, Dec. 25, 2021. France's peak in Covid cases comes as Boris Johnson considers the implementation of new coronavirus restrictions across Britain after experts from SAGE warned that the Omicron variant could cause a surge of hospitalisations higher than last winter's peak. Figures from the ONS on Friday showed that 1 in 10 Londoners had the virus last week, and there are now fears that millions of Brits will be forced into seven day isolation - crippling essential services such as police and public transport. In minutes from a meeting on December 23 published last night, the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that the peak on hospital admissions may be comparable to or higher than previous peaks including the second wave in January. However, MPs and hospitality bosses have warned not to bring in new restrictions before New Year's Eve or risk 'devastating' businesses, while the Prime Minister is said to be determined to avoid closing schools after Tory MPs issued a warning shot at Mr Johnson and his Government to resist any lockdown measures. Cabinet Ministers last week rejected Government scientist suggestions to tighten rules before Christmas. Following studies last week that showed Omicron is significantly less likely to cause hospitalisation than the Delta variant, Mr Johnson is not expected to bring in legally binding restrictions or lockdown measures. London is being battered hardest by the new variant, with one in 20 infected with the virus and ten of the worst hit postcodes in England located within a three square mile stretch between Wandsworth and Lambeth (highlighted in yellow above) In a more likely scenario the Prime Minister could issue guidance telling people to limit their contacts. Last January hospitalisations peaked at 4,583 daily admissions, over four times the current rate. But although the studies last week found that Omicron was much less virulent than Delta between 15 and 70 per cent less likely to lead to hospitalisation Sage cautioned against optimism. It warned these figures were largely based on younger people who have formed the bulk of infections so far. President Biden and Vice President Harris commended NASA on their launch of the revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope after it successfully began its one million mile journey from Earth. The new $10 billion telescope, which is hoped will be able to examine 13.5 billion years of cosmic history, completed its first mid-course correction burn on Saturday night after launching from the European Space Agency's base in French New Guinea earlier in the day. The mid-course correction burn began at 7.50PM ET (12.50AM GMT) and lasted 65 minutes. It is considered a time-critical milestone of the launch in the beginning of the journey, according to NASA. Both Biden and Harris took to Twitter to congratulate the space agency on the launch of the new telescope following a lengthy period of delays. 'Congratulations @NASA and all who made todays launch of the James Webb telescope possible. Webb is a shining example of the power of what we can accomplish when we dream big. We've always known that this project would be a risky endeavor, but with big risk comes big rewards,' Biden tweeted. President Biden and Vice President Harris commended NASA on their work with the launch of the telescope following a lengthy period of delays 'This launch from @NASA is an important moment in history. The Webb telescope will allow us to make new advancements in science and our understanding of the universe. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this million-mile journey begin!,' Harris tweeted. Following a 29-day journey, the telescope is expected to reach the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2) which is approximately 930,000 miles (1,500,000 kilometers) from our planet facing the direction of Mars. The $10 billion James Webb Telescope was launched on Christmas Day morning to being its one million mile journey from Earth The telescope made its first mid-course correction burn at around 7.50PM ET (12.50AM GMT) which lasted about 65 minutes The first mid-course correction burn is considered a time-critical milestone in the beginning of the journey A successful Christmas Day take off for the telescope had been dubbed a 'Christmas miracle' after the project suffered a series of delays in the South American country's rainy season. But at 7.20am ET (12.20PM GMT) the world's most powerful space telescope, equipped with an Ariane 5 rocket, took off from the European Spaceport facility in French Guiana in magnificent form before blasting skywards over the Atlantic Ocean. NASA confirms first mid-course correction burn milestone in one-million mile journey The first mid-course correction burn was made on December 25 at around 7.50PM ET (12.50AM GMT) which lasted minutes The milestone burn adjusts the telescope's trajectory found toward the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point (L2) which is approximately 930,000 miles (1,500,000 kilometers) from our planet facing in the direction of Mars The Webb telescope received the intentional small under-burn from the Ariane-5 rocket it was launched from as it is not possible to correct for overthrust which occurs when one series of rock strata is forced over another The telescope would not be able to turn back to Earth if it had a lot of thrust as it would expose the Sun to its telescope optics and structure causing it to overheat and then abort the overall mission in its early stages In order to prevent an overexposure of thrust, three mid-course correction maneuvers are made in total Source: NASA Advertisement Cheers were on pause for another nerve-wracking 27 minutes as the rocket ejected its boosters and soared to an altitude of 870 miles (1,398km) before finally detaching the telescope to begin its own journey. With its liftoff, a spokesperson for NASA said, 'Webb will usher in a new era of astronomy'. Stephane Israel, the CEO of Arianespace which provided the Ariane rocket, said: 'We launch for humanity this morning from the Guiana Space Center. We know what Webb is about, and after Webb we will never see the skies in quite the same way again.' Webb is intended to replace its 30-year-old counterpart Hubble, as it is about 100 times more sensitive and is expected to profoundly transform scientists' understanding of the universe and our place in it. The new telescope's special orbital path will keep it in constant alignment with Earth as the planet and telescope circle the sun in tandem. The project, which started in 1996, is an international collaboration led by NASA in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies. It had been hit by months of launch delays, which followed years of delays to its construction, with the first launch date scheduled in 2007. The launch was rescheduled for Christmas Eve, before finally being moved to December 25, with a launch window between 07:20 ET (12:20 GMT) and 07:52 ET (12:52 GMT). Ahead of the launch, it was loaded into the fairing of an Ariane 5 rocket, and moved on to the launch pad at the Europeans Space Agency facility in French Guiana. Live coverage of the launch was provided on NASA's TV channel and website kicking off at 06:00 ET (11:00 GMT). Officials had confirmed that the Ariane 5 was in good shape, and that the only problem facing the launch was the start of the rainy season in French Guiana. Jubilant scientists and engineers shouted 'Go Webb, go!' as NASA's revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope has begun its one million mile voyage into solar orbit after successful lift off following decades of planning and delays After a perfect flight out of the Earth's atmosphere and into space, the James Webb telescope module detached from the body of the Ariane 5 rocket that had blasted it skywards, leading to cheers from nervous scientists at mission control in Kourou, French Guiana Work on the James Web Telescope, also known as JWST or Webb, first began in 1996 and at the time NASA had just a $500 million budget to complete it. The agency was set to launch it in 2007, but cost overruns and technical issues forced a major redesign in 2005 that led to its first delay. Construction of the telescope was completed in 2016, allowing testing to begin, but two years later the massive sunshield ripped during a practice run that led to another postponement. NASA 's revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope has successfully lifted off to start its long flight into space to replace the Hubble telescope after decades of planning and delays Pictures from the European Space Agency's Spaceport facility in French Guiana show the Webb telescope module atop an Ariane 5 rocket blasting off from Earth at 7.20AM ET (12.00PM GMT) on its million-mile journey into solar orbit At 7.20am the world's most powerful space telescope, equipped with an Ariane 5 rocket, took off in magnificent form before blasting skywards over the Atlantic Ocean. Pictured: The rocket at lift off We have ignition: Engines on the Ariane 5 rocket engage for a whole seven seconds at the spaceship warms up before lift off actually takes place at 7.20AM ET Cheers were on pause for another nerve-wracking 27 minutes as the rocket ejected its boosters and soared to an altitude of 870 miles (1,398km) before finally detaching the telescope to begin its own journey And then the coronavirus pandemic that hit in 2020 caused even more delays. In October 2021, James Webb finally arrived in French Guiana following a 16-day sea voyage onboard the MN Colibri, and was removed from the transport container prior to launch preparations. Fuelling operations began on November 25, according to NASA, and took about 10 days. The space telescope was then secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket on Saturday, December 11, at the Guiana Space Center, as it geared up to launch on December 24. But Mother Nature seems to have other plans and the mission is now a day later. If all goes according to plan, the 14,000-pound instrument will be released from its French-built rocket after a 26-minute ride into space. Pictured: The NASA live stream showing the trajectory of Webb, atop Ariane 5 rocket as it continues on its path into space All systems go: Launch teams monitor the countdown to the launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA's James Webb Space Telescope this morning, December 25 Dubbed a 'Christmas miracle' by anxious astronomers, the massive, next generation Jame Webb Space Telescope is finally on the launch pad, ready to go to space About 28 minutes after its eventual blast-off, the James Webb will detach from its launch vehicle and begin 'the most complex sequence of deployments ever attempted in a single space mission,' NASA said. Instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam (Near InfraRed Camera) an infrared imager from the edge of the visible through the near infrared NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) will also perform spectroscopy over the same wavelength range. MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) will measure the mid-to-long-infrared wavelength range from 5 to 27 micrometers. FGS/NIRISS (Fine Guidance Sensor and Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph), is used to stabilize the line-of-sight of the observatory during science observations. Advertisement It is so large it was folded, origami-style, to fit in the rocket, according to NASA, and unfurl 'like a Transformer' in space, spreading its mirrors out to collect light from deep in the history of the universe. Mark McCaughrean, ESA Webb Interdisciplinary Scientist, has been waiting more than 20 years for the chance to gather data using Webb. He told MailOnline he wasn't really nervous about it launching, as it had been tested, simulated and prepared to within an inch of its life, and he had faith in the engineers. 'Launch is always a worry, you've sat an expensive piece of kit on a barely guided explosion, but it is what we do, and the Ariane 5 is a workhorse,' he said. Webb will travel to an orbit about one million miles away from Earth and undergo six months of commissioning in space including unfolding its mirrors and sunshield, cooling down, aligning and calibrating. 'Astronomers worldwide will then be able to conduct scientific observations to broaden our understanding of the universe,' NASA says. The telescope is named after the late James E. Webb, an American government official who was the administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968 and played an integral role in the Apollo program. NASA's decision to name the device after him was a controversial one he has been accused of homophobia since his passing in 1992 due to his role in the 1963 firing of a gay NASA employee. The observatory is now set to take off on December 25, with a launch window between 07:20 ET (12:20 GMT) and 07:52 ET (12:52 GMT) Ahead of launch, it was loaded into the fairing of an Ariane 5 rocket, and moved on to the launch pad at the Europeans Space Agency facility in French Guiana Officials confirmed that the Ariane 5 was in good shape, and the only problem facing the launch was the start of the rainy season in French Guiana It is so large it was folded, origami-style, to fit in the rocket, according to NASA, and unfurl 'like a Transformer' in space, spreading its mirrors out to collect light from deep in the history of the universe Already years late in leaving the Earth for space, Webb will look back to almost the beginning of time, to when the first stars and galaxies were forming Primarily an infrared telescope, Webb will have a wider spectrum view than Hubble and operate further out from the Earth, in a solar orbit. It will launch on a European Space Agency Ariane 5 rocket from near Kourou in French Guiana In October, NASA announced that it will not rename the James Webb Telescope ahead of its launch in December, despite a petition against honouring a space pioneer who some have now claimed was homophobic. NASA BRUSHES OFF PETITION TO RENAME JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE In October, NASA announced that it will not rename the James Webb Telescope ahead of its launch in December, despite a petition against honoring a space pioneer who some have now claimed was homophobic. Webb, who died in 1992 aged 85, was the second administrator in NASA's history, taking over at the request of John F. Kennedy in 1961. He ran the agency until 1968 and was instrumental in the Apollo programs that would see, the year after his departure, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon. In 2002 the agency announced that its $10billion new telescope - due for launch in December 2021 - would be named after him. Yet in recent years the decision has stirred criticism, and a petition this year to rename it has received 1,200 signatures. Organizers accuse Webb of being homophobic, due to his role in the 1963 firing of a gay NASA employee. Questions were also asked about his participation in a 1950-52 'Lavender Scare', when he was at the State Department, and 91 gay people were 'purged'. But on September 30 Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, said they had decided against renaming the telescope. 'We have found no evidence at this time that warrants changing the name of the James Webb Space Telescope,' he told NPR. Advertisement Webb, who died in 1992 aged 85, was the second administrator in NASA's history, taking over at the request of John F. Kennedy in 1961. He ran the agency until 1968 and was instrumental in the Apollo programs that would see, the year after his departure, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon. Primarily an infrared telescope, Webb will have a wider spectrum view than Hubble and operate further out from the Earth, in a solar orbit. McCaughrean said JWST lowers the floor for the type of objects we can see, mainly because the telescope itself is cold - down to -230 Celsius - meaning it doesn't emit much light in infrared, so astronomers don't have to 'fight' against infrared given off on Earth. Webb will take pictures ten times sharper than Hubble, but hundreds of times deeper. Hubble is about 340 miles above the Earth surface, whereas Webb will be over a million miles away. Research by Ohio State University claims that within five years of it coming online, James Webb will have found signs of alien life on a distant world. Graduate student Caprice Phillips calculated that it could detect ammonia created by living creatures around gas dwarf planets after just a few orbits. The James Webb Space Telescope has been described as a 'time machine' that could help unravel the secrets of our universe, with distant objects emitting light from further back in time. The telescope will be used to look back to the first galaxies born in the early universe more than 13.5 billion years ago. It will also observe the sources of stars, exoplanets, and even the moons and planets of our solar system. Thousands of astronomers around the world have built future careers based on the potential of the Webb telescope. One group of researchers hope to use Webb to witness 'cosmic dawn' - the moment of first light for the first stars in the universe billions of years ago. James Webb is designed to last for five years but NASA hopes it will operate for a decade or more - similar to the fact Hubble has outlasted its lifespan by decades - although unlike Hubble it cannot be easily repaired. Work on the James Web Telescope, also known as JWST or Webb, first began in 1996 and at the time NASA had just a $500 million budget to complete it The telescope will observe the Universe in the near-infrared and mid-infrared at wavelengths longer than visible light. To do so, it carries a suite of state-of-the-art cameras, spectrographs and coronagraphs Research by Ohio State University claims that within five years of it coming online, James Webb will have found signs of alien life on a distant world About 28 minutes after its eventual blast-off, the James Webb will detach from its launch vehicle and begin 'the most complex sequence of deployments ever attempted in a single space mission' The telescope will observe the Universe in the near-infrared and mid-infrared at wavelengths longer than visible light. To do so, it carries a suite of state-of-the-art cameras, spectrographs and coronagraphs. Aside from procuring the Ariane 5 launcher and launch services, ESA is contributing the NIRSpec instrument and a share of the MIRI instrument. The first images will be test shots, rather than of anything specific - it could copy Hubble and take an image of Jupiter as its first observation. Up to 30 percent of the first year of observations will be aimed at exoplanets, to study their orbit, size and atmosphere, in search of alien life. Kamala Harris speculated Sunday that the criticism of her last year could be because she is the first female and first minority to hold the office of Vice President of the United States. 'Let me just tell you, if you talk about being the first or being maybe it's because I am that,' she said. Latest poll numbers revealed only a 48 percent approval rating among Americans. Thats at least a whopping 20 percent better than a November USA TODAY/ Suffolk University poll showing a dismal 28 percent approval for the vice president. Some Democrats have excused Harris' shortcomings, claiming she was given too ambitious of responsibilities, including addressing the southern border crisis. However, Harris argued she does not think she was set up for failure despite a myriad of criticisms plaguing her office in year No. 1 as vice president. 'I've talked to some of your former Senate colleagues and they say you have been given an impossible portfolio,' CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan prompted in a pre-taped interview that aired Sunday. 'And a lot of people have been harshly critical of that.' 'I want to ask you if you think some of these things are fair or unfair,' Brennan continued. 'Do you think any of this is fair? Do you think you're being set up to fail?' 'No, I don't believe I'm being set up to fail,' the vice president responded. Brennan pushed Harris on why she feels Democrats are saying she was given an 'impossible portfolio'. 'I'm the Vice President of the United States, anything that I handle is because it's a tough issue,' Harris explained. 'And it couldn't be handled at some other level. And there are a lot of big, tough issues that need to be addressed. And it has actually been part of my lifelong career to deal with tough issues and this is no different.' Kamala Harris said in an interview that aired Sunday she doesn't think she was 'set up to fail' with an 'impossible portfolio' of responsibilities as vice president Some have claimed that Harris is scrutinized more harshly than her male predecessors because she is a minority female. Harris addressed that in her interview airing the day after Christmas. 'Why do you think there is such scrutiny? I mean, women are always held to a different standard, that's just a fact. Is the fact that you're a woman and the fact that you are a minority in this office part of why there is such scrutiny?' Brennan prompted. 'I'll leave that for others to deal with,' Harris deflected. 'I, you know, I have a job to do. And I'm going to get that job done.' Donna Brazile, acting chair of the Democratic National Committee, said 'all the focus on turnover in [Harris'] office is overblown, but you do need to renew and repurpose.' Former representative in the South Carolina House and now political commentator Bakari Sellers said: 'Her portfolio is trash. You give someone a portfolio that is not meant for them to succeed.' In the 2020 Democratic primary race, Harris consistently polled around 5 per cent in popularity among the crowded field of candidates vying to take on Donald Trump in his reelection race. She dropped out of the race in December 2019 and soon became a contender for vice presidential nominee as now-President Joe Biden, and his top competitor Bernie Sanders, said they were likely to choose a woman as a running mate. The choice of Harris came as a surprise to some after she attacked Biden during the first Democratic primary debate in Miami, Florida in June 2019. Harris essentially claimed Biden backed racist policies during his decades as a U.S. senator. Harris said at the time of the debate that Biden was wrong to praise the civility of former segregationist-supporting senators. She shared her story of benefiting as a young black girl from the busing policy Biden once opposed. That night set Harris, who was a California senator at the time, up to be one of Biden's top critics during the campaign. Since working together, there have been reports that the president and vice president's office do not get along leading to further speculation that there are tensions between Biden and Harris, which both have denied. Biden has made a point since then to include Harris at several public events and mention her during his remarks. On several occasions, however, Biden has made gaffes in calling Harris the president instead of vice president. Harris said Sunday she is addressing issues that have never been talked about at the White House, like maternal health and mortality as well as postpartum care expansion. In the spring, Biden put Harris in charge of addressing one of the biggest obstacles facing the administration the southern border crisis. The VP's office quickly rebranded the job, claiming she was put in charge of addressing the 'root causes' in Central America that leads to mass migration from those nations to the U.S. There are also several reports claiming the vice president's office has been filled with turmoil and lack of morale. Over the last month, four aides announced their departure from Harris' office, including the vice president's chief spokesperson Symone Sanders, who will be leaving her post at the end of 2021. Harris said one of her main goals is to continue pushing for the passage of Biden's $1.75 trillion Build Back Better social spending and welfare package. A new poll released Tuesday shows only 43 per cent of registered voters approve of the job Kamala Harris is doing as vice president At least four staff have announced their departure from Harris' office in the last month. Symone Sanders, Harris' senior adviser and chief spokesperson, will leave the White House at the end of the year, after Ashley Etienne, former communications director, did so weeks ago Two more staffers, Peter Velz (left) and Vince Evans (right), are eying exits 'I will work on it my entire career and elevate it to the extent that I have a microphone in front of me,' she told Brennan. The bill was effectively killed last Sunday when centrist Democratic Senator Joe Manchin told Fox News Sunday that he would vote 'no' on the legislation after months of negotiations with Biden. 'What do you think, as you come to the end of this first year, what do you think your biggest failure has been at this point?' Brennan asked Harris. 'To not get out of D.C. more,' the VP joked and laughed. 'I mean, and I actually mean that sincerely for a number of reasons. You know, I we, the president and I came in, you know, COVID had already started. It was the pandemic had started. And when we came in, we really couldn't travel.' 'You know, a large part of the relationship that he and I have built has been being in this, you know, together in the same office for hours on end, doing Zooms or whatever because we couldn't get out of D.C.,' she explained. 'And on issues that are about fighting for anything from voting rights to child care to one of the issues that I care deeply about maternal health. Being with the people who are directly impacted by this work, listening to them so that they, not some pundit, tells us what their priorities are, I think is critically important.' 'People have a right to know and believe that their government actually sees and hears them,' Harris said. 'And my biggest concern is I don't ever want to be in a bubble when it comes to being aware of and in touch with what people need at any given moment in time.' A painting which depicts George Floyd as Jesus as a baby being cradled by Mary has twice been stolen from the Catholic university where it was displayed, with students banning the artwork and branding it blasphemous. The piece, called Mama, was painted by white artist Kelly Latimore in summer 2020, and first hung at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC during February. It was stolen in November, shortly after the Daily Signal published a piece by a student about the artwork, and replaced shortly afterwards with a smaller copy, which has now also been stolen. But students at the law school of the Catholic University of America, where Latimore's 'Mama' was on display, were not happy about the ambiguous message and branded the piece 'sacrilegious,' 'disrespectful' and 'at the very least confusing.' They launched a petition to have it permanently removed, with the college's student council also voting to ban it for depicting an identifiable person as Jesus. 'Mama', which emulates the famous 'Piete' and depicts a black Mary holding Jesus in her arms, was stolen twice from the chapel at the Catholic University in Washington, before the student government voted to ban it from being displayed on campus again Shortly after an alumnus wrote about the piece in a conservative outlet, a petition calling for its removal - which garnered more than 5,000 signatures - was started by students. The piece, which emulates the famous 'Pieta' and depicts a black Mary holding Jesus in her arms, was stolen twice from the chapel before the student government voted to ban it from being displayed on campus again. The university has since apologized for the 'confusion' and said an investigation has been opened into the robberies. Latmore has defended his painting, and said the person depicted in Mary's arms is meant to be both Jesus and George Floyd, who was murdered by white former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin in May 2020. 'It's not an either-or scenario,' he told The New York Times. 'Is it George Floyd? Yes. Is it Jesus? Yes. There's sacredness in every person.' Kelly Latimore, the artist behind the evocative piece, says there is enough space in art both to praise Jesus and to honor Floyd as a catalyst for change and justice But students at the law school of the Catholic University of America, where Latimore's 'Mama' was on display, were not happy about the ambiguous message and branded the piece 'sacrilegious,' 'disrespectful' and 'at the very least confusing' 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. The name of Latimore's piece, 'Mama,' hints at Floyd last words while he begged for mercy as Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck. The university approached Latimore earlier this year, asking for permission to display the painting, and he agreed to it free of charge, The New York Times reported. On Monday, however, the institution retracted from its initial stance and apologized for the confusion the painting caused. 'Many saw the figure in the arms of Our Lady as a divinized George Floyd,' said the University President John Garvey. 'This interpretation led to accusations that the work was blasphemous, something that is contrary to the respect due to God and his holy name. Regardless of your interpretation, it created needless controversy and confusion, for which I am sorry,' he added. Garvey said the robberies were being investigated by the university. During its inauguration earlier this year, the painting was described as a thought-provoking piece that portrayed the 'cry of all.' 'The image is evocative of the Pietethe Mother of Sorrows,' the description of the painting read. 'May Mary, the Mirror of Justice hear the cry of all who have known the sorrow of losing a loved one to violence and injustice. Amen.' The piece was blessed by a priest and placed in the Mary, Mirror of Justice chapel, where it hung for months. Shortly after an alumnus wrote about the piece in a conservative outlet, a petition calling for its removal - which garnered more than 5,000 signatures - was started by students For a while, the piece hung undisturbed, but in November, an article by a university alumnus on The Daily Signal criticized the intentions behind the painting For a while, the piece hung undisturbed, but in November, an article by a university alumnus on The Daily Signal criticized the intentions behind the painting. A student told the conservative outlet that the image was not Jesus because there were no marks of the crucifixion on his hands. The artist had said that the marks were omitted because the Christ figure in the icon was lynched. The university repeatedly shrugged off remarks that the painting depicted Floyd, citing other symbols that identified Jesus like the halo or the Greek letters for Jesus Christ - despite Latimore's comments that the painting portrayed both Jesus and Floyd. Another student told Inside Higher Ed that in the painting 'Christ has been equated to another specifically identifiable human being.' Shortly after the article was published, the painting was stolen for the first time. The university replaced it in November with a smaller copy, adding after the theft that the institution would 'not to cancel speakers or prevent speech by members of the community.' Latimore has painted other prominent black figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, and late congressman John Lewis His artwork often depicts religious figures as common-day, marginalized human characters Outraged students then created a Change.org petition seeking to remove the painting from the chapel. 'We are asking through this petition that the University's administration remove these images from public display on our campus, as we believe they are disrespectful and sacrilegious,' the description of the petition read. 'As students at the Catholic University of America, we believe that it is extremely grave that our university, the official university of the Catholic Church in North America, would cast another in the image of our Lord in this way, particularly for political purposes. No political or social cause ever justifies depicting another in the place of Jesus Christ.' After the painting was stolen for a second time, the student government voted to permanently ban 'Mama' from being displayed on university buildings, describing the piece as 'blasphemous, offensive and at the very least confusing.' The government said that there were other ways in art of 'bring[ing] forth representation of the African American community in a nonpolitical and uncontroversial way,' the Times reported. Garvey said on Monday that the wall where the painting had hung for months would remain blank until the university found a more thoughtful replacement. 'The university should be trying to put the painting back up with haste. To have it stolen without replacement looks like an act to chill freedom of expression on campus,' Nicholas Perez, a program manager at PEN America, told the New York Times. Latimore's artwork often depicts religious figures as common-day, marginalized human characters, such as minorities and immigrants struggling with contemporaneous political and social issues Latimore has painted other prominent black figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, and late congressman John Lewis. His artwork often depicts religious figures as common-day, marginalized human characters, such as minorities and immigrants struggling with contemporaneous political and social issues. 'The Holy Family is still among us here and now, in the faces of the refugee, the immigrant, the oppressed, the sick, and poor. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Matthew 25:35, Merry Christmas,' Latimore posted on Twitter on Christmas Day, along with pictures of the holy family as refugees. In April, Latimore told The Christian Century magazine in 'Mama,' he purposefully painted Virgin Mary looking at the viewer to call for 'prayer and action.' 'She's asking, 'What are you going to do so this doesn't keep happening?' he said. A charity shop owner has refused to remove a 'distressing' mannequin from outside his shop - despite people reporting it to the police after believing it was a dead body. Staff at Amaze - a charity shop launched to support homeless people - placed the dummy in a sleeping bag in Malvern, Worcestershire, to highlight the plight of rough sleepers in the area. But the stunt was criticised by local residents who thought the mannequin was a real person, with passers-by offering it coffee and food. Owner and co-founder of Amaze, Chris Lee, said he was visited by police officers who told him to 'remove it'. West Mercia Police said the mannequin 'could easily have been mistaken for a dead body' and asked for the display to be 'adapted' so it could avoid causing 'distress to the public' or 'unnecessary calls to the police'. Staff at Amaze - a charity shop launched to support homeless people - placed a mannequin in a sleeping bag in Malvern, Worcestershire, to highlight the plight of rough sleepers in the area The mannequin has been placed in a red sleeping bag, next to a drain and gutters, alongside a sign saying 'down here is a bad place for a poster, it's an even worse place to live.' The campaign had backing from the Mayor of Malvern, councillor Nick Houghton, who helped launch the project last Saturday. The owner and co-founder of Amaze, Chris Lee, said: 'We did this to create awareness around homelessness. 'The mannequin - not a most convincing one at that - is sleeping on the street with the sign next to it. 'On Tuesday, December 21 at about half past five, I was approached by a police officer and told to remove it. 'They said it was "too distressing" but I responded saying that the plight of homelessness is distressing. 'The display is there to evoke comment and start a conversation, but the police officer thought that it was too shocking an image and could cause an accident. 'It's just our way of saying please be aware and help the homeless if you can.' Amaze co-founder Chris Lee (left) and Mayor of Malvern, Cllr Nick Houghton (right) launching the campaign last Saturday Mr Lee said he has 'no intention' of moving the mannequin, despite the police visit, arguing it is 'making people aware and making people think'. Pointing to the support shown by councillor Houghton, he said: '(He) thought it was a great idea.' Mr Lee added: 'This was only ever to raise awareness; we were never asking for money or donations. 'The majority of responses have been really nice and kind, some people have even thought it was real and brought coffee and food. 'It is only the police who are unhappy with it. 'The really sad thing is that we often find people huddled in the doorway wanting help. 'It's the reality of life, there is a number of people suffering.' A spokesperson from West Mercia Police said: 'The officer had spoken with the manager to highlight that the mannequin looked very life-like and could easily have been mistaken for a dead body given its appearance and that this had been the case with us receiving such feedback. 'This was also likely to cause both some distress to the public and unnecessary calls to police so it was requested the display be adapted so as to not cause either of these issues.' The issue comes three years after a rough sleeper named Joby Sparrey was found dead in the doorway of a clothing shop close to Amaze's doorstep on Christmas Day in 2018. New York City's EMS crews were spread thin on Christmas as hundreds called out sick while those who remained on the job had to answer more than 4,000 calls - many from unvaccinated residents suffering COVID-related issues. According to the New York Daily News, nearly 19 percent of the city's more than 4,000 EMS workers were out sick on Saturday - up from a typical rate of about 5 percent. Those who remained on the job over the holiday had to respond to about 4,500 ambulance calls per day - up about 10 percent in previous years, as Omicron cases continue to surge through the five boroughs. 'Christmas Day is usually not that busy,' said Anthony Alomojera, vice president of Local 3621 - the FDNY's EMS officers unions. 'This isn't people falling down and breaking their legs. It's COVID related.' EMS workers were spread thin on Christmas after nearly 19 percent of the city's more than 4,000 employees were out sick on Saturday. Here, EMS workers are pictured treating a woman with COVID symptoms in April 2020 in Yonkers, New York Throughout New York City, cases have surged in recent weeks, with 12,900 new diagnoses across the fie boroughs on Friday New York State shattered its COVID case record for the third day running on December 23 - recording 44,431 new cases, with a 12.4 percent positivity rate, according to New York State data. Alomojera said many of his members were now being called out to tackle COVID-related illnesses, often among New Yorkers who've opted not to be vaccinated. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Christmas Eve blamed the rise in cases on the Omicron variant, estimated to be behind 92 percent of new infections in the Empire State. 'This is a very, very contagious variant,' she said. Outgoing NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio released separate figures for the Big Apple shortly after Hochul's announcement, which also made for grim reading. He said there had been 12,900 new diagnoses across NYC's five boroughs on Friday, up 12 percent on the day before, and 17 percent from Wednesday. De Blasio, who will be replaced as mayor by Eric Adams on January 31, also revealed that hospitalizations across the city had risen to 259, up 31 per cent from Thursday. Hospitalizations are up by 20 percent week-on-week, although the mayor insists the current numbers are manageable, with multiple studies showing that Omicron causes less severe illness, and reduces the chance of hospitalization, or a lengthy stay for anyone who does require professional medical treatment. To meet the surge in cases amid a diminishing workforce, NYPD officials on Friday eliminated the department's cap on overtime work for EMS employees, and announced they would let crews work up to 18 hour shifts 'at their discretion.' Personal leave has also been temporarily eliminated, the Daily News reports, and most training classes have been suspended to free up crews to respond to calls. The FDNY took similar steps back in early November, the Daily News reports, when hundreds of the department's employees called in sick to protest de Blasio's vaccine mandate. Hospitalizations have increased throughout the state in recent weeks, though they remain lower than they were at the height of the pandemic. EMS workers are seen here taking patients into the Wakefield Campus of the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx in April 2020 New York State shattered its COVID case record for the third day running on December 23 - recording 44,431 new cases, with a 12.4 percent positivity rate But as a result, Alomojera said, crews are mandated to work extra shirts, even though EMS workers are already fed up after spending nearly two years serving on the front lines of the pandemic. 'It's the perfect storm,' he told the Daily News. 'You have pandemic burnout and an incredibly young workforce - a majority have less than five years on the job. 'The EMTS and medics are doing good work,' he noted, 'but the job has been run into the ground by the city.' Alomojera was working out of EMS Station 40 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on Christmas, and said there was only one crew available to respond to calls in all of south Brooklyn. 'They're pulling units to work other areas,' he said. 'We have units going over the bridge to Staten Island because there's nobody.' Kamala Harris' 'primary focus' is still the southern border crisis, she insisted in an interview that aired Sunday amid a series of backlash over her handling of last year's migration surge. 'My approach to the issue in Guatemala and its neighboring countries, which has been formerly called the Northern Triangle, is to do what we have, I think, a responsibility to do, as a member of the Western Hemisphere to assist in dealing with the root causes of migration out of those countries. And that is my primary focus.' 'You went to Guatemala in June,' CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan said to Harris, 'and you clearly delivered the message, 'Do not come.' You took a lot of grief from progressives in your party for saying that.' 'Do you regret having to say that?' she posed. 'I was in Guatemala because we have to address, in a comprehensive way, the root causes of migration,' Harris explained. 'When I was in Guatemala, I talked with the Guatemalan people about what I've talked to folks in this very room who have convened about this issue, which is the vast majority of people, wherever they are from, don't want to leave home. They don't want to leave the language they speak.' Vice President Kamala Harris said Sunday that the U.S. has a 'responsibility as a member of the Western Hemisphere' to address the 'root causes' of the migration crisis from Central America Harris dodged question on if she regrets her June plead to migrants saying 'do not come' to the U.S. after the progressive wing of her party lashed out at that message Joe Biden's administration has seen record levels of illegal immigration at the southern border with more than 1.75 million encounters with Customs and Border Protection agents since he took office .@VP Kamala Harris explains to @margbrennan her message for migrants to stay at home: I think everyone, regardless where they are on the political spectrum, appreciates the point that people dont want to leave home. Tune in Sunday for more of our exclusive interview pic.twitter.com/PRQbD4pht2 Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 23, 2021 'Most people don't want to leave home,' she reiterated. 'And when they do, it's for one or two reasons. Either they can't take care of the basic needs of themselves in their family or they're fleeing harm.' One of Harris' main initiatives as VP has been a program funneling money and jobs to Northern Triangle Countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Savlador through private companies pledging development there. 'Just the week before last I convened after many meetings, American CEOs,' Harris told Brennan in the wide-range interview, which was released in segments over the last week. 'We started out with 12, now we got 77, partnering with us around investment in Guatemala to deal with a variety of issues that are about their economy and their workers, including women as farmers and workers there. ' 'I have been working with our Department of Justice to do what we need to do to enhance prosecutions, investigations and prosecutions around human trafficking and smuggling,' she continued. Her initiatives have been widely overlooked, however, by those who claim she is not doing enough to quell the flow of illegal immigration during the largest surge in modern history. Despite a few months of decreasing migration numbers, the crossings increased again from October to November and there are now the most amount of foreign-born people living in the U.S. than in the last century. Customs and Border Protection data shows officers encountered more than 1.75 million migrants at the southern border since Biden took office. Numbers released this month show the agency's officers encountered 173,620 illegal crossers in November alone an uptick from the October crossings of 164,753. The November figures represent a 140 per cent uptick in illegal crossings at the southern border from the same month last year, when there were only 72,113 encounters. Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico in June in her capacity as 'border czar' in an effort to address 'root causes' of migration and stop people from leaving Central American countries for the U.S. According to the Center for Immigration Studies report on the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Study (CPS), immigrants made up 14.2 per cent of the U.S population as of November 2021. This amounts to 46.2 million immigrants both illegal and legal living in the U.S. The latest figure is the highest the proportional U.S. immigrant population has been in 111 years. It is also triple the share of the population since 1970 and double since 1990. Brennan said that while Harris and the administration have tried to set a message that the border is closed to asylum seekers during the pandemic, progressives are widely critical of that messaging. Caravans of migrants continue to flow from Central America to the U.S.-Mexico border 'I think it's important to focus on the details of what we collectively want, and I think everyone, regardless of their where they are on the political spectrum, appreciates the point that people don't want to leave home,' she deflected. 'And what can we do as a neighbor to help them stay at home when that's in fact what they want to do?' she added. 'And I'll tell you, when I was in Guatemala and spoke with the people there, that was emphasized in a way that I knew before I got there, but was really emphasized when I got there. People don't want to leave. They don't want their family members to leave. Their family members didn't want to leave.' Harris visited Guatemala in June, and the nation's President Alejandro Giammattei said he has not spoken to the vice president since then. Both progressives and conservatives slammed Harris for her trip to Guatemala and Mexico. Progressives claimed she was being too hard line to immigration and conservatives said she is not doing enough to address the border crisis in the U.S. Russian President Vladimir Putin today announced he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees preventing NATO's expansion to Ukraine. Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet the demands, warning that Moscow will have to take 'adequate military-technical measures' if the West continues its 'aggressive' course 'on the threshold of our home.' 'We have nowhere to retreat,' he said, adding that NATO could deploy missiles in Ukraine that would take just four or five minutes to reach Moscow. 'They have pushed us to a line that we can't cross. They have taken it to the point where we simply must tell them - `Stop!' Putin's announcement comes just one day after Russian authorities released a video of large-scale 'war games' in which Russian troops in five separate locations conducted military drills and live-fire exercises, with many taking place close to the Ukrainian border. Russian President Vladimir Putin today announced he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees preventing NATO's expansion to Ukraine (Putin pictured Dec. 24) Putin's announcement comes just one day after Russian authorities released a video of large-scale 'war games' in which Russian troops in five separate locations conducted military drills and live-fire exercises, with many taking place close to the Ukrainian border (pictured: Satellite image of Russian military deployed in Opuk Training Area, in annexed Crimea, earlier this week) Ukrainian reservists attend a military exercise at a training ground near Kiev, Ukraine, 18 December 2021 (issued 19 December 2021), in preparation for a potential invasion Asked to specify what such Moscow's response could be, he said in comments aired by Russian state TV Sunday that 'it could be diverse,' adding without elaboration that 'it will depend on what proposals our military experts submit to me.' The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantee on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATOs principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed, however, to launch security talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns, and Putin said the talks with the U.S. will be held in Geneva. In remarks broadcast today, Putin said that Russia submitted the demands in the hope of a constructive answer from the West. What did Vladimir Putin say on each topic at his end-of-year press conference? On possible conflict with Ukraine: 'This is not our choice, we do not want this.' 'We have to think about ensuring our security prospects not just for today and next week but for the near future.' 'We just directly posed the question that there should be no further NATO movement to the east, the ball is in their court, they should answer us with something. In this regard, I would like to stress that on the whole we have seen a positive reaction so far, our American partners tell us that they are ready to start this discussion.' On NATO expansion: 'What is unclear here? Are we putting missiles next to the United States' borders? No, it is the United States that has come to us with their missiles, they are already on our doorstep.' 'The course of negotiations is not important to us, the result is important... 'Not one inch to the East,' they told us in the 90s. So what? They cheated, just brazenly tricked us! Five waves of NATO expansion and now already, please, the systems are appearing in Romania and Poland.' On Donbass: 'The future of Donbass should be determined by the people who live in Donbass... It cannot be any other way. We see our role as mediators in creating the best conditions for determining the future of the people who live in this territory.' On Russia labelling some media as foreign agents: 'We do not forbid the work of these organisations. We want organisations engaging in Russia's domestic political activity to clearly and concisely declare the sources of foreign funding for their work.' Advertisement 'We didn't do it just to see it blocked... but for the purpose of reaching a negotiated diplomatic result that would be fixed in legally binding documents,' Putin said. The Russian President reaffirmed that NATO membership for Ukraine, or the deployment of alliance weapons there, is a red line for Moscow that it wouldn't allow the West to cross. He voiced concern that the U.S. and its allies could try to drag out the security talks and use them as a cover to pursue a military buildup near Russia. He noted that Russia published its security demands to make them known to the public and raise the pressure on the U.S. and its allies to negotiate a security deal. 'We have just one goal - to reach agreements that would ensure the security of Russia and its citizens now and in a long-term perspective,' he said. The Kremlin presented its security demand amid the tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine in recent weeks that has fueled Western fears of a possible invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin in a video call earlier this month that Russia will face 'severe consequences' if it attacks Ukraine. Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in its turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim. Putin's comments on the dangers posed to Russia by a possible NATO expansion into Ukraine come just one day after a video released on Christmas Day showed the Russian army drilling in 'new forms and methods of modern combined arms combat in the Voronezh region' - which borders Ukraine. The video shows more than 1,200 air assault troops and 250 pieces of military equipment engaged in military drills in snow and fog at the Opuk range in Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, and at the Rayevsky range near Novorossiysk in Krasnodar region, close to the Ukrainian border. The show of strength - coinciding with Christmas celebrations in the West - was accompanied by another announcement from Putin, who revealed that a successful salvo launch of Russia's Mach-9 capable Zircon missiles, which Russia boasts can evade all missile defences, had been conducted. Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions) More than 1,000 Russian troops were involved in firing exercises in five regions in recent days, while tanks conducted mobile defence drills involving 500 soldiers As world powers race to develop advanced weaponry, Russia has carried out a number of successful tests of its Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. Pictured: An earlier test of Russia's Zircon missile in November 'Zircon are our newest missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets,' he said. 'The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly. This is a big event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia's security, in increasing (our) defence capability.' It is the first time a successful Zircon salvo test has been reported, and was announced personally by Putin. According to a survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in December 2021 and published on 17 December 2021, 50.2 percent of Ukrainians said they would resist in case of a Russian military intervention into their city, town or village. Every third respondent to the poll, 33.3 percent, said they were ready to engage in armed resistance while 21.7 percent said they were ready to participate in 'civil resistance actions'. A holiday party thrown by Democratic Connecticut governor Ned Lamont earlier this month has been linked to the recent surge of COVID cases in the state. Lamont, 67, threw the gathering with his wife Annie at their Greenwich home on December 11 with a 'small number of guests' - the exact number has not been specified. The guests were required to provide proof their vaccination status and negative COVID test result in order to attend. Lamont and his wife were not affected by the virus as they regularly tested negative for the virus following the party. However, guests still ended up contracting the virus despite the precautions that were taken to ensure the safety of their health. Democratic Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, 67, threw a holiday party earlier this month which has reportedly contributed to the state's rising COVID numbers The party was thrown at Lamont's Greenwich home with a 'small number of guests' reportedly in attendance who were required to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test Lamont with his wife Annie (center) and his son Teddy (left), Lindsay (left center), and Emily (right center) As of Thursday, there have been 3,165 new cases reported bringing the state total to 474,557 infections 'The governor and first lady test regularly and have tested negative in each instance since the event,' Lamont's Director of Communications Max Reiss told Hearst Connecticut Media. 'The positive tests occurred long after their party.' Lamont and his wife had also not been informed of the positive cases from the party until the week after. It remains unclear how many guests were in attendance at the party and if masking had been a requirement in the home. As of Thursday, the state's positivity rate was at 9.02 percent, according to Lamont, with over 3,000 new cases reported. This recent surge in cases comes amid the presence of the Omicron variant which caused holiday plans to be cancelled across the country. According to Reiss, the governor has attended multiple events before and after the party even with hundreds of people in attendance, according to NBC Connecticut. These gatherings included a Connecticut Restaurant Association gala at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino on December 6 as well as an annual fundraising breakfast of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce in Rocky Hill on December 14. However, he only reportedly attends events where a high volume of guests have been fully vaccinated. Lamont receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in February 2021. He reportedly only attends event where a high volume of guests are fully vaccinated. It is unclear how many guests were in Lamont's home for the party and if any of them were masked Despite these precautions, Lamont has not reinstated statewide mandates as he left local officials to delegate their own. Certain areas such as Stamford and Norwalk have already begun enforcing an indoor mask mandate due to the rising cases. Unlike in 2020, there were no limits during the holiday season on the number of people who can attend indoor events, although unvaccinated people are still required to wear masks in such settings. Masks are required to be worn by everyone in certain places such as health care facilities, schools and public transit. Also, businesses and local government offices have the option to require masks for everyone. According to recent state data, 3,416 cases have been reported in the last week bringing the total number to 474,557 infections. The surge in cases has also seen 37,853 COVID tests taken in the state in the past week as well. In addition, there have been 16 virus-related hospitalizations bringing the total to 837. The death rate has also risen with 75 recently reported for a state total of 9,077. Advertisement Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday admitted that the federal government has failed to authorize and distribute a sufficient number of at-home COVID tests, despite President Joe Biden's promise to distribute 500 million free at-home rapid tests amid a surge in new coronavirus cases. In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl on Sunday morning, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases admitted that coronavirus cases are continuing to soar, leading to an increased demand for COVID tests that the government has failed to prepare for, and now cannot meet. 'Obviously testing, Jon, is going to be very important, that we get a greater capability of testing particularly when the demand for testing is so high,' Fauci said on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 'We're at a combination of the Omicron variant itself, as well as the holiday season where people want to get that extra level of assuredness that they're protected even if you are vaccinated and boosted. 'One of the problems is that that's not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested, but we're addressing the testing problem and that very soon will be corrected. 'If you look at the beginning of the administration, the beginning of the year, there were essentially no rapid point of care home tests available,' Fauci continued. 'Now there are over nine of them and counting. 'The production of them has been rapidly upscaled, and yet became of the demand that we have, which in some respects, Jon, is good that we have a high demand... But the situation where you have such a high demand, a conflation of events, Omicron stirring people to get appropriately concerned and wanting to get tested as well as the fat of the run on tests during the holiday season ... we've obviously got to do better. Dr. Anthony Fauci seemed to admit that the federal government has failed to authorize and distribute a sufficient number of at-home COVID tests despite President Joe Biden's promise to distribute 500 million free at-home rapid tests amid a surge in new coronavirus cases 'I mean I think things will improve greatly as we get into January,' he said, 'but that doesn't help us today or tomorrow.' Long lines have formed outside of health care clinics throughout the country yet again as Americans scramble to get tested for what Fauci has described as an 'extraordinarily contagious' variant. Confirmed Omicron cases in the country have jumped from 4,644 on Christmas Day to 6,530 on Sunday. That is a 41 percent jump in just 24 hours. But those numbers represent just a tiny fraction of the true total, because the US only sequences a very small proportion of positive PCR tests to identify which strain caused a person's infection. The CDC estimates that at least 73 percent of all new COVID infections are being caused by Omicron, with that figure as high as 92 percent in five states including New York and New Jersey. America has now reported 128,676 new cases of COVID-19 with 27 new deaths reported on Sunday. Deaths have lagged because of Christmas Day, and will likely be higher than usual on Monday as the backlog begins to get recorded. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden promised to deliver 500 million COVID tests to Americans - but had not yet signed a contract to buy them or set up a website so that people can place orders. 'That's not a plan - it's a hope,' Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told The New York Time . 'If those tests came in January and February, that could have an impact, but if they are spread out over 10 to 12 months, I'm not sure what kind of impact it is going to have.' The tests will be delivered by mail to any American who requests them, ABC News reports and a website to request the tests is set to launch in January. Amazon, Walgreens and CVS have already imposed limits on how many tests each customer can buy because of the surging demand. On Wednesday, ABC News' World News Tonight anchor David Muir asked the president if that the lack of testing is a failure of his administration despite his promise. 'I don't think it's a failure,' the president said. 'You could argue that we should have known a year ago, six months ago, two months ago, a month ago... I wish I had thought about ordering' the 500 million tests 'two months ago. But, he added, 'nothing's been good enough' when it comes to the availability of at-home tests.' Officials now warn that the virus could infect 140 million people between January and March - 60 percent of all Americans, although 90 per cent of those who catch COVID are predicted to have no symptoms. Three studies published in the last day have confirmed the strain is milder than Delta, and may result in up to 80 per cent fewer hospitalizations. The third wave of the pandemic caused by Omicron has wrought havoc on Americans' Christmas plans. Airlines scrapped more than 600 flights Sunday due to weather and the virus surge, with the Biden administration announcing it would lift the ban imposed on eight African countries in response to Omicron on New Year's Eve. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will limit the number of revelers in Times Square for New Years Eve to 15,000, down from a planned 58,000, and attendees will need to wear masks and show proof of vaccination. People wait to get a COVID test in New York's Times Square on December 26, with the Omicron variant estimated to be behind at least 92 per cent of new infections in the Empire State and neighboring New Jersey There is, however, some good news on the horizon. On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved a second anti-viral pill, this time from Merck, called molnupiravir. The agency touted the new drug 'for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with positive results...and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.' FDA authorizes Merck's at-home antiviral COVID-19 pill - a day after giving Pfizer's oral drug the go-ahead The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized Merck's antiviral pill for COVID-19, after giving the go-ahead to a similar treatment from Pfizer Inc. a day earlier. Merck's drug, molnupiravir, developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, was shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths by around 30% in a clinical trial of high-risk individuals early in the course of the illness. The agency authorized the oral drug for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid in adults who are at risk for severe disease. It will also carry a warning against use during pregnancy, and women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment. On Wednesday, US health regulators issued emergency authorization for Pfizer's Paxlovid, a pill that is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of Covid and within five days of symptom onset. Advertisement The pill could be 30% effective in treating the infection for high-risk patients, less than previously expected because of the new strain, according to Merck executive Dr. Eliav Barr. 'The Omicron variant is primarily different from the other types of Covid at the spike protein,' Barr told CNN. 'Our drug works in completely different part of the virus. So we're very optimistic that the drug will continue to be effective against Omicron, and we're studying that right now.' There have been other caveats to the medication. There have been warnings about its effect on pregnant women and their fetuses, which is still unknown. Some fear that molnupiravir, which causes the virus to mutate and attack itself, could create another strain that proves toxic to people. 'The fact is that most mutations are probably lethal to the organism, but a couple of them are going to end up being beneficial for the organism, and we've seen that with the successive different variants that have come out,' Defense Health Agency director Dr. Peter Weina told the Daily Caller. Pfizer already has approval for its virus pill, but availability for the medication will depend on where you live, according to Bloomberg. The federal government will parse out the dosages on a per capita basis with New York getting only 3,108 pills and Wyoming, which has a population of about half a million people, will receive just 100 courses. 'Product will be limited at first and ramp up significantly in the coming months,' the department said. 'An initial 65,000 courses of Paxlovid will be made available for shipment to states and territories and will begin arriving at dispensing sites by the end of December,' the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told the news service. As the virus rages at home, President Biden plans to lift the travel ban on several African countries. Now all non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will soon be able to travel to the U.S. The CDC recommend the change because of promising stats out of Africa. Data from from South Africa, where the strain was first reported, looks promising. There was a huge and sudden drop in cases, suggesting Omicron may have quickly run its course. But panic over the new strain continues to prevail across much of the world, with Italy and Spain now ordering people to wear masks outdoors. Imperial College London on Wednesday found that Omicron is 40 per cent less likely to lead to serious illness than the Delta variant. Another study by the University of Edinburgh suggested that the new variant could slash hospitalizations by as much as 65 percent, with a third South African study indicating the potential 80 per cent drop in hospitalizations. Both British studies underlined, however, the importance of vaccines with the Imperial study stating the risk of hospitalization for an unvaccinated person was just 10 percent lower for Omicron than with Delta. As of Thursday, 72.7 percent of all eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 61.7 percent are fully vaccinated. Of those who are eligible for a booster shot, just 31.5 percent have received one. Biden acknowledged that there is a lack of at-home testing, saying he wished he had ordered more moths ago before people, like those seen here, had to wait in line at an urgent care center in Queens for a test Still, Fauci urged Americans on Sunday not to become complacent. He said that with such a high number of people getting infected with the Omicron variant 'it might override a real diminution in severity. 'So that if you have many, many, many more people with a less level of severity, that might kind of neutralize the positive effect of having less severity when you have so many more people,' he explained, urging people to also keep their masks on on flights. 'I think that the idea of taking masks off, in my mind, is really not something we should even be considering,' Fauci said before actually praising former President Donald Trump for speaking out in favor of the COVID vaccines. The former president was booed by some of his supporters during an appearance with Bill O'Reilly in Texas last week, when he announced that he received his booster shot. He later doubled down on his support of the vaccines in an interview with conservative pundit Candace Owens. In the interview, Trump told Owens that people unvaccinated against coronavirus are the ones getting 'very sick' and encouraged all Americans get the jab all while taking credit for its creation. 'I came up with a vaccine with three vaccines,' Trump told the Daily Wire host, referring to the development of the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines while he was still president. 'All are very, very good. Came up with three of them in less than nine months. It was supposed to take five to 12 years.' Owens interjected: 'Yet more people have died under COVID this year, by the way, under Joe Biden, then under you and more people took the vaccine this year. So people are questioning how ' But the former president interrupted Owens, assuring: 'Oh no, the vaccine work (sic), but some people aren't the ones. The ones who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine. But it's still their choice.' 'And if you take the vaccine, you're protected,' he continued. 'Look, the results of the vaccine are very good, and if you do get it, it's a very minor form. People aren't dying when they take the vaccine.' Former President Donald Trump (left) was heckled in Dallas last week for confirming he received his COVID-19 booster shot alongside former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly (right) In the aftermath, Owens claimed she didn't think Trump's support of the vaccines was nefarious, saying: 'I think he genuinely believes that and he needs to sit down and have a conversation with someone, a larger conversation with someone to really understand what's going on and why so many people are just horrified.' She blamed Trump's stance on vaccines on him only reading 'mainstream media news' instead of conducting research on 'obscure websites,' and said that the President, who in part won the presidency in 2016 because of his knowledge of social media, is not on the internet. 'I do not believe trump is on the internet, he just relies on typical mainstream sources,' she said. 'People oftentimes forget that, like, how old Trump is,' she said. 'He comes from a generation -- I've seen a lot of people who are older, have the exact same perspective, like, they came from a time before TV, before internet, before being able to conduct independent research. And everything they read to them that was in a newspaper that was pitched to them, they believed that that was a reality.' But Fauci on Sunday said he hoped the former president would continue to speak in favor of people getting vaccinated. 'I think that his continuing to say that people should get vaccinated and articulating that to them, in my mind is a good thing,' Fauci told Jonathan Karl. 'I hope he keeps it up.' Police are trying to identify the body of a middle-aged man which was yesterday found near Ben Nevis. A member of the public found the body by the River Nevis in Glen Nevis. The body was found at around 11am yesterday and police Scotland said there are no apparent suspicious circumstances. They are urgently appealing for information so that he can be identified. A member of the public found the body by the River Nevis in Glen Nevis (pictured) at around 11am yesterday The man is described as being aged 50 to 70, 6ft tall and of medium build. Police have also said the man was bald with shaved grey hair at the sides and back. The man also had grey or white stubble and blue eyes and was wearing two white t-shirts, desert style boots and blue jeans. Detective Inspector Calum Smith said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing but this death is not being treated as suspicious. 'The man remains unidentified and I would urge anyone who may be able to help to come forward. 'Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 0986 of 25 December.' US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy says he's alarmed by the rise in suicides among young people and says COVID has caused a mental health crisis, as parents rail against school closures and continued mask mandates. 'I'm so concerned about our children because there is an epidemic, if you will, of mental health challenges that they've been facing, and it's partly because of the pandemic,' Dr Murthy, a father of two, said on CNN's State of the Nation on Sunday. He continued: 'You know, a decade before the pandemic, we saw a 40 per cent increase in a number of high school students who said they felt persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness. We had increases in suicides among kids, to alarming levels.' Expanding onto why youngsters are suffering mentally, Murthy touched on bereavement and being denied the chance to see friends during lockdowns and school closures. He said: 'Well, Dana, Im so concerned about our children because there is an epidemic, if you will, of mental health challenges that theyve been facing, and its partly because of the pandemic. 'Weve seen certainly that many children have lost loved ones during this pandemic, 140,000 kids lost to caregiver. We know that their lives have been turned upside down. They havent been able to see friends as often as they would. And thats taken a toll. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned the country of a mental health epidemic in children as they grapple with life in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic 'Thats why weve seen anxiety and depression where its go up among kids. But heres the really important part, Dana, our kids are struggling long before the pandemic. Murthy continued: 'You know, decade before the pandemic, we saw 40 percent increase in a number of high school students who said they felt persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness. 'We had increases in suicide rates among kids, to alarming levels. So, our children have been struggling for a while and the reason I issued this advisory is because we have, I believe, a moral obligation to take action, to support our kids because they could be doing much better than they are and every child deserves a shot of good health.' Murthy went on to acknowledge that the 'impact of the pandemic was at least 'partly to blame' for the recent spike in child mental health issues and suicides, with many youngsters left anxious by being denied social contact with friends and teachers. In schools that have since reopened, many continue to impose draconian rules which force youngsters to sit masked and in silence during breaktimes to try and minimize the chances of them catching or spreading COVID. In 2020, some school districts, including Clark County in Nevada, rushed to reopen after a sudden spike on suicides they feared were caused by forcing kids to try and learn at home. Last week, Murthy's office issued a mental health advisory after unveiling alarming figures that one in five young people report experiencing symptoms of depression and one in four suffer from anxiety. 'We've seen certainly that many children have lost loved ones during this pandemic, 140,000 kids lost [a] caregiver. We know that their lives have been turned upside down,' Murthy told host Dana Bash during the CNN segment. Just 790 children aged 0-18 have lost their lives to COVID since the beginning of the pandemic and December 22, according to the most recent figures supplied by the CDC. That has sparked arguments about whether lockdown and social distancing measures imposed on children are too harsh, given the tiny risk of them dying of COVID. Murthy went on to say that the preoccupying spike in mental health issues in children has become a trend throughout the last decade, and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. 'They haven't been able to see friends as often as they would. And that's taken a toll. That's why we've seen anxiety and depression where it's go[ing] up among kids. But here's the really important part ... our kids are struggling long before the pandemic,' Murthy said. Prior to the pandemic, the country had already seen an increase in high school students who said they felt persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness, and since 2008, suicide rates among children have been steadily increasing. Almost 2,800 children aged 5-19 killed themselves in 2019, the latest available data Between April and October 2020, hospital emergency departments saw a rise in visits from children for mental health needs, NPR reported. 'So, our children have been struggling for a while and the reason I issued this advisory is because we have, I believe, a moral obligation to take action, to support our kids because they could be doing much better than they are and every child deserves a shot of good health,' Murthy said. According to data from a study by the Child Mind Institute, many parents have turned to tele-health therapy during the pandemic. Almost 70 percent, or seven in ten parents who have a child for whom they sought out mental health treatment in the past 12 months, have used tele-health services Mental health-related ER visits spiked in mid-March 2020 and continued into October 2020 with increases of 24 percent among children aged 511 years and 31 percent among adolescents aged 1217 years, compared with the same period in 2019, according to the CDC Murthy said the first step to address the epidemic of mental health illnesses in the American children population, is for caregivers to acknowledge their kids are struggling Mental health-related ER visits spiked in mid-March 2020 and continued into October 2020 with increases of 24 percent among children aged 511 years and 31 percent among adolescents aged 1217 years, compared with the same period in 2019, according to the CDC. Murthy said the first step to address the epidemic of mental health illnesses in the American children population, is for caregivers to acknowledge their kids are struggling. He also encouraged parents to root out the stigma and seek help for their children. 'Many kids feel ashamed at their struggles and they're not sure if it's okay to ask for help. One of the most powerful things that parents can do is to start a conversation with their children about mental health, to let them know it's okay if you struggle,' Murthy advised. 'That doesn't mean that you're broken in some way and you're certainly not the only one because a lot of kids also feel that they're alone,' he added. Last week, Murthy's office issued a mental health advisory after unveiling alarming figures that one in five young people report experiencing symptoms of depression and one in four suffer from anxiety 'It's also important for parents to encourage kids to seek out help, even if it's not from them. If it's from a school counselor or teacher, because many kids are struggling but they don't know if it's okay for them to ask for help,' Murthy said. Above, with first Lady Jill Biden during an event at Children's Wisconsin on December 15 Murthy also said: 'It's also important for parents to encourage kids to seek out help, even if it's not from them. If it's from a school counselor or teacher, because many kids are struggling but they don't know if it's okay for them to ask for help.' According to data from a study by the Child Mind Institute, many parents have turned to tele-health therapy during the pandemic. Almost 70 percent, or seven in ten parents who have a child for whom they sought out mental health treatment in the past 12 months, have used tele-health services. Seventy-five percent said they've used these services for their child since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the majority of behavioral and primary care providers predict that they will continue to conduct more tele-health visits after the pandemic. According to the latest available data from UNICEF, at least 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education. 'The disruption to routines, education, recreation, as well as concern for family income and health, is leaving many young people feeling afraid, angry, and concerned for their future,' the description of the study read. 'Just keep in mind that our relationships in our lives, for our kids and for adults, are one of our most powerful buffers for stress, one of our most important supports if you will for our mental health and encouraging our children to invest in relationships with family members, with friends, is such an important part of ensuring their mental health and well-being,' Murthy agreed on Friday. The United States has reported more than 800,000 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic started, more than any other nation in the world The Surgeon General added that while the recent spike in cases nationally has largely raised feelings of hopelessness and resignation that life will not return to normal in the foreseeable future, the country is doing better than last year. 'So, what I would say to folks out there, so I know it's tough right now. I know that there's a prospect of another wave with omicron coming, but we now know more about how to stay safe than we've ever known,' Murthy said. 'If you're vaccinated and boosted, your risk of having a bad outcome with COVID-19 is much, much lower and we will get to the end of this pandemic. It's gone through twists and turns. But we will get there and we will get there together,' he added. The United States has reported more than 800,000 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic started, more than any other nation in the world. It has recorded more than 51 million infections since the outbreak began in early 2020. More than 500 million vaccine doses have been administered, and 203 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 Advertisement The bodies of 16 Iraqi Kurdish migrants who drowned in November when their dinghy deflated during a Channel crossing were returned to their families in Iraqi Kurdistan today. The November 24 disaster, in which 27 migrants died, was the worst on record involving migrants trying to cross the Channel to Britain from France. The plane carrying the bodies landed on early Sunday in the airport of Erbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Ambulances then took the coffins to the home towns of those who died. 'The last time I heard my son's voice was when he got on board the boat. He said 'Don't worry Mum, I will reach England shortly.' Now he's back to me in a coffin,' said Shukriya Bakir, whose son was one of those who drowned. Relatives of the 16 Kurds, killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to reach England, carry the body of two of the 16 during their funeral in Erbil, northern Iraq, on December 26 Iraqi Kurdish men carry the coffin of a boy who drowned with his mother in the English Channel, during their funeral procession at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Family members mourn the death of Shakar Ali Pirot, who died trying to cross the Channel on November 24, over his body wrapped up in blankets in an iron coffin before he is taken away for burial Dozens of men stand outside a mosque in the town of Ranya, as they pray over the bodies of three migrants who died trying to cross the Channel on November 24, before their burial Iraqi Kurdish men carry the coffin of a migrant woman, who drowned in the English Channel, during her funeral procession at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men mourn during the funeral procession of a migrant woman and her three Children, at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men carry the coffin of a migrant woman, who drowned in the English Channel, during her funeral procession at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men pray during the funeral procession of a migrant woman and her three children, at a Mosque in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men bury the bodies of a migrant woman and her three children, during their funeral procession in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men mourn during the funeral procession of a migrant woman and her three children, at a Mosque in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq The Nov. 24 disaster, in which 27 migrants died, was the worst on record involving migrants trying to cross the Channel to Britain from France. (pictured: the dinghy which sank amid the Channel crossing) The Nov. 24 disaster saw a dinghy deflate and sink off the coast of northern France, resulting in 27 deaths and sparking a political crisis as Britain and France accused each other of not doing enough to deter people from crossing the English Channel. Dozens of mourners waited at the international airport in Erbil Sunday, where the plane carrying the bodies arrived, and relatives grieved as the caskets were transported by ambulance to various locations for funeral proceedings. Among the bodies returned Sunday was that of 24-year-old Maryam Nouri, called Baran by her friends and family. She perished during the ill-fated, illicit voyage across the English Channel with hopes of reuniting with her fiance in Britain. Other bodies included those of Shakar Ali, Sarkawt Pirot and Avrasiya Ahmad, who came from the Ranya district of the Sulaymaniyah governorate in the Kurdish-run region of Iraq. Hundreds of family members and friends attended a ceremony in the town to pay their last respects. Relatives said the three had tried to make it to a better life in Europe as they had been unable to find employment in Iraq. Shakar Ali 'graduated from the oil department in geology college, which is a much needed department for this country. But unfortunately, after many attempts - and we even paid money to people to get him a job, but he couldnt get one,' said his brother, Haval Ali. 'Many of his colleagues, those with connections, got jobs, except my brother... so he decided to migrate abroad.' 'If I don't call you back, it's because I will be in England,' Shakar Ali said in his last message to his family before his death. Iraqi Kurdish men carry the coffin of a migrant woman, who drowned in the English Channel, during her funeral procession at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq Iraqi Kurdish men carry the coffin of a migrant woman, who drowned in the English Channel, during her funeral procession at a cemetery in Darbandikhan town, northern Iraq A woman pays her last respects at the funerals of several migrants who drowned when their dinghy deflated and sank during a Channel crossing attempt last month Relatives of the 16 Kurds, killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to reach England, carry the body of one of the 16 during their funeral in Raniya, east of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region A Kurdish man displays a picture of one of the 16 Kurds, killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to reach England, as he awaits the arrival of the remains at the airport in Erbil A relative of one of the 16 Kurds, killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to reach England, attends their funeral in Raniya, east of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region A mourner sobs as he sits alongside the coffin containing the body of one migrant who drowned attempting to cross the Channel in November 24-year-old bride-to-be Mariam Nouri Dargalayi, pictured, was one of the first migrants to be confirmed dead in the November 24 tragedy Shakar Ali (pictured) 'graduated from the oil department in geology college, but unfortunately, after many attempts, he couldn't get a job' said his brother, Haval Ali. His attempt to cross to England for work resulted in his death. Relatives of the 16 Kurds, killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to reach England, carry the body of two of the 16 during their funeral in Raniya The repatriations came amid a new tragedy involving migrants from the Middle East searching for new lives in Europe - Libya's Red Crescent said Sunday that at least 27 bodies of Europe-bound migrants, including a baby and two women, have washed ashore in the country's west. A disproportionate number of migrants from the Middle East attempting to reach Europe lately have been people from Iraq's Kurdish region. Although northern Iraq is more prosperous than the rest of the conflict-scarred country, growing unemployment and frustration over corruption is forcing many to consider the risky journey. Iraq is no longer at war since the defeat of Islamic State in 2017, but a lack of opportunities and basic services, as well as a political system most Iraqis say is corrupt and nepotistic, mean many people see little chance of a decent life at home. In the past decade, hundreds of thousands of people have slipped into the wealthy economies of Western Europe with the help of smugglers, fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty on epic journeys from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan and elsewhere. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell shared an expletive-laden death threat she got via voicemail recently, two years after Donald Trump slammed her for voting to impeach him and suggested that her late husband was 'looking up' at her from hell. Dingell, who represents Michigan's 12th Congressional District, shared the recent voicemail Sunday morning in an episode of CNN's State of the Union with Dana Bash to show that the bile continues to pour in. 'You godd*** old senile b****. Youre as old and ugly as Biden. You ought to get the f**** off the planet. You f****** foul b****. They ought to f****** try you for treason, b****,' an unidentified man seethes. 'You and every one of your scumbag f****** friends I hope your family dies in front of you. I pray to God, if youve got any children, they die in your face. In December 2019, Trump slammed Dingell for voting to impeach him after he says she thanked him for honoring her husband when he died in February of that year. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan shared a death threat she got via voicemail on Sunday The unknown caller said: 'I pray to God, if you've got any children, they die in your face' Dingell says she's gotten similar messages 'ever since Christmastime, the Christmas, right after John had died,' referring to her late husband, former Rep. John Dingell (left) "It's pretty toxic, there's no question about it," GOP Rep. Fred Upton discusses the hostility on Capitol Hill with Democratic colleague Rep. Debbie Dingell. "I've never seen anything like this before," Upton said. https://t.co/xVqajkrudK #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/l7kX9ej1IW State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 26, 2021 'No, but I look at her and shes so sincere and what happens? "I vote to impeach Trump,"' the former president told a rally. John Dingell died in February 2019 after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 92 years old and is the longest-serving member in Congress, having represented Michigan in the body for more than 59 years. Dingell, 68, tied the hateful messages to Trump's conduct, saying she's been receiving voicemails like the one shared on Sunday 'for a couple of years ever since Christmastime, the Christmas, right after John had died.' It is unclear when she received the message played on Sunday or who sent it. 'John was my late husband and it - you know, once you're in that Trump hate tunnel, you kind of don't escape it,' she told Bash. In a rally in Michigan in December 2019, Trump suggested John may be 'looking up' at his wife from hell after she voted for both articles of impeachment against him John Dingell (left) died in February 2019 at age 92 after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He remains the longest serving member in Congress, having served for 59 years He last held the seat now held by his wife, Michigan's 12th Congressional District 'My friends look at me, it's almost like therapy, and say, "How can you do this?" But you have to - we've got to be careful not to normalize it, but I'm not going to not do my job. I'm not going to go out and not be with people. I'm not going to go out and not listen to them. I want the American people to think about what's happening in our country, that this kind of hate, this fear is happening in communities across the country.' Republican Rep. Fred Upton added that the atmosphere in Congress is 'pretty toxic.' 'Theres no question about it. Just before we adjourned for he Christmas break - one of our members had their words taken down - usually you just apologize and say I was wrong, life goes on. No - he couldn't speak the rest of the day. He stood by the words that he had,' Upton said Sunday. 'You got metal detectors now going on the House floor. We get really nasty threats at home. The tone gets tougher and tougher and its a pretty toxic place. I've never seen anything like this before.' Back in 2019, Trump slammed Dingell during a speech to supporters in Michigan, sarcastically calling her a 'real beauty' and possibly turning her into a target for the ire of his supporters. He boasted about giving John Dingell 'everything,' including letting the flag fly at half mast in his honor and allowing his body to lie in state at the Capitol, which is an honor conferred to him by his time in Congress. Rep. Dingell said Sunday: My friends look at me, it's almost like therapy, and say, "How can you do this?" But you have to - we've got to be careful not to normalize it, but I'm not going to not do my job' He said Debbie called him and thanked him with 'the most profuse thank-you that you could ever get.' 'So that was what, February or something. Now they talk about this phony impeachment. And she's out there. "Well, we have to look seriously at our president because he may have violated the Constitution of the United States. And I cant be happy with that because I love our country. I love this and I love that." She loves everything. I said, "Shes a no, OK." No but I look at her and shes so sincere and what happens? "I vote to impeach Trump." And you know what - I didnt say - who the hell knew this was even going to come up,' he told the crowd. Trump was referring to the first time he was impeached, with the House voting on two articles of obstruction of justice and abuse of power on December 18 as lawmakers investigated Russian interference in the US election and the president's possible involvement. He was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate on February 2020. Trump was impeached again right before his term ended in January of this year, after his supporters stormed the Capitol building following his claims that he won the 2020 election and efforts to overturn results in various states. A House select committee investigating the Capitol riot has since voted to hold two of his associates, former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and chief strategist Steve Bannon, in contempt for not complying with the investigation. Trump has repeatedly cited executive privilege. Democrats have spoken out about the death threats they've faced from Republicans and Trump supporters in recent years. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert addressed supporters during the Thanksgiving break and told a story about sharing an elevator with Rep. Ilhan Omar, a progressive Democrat. '"Well, she doesn't have a backpack. We should be fine,'" Boebert recalled saying to an aide, to hoots of laughter. 'And I said, "Oh look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today."' Omar said the incident never took place. And the comments quickly attracted widespread criticism and calls for punishment. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert (left) addressed supporters during the Thanksgiving break and said of Rep. Ilhan Omar: 'Oh look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today' Boebert later tweeted: 'I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep Omar. I have reached out to her office to speak with her directly.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the 'Squad' of progressive Democrats, responded: 'People truly don't understand the scale, intensity, & volume of threats targeting @IlhanMN. 'Kevin McCarthy is so desperate to be speaker that he is working with his Ku Klux Klan caucus to look aside & allow violent targeting of [women of color] members of Congress. This cannot be ignored. 'While people toss out cliches like "we condemn all forms of racism & bigotry," the fact is Islamophobia is far too often tolerated and ignored. 'Bigotry is not made unacceptable by what one says about it, it's made acceptable based on whether there are consequences for it or not.' Ocasio-Cortez continued to say that the GOP had been given 'freedom to incite' without fear of consequences, particularly when the victims were from minority communities. Rep. Adam Kinzinger accused House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of cozying up to an extremist fringe of Republicans as he seeks the speakership next year McCarthy later angered Democrats and some in his own party by promising to restore committee assignments to two lawmakers accused of promoting violence against lawmakers. Republican Paul Gosar of Arizona was censured by the House for posting a doctored anime cartoon depicting him him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York a leading female progressive in Congress. And earlier this year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lost her roles on the budget and education committees for online comments supporting violence against Democratic officials before she took office. McCarthy has since suggested they might be offered better assignments if Republicans retake the House in midterms next year. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of the few Republicans prepared to publicly criticize Trump and his loyalists, said McCarthy had decided to cozy up to extremists in order to please Trump - overlooking quieter voices. 'These aren't the ones that you know, tweet all the time,' he told MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' program on Monday. Hilary Clinton's former aide Huma Abedin says she knew her marriage to disgraced politician Anthony Weiner was over after a photo of him sexting in bed next to their sleeping son went public. In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash to promote her new book, 45-year-old Abedin revealed she weathered years of her sex pest husband's scandals before filing for divorce in 2017. Her perspective on the doomed marriage changed after a photo emerged in 2016 of Weiner lying next to his then-four year-old son. In the snap, Weiner is lying shirtless on his back, showing off a bulge in his white boxers. 'I did kind of reach my breaking point,' Abedin said. 'For so long I was saying, I don't understand why can't you just knock it off. This was my final straw.' The photo - the third sex scandal for Weiner - prompted an investigation from child services during a time when Abedin was traveling extensively as part of Clinton's presidential campaign team. She said she was questioned by social services workers about whether the situation might have been avoided if she was a more 'present parent.' 'I was one of those working mothers who constantly felt torn between leaving for a campaign trip and taking care of my child and I think a lot of working mothers can relate to what that feels like that,' she told Bash. 'It was one of the hardest things I've had to endure in those closing days of the campaign.' Hilary Clinton's former aide Huma Abedin says she stood by her sex pest husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner, despite mounting sex scandals Abedin told CNN's Dana Bash that she reached her breaking point in 2016 after discovering Weiner was sexting in bed next to their sleeping then-four-year-old son Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10 Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10. 'I tell my son I love him so many times a day, I want him to feel that he is loved, that he is cherished, that he is supported,' she said. 'I do believe a lot of anger we don't understand in adults, so much of it goes back to the experience they had as children. For me, my single most important job is parenting this little boy.' She said although he's likely not yet aware of the magnitude of the scandals, the boy was previously taunted after Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in November 2017 for sexting a 15-year-old North Carolina girl. 'When Anthony was sent away, [our son] was teased a little bit about that but he's really handled it well,' she said. 'We do know that, we've shared things with him and we will continue to do that, as you know, he ages in an appropriate way. 'We believe we should always be sources of truth for him.' The photo of Weiner in bed with his son prompted an investigation from child services during a time when Abedin was traveling extensively as part of Hilary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign Before filing for divorce, Abedin stood by her man - who she married in 2010 - through two previous sexting scandals that she said forced the family into hiding. 'The first few years of Anthony and I living in this together, I felt as though we were in a bit of a bunker,' she said. 'There was the outside world [but] I wasn't sure who I could trust or who I could talk to. 'It gave you a a sense of insecurity; I would read about things I had supposedly told friends in confidence.' Weiner, then a New York congressman, was a rising political star until May 2011, when a photo of a man's crotch was sent from his Twitter account to a young student. The Democrat at the time claimed his account was hacked, but in June of that year tearfully admitted that he took and sent the crude image. Weiner destroyed his political career through a series of sexting scandals, but Abedin stood by his side until the third strike More intimate Weiner selfies emerged later that year as Abedin was pregnant with their son, who was born in December 2011. The scandal died down and in 2013 Weiner made a run for New York City mayor, claiming he was a changed man. He led the polls until a second scandal broke after his ex-partner Sydney Leathers sent compromising pictures of him to thedirty.com. The misconduct didn't just ostracize Weiner; it also hurt the reputation of his wife, she said Sunday. 'We were both shunned from certain society events,' she said. 'We were both asked to not show up at charity and food bank. It increasingly led us to be in this isolation together.' Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10. 'I tell my son I love him so many times a day, I want him to feel that he is loved, that he is cherished, that he is supported,' she said. We were both shunned from certain society events Huma Abedin 'I do believe a lot of anger we don't understand in adults, so much of it goes back to the experience they had as children. For me, my single most important job is parenting this little boy.' She said although he's likely not yet aware of the magnitude of the scandals, Jordan was previously taunted after Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in November 2017 for sexting a 15-year-old North Carolina girl. 'When Anthony was sent away, [our son] was teased a little bit about that but he's really handled it well,' she said. 'We do know that, we've shared things with him and we will continue to do that, as you know, he ages in an appropriate way. 'We believe we should always be sources of truth for him.' Before filing for divorce, Abedin stood by her man through two previous sexting scandals that she said forced the family into hiding. 'The first few years of Anthony and I living in this together, I felt as though we were in a bit of a bunker,' she said. 'There was the outside world [but] I wasn't sure who I could trust or who I could talk to. 'It gave you a a sense of insecurity; I would read about things I had supposedly told friends in confidence.' Abedin is reflecting on the scandals as she promotes her new book, 'Both/And: A life in Many Worlds' Weiner, then a New York congressman, was a rising political star until May 2011, when a photo of a man's crotch was sent from his Twitter account to a young student. The Democrat at the time claimed his account was hacked, but in June of that year tearfully admitted that he took and sent the crude image. More intimate Weiner selfies emerged later that year as Abedin was pregnant with their son, who was born in December 2011. The scandal died down and in 2013 Weiner made a run for New York City mayor, claiming he was a changed man. He led the polls until a second scandal broke after his ex-partner Sydney Leathers sent compromising pictures of him to thedirty.com. The misconduct didn't just ostracize Weiner; it also hurt the reputation of his wife, she said Sunday. 'We were both shunned from certain society events,' she said. 'We were both asked to not show up at charity and food bank. It increasingly led us to be in this isolation together.' Pub bosses have hit out at customers for failing to turn up for Christmas dinners. The Salty Dog Hotel and Bistro in Bangor, Northern Ireland, tweeted: 'Thanks to the 20 per cent of customers who didnt turn up today and didnt bother telling us. 'You lost your deposit and a delicious Christmas lunch, but we lost a lot more. We have never in ten years had Christmas Day no-shows.' Daniel Farrow, who runs The Gatherers Bar and Restaurant in Norwich, has experienced an average of 60 per cent cancellations and 15-20 per cent no shows since omicron. He said: 'This is obviously having a devastating affect on business, especially during a period that should have actually helped us to recover from almost two years of hardship the business has faced. 'I opened The Gatherers in July 2020 after the first lockdown delayed our initial opening. 'It has without doubt been some of the most challenging, emotionally and physically draining times Ive faced as a business owner.' Michelle Corrigan, the landlady of The Hoop village pub in Essex, said her business had 40 per cent cancellations in December. She only opened the pub on Christmas Day for drinks this year because of the 'fear of not knowing'. Has your business experienced no-shows? Contact: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement MPs and hospitality bosses have warned Boris Johnson not to bring in new restrictions before New Years Eve or risk devastating businesses. The Prime Minister will tomorrow be presented with the latest data on hospital admissions and could rule on whether to clamp down further to limit the spread of Omicron. It comes after papers released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on Friday included modelling for tighter restrictions from December 28 or New Years Day which could last as long as March 28. Last night Tory MPs issued a warning shot at Mr Johnson and his Government to resist any lockdown measures. Cabinet Ministers last week rejected Government scientist suggestions to tighten rules before Christmas. The Salty Dog Hotel and Bistro in Bangor, Northern Ireland, tweeted: 'Thanks to the 20 per cent of customers who didnt turn up today and didnt bother telling us' MPs and hospitality bosses have warned Boris Johnson not to bring in new restrictions before New Years Eve or risk devastating businesses One MP, who is a member of the Tory backbench Covid Recovery Group, said: If it turns out that Cabinet Ministers last week just delayed more business-crushing, illiberal restrictions till after Christmas, then not one of them deserves my vote in a future leadership election. Separately another Tory MP, Alec Shelbrooke, said of the Sage papers: Despite this new warning, the Prime Minister must stand firm and refuse to impose new restrictions this week. 'Weve had dire forecasts before that have not come true. There is no justification for ruining peoples New Year celebrations and inflicting yet more damage on our economy. Following studies last week that showed Omicron is significantly less likely to cause hospitalisation than the Delta variant, Mr Johnson is not expected to bring in legally binding restrictions or lockdown measures. In a more likely scenario the Prime Minister could issues guidance telling people to limit their contacts. The Prime Minister will tomorrow be presented with the latest data on hospital admissions and could rule on whether to clamp down further to limit the spread of Omicron But writing in The Mail on Sunday, Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, warns Mr Johnson not to do anything to ruin New Years Eve plans. Enough is enough, he writes. There must be no new unnecessary restrictions this week whether the PM sees fit to recall Parliament for an emergency session or whether he resorts simply to more guidance. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UK Hospitality, said: For many beleaguered hospitality businesses the New Year period is the last chance they have of making some much needed revenue to be able to get them through the lean months of January and February. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said: The uncertainty is killing our sector at the moment. If the Government closes businesses for New Years Eve, people will simply gather in peoples households or at illegal events and its going to be counterproductive. Des Gunewardena, chief executive of the D&D London group, which owns 40 venues including Bluebird and Le Pont de la Tour, said: New Years Eve is massive, its the biggest night of the year for us across all of our restaurants. Meanwhile the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has urged the Government not to close churches and places of worship once again. Speaking to the BBC, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: I think this country has shown that people can make good judgments themselves. Were at that point of saying we understand the risk. We know what we should do. Most people are sensible and cautious. We dont need stronger impositions to teach us what to do. But a Government source told The Mail on Sunday there is a danger that people who were careful in the run up to Christmas to be able to see their loved ones will start mixing more after today. Last night Tory MPs issued a warning shot at Mr Johnson and his Government to resist any lockdown measures However the source said the overall picture on Omicron is more optimistic than people thought. Tomorrow a Covid-O committee of Ministers and officials will discuss the frontline staff shortages as a result of Omicron spreading. The meeting will include Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid. The appeals from MPs and business leaders came as new Sage papers and fresh modelling warned that Omicron may yet lead to a higher peak of hospitalisations than last winters despite its lower severity and widespread vaccination. Last January hospitalisations peaked at 4,583 daily admissions, over four times the current rate. But although three UK studies last week found that Omicron was much less virulent than Delta between 15 and 70 per cent less likely to lead to hospitalisation Sage cautioned against optimism. It warned these figures were largely based on younger people who have formed the bulk of infections so far. Unjabbed people who catch Covid are 60 TIMES more likely to end up in intensive care By Stephen Adams Medical Editor Unvaccinated people who catch Covid are up to 60 times more likely to end up in an intensive care ward than those who have been jabbed, startling figures reveal. And the difference that vaccination makes to the chance of needing intensive care is starkest among older people who are more likely to suffer serious Covid illness in the first place. Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), which covers units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, show that between May and November the rate of admission for double-jabbed Covid sufferers in their 60s was just 0.6 cases per 100,000 people per week. But among people of the same age who remained unvaccinated, the rate was 37.3 per 100,000 per week equating to a relative risk about 60 times higher. Among those in their 50s and 70s there was almost a 30-fold difference in average weekly admission rates between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. In younger age groups the difference was lower but still marked unvaccinated people in their 30s and 40s were between ten and 15 times more likely to end up in intensive care with Covid than those who had received their jabs. Last night an intensive care consultant in London said the unvaccinated were putting extra pressure on intensive care units (ICUs), which also care for people with a wide range of problems from accidents to medical emergencies. The doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, said: Their presence puts extra pressure on our service. If these people had been jabbed they would be enjoying their Christmas and not filling our wards. The worry is more unvaccinated with Omicron coming through our doors. Even though people who have forsaken the jab make up only seven per cent of the countrys adult population, they are now responsible for the lions share of Covid admissions to ICUs. Separately, a survey by the Intensive Care Society found that at least two-thirds of Covid patients were unvaccinated in 12 of 16 ICUs they asked. At present, between 25 and 30 per cent of some 800 intensive care beds in Londons hospitals are filled by Covid patients, which is thought to be slightly higher than the national average. Last week Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged unvaccinated people to think about the damage that they are doing to society. He told Sky News: They take up hospital beds that could have been used for someone with maybe a heart problem, or maybe someone whos waiting for surgery. But instead of protecting themselves and protecting the community, they choose not to get vaccinated. The consultant said despite Omicron being less likely on average to cause serious illness than Delta, there was nothing mild about it for those who did need hospital treatment. Those who end up in hospital after catching the variant are quite unwell and many need oxygen continuously through a mask, he said. People should know that having to be admitted to hospital with Omicron means they are seriously ill, he added These people are quite sick and some of them have reached intensive care. But even being on a general ward with this mutation requires a lot of treatment to get people better again. Typically, they are going to be in hospital for a couple of weeks. So my message to anyone who thinks its not worth getting vaccinated or is not fully protected, is to get jabbed because you could be one of those who ends up spending weeks in hospital. 750,000 people spent Christmas home alone after testing positive for Covid About three-quarters of a million people are thought to have spent Christmas self-isolating due to record numbers testing positive for Covid in the previous week. In the seven days between December 18 and 24, the UK recorded 707,306 new confirmed Covid infections. In addition, thousands more will have received a positive test result yesterday brutally cutting short their Christmas celebrations as rules stipulate that individuals must self-isolate immediately. Among those in that unfortunate boat was rower and adventurer James Cracknell, 49. Among those in that unfortunate boat was rower and adventurer James Cracknell (above), 49 At lunchtime the double Olympic champion tweeted: Santa dropped off what Id been waiting all year for. Covid. Accompanying his downbeat message was a picture of his dog, Dug, clearly keen on being taken for a walk, and Cracknell showing him his positive lateral flow test. He added: Trying to explain to Dug that Im not just lazy. Hes not buying it. Have a fantastic Christmas everyone. Oxford Universitys Professor Sir John Bell, who helped develop the AstraZeneca vaccine, also revealed that he is positive, telling BBC Radio 4: Im sitting here with Omicron at this very moment. He said that although jabs were spectacularly good at stopping severe disease and death, they were less effective at preventing infection and mild illness. Until last week people with Covid had to self-isolate for ten days following a positive test result. However, that was downgraded to seven days as long as the person tests negative on a lateral flow test on day six and day seven of self-isolation. South Africa eases self-isolation rules as Omicron fades in the province where it first exploded By Stephen Adams SOUTH Africa has scaled back contact-tracing and requirements for people to self-isolate as it moves towards living with Covid rather than trying to contain it. The government announced a raft of changes on Friday including that people who have been in contact with a confirmed Covid case no longer have to isolate if they show no symptoms. They need only to monitor their health for five to seven days and avoid large gatherings. All quarantine in facilities outside the home is to be stopped, while contact tracing efforts will be scrapped apart from in specific scenarios such as tracking cluster outbreaks. Deputy health minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo told broadcaster SABC the move was based on advice from our scientists that it is not really having an impact any more. Harry Moultrie, of the countrys National Institute for Communicable Diseases, welcomed the changes. He tweeted: South Africa cancels contact tracing and quarantining and pivots to mitigation. Good decision. South Africas health department cited the emergence of the highly infectious, but milder Omicron strain as one of the reasons for the change. Other reasons were that at least 60 per cent of the population has some form of protection from vaccination or because they have previously been infected. Daily Covid cases in Gauteng province, where Omicron first exploded, have been in retreat for more than a week despite the lack of strict social-distancing laws, leading to hopes that the variants natural course is a sharp but short wave of infection. South Africa, which has 60 million people compared to the UKs 68 million, has recorded almost 91,000 Covid-related deaths while the UKs figure is just under 148,000. The world's largest ever hoard of iron age coins which were found in a field have have been bought from the Queen by the island of Jersey for 4million. The 'Le Catillon II' hoard was discovered in 2012 by two amateur metal detectorists who had spent decades combing a single field. Reg and Richard Miles initially received a tip-off in the 1980s from a woman who said she had spotted something that looked like silver buttons. The 'Le Catillon II' hoard was discovered in 2012 by two amateur metal detectorists who had spent decades combing a single field In the end, 69,347 coins were found under a hedge in a mound of clay, being unearthed after 2000 years underground. The coins had been estimated to be worth 10 million. The Roman and Celtic silver and gold coins were entombed under a hedge in a large mound of clay, weighing three-quarters of a ton and measuring 140 x 80 x 20cm. The hoard was later declared as 'treasure' by the Government, meaning that the coins became the property of the Queen - though the pair did get a reward. Neil Mahrer, Conservator for the Jersey Heritage Museum, is seen inspecting the coins. Some 69,347 coins were found under a hedge in a mound of clay, being unearthed after 2000 years underground A sum of 4.25m was paid and agreed by the Council of Ministers from the civil asset recovery fund, which is money recovered from criminal activities. It means the historic collection of coins will now remain in Jersey Heritage's care. Part of the financial settlement included a 250,000 payment to Jersey Heritage for their work towards dismantling the coins, and an additional 250,000 which will be used to establish a trust. The Chief Minister of Jersey, John Le Fondre, said the purchase was made 'in the interest of the island'. He told the BBC: 'This is an outcome which will ensure that this unique part of Jersey's history remains in the island for this and future generations. 'Since its discovery nine years ago, Jersey Heritage conservators, archaeologists and volunteers have unpicked and studied the hoard, but there is still much that it can reveal about Jersey and our place in the world at the time of Christ.' The previous largest coin hoard from Wiltshire was discovered in 1978 at the former Roman town of Cunetio near to Mildenhall. Advertisement A major Christmas weekend storm closed a 70 mile stretch of a California highway, and caused a 20 car pile-up in Nevada. Forecasters have warned that travel in the Sierra Nevada mountain range could be difficult for several days, as a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 was shut Sunday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line. Meanwhile, a 20-car pileup in Washoe Valley, Nevada, caused by 50-mph winds and white out conditions, left six people with injuries that required hospital treatment, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue officials said. The California Department of Transportation also closed other mountain routes while warning of poor visibility and slippery conditions for drivers. 'Expect major travel delays on all roads,' the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada, said on Twitter. 'Today is the type of day to just stay home if you can. More snow is on the way too!' This was the scene of a 20 car pileup in Washoe Valley, Nevada In this image taken from video from a Caltrans remote video traffic camera, traffic is stopped along a snow covered Interstate 80 at Donner Summit, California, on Thursday, December 23 Forecasters have warned that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days, as a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 was shut Sunday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line Meanwhile, a 20-car pileup in Washoe Valley, California, caused by 50-mph winds and white out conditions, left six people with injuries that required hospital treatment, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue officials said The California Department of Transportation also closed other mountain routes while warning of poor visibility and slippery conditions for drivers The weather service issued a winter storm warning for greater Lake Tahoe until 1 am Tuesday because of possible 'widespread whiteout conditions' and wind gusts that could top 45 mph. Rockslides caused by heavy rain closed more than 40 miles of coastal Highway 1 in the Big Sur region south of the San Francisco Bay Area. There was no estimate for the reopening of the scenic stretch that is frequently shut after wet weather. The latest in a series of blustery storms hit Southern California with heavy rain and wind that flooded streets and knocked down power lines late Saturday. Fire officials said two other pileup crashes happened on both sides of the Bowers Mansion Road highway. I-80 is still closed from the Nevada state line to Colfax in both directions Officials said they will reassess the interstate tomorrow but there is no estimated time of reopening An airliner takes an approach through storm clouds to Hollywood Burbank Airport, in Burbank, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. Parts of California are getting a White Christmas after all, with snowfall pounding mountains across the state. Other areas of California, however, saw a wet and rainy Christmas as storms continue to pound the state, causing flash flooding and evacuations in some areas over the holiday period Powerful gusts toppled trees, damaged carports and blew a track-and-field shed from a Goleta high school into a front yard two blocks away, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. No injuries were reported. More than 1.8 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in Santa Barbara County's San Marcos pass, while Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo County recorded 1.61 inches, the weather service said. Los Angeles International Airport said a 'storm-related electrical issue' forced a partial closure of Terminal 5, causing post-Christmas passengers to divert to other terminals for certain services. 'Cancellations and delays are possible, so it will be important to check your flight status today if flying through Terminal 5,' LAX tweeted. More than 1.8 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in Santa Barbara County's San Marcos pass, while Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo County recorded 1.61 inches, the weather service said Powerful gusts toppled trees, damaged carports and blew a track-and-field shed from a Goleta high school into a front yard two blocks away, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, crews were repairing a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rain late Thursday. The closure of the major route into the Big Bear ski resort area could last for weeks, officials said. The continuing storms were welcomed in parched California, where the Sierra snowpack had been at dangerously low levels after weeks for dry weather. But the state Department of Water Resources reported on Christmas Eve that the snowpack was between 114 percent and 137 percent of normal across the range with more snow expected. Friday night into Saturday, 20 inches of snow fell at Homewood on Lake Tahoe's west shore. About a foot was reported at Northstar near Truckee, California, and 10 inches at the Mount Rose ski resort on the southwest edge of Reno. David Hunt, of Silverado Canyon, walks along Grundy Way at the intersection of Water Way in Silverado Canyon, Calif., located in eastern Orange County, stepping over rocks and mud that have washed down the mountain following an overnight storm that brought heavy rain to the area, on Friday, December 24 Crews work at cutting up a large tree that fell across Silverado Canyon Road in Silverado, located in eastern Orange County, Calif., early Friday, December 24, following an overnight storm that brought heavy rain and wind, knocking over a utility pole as it fell West Midlands police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a man died in custody on Christmas Day. Officers were called to The Green in Kings Norton, Birmingham in the early hours of Saturday morning at around 1:40am following reports of 'suspicious activity'. After being chased down by police, the man was detained - but he was taken to hospital after he became unwell. West Midlands Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a man died in custody on Christmas Day Pictured: The junction of Back Road and The Green in Kings Norton, Birmingham where officers were called to in the early hours of Saturday morning at around 1:40am After a short while in hospital, the man died. A post mortem is set to take place tomorrow to establish the cause of death. The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the Professional Standards Department (PSD), as is standard procedure. A spokeswoman from West Midlands police said: 'We responded to reports of suspicious activity on The Green, Kings Norton, at around 1.40am on Christmas Day (25 December). Following a brief foot chase, police detained a man - but he became unwell and died after a short while in hospital 'Following a brief foot chase a man was detained but he became unwell and was taken to hospital. He died a short time later. 'A post mortem will take place on Monday (27 December) to establish the cause of death and our Professional Standards Department (PSD) have been informed, as is standard procedure. 'We've also contacted the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), again as standard procedure in such circumstances.' Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday praised former President Donald Trump for showing his support of COVID vaccines and booster shots, and told of his shock at the backlash that Trump had received for doing so. The former president was booed by some of his supporters during an appearance with Bill O'Reilly in Dallas, Texas last week, when he announced that he received his booster shot. He later doubled down on his support of the vaccines in an interview with conservative pundit Candace Owens. Trump is now facing some backlash from even some of his most staunch supporters, but received some support from an unlikely source on Sunday - Dr. Anthony Fauci. 'We'll take anything we can get about getting people vaccinated,' Fauci said in an early morning interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl. 'I was a bit dismayed when former President Trump came out and made that statement, and his followers booed him, which I was stunned by that. I mean, given the fact of how popular he is with that group, that they would boo him, which tells me how recalcitrant they are about being told what they should do. 'And I think that his continuing to say that people should get vaccinated and articulating that to them, in my mind is a good thing,' Fauci said, noting: 'I hope he keeps it up.' Former President Donald Trump (left) was heckled in Dallas last week for confirming he received his COVID-19 booster shot alongside former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly (right) On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci praised Trump's announcement and said he hopes the former president continues to speak out in favor of vaccines In the interview with Owens last week, Trump told her that people unvaccinated against coronavirus are the ones getting 'very sick' and encouraged all Americans get the jab all while taking credit for its creation. 'I came up with a vaccine with three vaccines,' Trump told the Daily Wire host, referring to the development of the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines while he was still president. 'All are very, very good. Came up with three of them in less than nine months. It was supposed to take five to 12 years.' Owens interjected: 'Yet more people have died under COVID this year, by the way, under Joe Biden, then under you and more people took the vaccine this year. So people are questioning how ' But the former president then interrupted Owens, assuring: 'Oh no, the vaccine work (sic), but some people aren't the ones. The ones who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine. But it's still their choice.' 'And if you take the vaccine, you're protected,' he continued. 'Look, the results of the vaccine are very good, and if you do get it, it's a very minor form. People aren't dying when they take the vaccine.' Trump also urged Americans to get vaccinated in an interview with Candace Owens, arguing: 'If you take the vaccine, you're protected. Look, the results of the vaccine are very good, and if you do get it, it's a very minor form. People aren't dying when they take the vaccine' Candace Owens reached out to her followers on Instagram and told them that Trump only praised vaccines because he is not savvy enough to do better research Trump's praise of the vaccine goes against a large portion of his base, but in the interview with Owens he also opposed the increasing number of mandates related to masking and vaccinations. 'Forget about the mandates, people have to have their freedom,' Trump told Owens in the interview that aired Wednesday. 'But at the same time, the vaccine is one of the greatest achievements of mankind.' Imperial College London on Wednesday found the risk of hospitalization for an unvaccinated person was just 10 percent lower for Omicron than with Delta. Other studies say the chances of being hospitalized with Omicron are up to 80 per cent lower. Owens, however, has been one of the loudest Conservative leaders of the anti-vax movement and has said she will 'never ever' get the COVID-19 vaccine. 'I have no issue with any person who wants to get the vaccine,' she tweeted on Thursday. 'I just will never ever let that vaccine into my body. I believe firmly that Big Pharma is the greatest evil on the face of the planet. I am healthy, young, in shape and simply unafraid of Covid-19.' She also claimed on Instagram she didn't think Trump's support of the vaccines was nefarious, saying: 'I think he genuinely believes that and he needs to sit down and have a conversation with someone, a larger conversation with someone to really understand what's going on and why so many people are just horrified.' Owens blamed Trump's stance on vaccines on him only reading 'mainstream media news' instead of conducting research on 'obscure websites,' and said that the President, who in part won the presidency in 2016 because of his knowledge of social media, is not on the internet. 'I do not believe Trump is on the internet, he just relies on typical mainstream sources,' she said. 'People oftentimes forget that, like, how old Trump is,' she said. 'He comes from a generation -- I've seen a lot of people who are older, have the exact same perspective, like, they came from a time before TV, before internet, before being able to conduct independent research. And everything they read to them that was in a newspaper that was pitched to them, they believed that that was a reality.' As of Thursday, 72.7 percent of all eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 61.7 percent are fully vaccinated. The numbers are higher for those 65 and older, 95 percent of whom have received at least one dose and 87.5 percent of whom are fully vaccinated. Of those who are eligible for a booster shot, just 31.5 percent of the general population has received one, but that figures jumps to 56.6 percent of those 65 and older. Advertisement A seven year-old girl left badly injured because of a tornado that killed her nine year-old sibling couldn't contain her excitement after receiving boxes of Christmas gifts from Donald and Melania Trump. An enthusiastic Avalinn Rackley, 7, reacted to the news when filmed by her grandmother, Pam Moore, weeks after her older sister and best friend Annistyn was killed by a tornado that also destroyed the family home in Caruthersville, Missouri on December 10. 'These boxes came in the mail, and they are from...President Trump! Both of these boxes. Can you believe it?' Moore says as Avalinn grins with expectation. 'Oh my God!' the brave little girl screams happily while wearing a back brace and matching Christmas onesies with her dad, Trey Rackley, who like Avalinn's younger sister, Alanna, suffered minor injuries. Meanwhile, Avalinn's mom, Meghan Rackley, is slowly recovering from severe brain trauma, but has since woken up from a coma and was able to say her mother's name. An enthusiastic Avalinn Rackley, 7, reacted to the news when filmed by her grandmother, Pam Moore, weeks after her older sister and best friend Annistyn was killed by a tornado that also destroyed the family home on December 10. She was wearing a back brace and matching Christmas onesies with her dad, Trey Rackley, who like Avalinn's younger sister, Alanna, suffered minor injuries 'We are so encouraged by the strength and determination you have shown during this very difficult time. You will remain in our hearts for complete care and comfort as you continue to recover,' the letter read 'Donald and Melania Trump sent a package! They got hats signed by Donald Trump, Presidential blankets, American Girl Dolls, books signed by President Trump and Melania, pens, bracelets and so much more!' Moore posted on Facebook on Christmas Day along with the video of Avalinn finding out about the presents. Moore also posted the touching letter the former president and his wife sent to lift the little girl's spirit during this hard moment in her life. 'We are so encouraged by the strength and determination you have shown during this very difficult time. You will remain in our hearts for complete care and comfort as you continue to recover,' the letter read. 'With your steadfast spirit, and the unwavering strength and support of your wonderful family and many friends, your future potential is limitless.' Avalinn's mother, Meghan recovering from her injuries, after relatives said they needed a miracle for the mother-of-three and kindergarten teacher. 'It made my momma heart so happy to hear her say my name. She is such a strong fighter. She is going to continue to improve each and every day,' Moore posted about her daughter on December 23. Avalinn Rackley, 7, was filmed wearing a neck brace and using a walker to cruise down the hallway at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital less than a week after surgery in a video posted by her grandmother Sunday Also on Sunday, Avalinn draws a heart around a picture of her and her sister Annistyn, who was killed by one of the deadly tornadoes that swept through five Missouri Valley states on December 10 The tornado that swept away the girls' Caruthersville home flung them, their 3-year-old sister Alanna and their parents - Meghan and Trey - into a field, killing 9-year-old Annistyn and severely wounding Avalinn and Meghan. The plight of the Rackley family captured the nation's attention when a photo of Avalinn and her sisters taking shelter in their bathroom went viral after more than 30 tornadoes rampaged through Kentucky, Missouri and three other states in early December, killing at least 90 people. Sadly, their attempt at shelter did not succeed, with horrific tragedy ensuing. Avalinn began a slow and steady stroll across her hospital room after a successful round of surgery for a broken vertebrae, while family members cheered her on as they found hope amid their tragedy. Avalinn, left, was with her older sister Annistyn, 9, holding a doll in the bathtub, and little sister Alanna, 3, taking shelter in their bathroom when one of more than 30 tornadoes destroyed their Caruthersville home. Annistyn was killed in the tornado The entire Rackley family was flung from their home during the devastating storms. (Pictured left to right: father Trey holding Avalinn, Annistyn, and mother Meghan holding Alanna) The family home was among the hundreds leveled after a series of tornadoes struck five states last week Trey, 37, and Alanna suffered less sever injuries and have been released from the hospital. Meghan, 32, who fell into a coma, was hospitalized in St Louis for severe brain trauma. Avalinn's great-aunt, Sandra Hooker, 62, told DailyMail.com that while the little girl has been making good progress post-surgery, there is a lot of therapy to go until she fully recovers. She will also have to wear a back brace for the foreseeable future. 'I keep trying to wake up from this nightmare,' she said, adding that Avalinn - Ava - is in good spirits but ready to come home. In a Facebook post, Moore called Ava 'the bravest little girl'. 'She has won the heart of everyone in this hospital. 'She has been so strong. I just know that her big sister Anni is right with her. I can feel it,' she wrote. Hooker added of the two young girls' relationship: 'They were very close, obviously, just two years apart. They shared a bedroom. 'There's just so much tragedy involved in this.' Avalinn began learning how to walk again after completing back surgery. She will have to weak a back brace for the foreseeable future Avalinn's recovery comes as good news to the family after the death of her sister, Annistyn, pictured Lani, aged three, was discharged from the hospital on Sunday evening Mother Meghan Rackley, 32, (left) suffered a brain injury, large cut and several broken bones. Father Trey Rackley, 37, suffered cuts and bruises and the youngest daughter, Alanna, 3, (right) Emergency responders located the family and took them to a nearby hospital where Avalinn told doctors: 'I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out - and the tornado spit me out into the mud.' Hooker said after a prayer vigil after the tragedy, searchers in the field near the Rackleys' house found the doll that Annistyn was holding in the photo. Hooker said it was Annistyn's favorite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. 'They brought Baby MawMaw to me, and I'm cleaning her up so that [Avalinn] can have Baby MawMaw,' she said. The community continues to rally behind the family and has created a crowdfunding page to help cover funeral, medical and other expenses. Loved ones say Annistyn, who since infancy had been battling a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts don't develop properly, was always full of energy and delighted. She would often don cute outfits for her cheerleading competitions, practice cartwheels and the splits, and teach herself new TikTok dances. Hooker called her a 'special angel.' 'I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh,' the aunt added. 'She loved dancing.' Hooker found one of Annistyn's favorite dolls, Baby MawMaw, in the wreckage of their home The devastated father of a 'fit and healthy' young mum who died suddenly while 29 weeks pregnant said doctors told him she would be alive today if she 'had taken the vaccine'. David Exley, 57, said his daughter Sadie, 24, had a 'hunky-dory' pregnancy and had no complications until she suddenly started suffering from migraines and chest pain. But following tests at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield in October this year, the mum-of-two was diagnosed with a blood clot in her lung. Her condition deteriorated after she caught Covid in late November, and a week later she was rushed to St James Hospital in Leeds after becoming paralysed on one side. She was then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary and rushed to the intensive care unit where she tragically died on December 3 after suffering from a brain haemorrhage. Doctors were able to save tiny Elliot who was delivered by caesarean section at 29 weeks weighing just 2.1lbs. Mr Exley told the Liverpool Echo his daughter had planned to get the jab the moment her age group was eligible but someone had persuaded her not to. The mum-of-two was diagnosed with a blood clot in her lung. Her condition deteriorated after she caught Covid in late November Heartbroken David, from Birstall, said: 'I got the news over the phone, it was just sheer panic. I drove straight to the hospital. 'I don't know how to describe how I felt. My head was a shed. 'I didn't eat for days, I was just waiting to know if she was going to be better. 'They tried to save her but it was apparent that we had lost Sadie. 'They saved baby Elliot but they couldn't save our Sadie.' David said Sadie started to complain of chest pains and migraines in October, and when she was diagnosed with a blood clot 'alarm bells started ringing'. But he was left shocked when doctors sent her home and told her to inject herself with blood thinners. At the time Sadie was living with her mum Jill Allen, 48, who was taking care of her along with David as she was in constant pain. Doctors were able to save tiny Elliot who was delivered by caesarean section at 29 weeks weighing just 2.1lbs On November 24, Sadie caught Covid but had no symptoms and doctors reassured the family that she was 'alright'. David said: 'She caught Covid while healthy, and Covid does a lot of things. It works on your weaknesses within your body. 'What Covid did is it stimulated the red blood cells to produce little clots. 'Over time they got bigger and bigger and bigger. 'She was getting symptoms for a month and then a blood clot in her brain caused a bleed by then it was too late.' Sadie tragically died on December 3 despite heroic efforts from medics, and David and Jill were allowed to say their final goodbyes to Sadie '...And when everything happened, we spoke to the consultant. 'I asked him honestly if she had the jab when she could have had it, and he said he couldn't say 100 percent but he thought she'd still be here.' In early December Sadie was due for a scan with her midwife as they thought the baby was too small and she decided to go home so she could drive to the hospital in the morning. But in the early hours of December 2, Sadie woke up numb on one side and fell before being left paralysed on the floor until around 8am when an ambulance arrived. As she had Covid, David was not allowed to see her but he was told by Jill that she was covered in sick. David added: 'I wasn't allowed in A&E even if we had a bubble. They allowed Sadie's mum in but they tried to kick her out. 'Sadie was covered in sick, she was on her own. She was so frightened and really ill. 'The staff said because she was Covid positive, Jill had to leave and that was last time she saw her alive.' Sadie tragically died on December 3 despite heroic efforts from medics, and David and Jill were allowed to say their final goodbyes to Sadie. The electrician said: 'We were allowed to go in and say goodbye and she was in her own little room. They had done an operation on her head, her head was completely shaved. 'Her injuries were not nice, but at least we got to say goodbye to her. 'We never expected anything like this in a million years. She was fit and healthy.' Doctors told David that even if Sadie had regained consciousness, she would likely never be herself again due to the damage to her brain. He said he felt 'sadness' but also 'relief' as he didn't want her to live like that for the rest of her life. David added: 'The main thing was they were trying to save Elliot.' Thankfully tiny Elliot has recovered well and is a 'fighter just like his mum' according to David. Single-mum Sadie is survived by her tiny tot Elliot and her two-year-old Harper, and David said he will make sure the pair 'know everything about her'. He said: 'Harper keeps asking us to ring mum so she hasn't grasped what happened, and probably never will and Elliot will never know her. 'But we will make sure he hears stories about her. Apart from actually meeting her, they'll know everything about her.' Paying tribute to Sadie, David said she was a 'fantastic mum and dancer' who was not just his daughter but his best friend. He said: 'She was a really fun girl, she always had a laugh. We were father and daughter, but we were good mates. 'She was always daft as a brush. She was so much fun. And she was a fantastic mum. 'She was independent, and she took everything in her stride. 'She danced from when she was three and danced her whole life. She was a fantastic dancer. 'She studied dance in college and absolutely loved it, and she danced at Euro Disney in Paris when it first opened. It was a highlight of her career.' Sadie's funeral is set to take place on January 7. Her work colleagues at B&M in Batley closed the store when they learned of her passing, and have since set up a fundraiser to help the family. Sadie's colleagues are now trying to raise funds to support her two children on GoFundMe. To donate visit the GoFundMe link here. Eric Holland, 57, was charged with open murder after he was arrested on Thursday on an open warrant for embezzlement and theft charges relating to a 2019 incident Las Vegas cops made a startling discovery on Thursday when they found a severed head in the truck of a suspect wanted on theft and embezzlement charges. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Eric Holland was wanted on charges of using another person's ID, auto embezzlement of more than $3,500, intent to use a false check and theft of more than $3,500 when he was stopped by Metropolitan Police near the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino at around 3.42pm on Thursday. Holland, 57, reportedly fled the scene, but the Metropolitan Police Department's air unit followed him and saw Holland switch trucks. Police tried to stop the second truck, but Holland fled again before ultimately being located at an apartment complex near the 4200 block of Rochelle Avenue. He allegedly threw things at officers and tried to run away before cops Tased and he was booked into the Clarke County Detention Center. But as the cops searched his trucks - both of which had been reported stolen - they found the gruesome discovery. One of the truck beds had large coolers in it, which police found contained human remains - including the severed head. The Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Unit has now taken over the investigation and identified Holland as the suspect, according to the Review-Journal. Holland was stopped by Metropolitan police officers on Thursday afternoon near the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas before he fled the scene Holland is now due in court on Tuesday morning, where he will face an additional charge of open murder. It is unclear who the victim of the apparent homicide is and whether they are connected to Holland's 2019 charges. The Metropolitan Police Department has said the identity of the victim, as well as the cause and manner of death, will be released by the Clark County Coroner's Office. Over the past year, the murder rate in Vegas rose 48.96 percent, according to data from the Metropolitan Police Department. There have been 143 murders reported this year in Vegas through December 17, while 2020 saw only 96 murders during the same time period. New York shattered another record on Christmas eve with 49,708 new COVID-19 cases, breaking its previous top figure by thousands as one-in-seven tests come back positive in the Empire State. It's more than double the seven-day average the state reported during last winter's surge, which peaked at 19,942 cases January 14. The latest results reinforce New York's place as America's Omicron variant epicenter, although hospitalizations remain far lower than they were at the height of the first wave during spring 2020. Another 36,454 cases were confirmed Christmas Day in New York, though that figure is likely lower lower due to labs being closed on the holiday. Positivity rates have also skyrocketed, with 14 percent of tests coming back positive, Governor Kathy Hochul said Sunday as the state struggles to get a grip on the virus. New York shattered another record on Christmas eve with 49,708 new COVID-19 cases, breaking its previous top figure by thousands as one-in-seven tests come back positive in the Empire State New York Governor Kathy Hochul during a Friday press conference struck a note of optimism about the new variant, despite surging cases 'As we come home from holiday gatherings, it is as important as ever to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 this season,' Hochul said in a statement. 'Wear your mask, wash your hands, and if you haven't yet, get vaccinated and boosted. 'The vaccine is the best tool we have to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe as we head into the new year. Take advantage of having it readily available and get yours today.' New York's latest data indicates 4,891 people are hospitalized statewide with the virus, including 880 in the intensive care unit. Right now, 501 people are intubated. It's significantly less than the 18,825 New Yorkers hospitalized April 9, 2020, during the height of Covid's first wave. Last winter's wave peaked January 19 with 9,273 cases. The super-spreading Omicron variant - believed to be less severe than previous strains - is driving the latest wave and was detected in 63 percent of analyzed cases during the past five days. Hochul during a Christmas Eve press conference struck a note of optimism about the new variant. 'This is not Delta,' she told reporters. 'This is Omicron, which thus far has demonstrated that it's not as severe in its impact. This is not the same situation we had in March 2020 or even last winters surge. Weve had more testing. Weve had more opportunities.' The super-spreading Omicron variant - believed to be less severe than previous strains - is driving the latest wave and was detected in 63 percent of analyzed cases during the past five days. Pictured: a person takes a COVID-19 test in Times Square as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the state On Friday, Hochul also said that essential workers in New York now only have to isolate for five days after they test positive for COVID if they're vaccinated and have suffered a so-called breakthrough infection. She says she is doing so to try and tackle staffing shortages blamed on current 10 day isolation rules. The new rule applies to fully vaccinated workers who are asymptomatic, as well as those who suffered mild symptoms, and have not suffered a fever for at least 72 hours. Meanwhile, desperate New Yorkers spent their Christmas Eve scrambling for COVID tests as infections driven by the Omicron variant surged across the Empire State. Astonishing photos show how police had to keep the peace at a city-sponsored truck in Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, on Friday morning while city officials handed out 2,000 free Binax COVID home testing kits. Crowds gathered around a truck handing out free COVID home tests in Brooklyn Friday, with scores of locals desperate to receive one A woman appeared angry during Friday's handout on Flatbush Avenue. The bus was one of five stationed across the city's boroughs on Friday, with each distributing 2,000 Binax tests for free Frantic locals reached out their hands in the hopes of getting one of the 2,000 tests being distributed at the Brooklyn location Scores of frustrated locals were photographed holding their hands out in the hopes of receiving one of the home testing kids, which the US has been slow to approve, and which are now in extremely short supply amid the latest wave of the virus. They clustered around the testing bus, with a lucky few receiving one of the precious kits. One woman who didn't receive a kit appeared visibly upset. Four other buses each giving out 2,000 tests were located in the other four boroughs of the city, with snaps showing a more sedate line waiting to pick one up at the Manhattan location, in Harlem. New Yorkers - and many Americans - have been spooked by the latest surge in COVID, which saw the state smash its daily diagnoses record for the third day in a row on Friday. Lines of up to six hours have been reported at testing clinics, with many of those tested also forced to wait days longer than the advertised 24 to 48 hours for their result, ruining the Christmas plans of many. Dr. Anthony Fauci seemed to admit that the federal government has failed to authorize and distribute a sufficient number of at-home COVID tests despite President Joe Biden's promise to distribute 500 million free at-home rapid tests amid a surge in new coronavirus cases Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday admitted that the federal government has failed to authorize and distribute a sufficient number of at-home COVID tests, despite President Joe Biden's promise to distribute 500 million free at-home rapid tests amid a surge in new coronavirus cases. In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl on Sunday morning, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases admitted that coronavirus cases are continuing to soar, leading to an increased demand for COVID tests that the government has failed to prepare for, and now cannot meet. 'Obviously testing, Jon, is going to be very important, that we get a greater capability of testing particularly when the demand for testing is so high,' Fauci said on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 'We're at a combination of the Omicron variant itself, as well as the holiday season where people want to get that extra level of assuredness that they're protected even if you are vaccinated and boosted. 'One of the problems is that that's not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested, but we're addressing the testing problem and that very soon will be corrected. 'If you look at the beginning of the administration, the beginning of the year, there were essentially no rapid point of care home tests available,' Fauci continued. 'Now there are over nine of them and counting. 'The production of them has been rapidly upscaled, and yet became of the demand that we have, which in some respects, Jon, is good that we have a high demand... But the situation where you have such a high demand, a conflation of events, Omicron stirring people to get appropriately concerned and wanting to get tested as well as the fat of the run on tests during the holiday season ... we've obviously got to do better. 'I mean I think things will improve greatly as we get into January,' he said, 'but that doesn't help us today or tomorrow.' Long lines have formed outside of health care clinics throughout the country yet again as Americans scramble to get tested for what Fauci has described as an 'extraordinarily contagious' variant. Confirmed Omicron cases in the country have jumped from 4,644 on Christmas Day to 6,530 on Sunday. That is a 41 percent jump in just 24 hours. But those numbers represent just a tiny fraction of the true total, because the US only sequences a very small proportion of positive PCR tests to identify which strain caused a person's infection. The CDC estimates that at least 73 percent of all new COVID infections are being caused by Omicron, with that figure as high as 92 percent in five states including New York and New Jersey. America has now reported 128,676 new cases of COVID-19 with 27 new deaths reported on Sunday. Deaths have lagged because of Christmas Day, and will likely be higher than usual on Monday as the backlog begins to get recorded. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden promised to deliver 500 million COVID tests to Americans - but had not yet signed a contract to buy them or set up a website so that people can place orders. 'That's not a plan - it's a hope,' Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told The New York Time . 'If those tests came in January and February, that could have an impact, but if they are spread out over 10 to 12 months, I'm not sure what kind of impact it is going to have.' The tests will be delivered by mail to any American who requests them, ABC News reports and a website to request the tests is set to launch in January. Amazon, Walgreens and CVS have already imposed limits on how many tests each customer can buy because of the surging demand. On Wednesday, ABC News' World News Tonight anchor David Muir asked the president if that the lack of testing is a failure of his administration despite his promise. 'I don't think it's a failure,' the president said. 'You could argue that we should have known a year ago, six months ago, two months ago, a month ago... I wish I had thought about ordering' the 500 million tests 'two months ago. But, he added, 'nothing's been good enough' when it comes to the availability of at-home tests.' Officials now warn that the virus could infect 140 million people between January and March - 60 percent of all Americans, although 90 per cent of those who catch COVID are predicted to have no symptoms. Three studies published in the last day have confirmed the strain is milder than Delta, and may result in up to 80 per cent fewer hospitalizations. The third wave of the pandemic caused by Omicron has wrought havoc on Americans' Christmas plans. Airlines scrapped more than 600 flights Sunday due to weather and the virus surge, with the Biden administration announcing it would lift the ban imposed on eight African countries in response to Omicron on New Year's Eve. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will limit the number of revelers in Times Square for New Years Eve to 15,000, down from a planned 58,000, and attendees will need to wear masks and show proof of vaccination. People wait to get a COVID test in New York's Times Square on December 26, with the Omicron variant estimated to be behind at least 92 per cent of new infections in the Empire State and neighboring New Jersey There is, however, some good news on the horizon. On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved a second anti-viral pill, this time from Merck, called molnupiravir. The agency touted the new drug 'for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with positive results...and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.' FDA authorizes Merck's at-home antiviral COVID-19 pill - a day after giving Pfizer's oral drug the go-ahead The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized Merck's antiviral pill for COVID-19, after giving the go-ahead to a similar treatment from Pfizer Inc. a day earlier. Merck's drug, molnupiravir, developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, was shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths by around 30% in a clinical trial of high-risk individuals early in the course of the illness. The agency authorized the oral drug for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid in adults who are at risk for severe disease. It will also carry a warning against use during pregnancy, and women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment. On Wednesday, US health regulators issued emergency authorization for Pfizer's Paxlovid, a pill that is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of Covid and within five days of symptom onset. Advertisement The pill could be 30% effective in treating the infection for high-risk patients, less than previously expected because of the new strain, according to Merck executive Dr. Eliav Barr. 'The Omicron variant is primarily different from the other types of Covid at the spike protein,' Barr told CNN. 'Our drug works in completely different part of the virus. So we're very optimistic that the drug will continue to be effective against Omicron, and we're studying that right now.' There have been other caveats to the medication. There have been warnings about its effect on pregnant women and their fetuses, which is still unknown. Some fear that molnupiravir, which causes the virus to mutate and attack itself, could create another strain that proves toxic to people. 'The fact is that most mutations are probably lethal to the organism, but a couple of them are going to end up being beneficial for the organism, and we've seen that with the successive different variants that have come out,' Defense Health Agency director Dr. Peter Weina told the Daily Caller. Pfizer already has approval for its virus pill, but availability for the medication will depend on where you live, according to Bloomberg. The federal government will parse out the dosages on a per capita basis with New York getting only 3,108 pills and Wyoming, which has a population of about half a million people, will receive just 100 courses. 'Product will be limited at first and ramp up significantly in the coming months,' the department said. 'An initial 65,000 courses of Paxlovid will be made available for shipment to states and territories and will begin arriving at dispensing sites by the end of December,' the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told the news service. As the virus rages at home, President Biden plans to lift the travel ban on several African countries. Now all non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will soon be able to travel to the U.S. The CDC recommend the change because of promising stats out of Africa. Data from from South Africa, where the strain was first reported, looks promising. There was a huge and sudden drop in cases, suggesting Omicron may have quickly run its course. But panic over the new strain continues to prevail across much of the world, with Italy and Spain now ordering people to wear masks outdoors. Imperial College London on Wednesday found that Omicron is 40 per cent less likely to lead to serious illness than the Delta variant. Another study by the University of Edinburgh suggested that the new variant could slash hospitalizations by as much as 65 percent, with a third South African study indicating the potential 80 per cent drop in hospitalizations. Both British studies underlined, however, the importance of vaccines with the Imperial study stating the risk of hospitalization for an unvaccinated person was just 10 percent lower for Omicron than with Delta. As of Thursday, 72.7 percent of all eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 61.7 percent are fully vaccinated. Of those who are eligible for a booster shot, just 31.5 percent have received one. Biden acknowledged that there is a lack of at-home testing, saying he wished he had ordered more moths ago before people, like those seen here, had to wait in line at an urgent care center in Queens for a test Still, Fauci urged Americans on Sunday not to become complacent. He said that with such a high number of people getting infected with the Omicron variant 'it might override a real diminution in severity. 'So that if you have many, many, many more people with a less level of severity, that might kind of neutralize the positive effect of having less severity when you have so many more people,' he explained, urging people to also keep their masks on on flights. 'I think that the idea of taking masks off, in my mind, is really not something we should even be considering,' Fauci said before actually praising former President Donald Trump for speaking out in favor of the COVID vaccines. The former president was booed by some of his supporters during an appearance with Bill O'Reilly in Texas last week, when he announced that he received his booster shot. He later doubled down on his support of the vaccines in an interview with conservative pundit Candace Owens. In the interview, Trump told Owens that people unvaccinated against coronavirus are the ones getting 'very sick' and encouraged all Americans get the jab all while taking credit for its creation. 'I came up with a vaccine with three vaccines,' Trump told the Daily Wire host, referring to the development of the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines while he was still president. 'All are very, very good. Came up with three of them in less than nine months. It was supposed to take five to 12 years.' Owens interjected: 'Yet more people have died under COVID this year, by the way, under Joe Biden, then under you and more people took the vaccine this year. So people are questioning how ' But the former president interrupted Owens, assuring: 'Oh no, the vaccine work (sic), but some people aren't the ones. The ones who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine. But it's still their choice.' 'And if you take the vaccine, you're protected,' he continued. 'Look, the results of the vaccine are very good, and if you do get it, it's a very minor form. People aren't dying when they take the vaccine.' Former President Donald Trump (left) was heckled in Dallas last week for confirming he received his COVID-19 booster shot alongside former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly (right) In the aftermath, Owens claimed she didn't think Trump's support of the vaccines was nefarious, saying: 'I think he genuinely believes that and he needs to sit down and have a conversation with someone, a larger conversation with someone to really understand what's going on and why so many people are just horrified.' She blamed Trump's stance on vaccines on him only reading 'mainstream media news' instead of conducting research on 'obscure websites,' and said that the President, who in part won the presidency in 2016 because of his knowledge of social media, is not on the internet. 'I do not believe trump is on the internet, he just relies on typical mainstream sources,' she said. 'People oftentimes forget that, like, how old Trump is,' she said. 'He comes from a generation I've seen a lot of people who are older, have the exact same perspective, like, they came from a time before TV, before internet, before being able to conduct independent research. And everything they read to them that was in a newspaper that was pitched to them, they believed that that was a reality.' But Fauci on Sunday said he hoped the former president would continue to speak in favor of people getting vaccinated. 'I think that his continuing to say that people should get vaccinated and articulating that to them, in my mind is a good thing,' Fauci told Jonathan Karl. 'I hope he keeps it up.' A whistleblower has accused the British Council of abandoning staff to the Taliban. Joe Seaton, a former Afghanistan manager for the organisation, said 100 personnel who were on the front lines of teaching had not been airlifted to safety. He claimed bosses helped staff based in Kabul relocate while those who were the face of Britain across the country remain in hiding from the Taliban. He said these people now faced revenge attacks because of their work for the UK. These educators, who delivered the UK Governments foreign policy objectives, and who were highly visible and recognisable to a wary and sceptical public, have now been left behind by the BC and the UK Government, and are all living in hiding and changing their addresses frequently in order to avoid the Taliban, he added. Dozens of former staff say their belief in Britain has been shattered by months of waiting to hear the result of applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy programme. They say that no cases appear to have been processed yet. Former British Council deputy director in Kabul and whistleblower Joe Seaton pictured in Afghanistan with teachers he says feel abandoned Mr Seaton said the teachers had been contracted under a UK-funded scheme to teach British values of diversity, inclusion and equality values the Taliban oppose. One 29-year-old former teacher and mother, who applied for sanctuary in June, has had to change hiding places six times in three different cities. I no longer believe the British care about us, she said. I was the local face of Britain in more than 50 schools promoting the English language and British values which makes me and my family targets not only for the Taliban but Islamic State too they want to make examples of us. I am one of 20 women who believed in Britain, what it told me and what it stood for but we feel very vulnerable and cannot understand why it is so hard to make a decision. We have been abandoned and it is terrifying. Mr Seaton said he had decided to speak out and support the Daily Mails award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign, which has highlighted the cases of staff left behind. He said: The BC trained them in equality, diversity and inclusion then asked them to deliver that training across Afghanistan, but now does not treat them in accordance with the values it claims to uphold. Taliban Higher Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani speaks during a press conference in Kabul yesterday Another teacher, who worked for two years for the BC, said: It is shameful. It is a kind of torture that the UK does not even have the compassion to tell us if we qualify to relocate. Kate Ewart-Biggs, deputy head of the British Council, said more needed to be done urgently but insisted: Afghan colleagues are never forgotten, we continue to work tirelessly on their behalf to press for a speedy resolution. We reject the idea that we have in any way abandoned our former colleagues. The relocation scheme is run by the UK Government and although the BC is not involved in the decision-making process, we have been pushing for progress. The Foreign Office said last night: We undertook the UKs biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in generations, helping over 15,000 people to leave Afghanistan safely. We are continuing to support them. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will also soon open, giving up to 20,000 people at risk a new life in the UK. Boris Johnson was warned last night his party is on course to lose more than 100 seats unless he gets a grip on sleaze. A major poll put Labour six points clear of the Tories as voters express their anger at rows over lobbying and Downing Street parties. A constituency-by-constituency analysis found that five Cabinet ministers would lose their seats if an election were held now among them the Prime Minister. It reveals that older voters and those in rural areas traditional Tory strongholds are most likely to be concerned by recent lobbying and lockdown party allegations. The poll of 10,000 people, carried out by Survation, puts Sir Keir Starmers party on 41 per cent of the vote, with the Conservatives on 35 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 9 per cent. A constituency-by-constituency analysis found that five Cabinet ministers would lose their seats if an election were held now among them the Prime Minister This would see Labour win 309 seats 11 short of a majority but a net gain of 107 when compared with their disastrous election night in 2019. The Tories would win 255 seats, for a net loss of 111. The SNP is expected to return 54 seats while the Lib Dems would slip to nine seats, indicating they will make little impact on traditional Conservative constituencies despite by-election successes. The Cabinet members at risk are Environment Secretary George Eustice, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Alok Sharma, president of the COP26 environmental summit. The poll, commissioned by activist group 38 Degrees, was analysed using a method that produces predictions based on small geographical areas. In addition to voting intention, the survey asked the public to judge the Governments behaviour using the seven Nolan principles for standards in public office. They are selflessness, integrity, openness, objectivity, accountability, honesty and leadership. The Government scored poorly on all of them. Professor Christopher Hanretty, of Royal Holloway University, analysed the results and said: Its older voters who are the most likely to say that the Government isnt living up to the Nolan principles. The Tories would win 255 seats, for a net loss of 111. The SNP is expected to return 54 seats while the Lib Dems would slip to nine seats, indicating they will make little impact on traditional Conservative constituencies despite by-election successes This weekend Downing Street released photographs of Mr Johnson and wife Carrie enjoying Christmas at Chequers, the Prime Ministers country retreat in Buckinghamshire The pair were seen making Zoom calls from their study with Mrs Johnson cradling newborn Romy on her lap. Romys name was shown with that of brother Wilf on a trendy 10 lightbox This can be seen when comparing younger, urban areas with older rural areas. Constituencies in London for example are a lot less likely to express concern given the share of the vote Labour ordinarily receives there. The polling predicted that Labour would make major gains in the so-called Red Wall, overturning many of the seats won by Conservatives in 2019. Of 40 key Red Wall seats held by Tories, only three (Dudley North, Morley & Outwood, and Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland) are projected to stay blue. The margins of projected victories were large, with many of the seats polling at 50 per cent or above for Labour. Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, said: Anger over sleaze and the cost of living crisis is a collapse in support for the Conservatives, and will cost them their majority if things dont change dramatically. The message to Boris Johnson from this poll is clear: show voters the respect they deserve, clean up the sleaze and fix the cost of living crisis. Major donor threatens to pull the plug A major Conservative Party donor yesterday questioned whether Boris Johnson should stay on as leader. John Caudwell, the billionaire founder of Phones4U, said he was alarmed by the PMs bid to protect former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson after he was found guilty of lobbying ministers. Mr Caudwell, who backed Mr Johnson for the premiership and gave the Conservatives 500,000 before the last election, said he was not sure whether Mr Johnson would survive. What really concerns me is this sleaze issue and him not standing firmly enough against whats gone on, he told The Observer. I was unbelievably disappointed when I heard him almost defending and ... trying to find an out for Owen Paterson. Im not sure he can survive this, and Im not even sure he should survive it. The businessman warned that he would not continue to support the Conservative Party should it continue to be hit by allegations of sleaze. Advertisement Voters who supported the Conservatives in 2019 to get Brexit done are angry and turned off by the actions of the Government. A separate poll by Focaldata for the Sunday Times gave Labour an eight-point lead over the Tories and suggested they would win a 26-seat majority. This weekend Downing Street released photographs of Mr Johnson and wife Carrie enjoying Christmas at Chequers, the Prime Ministers country retreat in Buckinghamshire. The pair were seen making Zoom calls from their study with Mrs Johnson cradling newborn Romy on her lap. Romys name was shown with that of brother Wilf on a trendy 10 lightbox. Senior royals are up in arms over the removal of some of their most trusted police bodyguards as part of a security shake-up. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall are among members of the family who have expressed concern after recently losing some of their most loyal and longstanding personal protection officers. Even the Queen is understood to have privately expressed her disquiet over changes to the way they are protected. It is understood that a number of family members have been left upset after Scotland Yard instigated a reorganisation of their security arrangements. The changes are being rolled out by high-flying Metropolitan Police Commander Helen Millichap, who is in charge of Protection Command. Senior royals are understood to have privately expressed disquiet over changes to the way they are protected She is said to have ruffled feathers with her determination to open up the ranks of the team of specialist officers who guard VIPs, known as Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP). One of the most senior female officers at Scotland Yard, Yorkshire-born Cmdr Millichap, who was educated at Bradford Grammar School and Cambridge University, has insisted that long-standing bodyguards known as personal protection officers (PPOs) are moved to other roles in order to open up the division and make it less cliquey. She is said to believe the role should not be seen as a job for life. But members of the Royal Family, who are guarded 24 hours a day by their protection officers, are understood to be deeply unhappy. And some of them are fighting hard to keep their favourite bodyguards with them in face of huge pressure from the Met. Protection officers occupy very unique positions with MRFs [members of the Royal Family], said a source. They are with them 24 hours a day and it understandably takes a long time to build up a good relationship of confidence and trust. Several very well-liked and respected officers have been moved on from their roles, not through any fault of their own. Members of the Royal Family are guarded 24 hours a day by their protection officers Its simply because of this desire to shake things up a bit, sometimes for the sake of it, it seems. Everyone is unhappy about it, not least some of the principals [royals]. There been a lot of changes in personnel, they have lost people they liked and valued. Some have made clear that they are really quite upset about it. Until 2015 the Royal Family used to be guarded by officers from Scotland Yards specialist Royalty and Diplomatic Protection group (SO14). That has now been merged with Specialist Protection (SO1) to create RaSP. Not only does it provide personal protection for the Royal Family but it also provides officers to guard the Prime Minister and other senior ministers, visiting heads of state and other VIPs. Retired Chief Superintendent Dai Davies, the former head of royalty protection and an ex-divisional commander at Scotland Yard, acknowledged the unique position that royal bodyguards hold. Its an extremely unique relationship and any Met Commander does need to recognise that, he said. In my opinion each officer and each royal must be assessed to ensure there is continuity. Theres actually a partnership between royals and the police, and that needs to be nurtured and maintained. The vast majority [of officers] are fantastic and do the job exceptionally well. It does take a long time to develop their expertise. More often than not they are not just a police officer, but they are also politicians and diplomats. Building up these relationships takes trust and time, and that cant be lightly dismissed. But Mr Davies, who before his retirement from the Met brought in tenure the requirement for officers to move roles after five to seven years also argued that there was no supplement for instinct, based on knowledge formed over years. Scotland Yard has acknowledged the unique position that royal bodyguards hold Its a balance, a delicate one, but I do believe officers need to stay mentally fit and professional and its no bad thing, I believe, to switch things up every now and again, he said. I wasnt very popular with the rank and file when I brought it [tenure] in, I have to say. But I do believe there is also a host of benefits to opening up the division. The full cost of royal security is kept from the public as Scotland Yard argues it would compromise safety. But it is believed to cost taxpayers well in excess of 125million a year. Even Prince Andrew, who no longer undertakes any official duties, still has his own round-the-clock protection team. Manchester United's Nemanja Matic admits the team can't wait to face Newcastle on Monday - after an enforced break lasting 16 days. A Covid outbreak forced United to postpone fixtures against Brentford and Brighton but the squad resumed training last week in advance of their trip to St James' Park. 'Of course, we are desperate to play,' admitted Matic. 'As you know we had some issues with Covid. Finally, we are all back. We are ready. Nemanja Matic has admitted Manchester United are looking forward to returning to action 'Sometimes it's good to have a break but it's never good time to have Covid. We prefer to play.' New manager Ralf Rangnick is unbeaten in the three matches he's had at United against Crystal Palace, Young Boys and Norwich, conceding just one goal. 'We understand his ideas and what he wants to play,' said Matic. 'It's a bit of everything, not just pressing. 'You must be physically ready and play well tactically. We have enough talent in the squad to understand quickly and play how he wants. Ralf Rangnick's side take on Newcastle next, after a 16-day absence following a Covid outbreak Matic has said United are 'desperate' to play, and also says the top four remains their target Newcastle are struggling at the bottom and have won only once this season but Matic, who first played in the Premier League more than a decade ago for Chelsea, says competition is stronger than ever throughout the division. 'Now there are a lot of teams who see their chance to win. All teams have improved a lot and buy top-class players. The Premier League is very hard to play, more than 15 years ago,' he said. 'We want to finish of course in the top four and to win the Champions League and the FA Cup. We will see but that's our target. 'These games we are favourites but we must show it on the pitch. Newcastle are in a bad position but they are a big club with big players and they will fight to stay in the league.' Drake is clearly in the Christmas spirit. The 35-year-old Canadian superstar on Friday posted a clip as he spent time with his four-year-old son Adonis on Christmas Eve. The Toronto native, who shares Adonis with artist-model Sophie Brussaux, laughed as his son playfully tumbled on him with a friend. The latest: Drake, 35, on Friday posted a clip as he spent time with his four-year-old son Adonis on Christmas Eve, captioning the clip, 'Merry Christmas From The Gang' 'I'm gonna get out of this, I gotta get out of this!' Drake said though laughs. The God's Plan performer captioned the clip, 'Merry Christmas From The Gang' with emojis of crossed fingers and a sparkling heart. Drake made references to raising Adonis on his hit album Certified Lover Boy, including the track Champagne Poetry, which includes the lyrics 'I been hot since the birth of my son' and 'Co-parent of the year/ We figured out a rapport.' The song Papi's Home features the lyrics, 'See your mother raised a fine young man/ Daddy's home/ And I know I missed so much of your life.' The Toronto native laughed as his son playfully tumbled on him with a friend Drake shares Adonis with artist-model Sophie Brussaux The musical artist enjoyed the holiday with his son in the social media clip On the track F***ing Fans, Drake rapped about learning he was going to be a dad, with the lyrics, 'Then I had a kid even though I never planned to/ I cannot imagine when your girls gave you that news.' At the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles this past May, Drake was named artist of the decade and brought Adonis onstage with him to accept the honors. When Adonis started crying, Drake told him, 'I want to dedicate this award to you.' Drake said though laughs, 'I'm gonna get out of this, I gotta get out of this!' Drake made multiple references to raising Adonis on his hit album Certified Lover Boy Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, chat with Apple Music's Young Money Radio with Lil Wayne about how it took him time to acclimate to the idea of sharing shots of his son on social media. 'It was great for me,' he said in the May 2020 interview. 'It was great to just share that with the world. I just woke up one morning and I was like, you know what? This is just something that I want to do.' He added, 'I want to be able to go places with my son and share memories with my son. I don't want to feel like just because of a life choice I made to be a celebrity that I got to make everybody live under this blanket.' 10-time Grammy nominee Nicki Minaj flaunted substantial cleavage for her official Christmas portrait with manager-turned-husband Kenneth 'Zoo' Petty and their 15-month-old son nicknamed 'Papa Bear.' The 39-year-old first-time mother - who boasts 275.5M social media followers - captioned her glamour shots: 'Merry Christmas. May you receive everything your heart desires!' Nicki's Instagram post received glowing comments from The Real Housewives of Potomac star Wendy Osefo, her Whole Lotta Money partner Bia, The Freak Brothers actress LaLa Anthony, and RuPaul's Drag Race #4 alum Jasmine Masters. All in black: 10-time Grammy nominee Nicki Minaj flaunted substantial cleavage for her official Christmas portrait with manager-turned-husband Kenneth 'Zoo' Petty and their 15-month-old son nicknamed 'Papa Bear' Minaj (born Onika Maraj) and the 43-year-old ex-con - who's a registered sex offender in New York and California - reportedly raise their precious child without a nanny. The Trinidad-born, New York-raised star was only 16 when she first met Kenneth - who served a combined 11 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl in 1995 and shooting a man to death in 2002. Petty's alleged rape victim - Jennifer Hough - filed a lawsuit in August accusing him and Nicki of intentional infliction of emotional distress, harassment, and witness intimidation. Jennifer claimed the married couple of two years tried to persuade her (with $500K third party offers) to recant her rape claim due to federal charges brought against Kenneth for failing to register as sex offender in California. The 39-year-old first-time mother - who boasts 275.5M social media followers - captioned her glamour shots: 'Merry Christmas. May you receive everything your heart desires!' 'Alright now!' Nicki's Instagram post received glowing comments from The Real Housewives of Potomac star Wendy Osefo, her Whole Lotta Money partner Bia, The Freak Brothers actress LaLa Anthony, and RuPaul's Drag Race #4 alum Jasmine Masters Jet setters: Minaj and the 43-year-old ex-con - who's a registered sex offender in New York and California - reportedly raise their precious child without a nanny (pictured November 26) Problematic: The Trinidad-born, New York-raised star was only 16 when she first met Kenneth - who served a combined 11 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl in 1995 and shooting a man to death in 2002 (pictured October 10) Hough told The Daily Beast in March that she moved three times in 2020 and changed her phone number out of fear for her safety. The next court hearing for the case is scheduled for January 20. Career-wise, Minaj was featured on 10 songs in 2021, but she hasn't released a full-blown record since her fourth studio album Queen in 2018. Next court hearing is January 20: Petty's alleged rape victim - Jennifer Hough (pictured September 22) - filed a lawsuit in August accusing him and Nicki of intentional infliction of emotional distress, harassment, and witness intimidation Plaintiff: Jennifer claimed the married couple of two years tried to persuade her (with $500K third party offers) to recant her rape claim due to federal charges brought against Kenneth for failing to register as sex offender in California Francesca Cumani has announced she is expecting to welcome her first child with boyfriend Max Johnson. The glamorous racing commentator confirmed the exciting news on Sunday, and revealed she's expecting to give birth in June next year. 'We're thrilled,' Francesca, 38, told The Mail. Exciting! Glamorous racing commentator Francesca Cumani, 38, (pictured) has revealed she is expecting her first child with businessman and triathlete Max Johnson The couple haven't revealed whether they are expecting a baby boy or girl. Francesca was previously married to Australian international polo player Rob Archibald. The British-born thoroughbred expert married Rob in 2014 and the pair are said to have split in 2018. New addition: The racing commentator confirmed the exciting news on Sunday, and revealed she's expecting to give birth in June next year The once-smitten couple welcomed their first son, Harry, two, in April, 2016. During their marriage, Francesca and Rob attempted to juggle their lives on either side of the planet - a challenge which intensified after Francesca was hired by Britain's ITV two years ago. That meant her spending eight months in Britain during the racing season and four months in Australia, where she was a commentator for Channel 7. At the time of their split, a friend said that despite the breakup relations between Francesca and Rob were 'perfectly amicable'. Past: Francesca was previously married to Australian polo player Rob Archibald (pictured). The two split in 2018 Following their split, Francesca moved on with fellow ITV racing commentary team member Oli Bell. However the pair called it quits after two years of dating. The British-born TV personality's relationship with new boyfriend Max was made public back in September. Splitsville: Following their split, Francesca moved on with fellow ITV racing commentary team member Oli Bell. However the pair called it quits after two years of dating Francesca works for both Channel 10 Sport Australia and also ITV in the UK. She used to commentate for Channel Seven. Francesca is the daughter of Italian thoroughbred horse trainer and breeder Luca Cumani. In the know: Francesca works for both Channel 10 Sport Australia and also for ITV in the UK. She used to commentate for Channel Seven. Francesca is the daughter of Italian thoroughbred horse trainer and breeder Luca Cumani She didn't attend the Melbourne Cup in Australia this year, which is held at Flemington Racecourse, but commented on the event from London. 'Right, next year I'm definitely going to be at ''The Cup'' alongside the wonderful Channel 10 team at Flemington but this year I had to settle for beaming in from London,' she captioned a picture of herself in a TV studio. Last year Francesca was forced to cancel her Melbourne Cup commitments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hemsworths decided to ditch sunny Byron Bay for a white Christmas in Europe this year. And on Sunday, Chris Hemsworth returned to Instagram to share footage of his family having fun on a snowy mountain. In one clip, the 38-year-old Marvel actor can be seen pointing out an object in the distance before playfully pushing his wife Elsa Pataky, 45, into the snow. Winter wonderland: Chris Hemsworth (right) took to Instagram to film himself having fun in the snow with wife Elsa Pataky (left) and their their three children on Sunday - after swapping sunny Byron Bay for a white Christmas in Europe The Spanish actress squealed and giggled as she plummeted to the ground, before Chris offered to help her back on her feet. Chris is then seen hysterically laughing and attempting to run away. Elsa then attempts to get Chris back by throwing snowballs at him, before he tells her to 'settle down' as 'it's just a practical gag amongst friends'. Prankster: In one clip, the 38-year-old Marvel actor can be seen pointing out an object in the distance before playfully pushing his wife Elsa Pataky, 45, into the snow Down she goes! The Spanish actress squealed and giggled as she plummeted to the ground, before Chris offered to help her back on her feet Need a hand? Chris then offered to help her get back onto her feet Chris kept warm from the winter chill in a green khaki puffer jacket, while Elsa looked chic in a navy blue puffer jacket. In another video shared to his page, the Thor actor can be heard laughing as he sends one of his children flying into the snow. 'Christmas with the kids,' he says to the camera, before his younger brother Liam decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. Funny: Chris is seen hysterically laughing before he attempts to run away Payback: Elsa then attempts to get Chris back by throwing snowballs at him before he tells her to 'settle down' as 'it's just a practical gag amongst friends' ''Dad, for Xmas this year I want to fly.' You're welcome son,' he cheekily captioned the post. The Hemsworths have been in Europe in the last few weeks as he begins shooting his new film Extraction 2 in Prague. The European shoot is expected to last until March. Flying lesson: In another video shared to his page, the Thor actor can be heard laughing as he sends one of his children flying into the snow Revenge: 'Christmas with the kids,' he says to the camera before his younger brother Liam decided to give him a taste of his own medicine He's down: Chris was seen laughing hysterically after being pushed to the ground by Liam Caitlyn Jenner took to Instagram on Christmas Day to thank her ex-wife Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble for gifts while celebrating the holiday at home in Malibu. The 72-year-old reality star in an Instagram Stories clip wore pink pajamas while sitting on a couch next to a gift box of glassware from Kris, 66, and her longtime boyfriend Corey, 41. 'Wow! Thanks @krisjennner and @coreygamble Merry Christmas!,' Caitlyn wrote as a caption for her roughly 12.1 million followers. Christmas presents: Caitlyn Jenner took to Instagram on Christmas Day to thank her ex-wife Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble for gifts as she celebrated a quiet Christmas after knee surgery Caitlyn approved of the present with a thumb up and also shared a clip of her dog sleeping on a sofa near a Christmas tree. She also shared a short video of her dinner table loaded with pies, cheeses, crackers and drinks with her Christmas tree in the background. 'Quiet Christmas Eve at home with Sophia healing from knee surgery! Gorgeous dinner and platters tonight!,' she wrote in the caption referencing her friend Sophia Hutchins, 25. Caitlyn shared with her Instagram followers on Friday that 11 days ago she had a knee replacement surgery done. Recent surgery: The 72-year-old reality star shared on Instagram on Friday that she had knee surgery earlier this month Nice dinner: 'Quiet Christmas Eve at home with Sophia healing from knee surgery! Gorgeous dinner and platters tonight!,' she wrote in the caption referencing her friend Sophia Hutchins, 25 Pie time: The dinner table included a pie that looked delicious Cheese spread: She also showed off a nice cheese spread The Olympic gold medalist posted a video and said, 'Ok, guess what I'm doing today? Yes, I'm getting my knee replaced.' Caitlyn said she had been 'putting this off for 25 years' and was 'finally going to do it today.' Caitlyn added, 'I'll try to keep you up to date along the way.' On Tuesday, December 14, Caitlyn went to Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA to have the three hour long intense procedure done. Christmas tree: Caitlyn also showed her Christmas tree that was all lit up Sleepy dog: A black Labrador enjoyed a nap at Caitlyn's house Annual event; Kris is shown on Friday on Instagram with daughters Kim and Khloe and grandchildren New knee: Caitlyn shared with her Instagram followers on Friday that 11 days ago she had a knee replacement surgery done Caitlyn's lives in Malibu, with her two dogs, and she is eager to get back to the outdoor activities that she loves, once her new knee allows it. The Secrets of My Life author shared with TMZ that the exact cause of her 'excruciating' pain comes from the time she spent training for the 1976 Olympic games. Caitlyn captioned her video post and said, 'Merry Christmas! Before the new knee: The Olympic gold medalist posted a video and said, 'Ok, guess what I'm doing today? Yes, I'm getting my knee replaced. I've been putting this off for 25 years and I'm finally going to do it today. I'll try to keep you up to date along the way' In the hospital bed: On Tuesday, December 14, Caitlyn went to Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA to have the three hour long intense procedure done 'This year I got a new knee. 11 days ago I had a knee replacement surgery. 'I'll keep you posted on my progress! Stay tuned.' She wrapped up the post by wishing her followers a healthy and happy Christmas.' Before the big surgery, the reality TV star took a trip Ojai for a pre-Christmas family holiday party. The event was hosted by her oldest daughter, Casey Marino, 41, whom she shares with her first wife, Chrystie Scott. In Caitlyn's Instagram post, she was surrounded by family. Her followers couldn't help but notice that her children, Brody, Kylie and Kendall Jenner were not pictured. Family holiday party: Before the big surgery, Caitlyn went to Ojai for a pre-Christmas family holiday party. The event was hosted by her oldest daughter, Casey Marino, 41, who she shares with her first wife, Chrystie Scott Earlier this month, Caitlyn was denied service at the Beverly Hills Hotel, due to showing up for lunch in ripped jeans. 'F*** your horrible service for not letting me have lunch with this tiny rip in my jeans,' the reality star said. 'Shame on you. Disgusting. I have been a patron for decades. No longer.' The hotel responded to Caitlyn's remarks, highlighting their dress code, which 'encourages' no ripped denim. The new film Licorice Pizza faced a number of criticisms upon its widespread release on Saturday, with many people taking to Twitter to sound off on scenes depicting racist behavior against Asian people, and a storyline involving a 25-year-old woman in an implied romance with a 15-year-old boy. The motion picture from filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, 51, had previously opened in a limited run last month prior to opening in theaters Christmas. Among the controversies of the film, which is set in California's San Fernando Valley in 1973, included the 15-year-old character Gary (played by Cooper Hoffman), who is infatuated with and tries to pursue a relationship with 25-year-old Alana (played by Alana Haim), with one scene in which she shows her breasts to him. The latest: The new film Licorice Pizza faced criticisms upon its wide release on Saturday, with viewers taking to Twitter to sound off on scenes depicting racist behavior against Asian people, and a storyline involving a 15-year-old boy (played by Cooper Hoffman) pursuing a romance with a 25-year-old woman (played by Alana Haim) One user wrote that the film made them 'uncomfortable,' adding, 'I'm sorry she was 25 and he was 15. its gross.' Another user noted that 'watching a movie where a 15 year old boy obsessed with a 25 year old woman is weird.' One user questioned, 'Im sorry but how did Licorice Pizza get the pass? Its a movie based on grooming and racist humor. Conner Hoffman was a minor at the time when the movie was shot and Alana Haim is 30.' Another point of contention was a scene in which a white restaurateur named Jerry Frick (played by John Michael Higgins) has two wives of Japanese descent, and talks to them in an exaggerated accent. A number of moviegoers were critical of the film on Twitter in recent days 'I like Licorice Pizza so much,' Variety international editor Manori Ravindran said. 'Only thing Im stumped on is the weird anti-Japanese racist nonsense with John Michael Higgins character. PTA says he doesnt want to make a period movie using a 2021 lens, but... it just comes off as jarring and offensive.' One user said they walked out of the film amid the aforementioned issues. 'An hour into Licorice Pizza and I had to leave the theater because of how incredibly weird and racist it is,' the user wrote. 'A 25 year old woman and a 15 year old boy have a romance where she flashes her breasts at him? The mockery of the Japanese language? Like really? F*** that s***.' The film was also criticized by the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, as it issued a statement to the Rafu Shimpo -- Los Angeles Japanese Daily News last week calling for it to be excluded from award season consideration 'due to the casual racism found in the movie.' Variety international editor Manori Ravindran said that the scene involving Higgins came off as 'jarring and offensive' Anderson addressed both issues speaking with The New York Times about the film last month, saying that 'there isnt a provocative bone in this films body.' Asked about the age gap between the Alana and Gary characters, Anderson said that 'theres no line thats crossed, and theres nothing but the right intentions.' He added: 'It would surprise me if there was some kind of kerfuffle about it, because theres not that much there. Thats not the story that we made, in any kind of way.' Anderson defended the scene involving Higgins as saying the behavior depicted in the film was consistent with the timeframe. 'I think it would be a mistake to tell a period film through the eyes of 2021,' he said. 'You cant have a crystal ball, you have to be honest to that time. 'Not that it wouldnt happen right now, by the way. My mother-in-laws Japanese and my father-in-law is white, so seeing people speak English to her with a Japanese accent is something that happens all the time. I dont think they even know theyre doing it.' Kate Garraway was left terrified for her husband Derek Draper on Christmas Day after he became weak and suffered 'super fatigue' amid his Covid battle. The broadcaster, 54, took to Instagram late on Saturday to update her followers about Derek's harrowing scare. She wrote: 'So the last 24 hours has been bumpy - a scare that meant Derek might have had to go back into hospital (thankfully sorted by a visit from nurse/carer), he has also had one of his ultra fatigue days so has been too weak to do much other than sleep. Harrowing: Kate Garraway, 54, was left terrified for her husband Derek Draper on Christmas Day after he became weak and suffered 'super fatigue' amid his Covid battle 'I burnt the parsnips (Darcey's favourite ) & got the wrong Lego for Billy. But now snuggled up around Dads bed watching #nativity everything feels suddenly perfect. 'Feel so grateful to have the chance to be together. Sending love & hoping you have found some joy today whatever your circumstances - #merrychristmas all!' Kate shared a picture of Derek, 54, as he lay in bed with children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, nearby. Fears: Kate took to Instagram late on Saturday to update her followers about Derek's scare after calling on a nurse to care for him Derek had been allowed home for Christmas after spending more than a year in medical care in what the presenter poignantly called the greatest gift she could receive. Last Christmas Eve, we did have a lot of promise and a lot of hope but Derek was in hospital, she recalled. We had no idea whether he was going to live or die, praying that it was going in the right direction. Tough times: Kate offered words of hope as she read poem Love Came Down at Christmas by Christina Rossetti for the royals on ITV on Friday Love and hope: Kate delivered the heartfelt poem during ITV's Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, after her husband Derek Draper's Covid battle Prior to Derek's turn the family enjoyed a trip to watch Cinderella at Richmond Theatre in West London is the first time Derek has been seen outside since contracting Covid in March 2020. He was so severely ill he was placed in a medically induced coma for several months, and continues to have extraordinary problems with communication, mobility is very limited, massive problems with fatigue and sometimes its like hes not present with you, according to Kate. Earlier this week, the journalist described his slow but positive progress on ITVs Good Morning Britain. 'He does get it, he does understand!': Kate recently detailed a heartwarming update on her husband Derek's slow recovery from Covid-19 Speaking of how she was heartened by signs of his recovery, she said: We were playing a silly game, one of those moral question games...and they asked Who is likely to find money on the floor and keep it? and everyone in the room said all at the same time Darcy, and he started to laugh. And honestly, it was just the most lovely moment because you thought he does get it, he does understand. And hes right! Because she is the most likely! Kate delivered a touching message about love when she appeared on ITVs Royal Carols: Together At Christmas on Friday. She read the poem Love Came Down At Christmas by Christina Rossetti in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the concert, which had been recorded at Westminster Abbey on December 9. Abigail Breslin remembered her late father Michael Breslin on her first Christmas since he died of COVID-19 earlier this year. The Oscar-nominated actress, 25, took to Instagram Friday with an emotional post about the holiday after her father's death at the age of 78 in February. 'Merry Christmas eve everyone!' the New York City native said. 'I'm not gonna lie. This is a weird one for me. My first holiday season sans my dada.' Lonely Christmas: Abigail Breslin, 25, remembered her late father Michael Breslin on her first Christmas since he died of COVID-19 earlier this year. The actress was snapped in NYC in July Breslin said that while she's 'thankful' and 'truly blessed' to spend the holiday with her mother, brother, friends and boyfriend, the first holiday season without her father was challenging. 'It's hard to know I can't call my daddy and wish him a merry Christmas or send him a gift certificate to a good steakhouse,' she wrote. 'Some days are harder than others ... grief is a tricky little monster. 'I wish there was an expiration date to missing someone ... but I had almost 25 great years of having an awesome dad and I feel as though I know what he'd be saying right now.' She added: 'I think [it'd] be somewhere along the lines of "Why ya crying kid? I'm fiiiiiine. Don't worry about me! Love you, pretty.' The Oscar-nominated actress took to Instagram Friday with an emotional post about the holiday after her father's death at the age of 78 in February Breslin earlier this year described her father as 'a hilarious, boisterous, tenacious, rebellious, intelligent, sweet, incredible human being' who loved life, his family and the simple things The Stillwater actress said that 'to anyone who's missing someone this' holiday season, 'I see you, I hear you and you're not alone.' Breslin said that she was 'going to heavily cherish those who are here and hug them harder than ever,' before wishing her followers a Merry Christmas. The Little Miss Sunshine star opened up about her father's passing earlier this year in a February 26 Instagram post, which came two weeks after he was initially diagnosed. After his passing, Abigail described her father as 'a hilarious, boisterous, tenacious, rebellious, intelligent, sweet, incredible human being' who loved life, his family and the simple things 'Hard to write this,' she wrote. 'Harder than I thought. Im in shock and devastation ... my sweet, perfect, amazing, heroic, wonderful dada passed away after my family and I said goodbye. It was COVID-19 that cut my sweet daddy's life too short.' Breslin said she was appreciative for 'the love and support' she and her family received amid the tragic turn. She described her father as 'a hilarious, boisterous, tenacious, rebellious, intelligent, sweet, incredible human being' who loved life, his family and the simple things. 'He loved taking pictures and flying planes and good dinners and music from the 50s and 60s and good couches and Kenyan mountain coffee and funny YouTube videos and email threads and weird poems and politics and he loved me and he loved my brothers and he loved my mom,' she said. Hollywood star Liam Hemsworth has shared a gallery of rarely seen photos with girlfriend Gabriella Brooks. The Hunger Games star and his love are currently on holiday in Europe enjoying the snow, with Liam's brother Chris and his wife Elsa Pataky. In one image, Liam is seen striking a model pose alongside Gabriella after hitting the ski fields. Couple: Liam Hemsworth has shared rarely seen photos of girlfriend Gabriella Brooks as they celebrated Christmas with his brother Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky in Europe Liam and Gabriella then shared a photo of themselves on a chair lift with Chris and wife Elsa, framed by a snowy vista in the background. Another image showed Liam looking pleased as punch on the slopes as Elsa happily skied down the mountain. Liam and Gabriella then showed a picture of themselves at the top of the slopes with the pair clearly in good spirits. Family affair: Liam and Gabriella then shared a photo of themselves on a chair lift with his brother Chris and wife Elsa Pataky, framed by a snowy vista in the background Handsome: Another image showed Liam looking pleased as punch on the slopes as Elsa happily skied down the mountain After their joyous day out, the couple then stopped off for a bite to eat, with Liam sharing pictures of their welcome relaxation. Their winter wonderland vacation comes after Gabriella broke her silence on being in a relationship with Liam to Stellar magazine. The 25-year-old called the past 12 months 'one of the greatest years of my life', before gushing over their 'beautiful' family. It's snow time! The genetically blessed couple were seen hitting the slopes clearly enjoying themselves on the European snowfields 'My personal relationship is very, very important and very sacred to me,' the beauty, who stuns in a swimwear shoot in the magazine, revealed. 'And I feel like in an industry where so much is put out on show, there are some things you just want to keep to yourself,' Gabriella added. 'I completely understand [the interest in her relationship]. But at the end of the day, I guess I just like having that for me. Ritzy: After their joyous day out, the couple then stopped off for a bite to eat, with Liam sharing pictures of their welcome relaxation 'But he's great. They [the Hemsworths] are great. They are the most beautiful people and I'm very lucky to know them'. Gabriella went on to confirm that the couple have moved back to Los Angeles together, after two years in NSW. Liam went Instagram official with Gabriella earlier this year at a charity gala in Sydney. Nadine Mulkerrin announced she is expecting her second child with her partner Rory Douglas-Speed in an adorable Christmas Day Instagram post. The Hollyoaks actress, 28, and her co-star, 29, presented their son Reggie, two, with an ultrasound of his sibling and shared the adorable snap on social media. Mesmerised by the imagine as he sat in front of a stunning Christmas tree, the actress quipped in her caption: 'This better not be my only gift mum .' Cute: Nadine Mulkerrin announced she is expecting her second child with her partner Rory Douglas-Speed in an adorable Christmas Day Instagram post Adorable: Mesmerised by the imagine as their son Reggie, two, sat in front of a stunning Christmas tree, the actress quipped in her caption: 'This better not be my only gift mum ' Nadine, who plays Cleo McQueen on the soap, revealed her previous pregnancy ahead of the British Soap Awards in 2019. Cradling her baby bump in a photo with Rory, Nadine captioned the image: 'That's us three ready for the @thebritishsoapawards'. The actress announced baby Reggie had been born with a snap of her family in the delivery room in October of that year. Loved up: The pair have been an item since 2017 and got engaged in 2018 during a Christmas trip to Amsterdam, after moving into their Cheshire home earlier that year She wrote in the caption: 'Reggie Speed You're the coolest little dude we never knew we were missing in our lives! We love you so Much. 'Also Thank you to every incredible NHS worker we've come across at the womens. (Helen,Jordine,Amy,Amy) Your all walking angels. Thank you so much for making one of biggest moments of our lives so extra special with care.' In the snap, a besotted Nadine was seen laying in a hospital bed as she cradles her baby boy for the first time, with a proud Rory looking on. Sharing the same snap a minute later, Rory, who plays Joel Dexter, wrote: 'Welcome to the family wee Reggie Speed 15.8.19 'We love You man. So proud of Nadine, I didn't think I could love her anymore but my heart is bloody bursting! She was amazing throughout her labour, Women are seriously Superhuman x.' The pair have been an item since 2017 and got engaged in 2018 during a Christmas trip to Amsterdam, after moving into their Cheshire home earlier that year. Abbie Chatfield has taken her boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephen home to meet her family. The pair spent Christmas together in Queensland, with the former Bachelor star and her Bachelorette contestant love interest packing on the PDA. The 26-year-old and her 31-year-old beau smooched and cuddled at a Brisbane bar on Sunday, sharing photos of their romantic moments to Instagram. Love: Abbie Chatfield has taken her boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephen home to meet her family. The pair spent Christmas together in Queensland, with the former Bachelor star and her Bachelorette contestant love interest packing on the PDA. Both pictured In her caption, Abbie joked that the pair looked like boomers who had fallen for one another. 'Boomers at the surf club who have just met each other's kids for the first time over a sav blanc and a surf and turf,' she wrote. Abbie recently revealed things are so serious with her boyfriend Konrad that he would join her family for Christmas. Aww: The 26-year-old and her 31-year-old beau smooched and cuddled at a Brisbane bar on Sunday, sharing photos of their romantic moments to Instagram Sweet: In her caption, Abbie joked that the pair looked like boomers who had fallen for one another 'This year for Christmas I am heading to Queensland with my new beau, Konrad to spend it with my family, who I haven't seen since the borders closed,' she told the Herald Sun on Friday. Abbie's comments come after the podcast host shared the sweet moment her beau first said, 'I love you'. In a TikTok video, the former Bachelorette star revealed that Konrad had treated her to a drive-in movie, after hearing her complain on her podcast that no one had ever taken her to one on a date. Sweet: Abbie's comments come after the podcast host shared the sweet moment her beau first said, 'I love you'. In a TikTok video, the former Bachelorette star revealed that Konrad had treated her to a drive-in movie and confessed his feelings Crying: At the time, Abbie was so touched by the effort her boyfriend made that she broke down in tears. 'I started sobbing. It's just, this man treats me better than I thought anyone ever would' she said At the time, Abbie was so touched by the effort her boyfriend made that she broke down in tears. 'I started sobbing. It's just, this man treats me better than I thought anyone ever would and is just the most thoughtful, beautiful angel on the planet. I never thought I would find someone like him,' she said. Abbie then revealed the moment Konrad professed his love, asking her, 'Do you know why I did this? Because I love you'. Abbie, who previously vowed to never speak publicly about her dating life, went Instagram official with Konrad on November 24. Laura Anderson has explained why she forgave boyfriend Dane Bowers, and took him back three years after he cheated on her. The former Love Island star, 32, met Dane, 42, at a party in November 2017 where they had instant chemistry, despite their 10 year age gap and began dating. However, Laura was rocked when she discovered that Dane was seeing someone else six months in. Stunning: Laura Anderson has explained why she forgave boyfriend Dane Bowers, and took him back three years after he cheated on her She explained to The Sun: 'We werent in a relationship at that point, and we never said we were exclusive, but I was disappointed, so I confronted him and ended it.' She then signed up to join Love Island, where she met Paul Knops but that relationship ended after she heard reports he had a secret girlfriend. After a string of failed relationships, Laura turned to Dane for comfort and her feelings for him soon turned romantic earlier this year. Loved-up: The former Love Island star, 32, met Dane, 42, at a party in November 2017 where they had instant chemistry, despite their 10 year age gap and began dating She added that she made him work for it, but didn't want shut herself off to him after their past together and soon they got back together. Laura said: 'I never thought Id be able to trust Dane again, but I trust him more than anyone Ive ever been with even people who havent cheated.' The couple have gone from strength to strength ever since and Laura even hinted that there could be wedding bells on the horizon. She said: 'Weve looked at engagement rings and were trying to have a baby, but it can take ages to conceive.' Laura first made the revelation they were looking to have children together to fellow reality star Vicky Pattison, 33, but admitted they were having problems conceiving. She added on Vicky's podcast The Secret To..: 'We've got some problems. I don't think it's going to be as easy as... Shock: However, Laura was rocked when she discovered that Dane was seeing someone else six months in 'I'm always like really positive, and I'm like 'it will be so easy', and he was like no. So he was right. We've just got to go to the doctors and do lots of checks. 'There's loads of different options as well. It's quite common, loads of different things for men - and women. So we'll see what happens. 'Dane's like 'we need to do IVF', and I'm like I don't really want to. I just never really thought that this would have to happen to me, or whatever... 'We're not at that point yet. He still needs to get some checks and stuff like that, but you can't really plan for these things.' Bridgerton fans can rejoice as the release date for the second series has finally been confirmed by Netflix. The period drama's official Twitter account released a video on Christmas Day confirming the series will return on Friday, March 25 2022. Several stars of the show including new leads Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley appeared in the clip where they read an 'announcement' from Lady Whistledown confirming the date, with some fans saying they will have to wait 'so long'. Date: Bridgerton fans can rejoice as the release date for the second series has finally been confirmed by Netflix Stars Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley appeared first where they were handed a letter. Jonathan, who plays Anthony Bridgerton, said: 'Is that Whistledown? What's she got to say today, the cheeky little mistress?' All the stars read out a message saying: 'Happy anniversary to our buzzy ton. It is customary for a first anniversary to gift paper, dear readers. 'I do hope you find this one informative. Bridgerton returns March 25th.' Back in action: The period drama's official Twitter account released a video on Christmas Day confirming the series will return on Friday, March 25 2022 Several fans took to social media to react to the news with one writing: 'Hell yeah! 3 months to go!' while another said: 'So long to wait!' Bridgerton was renewed for a second season in January, followed by an early order for Seasons 3 and 4 in April. Throughout the summer, the series skidded to a halt due to various coronavirus breakouts, with a source saying in September: 'Filming has been in chaos due to Covid and bosses are hopping mad... 'Dramas like The Crown have got their production moving without a hitch... This outbreak has taken down members of cast and crew.' Clip: Several stars of the show appeared in the clip where they read an 'announcement' from Lady Whistledown confirming the date Reaction: Several fans took to social media to react to the news with one writing: 'Hell yeah! 3 months to go!' while another said: 'So long to wait!' A source told MailOnline at the time: 'The health and safety protocols that are implemented by production have allowed for fast action to be taken... 'The proactive testing programme allows us to react quickly to mitigate the risk of transmission within the production.. The safety of the cast and crew is of the highest priority to the production. 'All regular COVID-19 health and safety protocols were followed and those impacted have been isolated. Ahead of the show returning to screens, Netflix described Simone's new character Kate as 'a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools Anthony Bridgerton very much included.' Show: Bridgerton was renewed for a second season in January, followed by an early order for Seasons 3 and 4 in April (Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley pictured) In the first look trailer for Bridgerton, Kate defiantly confronts lothario Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan in a bid to call out his objective views of women. Showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Today With Hoda & Jenna that viewers should expect a romantic storyline between Anthony and Kate thats 'as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show.' Of her latest role, Simone said to Wonderland magazine: 'I think a lot of the time, people who do have those traits quite fiery, have a temper, have a raised voice are actually people with the biggest hearts because theres work to be done on how you express yourself.' The actress revealed that the period drama is 'much more intense' than Sex Education, but she knew it's what she's 'meant to be doing.' New venture: Sex Education's Simone Ashley has (left) traded high school classes for lessons in horse riding, as she prepares for a 'much more intense' role of Kate Sharma in Bridgerton The star said: 'With Bridgerton, its much more intense than Sex Education in the sense that if Im not filming, Im horse riding, training or in rehearsals. 'Im in accent training or Im in a fitting Ive never really worn a corset before, so that took some getting used to.' Meanwhile Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes, 51, told Variety she could see the series continuing to thrive based on the characters and potential storylines. 'There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and as far as Im concerned, there are eight Bridgerton seasons,' she told the outlet. 'And maybe more.' Actress Amy Schumer opened up about her experience with face fillers in a humorous Instagram post on Sunday. Schumer, 40, posted a photo of herself inside of what appeared to be a doctor's office with white cream strategically placed on her cheeks. The standup comic wrote, 'I tried getting fillers. Turns out I was already full. Thank God you can dissolve them.' No filler: Amy Schumer, 40, posted a photo of herself inside of what appeared to be a doctor's office getting her face filler dissolved As always the actress found a way to locate humor in the situation, as she compared herself to Maleficent - a fictional character in Disney's Sleeping Beauty and portrayed in a revised movie version by Angelina Jolie - a villain known for her strikingly high cheekbones. 'I looked like #malificent,' she joked. Schumer also thanked her doctor, adding, 'thanks @drjlodnp'. Friends and followers were quick to comment on the post, with Australian actress Isla Fisher writing, 'You are so beautiful! No fillers needed.' Cheeky: The actress found a way to locate humor in the situation, as she compared herself to Angelina Jolie's Maleficent - a movie villain known for her strikingly high cheekbones Amy also replied to a comment from another user who pleaded with her not to give in to the current beauty standards. 'Please dont give in to the pressure of the acting industry. Youre beautiful just the way you are. Age gracefully. There is no need for all this. You can be the voice for those that want to embrace their natural selves,' the commenter wrote. The comedian seemed touched by the words and replied saying, 'thank you I will try!' Outspoken: The star has always been open about weight and body image issues. Pictured attending Deadline Contenders Film in New York on December 4, 2021 Schumer is no stranger to the pressures of Hollywood and the star has always been outspoken about weight and body image issues. In 2016 she opened up to PEOPLE about an incident that happened as she was preparing to film her movie Trainwreck. The actress revealed that she was told: 'If you weigh over 140 pounds as a woman in Hollywood, if youre on the screen it will hurt peoples eyes.' Schumer said she gave in to the pressure and lost weight for the film, but vowed never to do it again. 'I lost some weight to do that but never again,' she said. Advertisement Jason Oppenheim has listed his stunning Hollywood Hills mansion, overlooking his brokerage office on the Sunset Strip, for $7.9 million this week, just days after his shock split from Chrishell Stause. The President and founder of The Oppenheim Group, 44, who stars on Netflix's hit reality show Selling Sunset, is offloading the 5,000-square-foot pad, which has a pool with fire pit in middle, massage room, a sauna and floor-to-ceiling windows. Other amenities include a built-in BBQ, a TV viewing area, a luxury home bar, massive walk-in closets and 13-foot ceilings, according to TMZ. Fresh on the market: Jason Oppenheim has listed his stunning Hollywood Hills mansion, overlooking his brokerage office on the Sunset Strip, for $7.9 million this week, just days after his shock split from Chrishell Stause after five months of dating; seen in 2021 He has a massive real estate portfolio of homes in Newport Beach, three rental properties in the Hollywood Hills and more throughout Los Angeles. Oppenheim has an estimated net worth of $50 million, which comes from his career as a real estate broker and attorney. The Opppeneim Group, cofounded by him and his identical twin brother Brett, has closed more than $1 billion in sales over the years and has over $100 million in active listings,' according to The Sun. The President and founder of The Oppenheim Group, 44, who stars on Netflix's hit reality show Selling Sunset, is offloading the 5,000-square-foot pad, which has a pool, massage room, a sauna and floor-to-ceiling windows Stunning: Other amenities include a built-in BBQ, a TV viewing area, a luxury home bar and 13-foot ceilings, according to TMZ Moving: The listing comes just a month after he bought a $5.1 million mansion in Los Angeles Incredible views: The property overlooks the Sunset Strip Lots of space: Oppenheim's one-of-a-kind property features a massive walk-in closet His latest listing comes after recently purchasing a $5.125 million estate in the Hollywood Hills and days after he and Chrishell Stause announced their decision to part ways, after going public with their romance months ago. In an Instagram statement posted on Tuesday, Chrishell attributed the split to 'our ideas of family ultimately not being aligned,' pointing out: 'Men have the luxury of time that women don't and that's just the way it goes.' 'I have tried to embrace the world I have found myself in and that includes being open and honest about my relationship,' her statement began. His own little spa: Among the many amenities is a private sauna Staying busy: He has a massive real estate portfolio of homes in Newport Beach, three rental properties in the Hollywood Hills and more throughout Los Angeles Very impressive: Oppenheim has an estimated net worth of $50 million, which comes from his career as a real estate broker and attorney Doign well: The Opppeneim Group, cofounded by him and his identical twin brother Brett, has closed more than $1 billion in sales over the years and has over $100 million in active listings,' according to The Sun Turning things around: His latest listing comes after recently purchasing a $5.125 million estate in the Hollywood Hills and days after he and Chrishell Stause announced their decision to part ways, after going public with their romance months ago So sad: In an Instagram statement posted on Tuesday, Chrishell attributed the split to 'our ideas of family ultimately not being aligned,' pointing out: 'Men have the luxury of time that women don't and that's just the way it goes' 'I have tried to embrace the world I have found myself in and that includes being open and honest about my relationship,' her statement began 'It felt scary and terrifying knowing that it may not end in what society deems a success and what I am ultimately looking for. But after many long heartfelt talks, I am choosing to see it as a success no matter what label is attached to it publicly.' She continued. 'Jason was and is my best friend, and other than our ideas for family ultimately not being aligned, the amount of respect and love we have for each other will not change going forward.' Chrishell, who was once married to This Is Us beefcake Justin Hartley, added: 'Men have the luxury of time that women don't and that's just the way it goes. All of that being said, navigating this public terrain is difficult and I am just trying my best.' Still friendly: She continued. 'Jason was and is my best friend, and other than our ideas for family ultimately not being aligned, the amount of respect and love we have for each other will not change going forward' No hard feelings: Chrishell, who was once married to This Is Us beefcake Justin Hartley, added: 'Men have the luxury of time that women don't and that's just the way it goes. All of that being said, navigating this public terrain is difficult and I am just trying my best' Doing her best: The reality star noted: 'No one would rather only speak about work related things more than me. But I understand this comes with it and I will always love and be extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given 'Although my initial reaction to a private situation was to not speak on it, sometimes it's easier to just live transparently because we only get one chance at this life. I very much hope to one day have a family and decisions I make at this point are with that goal in mind. Thank you for the kindness and support to those that understand' Devastating: She concluded: 'And thank you Jason for the most incredible relationship and for consistently being honest with me even when it hurts' The reality star noted: 'No one would rather only speak about work related things more than me. But I understand this comes with it and I will always love and be extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given. 'Although my initial reaction to a private situation was to not speak on it, sometimes it's easier to just live transparently because we only get one chance at this life. I very much hope to one day have a family and decisions I make at this point are with that goal in mind. Thank you for the kindness and support to those that understand.' She concluded: 'And thank you Jason for the most incredible relationship and for consistently being honest with me even when it hurts.' Only love: Her remarks came on the heels of an equally warm statement by Jason who called her 'the most amazing girlfriend I've ever had' and said their romance was 'the happiest and most fulfilling relationship of my life' Honest: Jason took the same line as Chrishell about why they broke up, saying that their 'different wants regarding a family' were to blame No hard feelings: Her remarks came on the heels of an equally warm statement by Jason who called her 'the most amazing girlfriend I've ever had' and said their romance was 'the happiest and most fulfilling relationship of my life' Sweet: He gushed: 'Chrishell is an exceptional human being and loving her and having her in my life is one of the best things that has ever happened to me' Famous exes: Jason previously dated Netflix's Selling Sunset Mary Fitzgerald for about a year Looking for love: In addition to Jason, since splitting from her ex-husband, she started dating Keo Motsepe, who she met during her stint on Dancing with the Stars last year Her remarks came on the heels of an equally warm statement by Jason who called her 'the most amazing girlfriend I've ever had' and said their romance was 'the happiest and most fulfilling relationship of my life.' Jason took the same line as Chrishell about why they broke up, saying that their 'different wants regarding a family' were to blame. He gushed: 'Chrishell is an exceptional human being and loving her and having her in my life is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.' Australian radio broadcaster Paul B Kidd has died aged 76. Paul previously battled cancer and has had heart issues including suffering a cardiac episode in 2018. However, the exact cause of death has not been made public. Tragic: Australian radio star and author Paul B Kidd (pictured) has died aged 76 The radio personality hosted 2UE's morning breakfast show alongside George Moore from 2001 to 2020. He then co-hosted Weekends with John and Paul with co-host John Stanley on 2GB. Paul has also published books on high-profile murders around Australia including Australia's Serial Killers and Never to be Released. Health: Paul previously battled cancer and has had heart issues including suffering a cardiac episode in 2018. Pictured Paul and John Stanley During 2GB's breakfast show on Monday, John told listeners: 'Yesterday Paul passed away. He has had many many health issues but I think the way you could put it is his big heart just gave out yesterday afternoon.' 'He was a larger than life character, I had the joy of working with him the last couple of years.' 2GB reporter Clinton Maynard also shared a tribute to Paul on Twitter following the tragic news. Tribute: 2GB reporter Clinton Maynard and producer Spiro Christopoulos shared tributes to Paul on Twitter following the tragic news 'Very sad news, legendary broadcaster & friend Paul B. Kidd has passed away,' he wrote. 'One of the most successful radio broadcasters of the last 20 years. You will be missed mate.' 2GB producer Spiro Christopoulos also paid tribute to the radio star, writing: 'Sad news today that legendary radio host and crime writer Paul B Kidd has passed away.' 'Very talented and all rounded broadcaster. @stanley_radio paying tribute to the great man this morning on @2GB873 Breakfast.' Tributes were paid to BBC radio presenter Janice Long last night after she died on Christmas Day following a short illness. The 66-year-old, who was the first woman to regularly present Top of the Pops, enjoyed a 40-year career in broadcasting, hosting shows on television and radio. Brought up in Liverpool, Miss Long the older sister of late childrens television presenter Keith Chegwin started out as a radio assistant on BBC Radio Merseyside in 1979. She went on to work at the BBCs flagship stations including Radio 1, where she was also the first woman to have her own regular daily show. She championed future stars including The Smiths, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Primal Scream, Adele and Amy Winehouse and was one of the main presenters of the Live Aid charity concert in 1985. Trailblazer: Tributes were paid to BBC radio presenter Janice Long last night after she died on Christmas Day following a short illness. Pictured: Long presenting Top of the Pops Musician Midge Ure said on Twitter: Dreadful news. Janice stood with us on the pitch at Wembley Stadium as we announced Live Aid. A broadcast legend and absolute music lover. Frankie Goes To Hollywood said she was the first broadcaster to interview them on the radio and to play the demo of their hit Relax, adding: Always had our back. Condolences to her family and loved ones. Miss Longs agent Nigel Forsyth said in a statement that the married mother of-two died at home on Christmas Day. Janice was a wonderful, warm human being and exceptional broadcaster, he said. She told a brilliant story and always made you roar with laughter with her sharp wit. She will leave behind her husband Paul and two children, whom she thought the world of. Janice wanted it known she was so thankful to the NHS and all who looked after her there, he added. Miss Long most recently worked at BBC Radio Wales, where she had hosted her own evening show since 2017. Broadcast family: Long pictured with her brother Keith Chegwin, who was also involved in radio as well as television presenting and acting BBC director-general Tim Davie said the stellar presenter was loved and respected across the industry. He added: Her passing is a huge loss to music, broadcasting and the BBC. Mr Davie, Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley and presenter Carol Vorderman described her as a trailblazer for women in broadcasting. During her career she was also a patron of Sir Paul McCartneys fame school in her home city, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and a judge of the Mercury Music Awards. Liverpudlian Pete Wylie of the Mighty Wah! said: The best friend a boy could have - 40 years! We said our goodbyes on Thursday but shell never be far from here. An absolute pro, dedicated to the music she loved and championed, but smart, kind, funny, generous. I love you mate. Friends forever. Long career: During a 40-year career, Long hosted shows across flagship BBC stations including Radio 1, as well as the breakfast show on Greater London Radio and XFM. Pictured in 1985 Ian McCulloch, of Liverpool band Echo and the Bunnymen, described her as a Liverpool legend and dear friend. He added: I am so sad to hear the devastating news of her passing. Comedian Les Dennis said he would miss our chats, adding that Miss Long was a shining and innovative talent. Tim Burgess, from band The Charlatans, praised her support of fledgling bands, describing her as a mentor. He added: To hear our records on her show was always the biggest thrill her enthusiasm and love shone through. One of a kind. Safe travels, well miss ya. Merseyside band The Coral said: She was great to us and like the best broadcasters, talking to her was always easy, like catching up with a friend. RIP Janice. Peter Hook, of Joy Division and New Order, also paid tribute, saying she was always a great friend and a great supporter of our music... she was a lovely lady and a pleasure to be around. Dancehall megastar Shaggy made history yet again, taking Jamaican culture to the Vatican City for Christmas Eve, where he was the only solo act from the Western Hemisphere to headline the 29th edition of the Christmas Concert 2021. In addition to being a headline act, Shaggy also met the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis ahead of his performance, perhaps the first Dancehall/Reggae act to do so, as Jamaican artists have always been vitriolic against The Vatican ever since the late Lee Scratch Perry labeled it The City of Iniquity in his six-minute long song, Baffling Smoke Signals back in 1978. The Church Heathen singer took to Instagram to share photos and video snippets from the event which was sponsored by the Congregation for Catholic Education. Merry Christmas everyone! I recently had the pleasure for playing a Christmas charity concert for the Vatican in Rome it was an awesome experience, we brought a little of the Jamaican culture to the Vatican and at the same time raised funds for a good cause #Haiti and #LEbanion. Here are some highlights, hope you enjoy, Shaggy noted. See more The Vatican Christmas Concert 2021, was recorded on the Thursday evening of December 16, at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome, and was aired on Christmas Eve on the Italian national broadcaster Canale 5, in prime time and was also streamed on the Mediaset Infinity platform. The concert had the accompaniment of the Italian Cinema Orchestra led by master Adriano Pennino. Shaggy had posted photos of scenes of Rome on December 15 to announce his arrival in Italy which he captioned: Roma!! According to itali24news.com, the first edition of the Christmas Concert was held in 1993 in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican and was aimed at highlighting the project of the called Vicariate of Rome 50 churches for Rome 2000, and as a means of fundraising for its realization. The publication said that the artists involved in the Christmas Concert 2021 would be helping with various charity and solidarity projects coordinated by the foundations promoting the concert, or the Fondazione Schools Meeting e Don Bosco Missions. Among the projects that will be financed thanks to the 2021 Christmas Concert there will be that of Scholas Pontifical Foundation Meeting which will provide help for the socio-emotional development of children and adolescents Haiti. Specifically, an educational space will be created for Port-au-Prince children between the ages of 6 and 9 and an educational process for adolescents aged 12 to 16, it noted. Over in Lebanon, it noted the Don Bosco Onlus Missions in Lebanon the Salesians who manage the Don Bosco Youth Center will take care of various activities and spaces to guarantee high quality technical and professional education and training. According to the Vatican News, the Pope had greeted the artists and thanked them for the support of the fundraiser. Among the other non-Italian performers were 2Cellos of Croatia, Anggun of Indonesia, Emma Muscat of Malta and the Virginia Union Gospel Choir of the United States. According to Vatican News, Pope Francis had told the artists that they were using their talents to spread the tenderness, joy, and hope of Christmas. He also declared that there were other pandemics which prevent the spread of the culture of dialogue and inclusion. Your music and singing, will help to open hearts so those who suffer will not be forgotten which brings joy to so many families who wish to give their children a future through education, the Pope is quoted as saying. In the grotto of Bethlehem, hope for humanity was kindled, said the Pope. But he added that the pandemic has unfortunately worsened the educational gap for millions of children and adolescents excluded from all educational activities, the pontiff added. See more Jamaicas Rastafarian Reggae and Dancehall artists have been long known to devote many of their songs to the castigation of all things having to do with the Vatican and the Papacy. In Dancehall, the Original Fireman Anthony Bs breakout his was Fire Pon Rome, released in 1996, where he denounced Pope Paul for his scissors and comb while declaring that Mount Zion a di righteous throne. Again in the Dancehall, Capleton has also had his share of lashing for all things papal with his 1994 hit Chalice, where he called all Rastafari Mansions to use their worship rituals to collapse the Vatican, Rome and the Pope and even Queen Elizabeth II and obliterate the Ku Klux Klan. Capleton instructed Orthodox Rastafarians to light up di chalice meck wi bun dung Rome; Nyahbingi to chant the Nyahbinghi mek wi chant dung Rome and the 12 Tribes of Israel to shake the shaker mek wi shake dung Rome. For the Bobo Ashanti Mansion, Capleton urged them to beat the kette drum and meck wi beat dung Rome. Lee Scratch Perry had set the fire ablazing in 1978, with Baffling Smoke Signals, which he recorded following the controversial election of Pope John Paul II after the mysterious and sudden death of Pope John Paul I, whose 33-day reign, was the shortest in papal history. According to reports, conspiracy theories had spread like wildfire, over the cause of John Paul Is death, which occurred on September 8, 1978. The Upsetters song, was among other things, a commentary on the billows of black smoke which spiralled from the Vatican chimneys, as the upper echelons of the Catholic Church deliberated about who would be the new Pope. Black smoke was an indication that there was a stalemate on who was to be the new Pope. The smoke, according to the Hanover native in the song, was a representation of Black and Rastafari reigning supreme as Jah would never give power to a bald head man. Perry also produced Max Romeos Fire fi the Vatican, which took aim at the Pope, noting fire for the Vatican, blood for the Pope-man. Trinitys Pope Paul Dead and Gone extolled the virtues of Jah while celebrating the fact that Pope Pauls throne gone dung, while Big Youth in Pope in Pope Paul Feel It, also castigated the Pope. In 1981, Toyan had also joined the Vatican-bashing clique with Pope in a di Corner, pointing out that he would lick dem wid di Macka Bible to show them that he was, among other things, Jah-Jah disciple. Popular political activist and journalist Chintapandu Naveen Kumar alias Teenmaar Mallanna joined BJP in New Delhi earlier this month. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: A war of words broke between Telangana Rashtra Samithi and BJP after Chintapandu Naveen Kumar, popularly known as 'Teenmar Mallanna' who recently joined the saffron party, allegedly posted derogatory comments on Minister K T Rama Rao's son in the social media. Irked TRS sympathizers allegedly attacked the office of Naveen Kumar, who runs a youtube channel, on Friday night and ransacked it. The videos of the attack went viral in the social media. When contacted, Malkajgiri Assistant Commissioner of Police on Sunday said they have received a complaint from Naveen Kumar and the case is under investigation. "We are looking to identify the alleged attackers," the ACP told PTI. Condemning the attack, the BJP Nizamabad Lok sabha member said it was a cowardly act. "I condemn the cowardly attack on @TeenmarMallanna by hooligans of TRS party. Every attack on BJP and its cadre is a desperate evidence of the growing fear among CM KCR and his son KTR, of losing power. Telangana police must act and unveil the perpetrators behind this attack," he tweeted. Earlier K T Rama Rao slammed for dragging children into political issues and indulging in "body shaming". "Sri @JPNadda Ji, Is this what you teach BJP leaders in Telangana? Is it Sanskar to drag my young son & body shame him through ugly political comments in BJP's mouthpiece? You don't think we could reciprocate in the same coin against Amit Shah Ji's or Modi Ji's family?, he tweeted on December 24. In another tweet he said unfortunately freedom of speech/expression has become the right to abuse and indulge in mudslinging and masquerading in the guise of social media journalism, apparently conferring immunity to spread canards and dish out "absolute trash". "Social media has become a haven for anti-social behavior," he tweeted. The first Omicron case in Prakasam district has been detected at Ongole. Living in South Africa for the past 17 years, the person had arrived in Hyderabad after attending the wedding of his brothers daughter in Dubai. His RT PCR was done on December 19 and the sample was sent to CCMB in Hyderabad on December 20 after it tested Covid positive. The report that the person had contracted Omicron came on Saturday. Prakasam district medical and health officer (DMHO) Dr. P. Rathnavali said they have shifted the Omicron-infected man and five others, including his parents and brother, to the isolation ward in a government hospital. RT PCR test has been carried out on all contacts of the Omicron patient on Sunday. All of them, including the Omicron-confirmed person, are doing well, the DMHO told this correspondent. Dr. Rathnavali said as a precautionary measure they are also conducting RT PCR tests on all residents of the apartment building in which the infected person had been staying. Civic body authorities have sanitised the entire building. The DMHO regretted that people are still being negligent in wearing their masks. Authorities have thus decided to impose fines on those not wearing masks. She asked people not only to don their masks but also to ensure that they have taken both their doses, maintain physical distance and avoid mass gatherings. In the backdrop of the first Omicron case detected, district administration is gearing up for the implementation of IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities for the next five days. The IEC programme is meant to educate the people on Covid appropriate behaviour and a training programme has been planned for field staff of different departments on December 27 and 28. It will be followed by rallies, health awareness activities from December 29 to 31. In a communication to all departments, joint collector (development) T.S. Chetan said, "there is a need to interrupt transmission of Covid and strengthening of IEC activities for the promotion of Covid appropriate behaviour in entire Prakasam district". The departments involved in the campaign to contain the spread of Covid, especially the Omicron variant, are panchayat raj, municipal corporation, endowments, minority welfare, DRDA, MEPMA, women and child welfare, medical and health and education department. Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday said it has initiated the preparatory work to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 15 to 18 years. The statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that COVID-19 vaccination for those in the age group of 15-18 years will start from January 3, 2022. After inspecting the 16th Mega vaccination camp underway in over 50,000 camps across the state, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian noted that there are 33.20 lakh kids aged 15 to 18 years in Tamil Nadu. "The vaccination for these children will commence in January 3 and they will be administered doses at schools and also by holding special camps," he told reporters. Referring to the booster dose of vaccine to front-line workers as announced by the Centre, Subramanian said there are 1.40 crore such workers who would receive the jab on January 10. Meanwhile, the Minister said over 100 people who came in contact with the 22 active Omicron cases in the state were detected with symptoms of the new variant of coronavirus and they were placed under 'isolation'. "All them are doing well", he said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister M K Stalin inspected the wards that have been set up at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to treat patients infected by Omicron strain, official sources said. On TN's COVID vaccination coverage, the Health Minister said the department has inoculated 8.14 crore people of which 84.87 per cent comprise first dose while 55.85 per cent second. "At the national level the 88.59 per cent of population have received the first dose of vaccination," he said. Vaccination commenced across the country on January 16. Appealing to the members of the public to wear a face mask and follow Covid-19 safety norms while in public, Subramanian said those who violate the protocols were 'penalised'. "Such a situation should change and people should adhere to the government laid standard operating procedures," he added. Kochi: Christmas day celebrations on Saturday night by migrant labourers from the north east part of India at Kizhakkambalam area of Ernakulam district turned violent, leading to several policemen being brutally assaulted and two police jeeps badly damaged, with one set on fire, a senior company official said. In the subsequent police action, around 150 workers, who are employees of Kitex and residing in a housing camp built for them by the company, were taken into custody in connection with the incident. Some police personnel were hospitalised, police said, without giving the exact number. "The workers had brutally assaulted the police officers, including a Circle Inspector, who had reached the spot to resolve the arguments between two groups of labourers on Saturday night," the company's Managing Director Sabu Jacob told the media over phone. He said that initially the camp security and the supervisors tried to intervene and resolve the issue, but they too were assaulted and thereafter, the police was called. However, when the police arrived, the "uncontrollable" workers brutally attacked the officers, who were forced to retreat to safety, leaving their vehicles behind. The two vehicles were then damaged by some of the workers and one of them was also set on fire. Jacob said that there was no criminal intent behind what happened and claimed that drugs were brought into the camp and some of the workers were probably under its influence, leading to them becoming "uncontrollable". He said his company would cooperate with the investigation. Police said that the injured has been shifted to hospital. (Photo: PTI/Representational/File) Hyderabad: A Sub Inspector working for CRPF was killed on Sunday after his colleague, a head constable in the force, opened fire at him at Venkatapuram village in Mulugu District, about 285 Km from here, a senior police official said. "This happened in the CRPF camp where one head constable fired upon an SI of CRPF. The SI died and the head constable is critical as he fired on himself. He tried to kill himself. The injured has been shifted to hospital," Mulugu Superintendent of Police, Sangram Singh told PTI. The official further said the deceased was identified as Umesh Chandra and injured, Stephen. Investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the incident. BJP state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar called upon Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists to protest against the TRS for welcoming Farrooqui. (DC Image) Hyderabad: BJP state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar said on Saturday that the party will stop the entry of stand-up comedian Munawar Farooqui into Hyderabad. The comedian expected to perform a show in the city on January 9 on the back of an assurance of support by minister K.T. Rama Rao. Dubbing ministers and TRS leaders as atheists, Sanjay said they had scant regard for Hindu gods and beliefs. He urged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who does yagas and builds temples, to prevent Rama Rao from interfering with Hindu sentiments. He called upon Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists to protest against the TRS for welcoming Farrooqui. The comedian who had been jailed for over 50 days and has had his shows cancelled in several states had recently performed in Mumbai. Addressing the BJYM activists on the former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee birthday, Sanjay said every activist of the party should work for realising the dream of bangaru Telangana and free it from the family rule. He said Vajpayee and senior party leader L.K. Advani carried out their political agenda by simply believing in the party's objectives and made the BJP a powerful party. Earlier, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy recalled the services rendered by Vajpayee and said he was fortunate to have personally served him whenever the former prime minister visited Hyderabad. With clarity of political thought and commitment, Vajpayee carved out a place for himself in Indian politics, he said. Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh said the show of Farooqui will disturb the peace and such shows should not be allowed which divide the chasm between religious communities. It is that time of the year. A time when we reflect on the year gone by and on our hopes for the year that lies ahead. The media is full of visuals and vignettes that seek to reflect our memories and aspirations. Indians mark the beginning of a new year on different days of the international calendar, depending on ones faith and region. However, the turn of the calendar page from December to January remains a shared moment the world over for reflection and renewal. It is with such thoughts on my mind that I browsed through the unread books on my bookshelf and picked Pico Iyers The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (2014) for year-end reading. Going Nowhere was an apt title for a year of Covid-19s resurgence and the spread of Omicron. Iyer is no ordinary travel writer. Even so, I was intrigued by the title of this volume. Readers of Iyer have always had the good fortune of travelling with him, sharing his marvellous memories of the different worlds he has had the opportunity to inhabit and visit. Siddharth Raghavan Pico Iyer was born to a Tamil father and a Gujarati mother in Britain, grew up in California, married a Japanese woman and has travelled the world. This book is not about a journey across space but over time. About a journey within. Journeys defined not by our restlessness to travel but by our need to reflect. These Covid years have indeed been about travelling into our own lives, as we witnessed Murphys Law operating in full force on so many fronts. Things that could go wrong were indeed going wrong. So many loved ones departing. So much violence in society. So many livelihoods lost. The complete absence of any inspirational figure anywhere in the world, save a Dalai Lama or, indeed, a Pico Iyer. The Art of Stillness was, therefore, the right book to read. The idea behind going nowhere, of choosing to sit still long enough to turn inward, as Iyer puts it, is an ancient one. It has been known for ages as meditation. Meditation and stillness imply silence. For centuries many have gone far in search of silence. To meditate, to reflect, to rejuvenate. A couple of years back Prime Minister Narendra Modi went into a cave in the Himalayas to meditate, taking a photographer with him to record his moments of silence, making much of a muchness. Iyer reminds us that one need not travel in order to escape from the daily din of human existence. Meditation can be done here and now, as we close our eyes and travel into ourselves. From employees at Google Inc to members of the United States House of Representatives, notes Iyer, everyone is discovering the value of meditation, of stillness. Iyer reminds us of scientific studies that show that meditation can lower blood pressure, help boost our immune system, even change the architecture of our brain. The World Health Organisation has recognised meditation as a way of destressing noting that stress will be the health epidemic of the twenty-first century. Google has a chief evangelist who, Iyer notes, is a bright-eyed, visibly spirited young soul from India; who, among other things, runs a programme called Search Inside Yourself. A useful reminder for all those googling to search the World Wide Web. The programme has demonstrated the quantifiable, scientific evidence that meditation could lead not just to clearer thinking and better health but to emotional intelligence. As I closed the book and reflected on the here and now, I wondered if the Winter Session of Indias Parliament could have been a more productive one if all its 500-plus members had sat in silence for half our on each Monday morning during the session period, in meditation. Indeed, it would be a good idea for the respective speakers or presiding officers of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the state legislatures to take the initiative and declare half an hour of mediation each week that their House is in session, with all members from across treasury and Opposition benches sitting in silence. This moment of self-reflection, quiet contemplation and mental rejuvenation would help improve not just their emotional intelligence and legislative performance but also make them better human beings. These thoughts were reinforced by the horror of the news reports in the week leading up to Christmas Day of hate speeches in Haridwar and a Nazi-like gathering of saffron clad hate-mongers in New Delhi, raising their hand in a Hitlerite salute and vowing to kill members of another community. Will we have fewer bigots across all religions preaching hate if all of us journeyed into ourselves through silence, stillness and meditation, in search of our conscience and peace of mind? Meditation in silence is, after all, an idea that has inspired the greatest of sages of all lofty religions, especially Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The Bhagvada Gita advocates Dhyana Yoga, the yoga of meditation, as a means of purifying ones mind and elevating ones spiritual consciousness. Imagine if all those gathered in that brightly lit hall in New Delhi or in Haridwar, who swore to kill for their religion sat down and meditated for half hour, in silence, in stillness, with eyes closed and their mind focused inward. Would they have behaved differently? Iyer quotes artist Bill Viola to say that its the man who steps away from the world whose sleeve is wet with tears for it. Sitting still in meditative silence is not just good for the heart and the mind, but equally for our social well-being. It kills all hate within. This is a learning from our most ancient teachings that is most relevant to these troubled times when a virus is taking many forms, including social and political, seeking not just to debilitate individuals but entire nations. As we enter 2022, there is much that we must all reflect on. The year that comes to an end has seen much suffering and the spewing of hate across the world. Can we hope for a more peaceful year ahead? The Andhra Pradesh government order (GO-35) has virtually had cinema theatres drop like nine pins. On Saturday, the management at V-epiq, India's largest and Asia's second largest movie theatre, voluntarily downed shutters. The management has stated that they will not even be able to defray operational expenses if they run the show under the provisions of the state government's GO-35. The state-of-the-art sprawling movie theatre is spread over 7.5 acres on the outskirts of Sullurpeta town in Nellore district. As per the government order, the theatre is categorised under 'C' class, and can price its tickets at Rs 30, Rs 20, and Rs 10, respectively. UV Creations had set up the theatre which boasts of a 105-foot wide, and 54-foot high screen, with 3D surround sound system, and seating capacity of 670 people. The theatre complex also has two more screens, and seating for 170 persons. Prior to implementation of the GO, the tickets for the top two seating classes were priced at Rs 100 and Rs 200. In all, as many as 125 movie theatres, mostly located in village panchayat limits, had shut shop by Saturday, citing inability to operate profitably under the rules of the GO which has fixed theatre ticket prices based on their locations, as A, B, and C centres. The movie sector in Andhra Pradesh has been in ferment ever since the state government headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy brought in the GO. As much as 15 per cent of the state's 985 movie theatres have stopped screening movies, so far. Meanwhile, the authorities have been swooping down on theatres to check for violations. Several theatres' managements have been penalised with fines and some have been forced to cease operations for non-renewal of licenses or non-fulfillment of statutory obligations. The current crisis has its roots in April this year, when the state government ushered in the GO-35. The GO coincided with the release of Pawan Kalyan movie 'Vakeel Saab' raising suspicions on the intent behind the government's move. As per the order, ticket prices have been capped at Rs 40, Rs 60, and Rs 100 in municipal corporation limits. Similarly, highest price is capped at Rs 70, Rs 50, and Rs 30, in municipal limits. The highest price is pegged at Rs 20 and lowest at Rs 10 for gram panchayats. The controversial GO was suspended following an interim order by a single-judge bench of the AP High Court on December 14. However the state government appealed against the suspension following which the court said that theatre owners can make applications on ticket price revision proposals to the respective district joint collectors who would decide on the ticket prices. A state-level committee is also to be set up for this. Industry insiders say it is practically difficult to get the prices revised. The state government has all along been claiming that it has initiated the regulation process at the instance of the Telugu film industry. Understandably, the issue has become political fodder, with the opposition parties like Telugu Desam, Jana Sena, and even the BJP attacking the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh. While a few film stars have expressed their displeasure over 'unreasonable' capping of film ticket rates, it is exhibitors, distributors, and movie theatre owners who are feeling the pinch. Based out of Andhra Pradesh, unlike the actors and Tollywood industry big guns who operate out of Hyderabad in neighbouring Telangana, AP movie theatre operators feel vulnerable and refuse to open up on record. However, they feel that they are just collateral damage in a high-stakes political war that is happening behind the scenes. The ruling YSRCP is ranged against two 'filmi' parties - the TDP that was set up by famed thespian N.T. Rama Rao, while his son and popular actor Balakrishna is a TDP MLA and strong backer of party supremo Chandrababu Naidu. The Jana Sena Party founder Pawan Kalyan is one of Telugu filmdom's biggest stars. Industry insiders claim the GO-35 is the YSRCP party supremo's plan to pull the rug from under the opposition parties' feet. For now, the Telugu movie industry, one of the largest in India, is staring at a blank screen. Ironically, the neighbouring state of Telangana had only on Saturday announced a hike in movie ticket prices. Truly a tale of two states...and one film industry! Watch the latest DH videos here: The perfect storm in the cost-intensive tea industry is expected to spill over into 2022, as concerns over rising tea prices as well as subdued export demand continue to hurt producers. Tea production is a high-cost business, with 60-65 per cent of the input costs going into labour wages. The rest goes for coal, gas, fertiliser, and other machinery. The rise in tea costs was led by the pandemic-led disruptions in the plucking activities, initially. The leaves mature if they are left on the shrubs for too long, leading to deterioration in the quality of tea. Later, floods in some key tea growing regions of Assam and West Bengal also damaged crops and reduced yields. These two states produce the major share of the beverage in the country, almost 75 per cent of the total. Also Read Slump in tea prices may hurt India's overall industry: Tea Association Then came the wage hike by both the state governments, just before the Assembly polls in the tea-growing states. Votes of tea labourers, who are sizable in numbers, play a crucial role in many pockets of these two states. Assam raised daily wages by Rs 50, to Rs 202, while West Bengal raised it by Rs 26, also to Rs 202. However, production loss and rising input costs are just one side of the coin. Importantly, the export demand for Indian tea also dampened as consumption of the commodity had tanked sharply amid the pandemic globally. As per the latest data available on the Tea Board of India's website, Indian tea exports during January-September fell 10 per cent to 138 million kilogrammes. The data for October and November is yet to be published. Outlook for exports is still dim with the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, tea producers said. "Outlook for tea exports is not very optimistic. Increased cost of production for crush tear and curl tea, as compared to African prices, are hurting the Indian market. African producers are making inroads in those markets, including Iran, where Indian tea was earlier dominant," said Anshuman Kanoria, Chairman of Indian Tea Exporters' Association and also an owner of tea estates in Darjeeling. Also Read Assam specialty tea auctioned for record Rs 99,999 per kg Besides, higher freight rates also add worries for the exporters, Kanoria said. "Subdued out-of-home consumption of tea in the UK and Europe (two major export destinations) amid the resurgence in Covid caseload will dent our export prospects further," he said. Further, he said that the high percentage of absenteeism of tea workers from their daily work is delaying harvests, which, in turn, leads to deterioration in the crop quality. To streamline absenteeism, he said that daily wage should be linked with the productivity of the plantation workers. According to Dinesh Bihani, Secretary of Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association: "Recently, Sri Lanka has had an agreement with the Iran government where all the tea export dues will be cleared through the barter system. They (Sri Lanka) will purchase oil from Iran against the tea exported by them. This may affect the orthodox tea prices which are mostly exported from India." On the availability of tea in the daily auctions at the Centre, Bihani said the volume is negligible as the tea season is almost at its end. Tea season starts typically from early or mid-March till the onset of winter. On the export side, he also echoed the views espoused by Kanoria. Also Read Tea exports down by 14% in first seven months of 2021 "Tea sector faced serious challenges in 2021 -- lower crop, lower price and lower export. Low crop was due to inclement weather, low export due to Iran's payment issues, non-availability of containers, multi-fold increase in ocean freight," said Sujit Patra, Secretary at Indian Tea Association, the premier tea body founded in 1881. "Except good quality tea that fetched higher prices, other teas fetched lower prices. Darjeeling saw an unprecedented crisis, of low crop (yield) and abnormally low price," Patra said. "There will be lower carry forward stock in 2022. Hope that in the first few months, the price will remain firm." Besides, he suggested promotion exercises for tea in both domestic and overseas markets. India produces on an average of 1,380 million kilogrammes of tea annually, and is one of the top growers of the commodity. The country's tea sector employs around 1.2 million workers and contributes 23 per cent to the global output. Watch the latest DH Videos here: On the eve of his 56th birthday, Bollywood actor Salman Khan was bitten by a non-venomous snake at the family farmhouse in Panvel in Raigad district. Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Salman has been spending most of the time in the farmhouse Arpita Farms, videos of which have gone viral on social media platforms. Salman was bitten by the snake on Saturday and was immediately rushed to the MGM Hospital in Kamothe in Navi Mumbai. An anti-venom medicine was given to the actor and after a few hours of observation, the actor was told to go home. Salman would turn 56 on Monday and the family plans to have a get-together. Salman is doing fine. There is nothing to worry about, Salmans father and scriptwriter Salim Khan was quoted saying. He was kept under observation for a few hours and then discharged. He is cheerful, family sources said. Check out latest videos from DH: The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said Sunday it struck a Huthi rebel camp in the capital Sanaa, as it intensified an aerial bombing campaign against the Iran-backed insurgents. The coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Huthis in a civil war, said it destroyed weapons storehouses in the rebel-held capital, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). "The operation in Sanaa was an immediate response to an attempt to transfer weapons from Al-Tashrifat camp in Sanaa," it said in a statement, adding it "destroyed weapons warehouses". The coalition is scheduled to hold a news conference on Sunday at which it has said it will show evidence of involvement by Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in the Yemeni conflict. Saudi Arabia has long accused Iran of supplying the Huthis with sophisticated weapons and its Hezbollah proxy of training the insurgents, charges the Islamic republic denies. Yemen has been wracked by civil war since 2014 pitting the government against the Huthis who control much of the north. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, in what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The coalition launched a "large-scale" military operation against the Huthis on Saturday, the Saudi authorities said, after missiles fired by the rebels killed two people in the kingdom, the first such deaths in three years. Those air raids left dead three civilians, including a child and a woman, Yemeni medics told AFP. The coalition maintains its operations are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law, repeatedly urging the Huthis against using civilians as human shields. It said it will present during Sunday's news conference "evidence of involvement of Lebanon's terrorist Hezbollah in Yemen and use of (Sanaa) airport to target the kingdom", according to SPA. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, charged that the rebels were using Iranian weapons to target the kingdom, which likens the Huthis to a Hezbollah-like force in its backyard. "Using an Iranian weapon launched from Yemen, the Huthi militia killed two civilians... another criminal and terrorist act," he tweeted Saturday. The Huthi attack was also condemned by the French and US embassies in Saudi Arabia, as well as the kingdom's Gulf Arab allies. "Huthi attacks are perpetuating the conflict, prolonging the suffering of the Yemeni people, and endangering the Saudi people alongside more than 70,000 US citizens residing in Saudi Arabia," the US embassy said in a statement Saturday. French ambassador Ludovic Pouille took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of the victims of what he called the "barbaric Huthi attack". The coalition has intensified its air strikes on Sanaa, targeting earlier this week the airport, whose operations have largely ceased because of a Saudi-led blockade since August 2016, with exemptions for aid flights. The insurgents often launch missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia aimed at its airports and oil infrastructure. The UN estimates Yemen's war will have claimed 377,000 lives by the end of the year through both direct and indirect impacts. The UN's World Food Programme said it has been "forced" to cut aid to Yemen due to lack of funds, and warned of a surge in hunger in the country. More than 80 percent of Yemen's population of about 30 million requires humanitarian assistance. Check out latest videos from DH: Pope Francis on Saturday called for dialogue to counter the isolation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, as billions around the world marked a second Christmas under the shadow of the coronavirus. An explosion in cases driven by the rise of the Omicron variant has meant another Christmas season tainted by the pandemic, with longed-for family reunions overshadowed by the prospect of yet more Covid-19 restrictions. In his traditional Urbi and Orbi Christmas Day blessing, the pope told the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican that "our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried; there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and do things together. "On the international level, too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue," said the 85-year-old Argentine pontiff. Also Read | Silent night in a white Christmas market "Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all." In a time of pandemic, Pope Francis also asked God to "open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care -- and vaccines in particular -- are provided to those peoples who need them most". During the Christmas Eve mass, the pope had urged people to appreciate the little things in life. In south of the Philippines, Father Ricardo Virtudazo celebrated Christmas Day mass standing in a pool of water in his typhoon-hit church. He and dozens of devotees prayed for a better year after the storm killed nearly 400 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Also Read | Queen recalls 'familiar laugh missing' in Christmas speech "What's important is all of us are safe," said Joy Parera, 31, who attended the service with her husband on the island of Mindanao. Another survivor, Marites Sotis, said she would usually serve up meat, spring rolls and salad for Christmas, but her family was struggling after the storm felled most of their coconut trees. "We won't have those this year because they cost a lot of money," said the 53-year-old. "We'll make do with spaghetti." For the second year, surging infections have complicated holiday plans, from Sydney to Seville. The new coronavirus strain severely disrupted holiday travel, with tracking website Flightaware.com reporting that at least 5,700 flights had been cancelled worldwide over the long Christmas weekend, hundreds of them in the United States. Millions of Americans were nevertheless on the move to see loved ones for Christmas, even as Covid infections surpass the peak of the previous wave and hospitals run out of beds. In his first Christmas address as US president, Joe Biden commended Americans for their strength and resilience in the face of the raging pandemic, urging "hope and renewal" during the holiday season. Biden, a devout Catholic, said he prayed for "finding light in the darkness". In Europe, governments have been reimposing misery-inducing safety measures as Covid cases again shoot up. France notched up record Covid-19 cases for the third day in a row, for the first time since the start of the pandemic breaking the barrier of 100,000 infections in 24 hours. In Britain, which has also been hitting one record high after another in recent days, health staff in Santa hats gave people booster vaccine shots for Christmas. Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip in her Christmas Day message. "Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year especially, I understand why," said the Queen, who was married for 73 years. Portugal said Omicron had become the dominant strain of coronavirus in the southern European country. Christmas gatherings will nevertheless be easier than a year ago in many places around the world. Most Australians are allowed to travel interstate over the festive break for the first time in two years, with Sydney's Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher saying that Christmas was "a ray of light" in dark times. And Santa Claus was not deterred from doing his rounds, after showing proof of vaccination and a pre-flight negative Covid test, Ottawa's transport minister said. According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Santa-tracking website, Father Christmas had delivered 7.6 billion gifts during his 2021 sleigh ride around the world. Check out latest DH videos here The number of people who died in the massive floods in Malaysia has risen to 46, authorities said. Besides those confirmed dead, at least five other individuals have been reported missing, Xinhua news agency quoted Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani as saying. He also said 68 stretches of roads in Kelantan, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor were still closed due to the floods. The number of displaced persons due to flooding in Malaysia has dropped to some 37,526 in five states as of 10:00 p.m. local time (1930 IST) Saturday, according to data from the Malaysian social welfare department. The worst-hit state is Pahang along the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, with over 20,000 people being evacuated to flood relief centers, followed by Selangor state with over 16,000 evacuated. The country's meteorological department has warned of more rain and storms on Sunday in parts of Peninsula Malaysia and the northern Borneo state of Sabah. Check out latest DH videos here He started by exploring the sauna, built into the palatial bathroom of the hotels presidential suite. Then the video blogger moved to the dining room, where a chef waited with a glistening steak. The next morning, he awoke to a lobster breakfast, which he ate cross-legged in bed. Todays bill: 108,876 kuai, or more than $17,000, he said after checking out from the hotel in Chengdu, China, waving his receipt at the camera. I slept away the equivalent of multiple iPhones, he giggled. The video was tacky, sure. Ostentatious, definitely. Its also a violation of Chinese internet regulations. Chinese authorities have declared war on content deemed to be flaunting wealth, amid sweeping calls by Chinese President Xi Jinping to combat inequality. As Xi positions himself for a third term, he has cast himself as a man of the people, leading a campaign against entrenched interests. Also Read | 'Oh my God, buy it!': How livestream shopping works in China Financial regulators have cracked down on the countrys tech giants, extracting pledges of loyalty and hefty donations. Tycoons have been detained on corruption accusations. And online, authorities have ordered social media platforms to scrub the hugely popular videos that make clear the gap between the haves and have-nots. The hotel blogger amassed more than 28 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, by posting videos where he toured expensive hotels and sampled delicacies. But after being singled out by state media, he deleted those videos. His recent posts show him trying convenience store snacks. We will strengthen our management and increase the power of our crackdown, to make internet platforms feel there is a sword above their heads, Zhang Yongjun, a senior official at Chinas cyberspace administration, said this year. There is no clear definition of what constitutes flaunting or wealth. Although officials have laid out a few examples, such as showcasing receipts or over-ordering food, they have largely outlined a sort of I know it when I see it rule. The standard is the effect the content has, Zhang said. Can the spread of this content inspire people to be healthy, ambitious and work harder for a beautiful life? Or does it cater to peoples vulgar desires? Inequality in China is vast. One percent of Chinese own 31 per cent of the countrys wealth, according to Credit Suisse Research Institute. If unaddressed, the imbalance could pose a threat to authorities near-total control, which rests on a promise of economic comfort. Check out latest DH videos here More than 100 domestic flights in Japan were grounded on Sunday due to heavy snow in the northern and western parts of the country, Japan's two biggest airlines said. ANA Holdings had halted 77 flights as of 1 pm (0400 GMT), affecting about 5,100 passengers, said Yutaka Kitahara, the company's operations director. "As the weather situation in northeastern Japan remains unstable, there could be more cancellations to come," Kitahara said. Japan Airlines Co had cancelled 35 flights as of 10 am, affecting 1,810 passengers, a representative with the airline's operations division said. Worldwide, thousands of flights have been cancelled over the Christmas weekend because of the rapid spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Japan, which tightened border controls to counter the threat from Omicron, has reported only about a dozen cases of community spread of the new variant and 231 total Omicron infections, including overseas arrivals, according to the health ministry. Check out the latest videos from DH: A top military commander of the Taliban-led government has warned Pakistan against firing artillery towards Afghanistan, adding that Kabul was ready to respond if Islamabad did not stop, the media reported. Abu Dojana, commander of the 201 Khalid Bin Walid Corps, said that despite the Taliban seeking good ties with the neighbouring nations, its forces also have the military equipment to defend Afghanistan in case of any provocation, reports TOLO News. "This is precious soil. We have paid a large sacrifice for it. We want to be good neighbours but if they keep attacking our soil, we will certainly give them a response," he said. Also read: 40% of Afghan media outlets shut since Taliban takeover The commander's remarks come as residents of Kunar have claimed that Pakistan has been targeting several parts of the province for the past two weeks. At least one civilian was also injured in mortar shelling by the Pakistani military on the Chogam area of Shiltan district in Kunar, said the TOLO News report. Chogam area runs alongside the Durand Line that forms the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. "I was wounded by the mortar, a fragment hit my head. I was taken to Asadabad during the night. I was in the hospital for two days," TOLO News quoted Anwar Shah, the injured person, as saying. Some residents have also claimed of seeing Pakistani drones operating in the province. "We are being attacked by Pakistan. Everyone is in trouble, including children and women," said Salman, a resident of Shiltan district. Check out latest videos from DH: Dues of four major domestic airlines -- IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First and AirAsia India -- to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) more than doubled between January 2020 and October 2021, according to internal AAI documents. Air India, however, continues to be the domestic carrier with the highest amount of dues to the AAI. As per the documents, Air India's dues to the AAI have increased from Rs 2,183.71 crore as on January 1, 2020, to Rs 2,362.36 crore as on October 31, 2021. An airline has to pay various charges like air navigation, landing, parking etc to the AAI to use facilities at any of its more than 100 airports. Both Air India and the AAI work under the Civil Aviation Ministry. Also read: IndiGo signs codeshare pact with Air France-KLM The government had on October 8 announced that the Tata Group has won the bid to acquire Air India. The Centre is expected to hand over Air India to the Tatas in the first half of 2022. India has six major domestic carriers, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir, AirAsia India, Air India and Vistara, which owed the AAI a total of Rs 2,306.59 crore as on January 1, 2020, the AAI documents -- which has been accessed by PTI -- noted. The dues of these six major domestic carriers taken together increased by 14.29 per cent to Rs 2,636.34 crore by October 31, 2021, the documents added. Vistara and IndiGo have clarified that all their dues have been cleared, while SpiceJet said its dues are well within credit limits. India's largest carrier IndiGo owed Rs 80.69 crore as in October 2021, as against Rs 33.21 crore in January 2021, they mentioned. Asked about this, an IndiGo spokesperson told PTI: "As per our records, all outstanding to the AAI as on October 31, 2021, has been duly paid within the due date." SpiceJet's dues with the AAI increased from Rs 69.93 crore in January 2020 to Rs 146.75 crore as on October 2021, the AAI documents noted. However, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the total dues (of the airline) to AAI as on October 31, 2021 stood at Rs 122.69 crore. SpiceJet has provided a bank guarantee of over Rs 150 crore, and all outstanding are well within the credit limits, the spokesperson added. SpiceJet is making a daily payment of Rs 1.10 crore as per the payment plan agreed with AAI, the spokesperson said, adding, "The airline industry has been one of worst hit sectors due to the ongoing pandemic which led to accumulation of charges, while our revenues were down to negligible limits." Unlike in other countries, no relief or any waivers were offered by the government or the airport operator on their charges during the pandemic, the spokesperson said. "In fact, on the contrary, SpiceJet has huge claims of over Rs 170 crore against AAI with regard to wrongful levy of landing charges for Q400 aircraft, damages for accident and loss of aircraft at Jabalpur airport, and damages for accident at Surat airport," the spokesperson stated. Go First, which was previously known as GoAir, saw its dues to the AAI increase from Rs 15.62 crore in January 2020 to Rs 39.06 crore in October 2021, the AAI documents showed. AirAsia India's dues to the AAI increased from Rs 1.47 crore in January 2020 to Rs 3.58 crore in October 2021, the documents noted. Go First and AirAsia India did not respond to PTI's queries regarding the matter of the dues. Vistara's dues to the AAI increased from 2.65 crore in January 2020 to Rs 3.9 crore in October 2021, according to the documents. A Vistara spokesperson told PTI that the increase in dues is purely on account of increase in operations, with a growth in fleet size and number of passengers carried. When asked how Vistara plans to clear the dues to the AAI, the spokesperson added: "There are no dues outstanding with the AAI, Vistara is current with all airport dues." Check out latest videos from DH: Battling the Covid-19 crisis, handling the situation arising after attacks on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, ambush on security forces in Chhattisgarh and Manipur, among a host of other issues, kept the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) busy in 2021. Bringing in high-capacity cryogenic tankers from abroad to deal with oxygen shortage during the brutal second wave of the pandemic, tussle with the West Bengal government over political violence in the state and actively supporting the states that bore the brunt of natural disasters are some of the other key issues that the home ministry handled during the year. Like the previous year, in 2021 too, the MHA was the nodal authority for regulating the Covid-19 curtailment measures -- imposing restrictions where required and relaxing them when the situation improved. Every month, throughout the year, the Union Home Secretary issued pandemic guidelines to the states and Union Territories. Also Read MHA asks states and UTs for rigorous screening of international passengers Union Home Minister Amit Shah was instrumental in importing high-capacity cryogenic tankers from countries like Singapore and UAE, for transportation of oxygen from one part of India to the other, when the country was fighting the second wave amid oxygen shortage. Shah was also involved in assisting the states to handle the situation, including issuing directions to revive defunct oxygen plant for augmenting production of the essential public health commodity. The MHA was on tenterhooks when terrorists carried out multiple attacks on civilians and police in Jammu and Kashmir since October. Jammu and Kashmir, which has been on the edge since August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories, also saw a visit by Shah in October, amid the civilian killings. Killings of 22 security personnel in Chhattisgarh in April by naxals and a Colonel, his wife, son and four security personnel in Manipur on November 14 by the Naga insurgents also reminded everyone that the violence perpetrated by extremists continued unabated in some parts of the country. Also Read MHA creates taskforce to prevent suicides by Central Armed Police Forces troops A bitter feud began in May between the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and the Centre when the MHA had summoned the state's then chief secretary Alapan Bandyopdhayay to serve in the Central government after he remained absent at a review meeting on Cyclone Yaas chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. A tussle between the West Bengal government and the Centre was also witnessed in the run-up to the West Bengal assembly elections held in April-May over the political violence. The MHA and the home minister were also busy in dealing with the situation arising due to the clashes along the Assam-Mizoram border in July in which six Assam Police personnel were killed and 50 others, including the district SP, injured. Assam's Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164-kilometre-long border with Mizoram's three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit. Following a territorial dispute, there were clashes along the inter-state border in August 2020 and February this year before the massive flare-up in July. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra has been facing opposition onslaught ever since his son Ashish was allegedly involved in mowing down four protesting farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri in September. Even though the opposition disrupted the proceedings of both houses of Parliament during the just concluded winter session, Mishra continued to function normally, attending his North Block office regularly. Also Read TMC holds protest outside MHA against police action in Tripura Shah was also seen leading the government's strong defence in the wake of Pegasus snooping controversy. Hitting out at opposition Congress and international organisations, he denied government's involvement in surveillance of politicians, journalists and others, saying such "obstructors" and "disruptors" were only aiming to humiliate India on the world stage. Maintaining that such issues will not be able to derail India's development trajectory with their conspiracies, Shah said those who intend to derail India's progress were peddling the same old narratives about the country. Shah also questioned the timing of the "selective leaks" ahead of the Monsoon Session. "People have often associated this phrase with me in lighter vein but today, I want to seriously say - the timing of the selective leaks, the disruptionsAap chronology samajhiye! (you should understand the chronology)," he said. In the wake of a coup in Myanmar, many people, including police, from the neighbouring country, entered Mizoram to take shelter. This prompted the MHA to caution four northeastern states Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh bordering Myanmar against influx from the neighbouring country in view of the large-scale protests there and take appropriate actions according to law. Also Read Peace elusive in Jammu and Kashmir, 2021 leaves behind bouquets and brickbats India shares about 1,700-km-long porous border with Myanmar, where mass demonstrations are being held in protest against the declaration of a year-long emergency by the country's armed forces. For the first time since Independence, the MHA declared that August 14 will be observed as the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives during the country's partition. Before the MHA announcement, Prime Minister said that the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will be observed every year in the memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people as the pain of partition can never be forgotten. In a notification, the home ministry said people of India while celebrating 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' salute "those sons and daughters of the country who had to sacrifice their lives during the partition of India". Watch the latest DH Videos here: After facing criticism over his remarks on farm laws at an event, Narendra Singh Tomar Saturday clarified that the Centre will not reintroduce farm laws. Congress had charged the Narendra Modi government of conspiring to bring back the now-repealed contentious farm laws through backdoors after the Assembly elections to five states, citing Tomar's remarks that the government moved a "step back" and "will move forward again". Also read: Centre to bring farm laws back after Assembly polls: Congress Stating that he "did not say" the laws will be brought back in an amended form, the minister told reporters, "I had said that the government had made good (farm) laws. We took them back due to some reason but we will continue to work for the welfare of farmers." Speaking at an event in Nagpur, Tomar had said, "We brought agriculture amendment laws but some people did not like these laws which were a big reform brought about 70 years after Independence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership... But the government is not disappointed, we moved a step back and we will move forward again because farmers are India's backbone." The Farm Laws Repeal Act revoked the three farm laws which were passed by Parliament in September last year with an objective to bring reforms in the agriculture sector. These three farm laws were Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (With PTI inputs) The Assam government will soon launch an IT system having biometric details of suspected and declared foreigners illegally living in the state, which would also enable the law enforcement agencies to track the geographical location of illegal foreigners. The system, being prepared by Assam Police Border Organisation, seeks to replace the present manual process of tracking, identification and processing cases of illegal foreign nationals. This will also be used to notify officials for denial of government services to the declared foreigners. The system, according to officials, will address the problem the state police faces while tracking the declared foreigners or suspected foreigners for initiating action, including deportation to neighbouring Bangladesh. "Several illegal migrants from Bangladesh have been sent back since 2016 after their details were shared with the neighbouring country and their addresses verified. But it has been found that a large number of suspected foreigners have gone into hiding fearing similar action. So the online system will definitely help us tackle this problem as it will track the geographical location of the suspected or declared foreigners based on their biometric details such as iris and fingerprints," a senior Assam government official said. Also Read Meghalaya panels on Assam border dispute submit reports The Assam government, on December 22, told the Assembly that a total of 142,206 illegal migrants have been identified, of which only 29,663 were deported till December 15 this year. Illegal migration from neighbouring Bangladesh has been a problem for long in Assam. The IT system will be part of the electronic Foreigner Tribunals (eFT) project of Assam Police. The eFT seeks to build a database of suspected and declared illegal foreign migrants with important data such as iris and fingerprints. It also plans automation of border police, foreigner tribunals, transit camps for detection till deportation and smooth, secure and accurate data transfer. It will share the eFT data with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), besides others, for national-level searches. "This will help us notify authorities to deny government services and social scheme benefits to illegal foreigners," a document tabled in the Assembly on December 22 stated. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Union Home Ministry has decided to constitute a committee for taking a decision regarding withdrawal of disturbed area tag and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA), 1958 from Nagaland amid growing anger against killings of 14 civilians by army on December 4 and 5. This was decided in a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, which was convened to discuss the current situation in Nagaland following the killings in Oting village in Mon district. The meeting was attended by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton and former Chief Minister TR Zeliang. Also Read | Nagaland peace talks, AFSPA: Is the ball finally in Modi's court? The five-member committee will be headed by Additional Secretary (Northeast) in the MHA, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Nagaland, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (Northeast) and representatives of CRPF. "The committee will submit its report within 45 days and withdrawal of Disturbed Area and AFSPA from Nagaland will be based on recommendations of the committee," said a statement of the meeting. The statement was made public by Rio in Kohima on sunday. The clamour for withdrwal of AFSPA from Nagaland and rest of Northeast have grown since 13 coal miners were gunned down by 21 special para forces of the army near Oting village on December 4. One protester was killled by Assam Rifles personnel on December 5 at Mon. As the anger against the killings and the AFSPA grew, Nagaland Assembly on December 20 unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Centre to withdraw AFSPA from the state and rest of the Northeast. Also read: Centre imposed AFSPA against state's wishes: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio The meeting also decided that a court of inquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel found directly involved into Oting incident and action will be taken immediately on the basis of fair inquiry. "The identified persons who will face the inquiry will be placed under suspension with immediate effect," said the statement. Nagaland government will also provide government jobs to the next of kin of the victims. The steps come after residents of Oting village declined to accept the interim compensation offered by the government to the family of the deceased and "prohibited" entry of security forces into the village. Also read: Nagaland Assembly passes resolution demanding repeal of AFSPA Army again regrets the killings: The 3 Corps of Army issued a statement on Sunday in which it again regretted the killing of innocent civilians at Oting village. "The inquiry ordered by Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest. The Indian Army is also fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team(SIT) inquiry ordered by state government required details are being shared in timely manner. We request all brothers and sisters of Nagaland to be patient and wait for the findings of the Army inquiry. We assure you that action will be taken in accordance with the law to secure justice for all," said the army statement. The army on December 5 issued a statement in which it first regretted the incident and its aftermath. It, however, said an operation was launched in the area based on "specific intelligence" about movement of insurgents. Check out latest videos from DH: Hundreds of tourists were stuck near the Changu Lake in Sikkim due to heavy snowfall, following which the Army began a rescue operation, officials said on Sunday. As the Jawaharlal Nehru Road closed due to the heavy snowfall on Saturday, hundreds of tourists got stuck near the Changu Lake, they said. The Army rescued them and provided them shelter at their camp in the area during the night, officials said. As the weather conditions improved a bit on Sunday morning, the tourists were divided into small groups and army personnel were guiding them to reach Gangtok, around 40 kilometres away, on foot, officials said. The rescue operations, which were under way till the last reports were received, are likely to continue till Monday as hundreds of tourists were visiting Tsongmo or Changu Lake, near India's boundary with China, during the Christmas holidays. Among those stuck were around 250 people from different districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, officials said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Army on Sunday said the investigation into the "sad and unfortunate" loss of lives in the December 4 firing incident in Mon district of Nagaland is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are underway to conclude the probe at the earliest. The Army also assured that action would be taken in the case in accordance with the law to "secure justice for all" and urged the people of the state "to be patient and wait for the findings of the Army inquiry". Fourteen civilians were killed in the botched counter-insurgency operation that had triggered massive public outcry in Nagaland and a demand to lift the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Following the incident, the Army ordered a Court of Inquiry headed by a major general posted in the northeastern region. Also Read: Centre imposed AFSPA against state's wishes : Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio "Indian Army wishes a happy new year to the people of Nagaland and we pray for the good health, peace, happiness and prosperity for the people. We once again deeply regret the loss of lives during the December 4 incident in Mon district. Loss of lives is indeed sad and unfortunate," the Army said in a statement. It said the inquiry ordered by the Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest. "We have taken out notices for people to come forward and assist us in the inquiry by providing any information including videos, photos or any other material from original sources and will be grateful for the same," it said. "This can be conveyed on Whatsapp Messenger at +916026930283 or Army Exchange Helpline +913742388456," it added. It said the Indian Army is also fully cooperating with the probe by the special investigation team (SIT) ordered by the state government and required details are being shared in a timely manner. "We request all brothers and sisters of Nagaland to be patient and wait for the findings of the Army inquiry. We assure you that action will be taken in accordance with the law to secure justice for all," the Army said. It said the people of Nagaland have always cooperated and assisted the security forces in maintaining peace and tranquillity over the last many decades. "We share a deep bond of brotherhood, trust and friendship with you. Let us work together for a brighter and better future," the Army said. Meanwhile, the Centre has decided to set up a high-level committee to examine the possibility of lifting the controversial AFSPA in the northeastern state where it has been operational for decades, according to officials. The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives immunity to the forces if they shoot someone dead. The decision to constitute a high-level committee was taken at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by chief ministers of Nagaland and Assam Neiphiu Rio and Himanta Biswa Sarma respectively on December 23, an official said. Watch the latest DH videos here: The Congress on Sunday demanded an independent probe by a sitting high court judge into the Nagaland killings and Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of each of the deceased. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Ajoy Kumar said in a joint statement, "The SIT that has been announced by the government of Nagaland is an eyewash and the Congress party believes that no meaningful resolution is possible as evidenced by the government's false statements in the aftermath of the incident in Mon. The Congress Party demands that a commission of inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Gauhati High Court immediately should be set up as such an independent committee will enable the country to understand the true events that took place on December 4-5 in which 14 (fourteen) people lost their lives." Both the leaders were part of Congress delegation constituted by Sonia Gandhi, which submitted its report on Friday. It said that on December 4, Saturday around 4-4.30 pm, a unit of the 21 Para Special Forces organised an ambush on suspected NSCN (K) Yung Aung faction cadre near Tiru village, Mon district, and instead of gunning down the suspected militants, killed eight civilian miners belonging to Oting village who were returning home in a pickup truck. Also Read Panel formed to decide withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland Of the 8 miners, 6 were immediately killed as a result of the ambush and 2 were severely injured. The villagers, on searching for the missing miners and discovering their bodies, retaliated in anger on the local armed forces and in the ensuing firefight, 7 more civilians and one jawan were killed. On December 5, agitated crowds burned down the Konyak Students Union Office and in the police firing that ensued, one more civilian was killed. In total, as a result of the incidents, 14 civilians and 1 jawan were killed. The Congress alleged that instead of rushing to the site of the incident to take stock of the shocking intelligence failure that led to the deaths of 14 civilians and 1 jawan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was at a political rally in Rajasthan. A minister in the UDA government of the state and the BJP chief in Nagaland contradicted the statement made by the Home Minister in Parliament. As per newspaper reports, the minister from Nagaland stated that "the innocent victims were labourers returning from a hard day's work and were not armed with any firearms whatsoever. It is, therefore, tantamount to war crimes during peacetime and amounts to summary execution as well as genocide." The Congress demanded compensation to the family of the victims of the violence. It said all the victims should be compensated by the Central government. The family of the deceased should be given compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job with the government. The injured may be awarded compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh, it said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Calling opposition unity a myth, BJP national vice president, Dilip Ghosh said that the opposition doesn't have a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there is a complete vacuum of leadership in the rival camp. In an exclusive interview, Ghosh said that 'Koi nahi hai takkar me' (no one is in contest with BJP). "Country and party are secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and are moving ahead. BJP is the future and the country's future is secured with the BJP," Ghosh, former West Bengal BJP president, said. Also read: Dilip Ghosh's comment on Mamata Banerjee triggers controversy Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister's national ambitions, Ghosh said that she is trying to ensure TMC's presence in other states by inducting retired, tired and rejected leaders. Here are some excerpts from the interview: Q. Next year, assembly elections will be held in seven states, what is the importance of these elections for the BJP? First of all, let's talk about the assembly elections held in five states this year. We formed the government for the second consecutive time in Assam, formed the government for the first time in Puducherry and we have four MLAs in the Tamil Nadu assembly. In Kerala, however, we failed to win a seat but we made our presence felt across the state. And in West Bengal, the BJP is the biggest gainer. Our strength increased from three to 77. Results show that people have immense faith in the BJP and we are the only party that is growing and expanding across India. We make inroads in new areas. Also read: Opposition leaders suffering from Modi-phobia, says Pralhad Joshi We have leaders, policies and a strong force of workers and this is the reason good people from other parties are also joining us. 'Koi nahi hai takkar me' (no one is in the contest). Country and party are secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Country and party is moving ahead under him. BJP is the future and the country's future is secured with the BJP. You talked about assembly polls held this year, but did not mention recent bypolls where BJP had not done so well. It is true that we lost a few seats in some states but our overall performance was good and better than rivals. There are lots of factors that play a role in bypolls. In 2017, the BJP had lost bypolls of Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats represented by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Local issues and other factors like candidate selection, coordination plays an important role in bypolls. However, things get changed in assembly and parliament polls. People start talking about policy and vision of a political party instead of local issues in bypolls. I am confident that, like this year, the BJP will form the government in all the states with a huge margin by winning more seats than last time. What would you say about much talked about opposition unity in 2022? Opposition unity is a myth and nothing exist like this in reality. There is a complete vacuum of leadership in opposition parties. And everyone is trying to become leader of all the opposition parties and interestingly no one is ready to accept another as face of opposition. There is a complete lack of leadership, organisation and cadre in the opposition camp. They don't have a leader with a vision to lead the country. 'Modi jaisa neta nahi hai unke pass' (they (opposition) don't have a leader like Modi). Mamata Banerjee is all set to make her presence felt in national politics by contesting assembly polls in Goa and Manipur. What is your take? As I said that there is a complete vacuum of leadership in opposition parties and there is no leadership. Opposition parties are desperately looking out for a leader who can lead them. The Congress is not only weakened but was also facing a leadership crisis. Many senior Congress leaders left as there is no vision left in the party. In one line I can say those who are not with BJP are desperately looking out for a leader who can lead them. Mamata Di is trying to fill the gap. However, no one is ready to accept her as the undisputed leader of opposition parties. Reason is very simple, as she does not have a single panchayat with her outside West Bengal. Even before coming to power in West Bengal, she worked for over a decade in Tripura and Assam. In recent Tripura local bodies polls, TMC won just one seat. She has no acceptance in Assam. When she is not getting people's support in an area with a Bengali population, what support will she get in Goa and other parts of the country? She is also trying to form alliances with some regional parties but the question is how they help each other. What help Shiv Sena and DMK could offer to Mamata in West Bengal or what she could help by going to Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra. With a wish to become a big leader she is trying to expand TMC. But the biggest question is 'punji' (assets). She is not a threat to BJP, instead, it shows Mamata Di's plight and how she is desperately trying to expand TMC for her acceptance as a big leader. But her entire attempt will fail. You are saying she doesn't have 'punji' but she is inducting big names from other parties. Now she is the main opposition party in Meghalaya and also has an MLA in Goa. TMC has no presence outside West Bengal. She (Mamata Di) is enrolling people to expand the TMC but the question is whether it will help the party. Those joining TMC have done politics for 30-40 years but now their future is in the dark and there is no support on the ground. They need a shelter at the end of their political career and they are the ones who joined TMC. Those joining TMC are retired, tired and rejected. How can a party make inroads with these retired, tired and rejected leaders? We are strong, with a presence on the ground and have a strong leader (Modi). When people join us they have confidence that someday BJP will come to power. She is using money power to TMC growth and the money is of taxpayers or collected through cut money. It is injustice to people of West Bengal and Goa. Mamata Banerjee has now started talking about temples along with mosques and churches. What would you say about it? Mamata Banerjee changes her colour with elections. In West Bengal, she opposed Hindu festivals, put restrictions on Durga Puja. Hindus are feeling betrayed and now after realising that Hindus are against her politics of appeasement, she announced allowance for priests. In Goa, she is saying TMC means (Temple, Mosque and Church) but in reality, she is only concerned about the minority appeasement especially a particular one for her political survival. Check out latest videos from DH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Manipur and Tripura on January 4 to inaugurate various projects and to address public rallies, officials said on Sunday. A Manipur government official said that the PM will launch some projects in the poll-bound state and address a public gathering in Imphal. The Prime Minister's detailed programme is yet to be finalised and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior officials are in touch with the Prime Minister's Office. Elections for the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year along with polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa. Union Home Minister Amit Shah already addressed two public meetings virtually from Delhi while BJP President JP Nadda visited Manipur four times in the past three months and addressed several public meetings. Also Read AFSPA likely to be key issue in poll-bound Manipur In Tripura, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the reconstructed terminal building of Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram airport and a few other projects. Before leaving for New Delhi, he will address a public rally in Agartala. A Tripura government official said that Chief Secretary Kumar Alok on Saturday briefed the Prime Minister about the schemes and projects to be launched. An Airport Authority of India official said that under the Rs 438 crore project, a new terminal building and other infrastructure was built to cater to around 1,200 passengers at a time. After the inauguration, the MBB airport, the second busiest in the northeastern region after Guwahati, is likely to be declared an international airport, the official said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A former Indian Navy chief and a former Indian Army chief led the protest on Twitter against hate speeches delivered at a conclave of monks in Haridwar in Uttarakhand recently. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING STOPPED? former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash wondered on Twitter, reacting to a video with monks being seen and heard making speeches, calling upon a community to take up weapons against another. Agreed, tweeted former Indian Army chief, Gen V P Malik, responding to the tweet by Admiral Prakash. With our jawans facing enemies on two fronts, do we want a communal bloodbath, domestic turmoil and international disgrace? Is it difficult to understand that anything which damages national cohesion & (and) unity endangers Indias national security? Admiral Prakash added. The event a Dharm Sansad was held between December 17 to 19. Some of the monks who had organised and delivered speeches at the event were known to be close to the BJP, which is in power both in Uttarakhand and at the Centre. Also read: As Hindu extremists call for killing of Muslims, Indias leaders keep silent The former Indian Navy chief apparently referred to the India-China military stand-off along the disputed boundary between the two nations in eastern Ladakh as well as Pakistans hostility along its Line of Control with India when he referred to the soldiers facing enemies on two fronts. Agreed. Such speeches disturb public harmony and affect national security. Action required by Civil Admin, Gen Malik posted, endorsing the tweet by Admiral Prakash. A Twitter user sought to know about the former Indian Army chiefs views on speeches delivered by Asaduddin Owaisi, a Lok Sabha member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. All public speeches that tend to divide our civil society and disturb social harmony affect national security adversely. Need to be condemned. And action taken, Gen Malik responded. Check out DH's latest videos The India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship was put to test in 2021 after Colombo unilaterally reneged on a tripartite deal with India and Japan to build a deep-sea container port here, and frequent incidents involving Indian fishermen as well as Chinas growing footprints in this country. The year began with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visiting Sri Lanka in early January, saying, "I am starting 2021 with a visit to Colombo, a visit to Indias closest maritime neighbour and partner." Jaishankar, who met Sri Lanka's top leadership, also noted that it was gratifying to note that the Covid-19 pandemic has not been able to make a dent in India-Sri Lanka bilateral cooperation. But the positive momentum in ties generated by the visit was disturbed by the death of four Indian fishermen in January following a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft. India registered a strong protest in Colombo as well in New Delhi, emphasising the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in a humanitarian manner. In December, India expressed concern over the detention of 68 Tamil Nadu fishermen from December 18 to 20 by Sri Lankan authorities and took up the issue of their "early release". The fishermen issue remains a major irritant in bilateral ties. During the Covid pandemic period, India kept its air space open for travel for the specific and urgent medical needs of Sri Lanka. As part of the Indian governments Vaccine Maitri humanitarian initiative to provide Covid-19 vaccines to countries around the world, India gifted 500,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine to the island nation, prompting it to launch its national coronavirus immunisation campaign. Meanwhile, in a big jolt to Indias investment plans in Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa government unilaterally reneged on a tripartite deal with India and Japan to build the strategic deep-sea container port. Sri Lanka, which had agreed in 2019 to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo port with India and Japan, scrapped the deal and termed the ECT a wholly-owned container terminal of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Colombo said it would instead develop the port's West Container Terminal (WCT) with investment from India and Japan. More to Indias displeasure, China in November clinched the contract to develop the ECT. As the ECT/WCT issue was brewing, Colombo announced that the government had successfully ended talks with the Indian government to end the leasing of World War II oil storage tanks in the eastern port of Trincomalee. Sri Lanka in 2003 had leased out 99 oil tanks to the Indian Oil Corporation for 30 years for an annual payment of USD 100,000. In 2021, Sri Lanka faced pressure from the international community on its human rights record, especially during the armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). As the UN called for sanctions and international criminal court procedure against those responsible for rights violations during the armed conflict with the LTTE in 2009, India abstained from a crucial vote on Sri Lanka's rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March. But New Delhi urged Colombo to fulfil its commitments to carry forward the process of reconciliation and address the aspirations of the Tamil community. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Sri Lanka in October and assured the Sri Lankan leadership that India will leave no stone unturned in mitigating the adverse impact of the Covid 19 restrictions on bilateral socio-economic engagement and will stand together with the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts for post-Covid recovery. During his meeting with President Rajapaksa, he assured India that Sri Lanka would not be allowed to be used for "any activity" that could pose a threat to India's security. He explained Colombo's ties with China in a "comprehensive manner" and exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the post-pandemic revival of the economy. Rajapaksa elaborated on the need to re-establish the friendship and relations between India and Sri Lanka that existed in the 1960s and 70s. The year was also a test of President Gotabaya Rajapaksas personal capabilities as a novice politician. The 72-year-old former military officer had never been a member of any political party or got involved in any electoral politics other than extending the moral support to his older brother Mahinda, the leader of the Rajapaksa dynasty. Each passing day was a trial for the president as he was faced with tackling the pandemic, key foreign policy issues, and the regional tensions caused by Sri Lankas leaning towards China. Sri Lanka's powerful Rajapaksa dynasty, which has consolidated its grip over power in the last couple of years, is known for its tilt towards China. Though China is one of the biggest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, there has been criticism -- both locally and internationally -- and growing concerns that Beijing has lured Colombo into a debt trap. Ironically, that has not stopped Sri Lanka from drifting towards China for economic support. As Sri Lankas energy security is threatened by the unprecedented foreign exchange crisis, the Minister of Finance and the third big Rajapaksa in the government Basil Rajapaksa visited India to negotiate a special credit line from Delhi to facilitate oil imports. Sri Lankan officials, despite the bumpy ride of ties with India, stayed optimistic about receiving Indian aid. India is our closest neighbour and we value their cooperation very much, Sri Lankan foreign ministrys top bureaucrat Jayanath Colombage has often said on the bilateral relationship. Check out the latest videos from DH: The Indian Navy has sent its training ship INS Sudarshini to the Gulf region, including Iran and Oman, as part of its efforts to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation with the friendly navies. The ship, on a month-long deployment, has already made port calls at Muscat, Dubai and Bandar Abbas besides engaging in professional interactions with the Royal Oman Navy (RNO), UAE Navy and Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Navy, officials said. "The ship built at Goa Shipyard Ltd showcased indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and revisited India's historic maritime linkages with the Gulf," the Navy said in a statement. "The ship, during the deployment, undertook various training exchanges, wherein sail training was imparted to trainees from RNO and IRI Navy and sea sorties conducted." It said the ship also participated in bilateral maritime partnership exercises with RNO and IRI for enhancing interoperability between the navies. Also Read Mormugao sails for trial on Goa Liberation Day Separately, Indian Naval ship Kesari entered Port of Maputo, Mozambique on Saturday. "This is the eighth such deployment in consonance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)' and is being conducted in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies of the government of India," the Navy said. It said these deployments were conducted in solidarity with India's extended maritime neighbourhood. The Navy said, "500 tons of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support the efforts of the government of Mozambique to cope with the ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of the pandemic." "India also remains committed to supporting the capacity building efforts of the Armed Forces of Mozambique. To this end Kesari is carrying two fast interceptor craft and self-defence equipment to be handed over to the armed forces of Mozambique," it said. INS Kesari, a landing ship tank (large), had undertaken a similar mission in May-June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployment of medical assistance teams of the Indian Navy in multiple locations. Also Read Indian Navy finds wreckage of missing fishing boat Naved-2 "Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 friendly foreign countries under SAGAR missions," the Navy said. "These deployments spanned over 215 days at sea have delivered a cumulative assistance of more than 3,000 MT of food aid, over 300 MT LMO (Liquid medical oxygen), 900 oxygen concentrators and 20 ISO containers," it said. The Navy said while undertaking these missions, Indian Naval ships have traversed a cumulative distance of close to 40,000 nautical miles which it said is "nearly twice the circumference of the earth". "With a steadfast intent of making such high quantum of humanitarian assistance reach its destination in time, personnel from ships and shore organisations of Indian Navy have invested close to a million man-hours to deliver succour to our friends overseas," it said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Come back tomorrow for DH's latest updates of India and the world here! Images of bodies floating in the Ganga, video clips of an SUV mowing down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri and cases of headline-hogging crime provided much ammunition to the opposition as Uttar Pradesh switches into the election mode. The campaign for the Assembly elections in early 2022 has picked up much pace as the year comes to a close. There has been a flurry of visits to the state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launching mega projects and berating the previous governments for neglecting the state. Crowded campaign rallies by the ruling BJP and the opposition parties, with hardly any Covid-19 protocol in place even amid predictions of a third coronavirus wave, has prompted the Allahabad High Court to suggest a possible ban on them. Also Read I'm a minister despite not having an MP as father or mother, says Gadkari in UP rally But it was the second coronavirus wave in April-May that dented Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths image, with UPs health system caught off guard, as was the case in some other states. People struggled for hospital beds and there were long queues at cremation grounds. Even some BJP leaders questioned their own government, complaining of mismanagement. Bodies were found floating in the Ganga in Ballia and Ghazipur districts, and buried in shallow graves on the riverbank near Prayagraj. Ballia residents claimed seeing over 40 corpses at the ghats in the Narahi area. Authorities attributed some of this to local traditions, and the state government has been claiming that its record at fighting Covid-19 is among the best in the country. The brutal second wave of Covid-19 roughly coincided with the multi-tier panchayat elections. Nearly nine lakh posts across the state were up for grabs. Although the elections were not fought on party symbols, both the BJP and the main opposition Samajwadi Party claimed victory. In the backdrop, a silent tragedy also unfolded. The associations of government school teachers, called to conduct the elections, claimed that hundreds of their members died due to Covid-19 during the poll process that stretched for weeks. Also Read Akhilesh Yadav rebrands himself as 'Lord Ram' in Uttar Pradesh The state government initially dismissed the claim, but weeks later relaxed guidelines for compensation. It announced payment of Rs 30 lakh each to the families of over 2,000 government employees, about half of them teachers, who presumingly died of Covid-19 contracted while they were on election duty. Farmers in western Uttar Pradesh the region from where Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait hails boosted the ranks of protesters from Punjab and Haryana camping at Delhis borders. The Lakhimpur Kheri incident, in which eight people died, created outrage and with the UP elections just months away, the opposition parties rallied around the farmers. On October 3, an SUV ferrying BJP workers had allegedly rammed farmers near Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri, killing four of them and a journalist. An angry mob then lynched two BJP workers and their driver, the police claim. The vehicles in the BJP convoy were allegedly linked to the family of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra. His son, Ashish Mishra, and 12 others have been arrested but the opposition in UP and Delhi want the minister also to be sacked. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was the first to head towards Lakhimpur Kheri. She was stopped in neighbouring Sitapur and spent nearly two days at a government guest house. The event served to galvanise party workers. The Uttar Pradesh Police found itself on the defensive after a Kanpur businessman died in Gorakhpur, the CMs native district, allegedly after being thrashed by policemen. However, the BJP has aggressively countered the opposition claim about the worsening law and order situation in the state. At rallies, Adityanath has accused the previous governments of encouraging mafias and terrorists. Now, bulldozers raze illegal buildings put up by dons and criminals prefer to stay away from the state, the BJP narrative goes. Also Read Uttar Pradesh Elections: Opinions divided over Kashi Vishwanath corridor And PM Modi has been praising Adityanath, particularly for bringing crime under control contrary to the speculation months back that the BJP could replace the CM before the elections. Modi has made a series of visits to the state, which will also prove crucial in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, inaugurating or laying the foundation stones of infrastructure projects like the 600-km Ganga Expressway, 340-km Purvanchal Expressway, medical colleges and an irrigation network in Bundelkhand. The standout project has been the completion of the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. The PM took a dip in the Ganges and offered prayers at the inauguration. And his speech focused on the revival of tradition and faith, and how the country has stood up to the likes of emperor Aurangzeb. Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party (SP) is taking on the BJP challenge, exchanging barb for barb as the campaign progresses. Yadav has claimed that the projects for which the BJP government is taking credit were started when he was the chief minister. The SP is joining hands with smaller parties, learning from its earlier not-too-happy experience of aligning with the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party in the 2017 assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Lately, Akhilesh Yadav has mended fences with his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav who had floated his own outfit, the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia. The senior Yadav had parted ways with the nephew during the tail end of the SP government, and the trouble within the family was seen as one of the causes for the 2017 defeat. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement on Covid-19 shots for the adolescents aged 15-18 years, senior doctors and public health officials on Sunday wondered if the decision was taken due to political considerations as there is barely any scientific evidence favouring jabs for such an age group. "The children belonging to 15-18 years are not a priority risk group. But many of them would be first-time voters in the 2024 general election and this (the vaccination) could be a way to tell them that the government cares for you, a public health expert told DH on the condition of anonymity. A senior epidemiologist at AIIMS, Delhi, who is the principal investigator of Covaxin trials for adults and children at the institute, termed the Centre's decision to vaccinate children against Covid "unscientific" and said it would not yield any additional benefit. Also Read 'Gap between 2nd Covid vaccine shot and precaution dose likely to be 9-12 months' Sanjay K Rai, who is also the President of the Indian Public Health Association, said that before implementing the decision, data from countries that began vaccinating children should be analysed to check if there is a definitive benefit to vaccinating children over adults as scientific evidence suggests otherwise. "I am completely disappointed with his unscientific decision on children's vaccination. Those who work in epidemic control or epidemiologists didnt make such a suggestion. It came from those who are not domain experts," Rai, a professor at the department of community medicine, told DH. Experts also wondered whether the Union Health Ministry and the Prime Ministers Office were on the same page on Covid strategies as top officials had denied having a policy decision on the booster fewer than 30 hours before the Prime Ministers televised address, in which he announced launching the booster campaign from the second week of January. The Covid-19 booster shots, described by the Prime Minister described as precautionary shots, would initially be available for healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens with comorbidities on the basis of their doctors prescriptions. On Friday afternoon, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava denied having arrived at a decision on boosters and lowering the age group for Covid vaccination to include children. A day later Modi made a public declaration on both. Also Read Covid-19: What is Delmicron? Sources said the PMO took the decision possibly due to pressure from doctors who were among the first recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine almost a year ago and would be having a waning level of antibody in their blood; and political feedback from the ground suggesting a major government action on Covid-19 amid the Omicron scare and ahead of the assembly election in Uttar Pradesh and four other states. There is no clarity on whether the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) have approved the decisions announced by the Prime Minister. Sources said NTAGI only cleared booster doses for immunocompromised patients like those suffering from cancer or those who underwent a transplant. This, however, was not announced by the PM. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Union Minister L Murugan on Sunday targeted the DMK and the state government over the alleged attack and arrest of people who expressed views critical of the party and regime led by it and dubbed such incidents as a 'big challenge' to the freedom of expression and the Constitution. Asked about an 'attack' on Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) cadres days ago by DMK functionaries at Dharmapuri, Murugan alleged that carrying out such acts was customary for Tamil Nadu's ruling party. People should be surprised only if the DMK men did not involve themselves in such attacks, he claimed to add, 'it is in the blood of the DMK' to slight and stifle freedom of expression. If functionaries belonging to opposition parties make remarks critical of the party or the government, they are targeted by way of attacks and arrests." Such incidents, he said, posed a 'big challenge' to free speech and the Constitution in Tamil Nadu. To a question on fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka, Murugan, the Minister of State for fisheries, animal husbandry, dairy, and information and broadcasting, said all steps were being taken for their early release. Recently, 68 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the neighboring country. Murugan was formerly the Tamil Nadu unit chief of the BJP. Recently, NTK cadres were attacked, allegedly by DMK functionaries, for slamming the party and the government in connection with a demand for premature release of seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, besides others. Leader of the Opposition and top AIADMK leader K Palaniswami was among the leaders who condemned the 'attack' and sought tough action against those responsible for it. Days ago, YouTuber M Maridhas (who was arrested, based on two separate complaints) was released from prison after the Madras High Court quashed the two FIRs against him, one after the other. Maridhas is hailed as a nationalist by the BJP and pro-Hindutva groups and several saffron party leaders had rallied behind him, questioning the motive for his arrest by the DMK government. An NTK functionary and YouTuber, 'Saattai' (whip) Durai Murugan, who was previously arrested for making derogatory comments allegedly against Chief Minister M K Stalin, was arrested again days ago over spreading rumours related to a flash protest by workers here. Check out the latest videos from DH: A seven-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in a village in Moradabad, police said. The girl, belonging to a minority community, had gone missing while she was playing outside her house on December 22. Her body was found later in a sugarcane field, nearly two kilometers away from her house on Friday night. An autopsy, conducted on Saturday, confirmed that she was sexually assaulted and murdered. Police have registered an FIR under IPC sections of rape, murder, and the POCSO Act. The girl was the youngest of three siblings, and her father is a vegetable seller. After she went missing, her family lodged a missing complaint. Two police teams were deployed to trace her but they could not find her. On Friday, when a farmer went to his field, a foul smell was emanating from the area. He became curious and started looking for its source, and found the body. The girl's mother said, "I searched everywhere for my daughter but could not find her. I want justice for my daughter." Check out the latest videos from DH: Hoardings with pictures of 'Ramlala in tent' and the model of 'Ram Temple' with the BJP's election symbol came up at several parts of Ayodhya ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls, triggering controversy and inviting sharp criticism from the opposition parties. The hoardings carried two pictures one showing 'Ramlala' in the tent and the other showing the model of the Ram Temple and the symbol of the BJP with the headline saying "fark saaf hai" (the difference is clear). ''The difference is clear...earlier the Ramlala was in the tent and now the construction of the Ram temple is going on,'' said the hoardings. According to the reports, one such hoarding has been put up near the house of Iqbal Ansari, who was one of the main plaintiffs in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Title suits. Also Read Images of floating corpses, SUV mowing down farmers provide Oppn ammunition in poll-bound UP The opposition parties took strong exception to the hoardings and accused the BJP of trying to gain electoral mileage out of the Ram temple issue. ''BJP is staring at defeat in the forthcoming assembly polls and that is why it has been trying to communalise the elections,'' said former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Pawan Pandey. ''BJP does not have anything to show to the people...the state government did precious little for the welfare of the people...prices are rising...the BJP has fallen back on emotive issues,'' Pandey said. Local Congress leader Sharad Shukla said that the Ram temple construction was being carried out after the Supreme Court verdict on the issue. ''BJP has nothing to do with Ram temple construction...it is an attempt to mislead the people....the Election Commission should take cognisance of the hoardings,'' Shukla said. BJP legislator from Ayodhya Vedprakash Gupta said that there was nothing wrong in putting up the hoardings. ''The opposition leaders can not digest the development of Ayodhya...BJP was in power when the SC verdict was delivered; BJP is in power when the Ram Temple is being constructed,'' Gupta said. Saffron party leaders have been referring to the Ram temple in their speeches at public meetings in the run-up to the assembly polls. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Congress used to be a democratic organisation till the country gained Independence but after that it became "property" of one family, with power being transferred from one generation to another, UP Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit said on Sunday. He also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent "Hindu versus Hindutva" jibe at the BJP, saying he is in a "dilemma" as he himself does not understand the concept and advised him to read the book, "Discovery of India", penned by his great grandfather and former PM Jawaharlal Nehru. The five-time MLA from Bhagwantnagar in Unnao described the patch-up between Samajwadi president Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav as an event in a family and said it should not be seen from a political point of view. Dixit also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader of "global repute" and claimed that the BJP will win around 350 of 403 seats in the next years state Assembly polls. Taking at swipe at the Congress, Dixit said, "Till Independence, the Congress used to be a democratic organisation. But after Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru headed the government as well as the party." "Since then, the trend started that the party became a property of the (Nehru-Gandhi) family. With respect, I would say that the Congress became the property of Nehru," he told PTI. "It was transferred to Indira Gandhi. Then it became the property of Rajiv Gandhi, and then to Sonia Gandhi after some gap," he said, adding that for a brief period, it was run by Sitaram Kesri. He also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was adamant on taking part in the debate over Hindu and Hindutva without understanding the issue himself. "The Supreme Court has long ago observed that Hinduism is a way of life. Rahulji says Hindu and Hindutva are separate. In fact, Hindu is the identity of this country and is also a geo-cultural name. The need is to understand the geo-cultural faith," the UP Speaker said. "With due respect, I would say that Rahul Gandhi is in dilemma over the issue. He has not understood Hindu and Hindutva, then how can he make an effort to make others understand," Dixit said advising the leader to read the book, "Discovery of India", authored by Jawaharlal Nehru. In his second visit to Amethi after his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul had targeted Modi with his "Hindu versus Hindutvadi" jibe. "On one side is a Hindu. On the other, is Hindutvadi. On one side is truth, love and non-violence and on the other is falsehood, hatred and violence," he had said. "Hindutvadi bathes alone in the Ganga but a Hindu will bathe with crores of others," Gandhi said taking a swipe at the prime minister, who had recently inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi after taking a holy dip. The UP Assembly Speaker refused to comment on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is making efforts to boost prospects of the Congress in the poll-bound state, but said, "The Congress is a party, which revolves only around one family." On coming together of Akhilesh and Shivpal ahead of the Assembly elections, Dixit said, "I see this as an incident of the family and not from the political point of view." He also claimed that the BJP will win around 350 seats in the elections. "There is no match to the leadership of the BJP, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, and no party has such a personality like him. I am not belittling personalities of other parties," he said, adding that Modi is a leader of "global repute". "The benefit of schemes has reached people. I do not see anyone posing any serious threat to the BJP," he claimed. He also praised Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Summing up his five-year term as a Speaker, the 75-year-old BJP leader said he is thankful to each members of the Assembly and the parties, which extended support to him in running the House. "Those who consider me successful, I only tell them that this success is collective," he said. Check out the latest videos from DH: With rising Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government has decided to impose a night curfew from Monday. Sources said that the curfew will be imposed between 11 pm and 5 am. Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, have imposed night curfews in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases, including the Omicron variant. Delhi reported 290 fresh Covid-19 cases and one death while the positivity rate rose to 0.55%, the latest government data said. Also Read | Coronavirus can persist for months after traversing entire body, reveals research The cumulative cases have risen to 14,43,352 while the death toll rose to 25,105. The number of active cases stands at 1,103, of which 583 patients are in home isolation. Delhi has already asked the district authorities to tighten the curbs put in place. The Delhi administration has also restricted the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that the government is fully prepared to tackle any eventuality. He said the government has earmarked enough hospital beds to handle the surge in cases. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Pakistan cannot take an inch of Jammu and Kashmir's territory despite all its efforts, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said Sunday, lauding the security forces and the people of the union territory for fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for the past over three decades. On the National Conference's and the PDP's persistent demand for holding dialogue with Pakistan to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said the decision on holding talks should be left to the BJP-led Centre. Also Read: I am '24 carat' Congressman, not upset with party: Ghulam Nabi Azad Addressing a public meeting at Khour near the International Border in Jammu, Azad said border residents are the guardians of Indian borders and stand with the security forces. "You have suffered a lot due to Pakistani shelling and firing over the past three decades. This is your third generation who are born and brought up under the roaring guns. Your fields remained uncultivated after mines were laid to stop infiltration (of terrorists) from Pakistan. "You lost many lives, houses and livelihood to Pak shelling and firing. But I want to tell you that despite all its efforts, Pakistan cannot take even an inch of our land," the Congress leader said. He said it is India's greatness that whichever party comes to power, its priority remains the defense of the borders. "Want to remind Pakistan of its defeat in 1971 when our forces under the leadership of then prime minister Indira Gandhi separated Bangladesh. If you make any misadventure, we will teach you a lesson," he said. Talking to reporters, Azad said the decision to begin any dialogue with Pakistan should be left to the government. "I am nobody because I do not have to talk and I also do not know what the gravity of the situation is. It is not for the first time (we are not talking with Pakistan). Even in the past, we have discontinued talks during our government," he said, adding when things improve between the two countries and atmosphere is conducive, the talks can be held. "So I think it is the government of India at the moment who shall have to decide," he said, responding to a question on persistent demands by the National Conference and the PDP for dialogue to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Assuring the border residents that whole of the country is behind them, Azad said he wants to tell Pakistan that India is united and nobody can harm it. He said Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has ruined Kashmir but its attempt to disturb peace in Jammu region was frustrated by the people who stood united against the enemies of the country and their conspiracies. Cautioning people against attempts to polarise the situation in the region ahead of assembly elections, Azad said politics is meant to bring people closer to each other but "there are some national and regional parties who are out to divide people on the name of religion, region, caste and creed. We are fighting Pak sponsored terrorism for the last 31 yearsWe cannot afford internal fighting. If we have to move forward, we have to stand united and not fall to mischievous propaganda, the Congress leader said, adding we have to bring down the walls of hatred and become one for our nation and its progress and prosperity. He said the Congress never played politics on the basis of region or religion. We will continue to work for the betterment of the people, their prosperity and ensure no discrimination. Targeting the BJP, he said the country is witness to wrong politics which is not based on justice. "The government is equal for every citizen and does justice whether someone has voted for it or not. Everyone should be given his or her right but the situation today is that only those close to the ruling party are getting contracts while others are being sidelined," he said. Referring to the August 5, 2019 development when the special status of J&K under Article 370 was abrogated and the erstwhile state was divided into two Union Territories, he said, Our struggle is based on justice as our state was snatched along with our rights over land and jobs. "We have never imagined that the largest Dogra state will be downgraded. This has happened for the first time in our country and no other government can think of such a flawed decision, he said, adding I regret the thought which led to the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Azad alleged that the continuation of closure of schools in Jammu and Kashmir smells of a conspiracy as the government jobs have been opened for the youth of the rest of the country. When our students are out of their schools for so long, how come they compete with their counterparts from other places? He said while the rest of India is moving ahead, the people in Jammu and Kashmir are headed towards poverty. "We need a change which is possible when you support us. You have seen the rule of National Conference, PDP, Congress and BJP and now it is easy for you to decide whom to vote for," he said, appealing to the people to reject the parties dividing them. Watch the latest DH videos here: As 2022 dawns and Uttar Pradesh prepares for elections, the battle is becoming less political and even less issue-based. A new political vocabulary is emerging with slander, laced with communalism, dominating the election campaign which, at present, seems to have narrowed down to a straight fight between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. The BJP which has been claiming it will return to power with 300 plus seats in Uttar Pradesh, is undoubtedly becoming increasingly nervous as the countdown to the polls begins. Read More The Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a man and a woman in a dowry harassment case noting that time and again, the family members of the husband are being made accused in matrimonial disputes by making casual reference to them in the FIR. A bench of justices R Subhash Reddy and Hrishikesh Roy set aside an order of the Allahabad High Court which directed the victim's brother-in-law and mother-in-law, accused in a dowry death case, to surrender and apply for a grant of bail. "It is held that a large number of family members are shown in the FIR by casually mentioning their names and the contents do not disclose their active involvement, as such, taking cognisance of the matter against them was not justified. It is further held that taking cognisance in such type of cases results in abuse of judicial process," the bench said. The top court said that a perusal of the complaint filed by the father of the deceased, pursuant to which a crime was registered, does not indicate any specific allegations by disclosing the involvement of the accused. "Even in the statement of 2nd respondent (father) recorded by the police and also in the final report, except omnibus and vague allegations, there is no specific allegation against the appellants to show their involvement for the offences alleged. "This Court, time and again, has noticed making the family members of the husband as accused by making casual reference to them in matrimonial disputes," the bench said in a recent order. The apex court said though there is an allegation of causing injuries, there are no other external injuries noticed in the postmortem certificate, except the single ante-mortem injury i.e. ligature mark around the neck, and the cause of death is shown as asphyxia. "Having regard to the case of the appellants and the material placed on record, we are of the considered view that except vague and bald allegations against the appellants, there are no specific allegations disclosing the involvement of the appellants to prosecute them for the offences alleged," the bench said. The father of the deceased had lodged a complaint on July 25, 2018 at police station Kotwali in Gorakhpur that husband, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and mother-in-law of her younger daughter continuously used to demand a four-wheeler vehicle and Rs 10 lakh in cash as dowry. It is alleged that as the said demands were not met, they used to beat his daughter and threatened to kill her. It is, further, alleged that ten days prior to the date of the incident, all the accused with a common intention had severely beaten up his daughter and threatened to kill, if the demands of the dowry of cash and car were not met. On July 24, 2018 at about 8 PM, the accused with a common intention beat his daughter, killed her by putting a noose around her neck and hanged her. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said criminals in Uttar Pradesh are making an exodus now, while earlier it was common man who was forced to flee by them. Shah praised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his governance saying people were not afraid anymore to send their children to school. "Earlier, the law and order situation was so bad, people used to hesitate in sending their children to schools. But in five years of Yogi Adityanath government, all goons have made an exodus from UP," he said while addressing a Jan Vishwas Yatra in Kasganj here. The union minister also accused the BSP and the SP of playing caste politics and not working for development when they governed the state. Speaking about the recently inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Shah said the holy site used to wear a deserted look, before it was beautified under the watch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the occasion, the BJP leader also remembered former state chief minister Kalyan Singh saying the victory of the party in 2014, 2017, and 2019 would not have been possible without his advice. Also read: Images of floating corpses, SUV mowing down farmers provide Oppn ammunition in poll-bound UP Singh died in Lucknow on August 21 at the age of 89. He was a prominent backward caste leader and a Hindutva icon. Kasganj district comes under Etah parliamentary constituency and is currently represented in the Lok Sabha by Rajveer Singh, Kalyan Singh's son. "It was Kalyan Singh, who first spoke about good governance in Uttar Pradesh. Kalyan Singh was the first to speak about the backward class people in Uttar Pradesh, and it was he who gave rights to the people of the backward castes," Shah said. He also said it was Kalyan Singh who resigned from his chief minister post within hours of demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. Speaking on the Ram Temple, he asked those who gathered whether they would vote for the same people who fired at kar sevaks. The reference was made to the Mulayam Singh governments decision to open fire at kar sevaks who had gathered near the Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya in 1990. Shah's tour to Kasganj is part of the campaign which will cover more than 140 constituencies in the poll-bound state, party sources said. Keeping caste equations in mind, each programme will be attended by people from three OBC-dominated constituencies, two urban constituencies, one scheduled caste-dominated constituency and one minority-dominated constituency, they said. Check out latest videos from DH: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday expressed happiness over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement for the administration of Covid vaccine booster doses to frontline workers, asserting that it should be given to all. He also said that it was pleasing to know that now children aged 15-18 years will also get the Covid-19 vaccine. Earlier this week, Kejriwal had urged the Centre to allow giving booster doses of Covid vaccines to those already fully vaccinated and asserted that Delhi government had adequate infrastructure for doing so. Also Read | Vaccination for kids aged 15-18 years to begin from January 3, says PM Modi "I am happy that the Prime Minister announced booster dose for frontline workers. Booster dose should be administered to all. Besides, children aged 15-18 years will now get vaccinated, it's a pleasant thing," Kejriwal tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday night announced that vaccination against Covid-19 for children between 15-18 years will start in the country from January 3. Administration of "precaution dose" to healthcare and frontline workers will begin from January 10, he said. In Delhi, one dose of Covid vaccine has been administered to all the targeted 1.48 crore people while 70 percent have received both doses. Check out latest DH videos here A juice shop called 'New Sai Juice Centre', being run by a Muslim man for the past 15 years in the Majhola area of Moradabad district, was vandalised and forced to shut down after members of a right-wing outfit raised objection to the outlet's name. The activists claimed that "Sai Baba is a Hindu deity" and the Muslim owner should change its name. They also allegedly threatened to shut all shops run by Muslims and named after Hindu deities in the locality. The incident took place three days ago but the FIR was registered much later against Bajrang Dal leader Navneet Sharma, and his aides for "rioting and criminal intimidation". The FIR was registered after videos of the incident began circulating on social media. The police, sources said, even advised the owner, Shabbu Khan, to change the shop's name "to avoid further trouble." Locals in the area claimed that police initially remained a mute spectator while all this was going on and later advised Shabbu Khan, the juice shop owner, said, "I was about to have dinner at home on Thursday when I was shocked to learn that a few people were vandalising my shop. They asked me to close my shop because of my faith. This shop is part of my life and my family." Majhola Station house officer (SHO) Dhananjay Singh said, "We found that about 20-25 people, led by Navneet Sharma, had forcefully closed the juice shop. They also slapped its owner. We have registered an FIR under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 147 (rioting) against Sharma and his aides." Incidentally, a complaint was also lodged by the right-wing activists against Khan but police said the complaint against the shopkeeper is "not convincing enough as the man has been running the shop for 15 years and there has been no issue so far." No arrests have yet been made. Check out the latest videos from DH: A militant affiliated with the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), who was involved in the recent killing of a police officer, was gunned down by security forces in an overnight encounter in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Sunday. The ISJK is an affiliate outfit of the IS active in Jammu and Kashmir as part of its broader Khorasan (Islamic State Khorasan Province or IS-K) branch in South Asia and Central Asia. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar identified the slain militant as 21-year-old Faheem Bhat, who had recently joined the ISJK. Bhat, who was a BA student, was reported to be missing since December 23. Police said he was involved in the killing of an on-duty assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mohammad Ashraf Dar on December 22 outside the Bijbehara police station. Reports said the encounter broke out on Saturday night after security forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in K-Kalan, Srigufwara in Bijbehara following specific inputs about the presence of a militant in the area. A police official said the trapped militant was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied and instead fired indiscriminately upon the search party which retaliated leading to an encounter in which he was killed. In the last two days, six militants have been killed in four separate encounters in south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama. So far this year, 166 militants have been killed in the Valley, of which 143 were locals and 23 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 latest videos from DH: Over 327 teaching and non-teaching staff employed with the Central government lost their lives to Covid-19 in the past year, the government has told the Parliament recently. The data comes in the face of an ongoing debate on the reopening of schools, as the number of the Omicron variant continues to rise steadily. The government was replying to a question posed by RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha and independent MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan; both wanted to know about the number of teaching staff who died due to Covid-19, and details of the governments compensation schemes for their families. In reply, the ministry of education said that the 327 staff who lost their lives were employed with Kendriya Vidhyalaya (KV), Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalaya (JNV) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The government also said that while they died due to Covid-19, none of these teachers died during Covid duty. Also Read | Tamil Nadu commences preparatory work to administer Covid-19 vaccine to 15-18 years age group On compensation, the government said that since education is on the concurrent list of the Constitution, schools other than those owned or funded by the Central Government, are under the jurisdiction of the state governments. The governments data comes as officials across states debate whether reopening schools is wise as Omicron cases steadily continue to rise. States like Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bihar, have reopened schools. In some states, the hybrid system, where students attend classes on certain days of the week, is in place. While parents continue to express fears of physical classes, digital education in a country with low mobile internet penetration is tricky. In August this year, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that digital classes have led to 15 crore children dropping out of the education system. Also Read: Ensure availability of Covaxin if mixed match policy for booster is adopted: IMA In reply to another question, the government said that during the recent National Achievement Survey (NAS), aimed at evaluating students classes V, VIII and X, it found that 7.47% of children in Navodaya Vidyalayas had no access to devices and that 224 children enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalas who could not be contacted by the schools. Dr Ameeta Wattal, chairperson and executive director at DLF Schools & Scholarship, said that she welcomes the governments decision to vaccinate children. She said online classes have hampered the learning process of children across generations. Also Read | Coronavirus can persist for months after traversing entire body, reveals research We cannot shut down schools forever; only a minuscule percentage of children across the country are availing regular education. There is a fear psychosis among parents, as well as some form of laziness permeated by the work from home culture. As a result, there are huge learning gaps, and children cant write, speak and communicate as they should, said Wattal. She said that, while for young school children foundational learning years are affected, for those in middle years, personal development is affected. For senior children, critical thinking is a casualty. Peer connectivity is different in the real and virtual world, said Wattal. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The year that has almost gone by has been a mixed bag for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, oscillating between peace and violence. The biggest positive was a modicum of peace in the lives of thousands of people living close to the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in the Union Territory. 'Border dwellers' i.e., people in villages close to the LoC and the IB, have paid the highest price during the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan. In terms of human lives lost, houses destroyed, cattle killed and agricultural fields destroyed, the border dwellers have lived life at its sharpest edge. Thanks to the decision taken by the armies of the two countries, 2021 has been a remarkably peaceful year for people living in border villages. Also Read Farmers close to IB decide to resume cultivation in J&K's Samba Ceasefire violations on the LoC and IB were virtually non-existent as life remained normal for thousands of border villages in 2021. Children went to school, cattle moved about to graze and men and women engaged in agricultural activities in the villages of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla and Kupwara districts of J&K, where the LoC and the IB are located. Levels of infiltration came down during 2021, as compared to 2020 and 2019, as alert troops kept round-the-clock vigil at the borders. However, separatist violence continued to mar the lives of the people in the valley as the footfall of the security forces increased due to requirements for increased vigil. What has caused serious worry in 2021 has been the shifting of terror focus from south Kashmir districts to those in central Kashmir, especially Srinagar city. In 2021, Srinagar there were around 20 encounters and shoot-outs in and around Srinagar. Around 34 people, including seven policemen and 14 militants were killed till December this year, even as Srinagar was declared a "militancy-free zone" with no locally recruited militants in October 2020. The main focus of shifting terrorism in Kashmir has been the targeting of civilians and members of the local police. The civilians killed in 2021 included members of the Kashmiri Pandit community who had chosen to exist alongside their Muslim neighbours despite the mass exodus of the local 'pandits'. Respected local pharmacist ML Bindroo, a Sikh school principal, a non-Muslim Dhaba owner's son, pavement sellers belonging to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, a non-local carpenter and half a dozen labourers were killed by terrorists in 2021 to spread fear. Also Read Azad joins Christmas celebrations; cautions people against divisive politics The targeting of local police, even those performing traffic duties, has proved that the engagement of the local police force in anti-militancy operations has badly hit the capacity of the militants to continue anti-national and subversive activities. While targeting off-guard policemen and unarmed civilians, the militants have not been able to carry out any major attack other than the firing at a police bus ferrying police personnel in the Zeewan area at Srinagar outskirts. The policemen in the bus attacked by militants on December 13 belonged to the J&K armed police that has not directly been involved in anti-militancy operations. Three policemen were killed and 14 injured in this attack that is seen as the biggest terror strike against the security forces in 2021. Security forces have carried out highly intelligence-driven, coordinated operations against militants in 2021 that resulted in killing of 186 militants. Three civilians were killed during an operation against militants in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar city on November 15. Initially, the authorities said the slain persons were militants and on that premise they were buried in Handwara town of Kupwara district without any family participation. Subsequent evidence indicated that they were civilians and had been killed during the encounter because of their presence inside the building where the firing had taken place. The bodies of two civilians belonging to Srinagar were handed over to the families while that of the third, belonging to Ramban district of Jammu division, has still not been exhumed. Also Read Sons, relatives of slain ultras joining militancy in Kashmir: Study After nearly three years, 2021 saw the revival of political activity by mainstream parties as the talk of the Assembly elections in early 2022 gained currency. The delimitation commission came up with draft proposals to increase seven seats in the Assembly, of which six would fall in Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Kishtwar, Doda and Rajouri districts of Jammu division, while the valley would get one additional seat in Kupwara district. For the first time, the delimitation commission has proposed to give reservation to Scheduled Tribes, who will get nine seats in the 90-member J&K Assembly, while the Scheduled Castes would get six reserved seats. The decision to add six seats to Jammu division has irked the valley-centric parties like the National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party, People's Conference, Apni Party and the CPI(M). These parties have alleged that the addition of six seats to Jammu, which would now have 43 seats, would load the dice heavily in favour of the BJP during the Assembly elections. The BJP has said the decision to add seats to Jammu has undone historic blunders done against the division since 1947. The Congress, on the other hand, has tried to distance itself from the controversy of seat allocation to the Jammu division asserting that the party sees J&K as one unit. In addition to the proposed 90 seats, the delimitation commission has proposed to keep 24 seats vacant for parts of J&K under the occupation of Pakistan. Tourism saw an appreciable rise in 2021 despite the ongoing pandemic, which imposed restrictions on free movement of visitors. In comparison to 2020, there was a huge increase in tourist influx this year. Official figures say 1.27 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in 2021, against 6,327 in 2020 and 12,086 in 2019. Due to the pandemic, the annual Amarnath Yatra to the Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir Anantnag district was not held for a second consecutive year. Also Read Ceasefire violations by Pakistan along J&K border declined sharply in 2021 The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra in Reasi district of Jammu division was resumed, while limiting the number of daily devotees. More than 35 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine in 2021. The Central rule continued in J&K during the year with the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha trying hard to push development and better administrative dispensation on the ground. Despite the best efforts of the L-G, the people in J&K have been blaming the administration for remaining unavailable for redressing public grievances. One hallmark of the Lt Governor's rule has been the proactive role played by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Successful traps have been laid by the ACB in 2021 during which public servants have been caught accepting bribes from people. In its drive against corruption, the ACB has also trapped some police while indulging in corruption. Despite the appreciable effort put in by the ACB, corruption remains a fact of daily life in J&K. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat, who was upset over the delay in the construction of a medical college in his constituency Kotdwar and had announced his resignation after walking out of the Cabinet meeting, has said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is like his younger brother, signalling that the sulking leader is placated now. All issues seem to have been sorted out in the Uttarakhand BJP as after having dinner with Dhami on Saturday, Rawat said: "Dhami is like my younger brother and our relationship dates back many years. "My blessing is with Pushkar Singh Dhami." Dhami also shared a picture on Twitter, saying: "Met cabinet colleague Harak Singh Rawat over dinner and discussed current issues of the state." Main opposition party in the state, the Congress had been claiming that Rawat will come back into its fold as he was not happy with the saffron party and was feeling suffocated. Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP youth wing national secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted: "Hello Congress, Stop dreaming for Uttarakhand. We are one and United." Sources said that Rawat's concern has been addressed and he is not going anywhere. It is learnt that the Dhami government has accepted Rawat's proposal for the medical college in his Assembly constituency Kotdwar and the budget for the medical college would be released in a couple of days. A senior party functionary said that the BJP cannot afford to lose any leader, MLA or minister months before state Assembly polls. "In elections everyone is important and any party cannot afford to lose a senior leader like Harak Singh, when you are in a triangular contest with the Congress and AAP. Everyone is important and we will not let anyone go," he said. Election to the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly will be held in February- March next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. The BJP has set a target of winning over 60 seats in next Assembly polls in Uttarakhand. In the last Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 57 seats. Check out DH's latest videos: Taking on his own party's government, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday asked people whether they were getting cable TV connection and sand at the cheap rates announced recently. "There may be many announcements. Are you getting cable at Rs 100? Are you getting sand free of charge, its price is Rs 3,700-4,400 (trolley)," he said, addressing a public meeting at Batala in Gurdaspur. Also Read: FIR not enough, won't rest till Majithia is arrested: Sidhu At the same rally, he also dared senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who has been booked under the NDPS Act, to face the law. Last month, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had announced that the charges for cable TV connection had been fixed at Rs 100 a month. He also announced that sand will be sold at Rs 5.50 (verify) per cubic feet. Batting for his 'Punjab model' of governance, Sidhu said if it gets clearance from the party leadership, a sand trolley will be available at just Rs 1,000. "This is why I am telling you it will not work with mere talk. It will come with a policy and budgetary allocation it won't work with 'jugaad'," the Congress leader said. Sharpening his attack against Majithia, Sidhu said just registering an FIR against the Akali leader was not enough. Daring him to come out and face the law, the Congress leader said, "Where are you Bikram Majithia?" "If you have guts, remain at home. Are you scared," he asked. Majithia has been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act on the basis of a 2018 status report of a probe into the drug racket in the state. A Mohali court recently rejected Majithia's anticipatory bail plea. A lookout circular, which prevents a person from leaving the country, has also been issued against him. "Nothing will happen with the FIR. Unless he (Majithia) is arrested, Sidhu will not rest," Sidhu added. Also Read: Sidhu condemns 'sacrilege bids', says conspiracies being hatched to disturb Punjab "Punjab's land is being looted even today, and the state is being mortgaged," he alleged. Stating that no rival political party has given any roadmap for the farming sector, Sidhu promised minimum support price for oilseeds and pulses if his party returns to power. Asserting that Batala was known for its foundry industry, Sidhu said the local industry would be allowed to buy the cheapest power wherever it was available in the country. He also asked the gathering not to fall prey to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's trap. Sidhu lashed out at the Delhi chief minister for not giving jobs he promised to the people in the national capital. Without naming anyone, Sidhu said if people wanted to save Punjab's next generation, punish people like Majithia, justice in sacrilege incidents and employment for youth, they should bring an honest person at the top. "The chief minister does everything, he has absolute power," he said. "If you make an honest person sit at the top, then honesty and transparency will percolate down below," the Congress leader said. Sidhu also backed the candidature of local leader Ashwani Sekhri from the Batala seat. Watch the latest DH videos here: Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is planning to visit Varanasi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh after New Years Day, her Trinamool Congress is continuing to explore options to expand beyond West Bengal even in the southern States. The Trinamool Congress initially sought to keep away from the Congress during the winter session of Parliament, but the suspension of the opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha forced it to join the other opposition parties to protest against what they called the dictatorial attitude of the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. But with the parliamentary session now over, the Trinamool Congress is now likely to go full steam ahead to expand its footprints beyond West Bengal, even if it has to do so at the expense of the Congress. Also Read | 'We work on land, not in the sky,' says Mamata as Trinamool heads for clean sweep in Kolkata civic polls Sources in the Trinamool Congress said that the party was still in touch with the Congress veteran and Health Minister of Chhattisgarh, T S Singh Deo, who appeared to be unhappy over the reluctance of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to vacate the top office to make way for him to take over. Though Singh Deo himself dismissed the speculation over his leaving the Congress and joining the Trinamool Congress, Banerjees party is likely to keep its door open for him and make a fresh overture to him, possibly after the assembly elections in the five states. The Trinamool Congress also reached out to Tamil Manila Congress in Tamil Nadu, as well as some disgruntled leaders of the Congress in Telangana. Banerjee is likely to visit Varanasi, where late Congress stalwart Kamalapati Tripathis grandson Rajeshpati Tripathi and great-grandson Laliteshpati Tripathi already joined her Trinamool Congress. She may offer obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath temple too, according to the sources in the Trinamool Congress. It is, however, still not clear if she will take part in any political event during her visit to Varanasi a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read | Centre calls meeting of party leaders of 12 suspended MPs; Oppn unlikely to attend The Trinamool Congress has been trying to expand to other states across the country ever since it stalled the BJPs juggernaut and had a landslide victory in the assembly elections in West Bengal earlier this year. The party has been trying to emerge as a formidable political force in Goa, although Congress has accused it of actually trying to split votes to make it easier for the ruling BJP to retain power. Apart from opening its door for grandson and great-grandson of Kamalapati Tripathi, the Trinamool Congress, however, has not yet made any move to enter the political scene in Uttar Pradesh, which will also go to polls along with Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand in February-March 2022. Banerjee said during her last visit to New Delhi that she and other leaders of her party would be ready to campaign for the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh if Akhilesh Yadav asked them to do so in the northern state. The Trinamool Congress supremo may also visit Haryana, where her party recently opened its first office after a former Congress MP from the state, Ashok Tanwar, joined it. Watch the latest DH Videos here: With the Omicron Covid-19 variant gradually making its presence felt, the Karnataka government is taking pre-emptive steps in the form of a 'night curfew' which will come into effect from December 28. Meanwhile, the gap between the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and the third, which is being called a "precaution dose", is likely to be nine to 12 months, PTI sources said. Come back tomorrow for continuous updates. Kerala Chief Minister and CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has been constantly attacking the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) by giving it a communal tag, this seems to be his political strategy to seek a cut in the Muslim vote bank of Kerala. During his first term as Chief Minister, from 2016 to 2021, Vijayan enhanced his rapport with the church leaders by proactively taking up their grievances and thereby made inroads into Christian vote banks that were enjoyed by Congress. CPM had also gained from it in the recent Assembly elections. Now, Vijayan seems to be playing a similar strategy to make inroads into the Muslim vote banks by attacking the IUML, which is a key coalition partner of the Congress, according to political analysts. Vijayan has alleged that the IUML is a communal party. He also alleged that IUML was dictating terms to the Congress. Recently, Vijayan foiled a bid by an IUML-backed forum to organise protests in mosques against the Left-front government's moves to entrust recruitment to Kerala Wakf Board to the Public Service Commission. Vijayan managed to take into confidence the leaders of Samastha Kerala Jem'iyyathul Ulema, a supreme body of Islamic scholars of Kerala. Veteran political analyst M N Karassery told DH that Vijayan seems to be trying to weaken the IUML by constantly attacking it and giving it a communal colour. In the meantime, he is also developing a good rapport with other Muslim leaders which was evident in the Wakf Board issue. The decision to give ministerial berth to the lone MLA of the Indian National League, despite it being an insignificant coalition partner in the Left-front, could be also seen as an effort to weaken the IUML. Karassery also said since Congress lost power for the second consecutive term, the chances of IUML cadres exploring options to allign with the Left-front could not be ruled out in the long run. He pointed out that the CPM already managed to make inroads into the Christian community that constitutes 18 per cent of Kerala population (as per 2011 census) and if they gain the backing of the Muslim community, which constitutes 27 percent of the population, the Left-front would be able to remain in power in Kerala without any hassle. Then there is also the considerable fall in vote share of IUML candidates even in its strongholds in North Kerala in the last Assembly polls, Karassery said. Check out latest videos from DH: The indefinite strike here by fishermen demanding the immediate release of fishers arrested by Sri Lanka entered the eighth day while community leaders on Sunday said a 'massive rail roko' would be held on January 1. Until the Centre has secured the release of all arrested fishermen and their boats, the strike would continue to be on, said P Sesu Raja and S Emerit, leaders of separate fishermen's associations. Sesu Raja is president of Tamil Nadu Kadalora Meenava Sangam and Emerit heads the Meenavan Meenava Sangam. On January 1, a 'massive rail roko protest' would be held here, they said. Fishermen hailing from different parts of Tamil Nadu, including Rameswaram and Pudukottai, were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel between December 19 and 21, 2021 after they allegedly crossed the international maritime boundary. After their arrest, an indefinite strike was launched here by fishermen associations on December 19. While other fishermen associations too joined the strike and took part in agitations, a section of them have reportedly resumed work on Sunday, following Christmas. Leaders of fishermen associations also plan to visit Delhi and meet Union Ministers as part of efforts to find a long-term solution to the continuing arrest of fishermen. Days ago, Chief Minister M K Stalin had urged the Centre to take immediate action to secure the release of all the 68 arrested fishermen and their 75 fishing boats. Stalin had also requested the Centre to establish India's traditional fishing rights in Palk Strait and guard the lives of fishermen. Check out latest videos from DH: A delegation of Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to seek his approval for the election of Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The Speaker post has been vacant for eight months. The delegation consisted of Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat of the Congress, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of the NCP and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena. The post of the Speaker has been vacant since February after Nana Patole resigned to take over as Maharashtra Congress President. Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal of the NCP is holding the fort officiating the Constitutional post. The name of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and three-term MLA from Bhor, Sangram Thopte is doing the rounds. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and now the outbreak of Omicron, the MVA had scheduled only a week-long session, which was opposed by BJP and sought an extension. The Speakers election - by a voice vote - is expected to be held on Monday and Tuesday. Thorat, who is also the leader of Congress Legislature Party, said that the delegation handed over a letter by Thackeray to the Governor. According to him, the Governor had sought details of the amendment in legislative rules about holding the election through voice vote instead of the ballot. The Governor has informed that he will discuss and seek more information from legal experts and convey his decision by Monday," Thorat said Shinde, who is a case aide of Thackeray, said the change in the procedure of holding the Speaker's election has been done as per rules and we are confident that the Governor will give his approval soon. Notably, last week, Chavan tabled the suggestions of the Legislative Rules Committee of Assembly to conduct the Speakers election by voice vote instead of secret ballot. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis lead the BJP protest against reducing the time frame allocated for objections and suggestions on the report of the Legislative Rules Committee from 10 days to one. Fadnavis said, The Supreme Court in its order had urged 12 MLAs who have been suspended in this House to submit an application to the (Deputy) Speaker to reconsider their suspension. As per the apex courts directions, the 12 MLAs have submitted such an application to you. The session is going to end on the 28th. You want to conduct the Speaker's election. I urge you with all humility that you should give your verdict on the application of these 12 MLAs before the Speaker's election." Both Shinde and Thorat said the Governor had not discussed the issue of suspending 12 BJP MLAs or the long-pending nomination of 12 members to the Legislative Council from the Governor's quota. It has been for over a year that Koshyari had kept the nominations of MLCs pending. According to Article171(5) of the Constitution: (5) The members to be nominated by the Governor under sub-clause (e) of clause (3) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service. While the Governor has to go by the recommendations of the Cabinet, there is no deadline by which the Governor has to clear the nominations. Check out latest videos from DH: At a time when the world is facing frequent, ghastly episodes of cyclones, hurricanes and deep depressions leading to violent storms that claim several lives, and while India has pledged to achieve net-zero emission by 2070 at the global climate conference CoP26, the Karnataka government has approved a 168.23-km railway line between Hubballi and Ankola that diverts virgin forest land of 595 hectares. Global warming and consequent climatic changes have been held responsible for natural disasters, death and destruction. While the overexploitation of forests and other landscapes are believed to be the main causes for the collapse of ecological systems, India, unfortunately, does not seem to have learnt any lessons from the recent catastrophes. The proposed construction of the Hubballi-Ankola railroad looks like a project of fulfilment and commitment rather than a necessity for serving a large cause that benefits a vast number of people in the region. The railway line runs through the dense forests of the Western Ghats, one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots of the UN, where three elephant corridors, a tiger reserve and a wildlife sanctuary are located. The project includes 34 tunnels and nine stations that disconnect and fragment a large number of habitats of elephants and tigers. Indeed, it is an environmentally disastrous project that will be a major setback to the people of North Karnataka in particular and the Western Ghats region in general. More than 3,00,000 trees of the primary forest are going to be felled to clear the way for the proposed rail line. The forests down below the famous Magodu falls are a treasure trove of valuable, terrestrial resources that span the vast swathes of the Western Ghats, which were formed millions of years ago and believed to be much older than the Himalayan forests. Such enormously rich forests have given millions of people precious wealth like water, air, medicinal plants, soil nutrients and a number of other products like honey, fruits and wood material on a sustainable basis. Also Read | Hubballi-Ankola rail line: Karnataka HC tells National Wildlife Board to assess impact Further, the most important feature of the Western Ghats are the rivers that irrigate millions of acres of agricultural land and also produce hydropower for hundreds of industries that employ thousands of people. The electricity hence produced lights up a large number of homes in the Ghat region of South India. Besides the benefits and advantages to entire southern India, the forests also help the Indian subcontinent in terms of carbon sequestration and mitigating the rise in temperature as the countrys economic activities rise. Constant threat At a time when the world is under the constant threat of rising temperature and, thereby, climate change, the government needs to think about what nature has gifted us, which could be retained so that it wont compound the worsening situation. As a matter of fact, the government may look at the Western Ghats as a predominant environmental specimen that has been catering to the basic needs of millions of people and can also mitigate the climate crisis. Unfortunately, these forests, over the past few decades, are fast-declining due to the encroaching projects that satiate the economic avarice of the state and the private sector. Instead, the government should think of the Ghat region of North Karnataka as a range that fulfils the needs of communities in terms of agriculture, water, soil, biodiversity and grasslands. These salient features of the region have credited the land between Ranebennuru and Belagavi with a very special tag, namely the ecotone belt, which means this stretch of the region is compressed with four ecosystems (forests of the Western Ghats, the scrub jungle, the pond ecosystem and the grasslands within 45 km of breadth and the running length of 200 km between these two towns). If North Karnataka is distinct in its taste, flavour and nutrients of food and fruits and vegetables, it is because of this ecotone belt, which is uniquely situated and nowhere else to be found in the country. If the government is serious enough with regards to the sustainable development of the state, there is a need to take into account both direct and indirect values of these forests in terms of protecting agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. Because the loss of these enormous trees will affect the region by disturbing the monsoon and the pattern of flow of water in the rivers. There are four more rivers towards the north of this proposed rail line, namely the Kali, the Malaprabha, the Ghataprabha and Mahadayi. These rivers are the lifeline of the entire North Karnataka region where millions of acres of land are irrigated. The rich forests are the source of abundant rains which fill the tanks, lakes and rivers of Uttara Kannada and Belagavi districts. If thousands of people are living in the vicinity of the forests, it is because of the strong and genuine reason that the land, shrubs, grass, soils and nutrients support their livelihood. They wont migrate so long as they have these earthly offerings provided by the Western Ghats. This region, where the government has proposed to lay the rail lines, has good roads by which people travel between Hubballi, Ankola and Karwar. As a matter of fact, there is not much trade that happens between these places, except iron ore, which is perhaps one of the reasons for this railroad, and even that is carried by an existing line that goes through Londa and reaches Karwar. Therefore, there is a strong cause to avoid the proposed destruction of the biodiversity-rich forest, which will spell doom for North Karnataka if the lines are laid by clearing the forests. (Heblikar is actor-director and environmentalist: Raj is a professor at ISEC) Check out latest DH videos here As we finish celebrating the 50th anniversary of Indias historic victory in the 1971 Bangladesh War, there is a strong urge to use this conflict as a benchmark for extrapolating Indias future trajectory as a putative great-power. A great power is, by definition, a sovereign state that possesses the ability to exert influence on a global or regional scale, by virtue of its economic, technological and military strengths, as well as its diplomatic adroitness and cultural (or soft) power. Therefore, without detracting in any way from the brilliant success of Indian arms, and the gallantry of our soldiers, sailors and airmen in the 1971 war, we need to reflect whether a single military victory by itself is enough for a nation to anoint itself as a significant or great power. While analysing this conflict, two factors need to be kept in mind. Firstly, it was the breathing spell, from March to September 1971, granted by then prime minister Indira Gandhi at Gen Sam Manekshaws urging, that enabled the armed forces to remedy serious equipment voids through a massive airlift from the USSR. Secondly, even though jointness as a concept had not been formally introduced, the tri-service military leadership of the day showed enormous sagacity, which enabled close cooperation and coordination and ensured success of operations. However, the military operations undertaken, with the exception of the navys missile attack on Karachi, were rooted in WW II doctrines, and would have little relevance in the 21st century, high-tech battlespace. Also Read | 1971 war: 50 years on, has India emerged a leader? Moving on from the triumphalism of this conflict, we also need to take note of the lack of doctrinal clarity, diffidence and self-imposed constraints, that have, traditionally, marked the manner in which the Indian state has wielded force. A few examples, before and after 1971, bear mention in this context. The inconclusive 1947 Indo-Pak conflict and the disastrous 1962 encounter with the Chinese were a preview of what was to become a trademark of independent Indias tentative approach to national security issues earning for it the pejorative label of a soft state. In 1987, a large Indian Peace-keeping Force was hastily despatched to Sri Lanka without adequate forethought or planning, both at the political and military levels. The flawed political rationale that had underpinned Operation Pawan collapsed with a Sri Lankan volte face and the venture ended up as much a political disaster as a military failure with considerable loss of lives. In more recent times, the Kargil conflict of 1999 brought us face to face with loss of vital territory, nuclear blackmail and national dishonour. This grave situation could only be retrieved by the sacrifices of our gallant soldiers in suicidal uphill assaults. Two years later, in 2001, India mobilised a million men in response to a terrorist attack on Parliament, only to de-mobilise them after 11 months, with significant loss of life, but without tangible gains, political or military. The June 2020 border intrusions by the Chinese PLA, in eastern Ladakh again took us by surprise, and while the army responded with alacrity, there persists a complete lack of clarity in New Delhi about the nature and extent of Chinese incursions as well as the motives behind their actions. The story in the asymmetric-warfare domain is not much different. The poorly handled hijacking of IC-814 in 1999, the 2008 attack by seaborne terrorists who held Mumbai hostage for 96 hours, and the 2016 penetration of military units in Pathankot, Uri and Nagrota, exposed the lack of crisis-management expertise in Indias security establishment. The September 2016 cross-border commando raids and the 2019 post-Pulwama air raid, into Pakistan, marked a welcome change that would have conveyed strong signals of national resolve and retribution. Regrettably, the absence of a policy underpinning, to these actions, and their exploitation for political gains, trivialised them, diluting their deterrent value. Having undertaken this rapid scan of systemic security shortcomings, let me pinpoint four critical factors which need to be addressed by decision-makers before India can respond effectively to security challenges and stake a claim to great power status. Firstly, it is the responsibility of statesmen and diplomats to ensure that nations resort to application of force, only as a measure of last resort, and after they have exhausted all other avenues of dispute-resolution. In this regard, India is in a most un-enviable situation being sandwiched between two hostile nuclear-armed neighbours with both of whom we have fought wars over territorial disputes. It should be a matter for reflection, for our diplomats, that they have failed, for decades, post-bellum, to negotiate ad-hoc boundaries into stable, mutually agreed upon international borders. They must also reflect on the fact that India has rarely been able to dissuade any neighbour Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal Sri Lanka or even tiny Maldives from undertaking actions inimical to Indian interests. The loss of all friends in our close neighbourhood should weigh, heavily, on the minds of our statesmen and diplomats. Secondly, a term heard consistently in Indias national security discourse is surprise, used in the context of the 1947, 1962, 1965 and Kargil conflicts, as well as the latest Chinese incursions in Ladakh and episodes like the IC-814 hijacking and the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike. The phrase implies intelligence failures on account of flaws in collection, collation and analysis as well as timely dissemination of crucial information. Consequent to the 1999 Kargil Review Committee Report, Indias intelligence system has been overhauled and received an infusion of technical wherewithal of great sophistication. However, if the armed forces are still not receiving timely and actionable inputs, there is need for government to exercise greater oversight in this domain. Thirdly, we should be under no illusions that Indias claim of strategic autonomy will remain a meaningless slogan as long we are dependent on external sources for military hardware and systems. We must also be extremely wary of a false sense of confidence that can be induced by incorrect claims of indigenous production. In their rush to seek credit for atma nirbharta, organisations and individuals are not above passing off licence-produced and even assembled items as indigenous. Here again, oversight and close monitoring of scientific projects would yield better results. While banning of imports may sound like a good idea, what we actually need is a 50-year technology roadmap for Indias defence industry, and a wholehearted embrace of the private sector. Finally, two vital steps, on the path to great-power status, are: the conceptualisation of a vision for the nation, and the formulation of a Grand Strategy to attain it. Both lie in the purview of statesmen, but soldiers and diplomats can lend a hand. (The writer, who was awarded Vir Chakra for his gallantry in the India-Pakistan war in 1971, retired as the chief of Indian Navy and the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in 2006) Check out latest DH videos here The ruling BJP in Karnataka is taking steps to bring accountability in the management of temples in the state. The government has decided to act tough against temple managements and initiate legal proceedings if they do not fall in line as far as bringing transparency is concerned. After making an announcement in this regard, Minister of the Muzarai department Shashikala Jolle issued a circular giving a deadline to the powerful and influential temple authorities in the state. The Assistant Commissioner of the muzarai department has been asked to visit at least three temples a week, conduct verification of accounts and submit reports. The officers have also been instructed to file a monthly report on accounts' submission by the temple authorities. The exercise has been taken up to ensure transparency in the affairs of temples. The department has warned the officers of stern action in case of dereliction of duty in this regard. As per the records of the muzarai department, there are 207 'A' grade temples with an annual income of more than Rs 25 lakh. Likewise, there are 139 'B' grade temples which have an income of between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 24.99 lakh. These 'A' and 'B' grade temples are required to submit accounts every year as per the law. Only four temples in the state -- Chamundeshwari temple of Mysuru, Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara temple, Ghati Subramanya temple and Banashankari temple of Bengaluru -- are submitting audit reports every year. Barring these four temples, other cash rich temples and their managements who are generating huge incomes through commercial activities and commercial complexes have not bothered to submit accounts. Successive Congress governments and the so called secular leaders have not dared to touch upon the subject of bringing transparency in temple management and hold powerful temple managements responsible for accounts. Even the Siddaramaiah government, branded as anti-Hindu by the Bharatiya Janata Party, did not dare to address the issue. Surprisingly, the ruling BJP is all set to take up the sensitive issue as each temple has lakhs of devotees and there is a possibility that any action against the temple authorities would anger them. Though taluk and zilla panchayat elections are due and the party is gearing up for the 2023 assembly elections, the muzarai department seems determined to ensure transparency in the affairs of the temples. Speaking to IANS, Minister for Muzarai, Hajj and Wakf Shashikala Jolle explained that since times immemorial the people have emotional bonds with temples. More than 35,000 temples in the state have their own properties. Many properties have been lost. The temple authorities have built commercial complexes and shops in the premises and properties of the temples. "It has come to our notice that temple properties are encroached, those who have taken properties on lease are not returning them and not paying rent. So, a survey has to be conducted and the properties of the temples have to be declared," Jolle said. The survey will be taken up in coordination with the revenue department and talks have been initiated with the Revenue Minister. "I have already discussed the matter with the Chief Minister and it is about bringing transparency in temple accounts and preservation of properties of temples," she added. There should be accountability for the money collected from devotees. Whenever devotees' money is being spent there should be transparency. It has come to our notice that many temple managements have not submitted audit reports since 100 to 15 years, she said. Jolle stated that accountability and transparency have to be maintained and with this intention directions have been given to temple authorities to submit audit reports by January 20, 2022. In case of non-compliance, the muzarai department will initiate legal action against the temple authorities under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act and Rules. Siddalnga Prabhu, member of the Rajya Dharmika Parishat, told IANS that the step is very much required. The muzarai department would get 10 per cent of the income and it will be utilized for the renovation of 'C' grade temples across the state. Besides, it is desirable to have transparency in temple accounts. There are 1.80 lakh temples in Karnataka among which 35,500 temples come under the muzarai department. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had released Rs 2,000 crore for the muzarai department. Present Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is also releasing funds for the development of temples. There is a master plan and detailed project report on maintaining hygiene in temples across the state, he stated. Check out DH's latest videos: Karnataka announced Sunday a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am for 10 days starting December 28. Health and Family Welfare Minister K Sudhakar said that all public gatherings for new year celebrations will be prohibited. "Only 50 per cent occupancy in hotels will be allowed," he added. The rule will apply to pubs and restaurants also. "Every activity after 10 pm will be curbed," he said. However, there will be no restrictions on movement of public transport services and goods. The decision was following a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai with ministers, senior officials and experts on the spread of the Omicron variant. "Based on the situation in the next 10 days, the government will review whether additional curbs are necessary," he said. According to guidelines issued, all gatherings including marriages, meetings, conferences etc from December 28 should strictly limit the number of participants to 300. Patrolling and surveillance at all border districts adjoining Maharastra and Kerala state will be intensified. CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE ONLY ON DH The movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited, save in some cases. "Patients and their attendants requiring emergency need for movement shall be allowed" along with employees of industries and companies which require operations at night. There will be no prohibition for the movement of employees and vehicles of telecom and internet service providers, essential staff of IT and ITeS companies and employees of medical, emergency and other essential services. Movement of all types of goods, home delivery of goods and operations of e-commerce companies are allowed. Movement of buses, trains, metro and air travel is permitted, according to the guidelines. Commenting on vaccination in the state, Sudhakar said that first dose coverage was at 97 per cent, while second dose coverage was 75 per cent. "As many as 45 lakh people are yet to get the second dose and have surpassed the due date of vaccination. These people should understand that Omicron is spreading at a very fast pace and get fully vaccinated," he said. The meeting also discussed the preparations of the Health Department in case the variant spread at a faster pace. "The department will add 3,191 ICU beds to the existing 4,000 ICU beds. The number of oxygenated beds with the government was around 30,000," he said. Preventive doses will be administered from January 10 to those above 60 and co-morbidities along with healthcare and frontline workers, he said. In the first phase of vaccination for those between 15-18 years of age, around 43 lakh children will benefit. The government will also procure equipment for early detection of the Omicron variant, Sudhakar added. Check out DH's latest videos The recent Legislative Council election results came as a rude shock for the JD(S), with the regional party losing ground in the old Mysore region. The results also saw the Congress regain an upper hand here, putting the BJP in a tricky spot, even as it hopes to make inroads in the region. The old Mysore region that comprises some 60-odd constituencies is a crucial bloc for any party in Karnataka to win elections and it was originally a Congress bastion where the JD(S) established a strong presence in recent decades. Dominated by the Vokkaliga community, the region includes Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Ramanagara, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Kodagu districts, among others. Also Read | Council elections outcome setback to JD(S): Kumaraswamy Some of the tallest leaders of both Congress and JD(S), including former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy, are from the region. With just over a year left for the 2023 Assembly elections, the region is witnessing a shift in political dynamics. In the Council election results this month, the JD(S) won only two seats in Hassan (Suraj Revanna) and Mysore-Chamarajanagar (C N Manje Gowda). The regional party lost to Congress in its turf in Mandya. The Congress also won in Kolar, Tumkur and the second seat in Mysore-Chamarajnagar, reasserting its strength in the region. This was a blow to the JD(S), which has already lost considerable seats in this region in the Chikkaballapur, Hunsur and Sira bypolls. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda lost in Tumkur, while his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy lost in Mandya. The JD(S) have been kingmakers until now, a leverage which is being diluted. The region is now turning out to be a two-way fight between Congress and BJP, points out M J Vinod, professor of international studies, politics and history at Christ (deemed-to-be-university). A number of JD(S) MLAs from this region are expected to jump ship to Congress in the run-up to the 2023 polls. The BJP is keenly watching the changing political landscape in the Old Mysore region, where the saffron party is building its base. One BJP leader cautions against writing off the clout of the JD(S). The MLC polls are manipulated. The party still has a strong base at the grassroots level, he said. Congress hopes that the Vokkaliga factor will work in its favour. With KPCC president D K Shivakumar aspiring to be the CM, were seeing the community slowly coming together for his support. Such a trend was visible previously when Deve Gowda and S M Krishna became the CMs, one Congress insider says. Plans are afoot in the party for further organisational strengthening. Booth-level rejuvenation will be the focus. We have also started a membership drive to reach 50 lakh members over three months, says KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed. The BJP, which wants to make a mark here, may field former CM B S Yediyurappas son B Y Vijayendra from Varuna, a constituency currently represented by Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra. The party has already made inroads here by winning Hassan and KR Pet Assembly seats. Whats next for the BJP? The party leadership wants to make the best use of the changing dynamics in old Mysore by tying up with JD(S). The strategy is to bring together Vokkaligas (who support JD-S) and Lingayats (supporting BJP), a senior BJP leader says. BJPs Hassan MLA Preetham Gowda points out that the party will have to nurture local leadership if it has to gain a stronger presence in the region. While district incharge ministers who are appointed from other districts can coordinate and manage the cadre, winning an election requires local leaders who can connect with the cadre at the grassroots level, he opines. Check out latest DH videos here A group of Irish medics have been prescribing themselves poetry, amid the stresses and strains of working at the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Stephen Hatton first thought about starting a poetry society in the depths of winter 2020, as cases began to soar. It was a dark and wet winter, Dr Hatton, who works at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin, said. Going to work every day was pretty grey, there was a lot of sickness. This was before the vaccine and it was quite a sad time for the country and the world, but personally for me as well. I found great respite and relief in literature and poetry. I found the stuff that I was reading motivated me every day to keep going and keep trying. I thought, maybe that would be of benefit to other people I worked with. And I put the idea together and maybe for about three months there were regular weekly meetings and just myself in attendance, Dr Hatton joked. Eventually, people came out of the woodwork and started joining the society and it became what it is today. The group is called the St Jamess Hospital Poets and Players Society, the first and only poetry society in any Irish hospital. As regularly as they can, amid the ever-changing Covid-19 situation, the group of healthcare workers gather together to discuss, read and perform some of their own poetry. Get-togethers have included visits to the Museum of Literature Ireland and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), as well as what Dr Hatton called a Poets and Players Society Post-It, Poetry and Pizza Party. We wrote poems on post-its and stuck them around the staff rest area, he said. The young doctor, who counts Robert Frost as his favourite poet, said it was only recently that he realised the extent of his passion for rhyme and metre. I actually had If by Rudyard Kipling scribbled in the back of my school journal and would read it most days really, he said. But I never recognised that that was an interest in literature or poetry. Funnily enough, even through college, I never really recognised that I would always, always find a new poem every couple of weeks that would mean something to me. Only really now since Covid-19 have I realised how much it means to me to feel something that someone else has thought about or written down. The group had planned an event showcasing their own work at IMMA, but rising Covid-19 cases and the advent of new restrictions has put paid to the idea for now. Instead, the focus has turned to putting together a poetry pamphlet to give to patients. The themes hopefully being reassurance, calmness, hopefulness those sorts of like pleasant themes that might bring solace to people who are sick in hospital, particularly around winter, Dr Hatton added. Hospitals are very difficult places to be in at the best of times, but they can be particularly chaotic in winter. Recent months have already proved difficult for patients and medics alike at St Jamess Hospital, amid intense pressure on the Irish health system. Myself and my close colleagues are exhausted, Dr Hatton said. And there wasnt anything left in the tank this time last Christmas. And then we endured a terrible lockdown and increasing burden on healthcare through last winter. And now to be returned to those days, its kind of like Groundhog Day. Theres lots of uncertainty and its hard to feel positive when youre facing such uncertainty. Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending a 20-person team from the U.S. Navy to support Bellin Healths COVID-19 response in the Green Bay area. This assistance is critical for supporting hospitals and health care systems that are at or nearly at capacity. FEMAs support was secured in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs and Wisconsin Emergency Management. I asked for additional federal assistance to support our states continued response to the pandemic, and I am grateful for FEMAs efforts to help our health care workers with the high volume of patients due to COVID-19 and other health conditions, said Governor Evers. I urge every Wisconsinite to take immediate action and get the COVID-19 vaccine and your booster dose if you havent received it alreadythis is critically important for mitigating surges in hospitalizations and deaths across our state. Our hospitals and health care systems are relying on us to do our part to get the COVID-19 vaccine and stop the spread of COVID-19. Support from the FEMA teams will be critical as COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin are surging. The latest seven-day average of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin is 3,315, nearly double the number two months ago. As of December 17, there are 1,664 Wisconsinites hospitalized with COVID-19 and 423 of them are in the intensive care unit. That is an increase of 30 in one week, and 258 since December 1. Our health care systems continue to be under tremendous pressure. Across Wisconsin, 96 percent of intensive care beds and 98 percent of intermediate care beds are currently in use, said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. The FEMA team will be essential to supporting our health care system in Northeastern Wisconsin. We continue to be in conversations with our federal partners to help other hospitals and health care systems in our state that are at or over capacity. This support is essential to ensuring Wisconsinites have access to this critical care. While we are incredibly grateful to be receiving federal assistance, we know that this assistance is temporary, said Chris Woleske, President and CEO of Bellin Health. As a result, we are asking the community to work with us to stop the spread of COVID-19 by masking and getting vaccinated to ensure our hospitals and health systems can continue to provide high-quality care for all who need it. Yesterday, DHS issued a public health advisory calling on all Wisconsinites to take urgent action to prevent additional hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. The highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Wisconsin and is anticipated to cause a rapid increase in disease activity in the coming weeks. There is a serious risk that continued, increased numbers of COVID-19 cases will overwhelm an already strained health care system, leading to dangerous situations where patients experiencing medical emergencies may not be able to receive immediate, adequate, life-saving attention and care due to lack of hospital capacity. To slow the spread of the Omicron variant, DHS is urging all Wisconsinites to take the following actions immediately: Get vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster dose as soon as you are eligible. Wear a well-fitting mask in indoor spaces when others are present who do not live with you. Celebrate safely over the holidays by keeping gatherings small, getting tested before visiting others, and staying home if you have any symptoms. Anyone with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, regardless of their vaccination status. If you are exposed to COVID-19, get tested 5-7 days after exposure. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay home while you are waiting for your results. Trusted testing partners include local health departments, community testing sites, pharmacies, and health care providers. At-home COVID-19 tests can also be used before gathering with family and friends. DHS currently provides free at-home collection kits, a type of at-home test, for all Wisconsinites. To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider in your community, visit Vaccines.gov, or call 211 or 877-947-2211. For up-to-date information about Wisconsins COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. You can also follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information on COVID-19. Local Fianna Fail Senator Erin McGreehan is encouraging people to submit to the governments recently announced Autism Innovations Strategy. Senator McGreehan commented: I welcome the work that Minister Anne Rabbitte and her Department are doing with this Autism Innovation Strategy. There are many changes that have to be made across society, big and small, to make our community more welcoming for those with autism. There are so many challenges and we need to have a whole-of-government approach to advance the rights of people with autism in Irish society. Anyone wishing to make a submission is invited to consider what shape they believe the Strategy should take, the areas it should focus on, and the development and engagement timeline outlined for 2022. According to the government, the Autism Innovation Strategy development process is designed to facilitate the participation of autistic people at every stage, in line with commitments to ensure that people with disabilities have opportunities to input and engage in policy and law-making processes. They have also stated that the strategy will take a whole-of-government approach to advance the rights of people with autism in Irish society while identifying key areas where individuals with autism face particular challenges and barriers. Individuals with autism, their families, and their representatives will be invited to become involved and share their views. All feedback and submissions regarding the Autism Innovation Strategy Development Process can be sent to Autism_Strategy@equality.gov.ie In relation the street that runs from the Jocelyn Street/Seatown Place junction to St. Helena Park, the history of it is a strange one. It did not exist before the late 18th century and it's official name now is Bothar na Mainistreach (Monastery Road); and there is no castle near it --- the structure the local people call 'The Castle' is actually the bell-tower of a Franciscan church that was built on the site in the 12th century. That part of the road between the bell-tower and St. Mary's Road was built over the mud-flats that were part of the old harbour where a quay was built for steam packet ships around the time the Act of Union in 1800. According to the 'Book of Dundalk', the Horse Fair was held along this roadway before the Fair Green was opened by the Town Commissioners in 1865 for fairs and markets. It was known as 'Castle Street' from the first houses along it were built in the 1830s and only became known as 'Castle Road' in the 1920s. There is still a short part of it called 'Castle Street', between Jocelyn Street and the Seatown/Mill Street junction but, strangely Tempest Annual of 1919 refers to the road as 'Castle Avenue' but this might be a misprint. I mentioned that I knew a lot of people who lived along it --- My late brother Paul's in-laws were the Brennan family who lived in No. 33 and their next-door neighbours were the Gartlans where there sons went to the same school as myself and I spent a lot of time in their home where their mother was an excellent host. Another house in the street I knew well, at least from the outside, was No. 14 where James McArdle lived; it was also the home of his sister Mary McArdle who was one of my first Primary School teachers and of whom I have very fond memories. This house was marked by two small privet bushes that had been trained to grow in a spiral design which would not have been very common in Dundalk of the period. Perhaps the most famous house in the street, however, is the one on the corner with St. Brigid's Terrace (or 'Happy Valley' as it was know locally) where internationally famous architect/engineer, Peter Rice, grew up --- although he was not born there, as the blue plaque on the side wall indicates. Peter was a son of the C.E.O. of the Louth Vocational Educational Committee at the time and was born in a Dublin nursing home while his family was living in a house in St. Mary's Road. Many other locally prominent persons lived in houses in Castle Road, including Maurice Sellers, Dundalk Town Surveyor for many years, J.F. Doris, another Dundalk Engineer and the 'Democrat's' own Tom McDevitt who wrote the 'Roamer' notes for many years. One of the most remarkable things about residents of Castle Road was that many people of differing religious faiths and conflicting political opinions but lived together in peace and harmony for many years! A woman in her fifties is in a serious condition at Cork University Hospital (CUH) after she was attacked at a house on the outskirts of Banteer, Co Cork this afternoon. A man in his fifties is also being treated at the hospital after he was found injured some distance from the scene, following a search operation involving members of the armed Garda Regional Support Unit. The alarm was raised at about 4pm today when the female victim contacted the emergency services to say that she had been attacked by a man known to her. The woman sustained stab wounds to her upper body in the incident. Both Gardai and paramedics rushed to the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised by the woman. She was taken by ambulance to CUH for treatment. Search by armed Gardai Meanwhile, gardai assisted by the Armed Support Unit launched a search of the area. The man was discovered a couple of hundred metres from the house shortly after 6pm. He was also injured. He is being treated at CUH for non life threatening injuries. He remains under armed guard. The area involved has been sealed off to facilitate a forensic examination of the scene by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. Officers will speak with the man as soon as he is medically able to be interviewed about what occurred. All garda units have been stood down. Gardai are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. After stepping back from their senior royal roles, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making some pretty big bucks. It is believed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are making thousands of dollars per minute on their Spotify podcast deal, despite only releasing one episode. In Dec. 2020, the royal renegades released their first episode of Archewell Audio, an exclusive podcast on Spotify. The first episode featured big names such as James Corden and Elton John. However, that was the only episode they released, and they haven't followed it up with any other episodes. Their deal with the streaming giant has seen them paid for only 37 minutes of content. Reports from 2020 stated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were paid $24 million to record some original and exclusive content. Under the terms in their deal and only releasing one podcast episode, they are making $650,632 per minute. Head of global affairs and chief legal officer for Spotify, Horacio Gutierrez, said that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are "box office" for the streaming service but refused to confirm how much they were paid for their podcast series. However, he did confirm that "they are not doing it for free." Currently, there are different results of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's net worth, from $10 million up to $60 million. READ ALSO: Queen Elizabeth II Sad Christmas? First Christmas Without Prince Philip Will Be Spent With These Two Royals Only Spotify 'Mystified' By Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Lack of Content Meanwhile, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's deal with Spotify was "interesting," explaining, "It is interesting regarding Spotify because if you look at several of the Sussexes activities, you find they've not actually done a great deal." Richard further explained, "I think given the way the Sussexes think, they do things their own way and that would have been very clear to Spotify, Netflix and any future sources that want deals with them." Last month, Spotify executives reportedly gave Archewell Audio a "gentle nudge" to finish and release a new episode. A source revealed to The Sun that despite the company feeling happy signing the former royals, the lack of content has reportedly "mystified" them. "Particularly as they seem to have no problem producing content for other platforms." Rumors emerged that the couple, who hired veteran podcast producer Rebecca Sananes as the head of audio a few months ago, will be announcing new episodes for Christmastime. However, no announcement has been released at all. News of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Spotify deal comes after releasing a picture of their daughter Lilibet Diana in their Christmas card. READ MORE: Princess Diana's Christmas Gift Fell Foul To The Receiver, Other Gift Exchanges In Royal Family Revisited The Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate broke through the $1.34 barrier last week for the first time in over a month. Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Bolstered by Hopes England Will Avoid Further Restrictions The Pound (GBP) initially got off a poor start last week, as Sterling sentiment was softened by concerns over the surge in domestic Covid cases and speculation the government will impose stricter restrictions in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The GBP/USD then began to recover on Tuesday following the announcement from Boris Johnson that the government would not be imposing any new restrictions before Christmas. The Pound then plateaued on Wednesday with the publication of the UKs latest GDP figures after the third quarters finalised figures saw growth was revised lower, raising concerns that the UK economy was slowing even before the emergence of Omicron. Bethany Beckett, UK economist at Capital Economics, commented: [Wednesdays] release indicates the economy had a bit less momentum in Q3 than we had previously thought. And, with early signs the Omicron variant has hit activity, growth is sure to have slowed further in Q4. The second half of the week then saw the Pound appreciate sharply after Sajid Javid confirmed that no announcements regarding post-Christmas restrictions would be made before the holidays. Alongside the publication of a preliminary UK report suggesting the Omicron variant is less likely to result in hospitalisation than previous strains, this triggered speculation that England may avoid the imposing of stricter restrictions and catapulted the GBP/USD exchange rate to a one-month high. US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Tumble in Risk-On Trade Meanwhile, the US Dollar (USD) opened last weeks session on firm footing, as demand for the safe-haven currency was buoyed by a cautious market mood. However these gains quickly faded, with the 'Greenback being undermined by falling US Treasury yields amidst reports that President Bidens build back better bill had been dealt a fatal blow due to opposition from Democrat Joe Manchin. The appeal of the US Dollar weakened further following reports that Omicron results in milder symptoms than previous variants, bolstering market risk appetite on hopes the strain will ultimately not derail the global economic recovery. Ed Moya, Senior Market Analyst at OANDA, said: Omicron is looking more like a short-term disruption to the economic outlook and not a destructive headwind that knocks the economy off its course. However, these losses were tempered somewhat by the publication of some stronger-than-expected US economic releases in the second half of the week, with both durable goods orders and the latest PCE price index printing above forecast in November. GBP/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Sterling to Firm so Long as England Avoids Restrictions Looking ahead to this week, the direction of the Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate will largely depend on whether or not the UK government decides to impose tighter Covid restrictions. Should the government decide that stricter measures are necessary then Sterling is likely to tumble. Otherwise, the Pound may maintain a positive trajectory. Meanwhile, the US Dollar may stumble if Omicron developments remain broadly positive. However, with most market participants off until the new year trade in the GBP/USD exchange rate is likely to remain exceptionally thin, likely limiting any major movement in the pairing. Texas has recorded more COVID-19 deaths in 2021 than in the first year of the pandemic, even though vaccines have been available for all adults since March. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was recorded in February 2020, and the pandemic was declared the following month. The current year began amid a winter surge of infections, which was followed by a rapid rise in vaccinations in the spring that later ebbed. The climbing death toll, public health experts said, is almost entirely driven by people who are unvaccinated. From mid-January through October, just 8 percent of Texas virus deaths were among inoculated residents. Dr. James McCarthy, chief physician at Memorial Hermann, said it makes sense there would be more virus deaths in 2021, the first full year of the pandemic, though the highly transmissible delta variant coupled with a low vaccination rate and the decline of safe practices made fatalities worse than they otherwise would have been. And as the ultra-contagious omicron variant spreads rapidly in Houston, the pattern could continue. The real reason its worse this year is we stopped all the mask-wearing protection activities we had with a large portion of the population still unvaccinated and vulnerable to infection, hospitalization and death, McCarthy said. Its difficult to compare death tolls by year because the pandemic covered nearly 10 months of 2020, while the pandemic is coming up on 12 months in 2021. Still, the 2021 monthly average of COVID deaths for January through November, 3,814, is higher than last year's average of 3,478 for the pandemic months of March-December. Texas this year recorded 42,100 virus deaths through Dec. 13, according to data from the state health department, compared to 31,309 in 2020. And four of the six deadliest months of the pandemic in Texas were in 2021. COVID DEATH: First omicron-related death in U.S reportedly in Harris County The share of fully vaccinated Texans is 56 percent, the 29th-highest rate in the country. Its large population means Texas has more unvaccinated residents 12.8 million than any state except California. That means COVID-19 still can surge here, as was the case in August and September, when a fourth wave of infections pushed virus hospitalizations nearly to their peak. Fifteen thousand Texans succumbed to the virus during that two-month period. James McDeavitt, executive vice president of the Baylor College of Medicine, said that surge, driven by the delta variant, shows that even with half of residents vaccinated, there are enough vulnerable people to fuel another spike that fills hospitals and strains the health care system. The newly detected omicron variant, which claimed its first fatality Monday, and has since been detected in children under the age of 5, is another source of worry. Thats the unknown right now, will omicron generate another wave? Does omicron make people sick enough? McDeavitt said. We dont know the answer to that question yet. Texas administered more than 1 million vaccination doses weekly in March and April of this year, shortly after most adults became eligible. The growth in the vaccination rate has slowed significantly since June, however, and stagnated further after reaching 50 percent in late September. Vaccinations became a highly charged political issue, with Republican elected officials in Texas and other states suing to block vaccine mandates and conservative news networks raising questions about the safety of vaccines and attacking public health leaders in Washington. TEXAS VACCINATIONS: The COVID vaccine was the story of 2021, and it wont end in 2022 At this pace, Texas would not reach 70 percent until late May of 2022, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention projects. Harris County is outperforming the state average vaccine rate. Through Dec. 16, 59 percent of county residents were fully inoculated. Some cities and counties have tried mobile clinics and gift card incentive programs to persuade residents to get inoculated. Houston and Harris County both saw an uptick in vaccinations when they offered gift cards for those who went to get their shots. Many of the remaining unvaccinated Texans are ideologically opposed to the shots, which health experts say is a harder obstacle to overcome. McCarthy said he doubts public health campaigns will persuade those residents. Instead, family members and primary care physicians may be the most persuasive communicators. The way this is going, youre either going to get vaccinated or get COVID, McCarthy said. This is not going away before its burned through the entire community. Texas echoes the national political divide over vaccines, where surveys have found conservatives are less likely to get the shots. Of the 20 Texas counties with the highest vaccination rates, 17 went for Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. All 20 of the counties with the lowest vaccination rates were won by Republican Donald Trump. Trump was booed at a Dallas event on Sunday when he acknowledged having gotten a booster shot. Biden told Americans in an address Tuesday that it was their patriotic duty to get vaccinated as he announced a plan for expanded COVID-19 test sites, a half-billion free at-home test kits and more federal resources for hospitals. Dr. Dirk Sostman of Houston Methodist said he doubts Texas will ever achieve the vaccination rate of 70 percent to 90 percent that some experts predict could lead to herd immunity. Instead, he said the United States will have to learn to live with the virus. Governments should make at-home rapid tests widely available and continue to promote the vaccines, he said, while residents should continue to wear masks indoors and think twice about attending crowded venues. COVID will be with us forever, Sostman said. The hope is over the course of many years, it becomes like the common cold. zach.despart@chron.com 2021 kicked off with a mad rush for COVID vaccines. The shots, approved by the federal government two weeks before the New Year, were in high demand, and manufacturers couldnt produce them fast enough to keep up. Each state made its own eligibility rules, and three days before the New Year, Texas decided to open access for all senior citizens and anyone 16 and older with an underlying health condition. A year later, the COVID vaccine is widely available not only to adults, but also to most children. More than 16 million Texans roughly 56 percent of the states population are fully vaccinated, and a quarter of that group has received a booster shot. The coronavirus vaccines are probably the single most important thing that happened this year in terms of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said Spencer Fox, the associate director for the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin. It's clear that they probably saved millions of lives over the past year. IN-DEPTH: First omicron cases detected in Houston kids, including those under 5, says Texas Children's Hospital But now Texans have settled into two distinct groups: Those who have been immunized, and are either already boosted or scrambling to find another shot; and those who have declined to get the vaccine despite massive government campaigns and peer pressure. Texas still ranks relatively low in its vaccination rates at No. 31 nationwide, and officials warn that gap could literally be a matter of life and death. Its a public health clash that will persist in 2022, even as health experts assert that COVID vaccines are here to stay. Boosters will likely be recommended on a somewhat regular basis perhaps even yearly, like the flu shot and health officials expect it to be an all-hands-on-deck effort over the next year to bolster confidence in the vaccine and ramp up public buy-in. Public health strategies don't work on an individual basis, said Yousif Shamoo, a bioscientist and vice provost for research at Rice University. They're a team sport. 83% of Texans aged 5-11 still unvaccinated As of Tuesday, more than 19 million Texans have received at least one shot, including 1.5 million children under age 16. Those vaccinations have helped significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, even as new COVID variants swept the nation this year. A state health department study last month found that unvaccinated people were 13 times more likely to become infected, and 20 times more likely to die, than fully inoculated Texans. Texas vaccination rates are highest among the elderly and those most vulnerable to the coronavirus. Nearly 94 percent of Texans ages 65 to 79 have received at least one shot. The numbers fall from there by age range, with the lowest rates among children 5 to 11. About 17 percent of that group, which has been eligible for the Pfizer vaccine since early November, has their first dose. TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday Opening up vaccine access for children was among the most significant developments of the year, said Dr. James Versalovic, the co-chair of the Texas Childrens Hospital COVID-19 Command and the hospitals pathologist-in-chief. Eligibility for teenagers came in May, just before this summers delta surge a disastrous wave that more significantly impacted young people than previous strains. For young children, it came early in the academic year and just before a busy holiday season. The number of vaccinated children must continue to rise, Versalovic said, as the shots both help children avoid the illness and prevent them from spreading it to those who are more vulnerable. Some parents have waited for more study of the pediatric vaccine or pledged not to give it to their children, fearing side effects that have been reported in extremely rare cases. But for others, especially those with elderly relatives, the widespread availability of the vaccine has provided a sense of relief and comfort, Versalovic said. It has helped us all get back a sense of normalcy, a sense of reassurance, that we are going to persevere through this pandemic, he said. Somebody needs to listen to this seriously There are roughly 10 million people in Texas who have not received the vaccine, accounting for 34 percent of the states population. That total includes 2 million children under age 5 who are not yet eligible. For months, health officials have tried to tackle the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. Health experts say the politicization of the shots, alongside rampant misinformation, has damaged mass immunization efforts, especially in red states like Texas. Former President Donald Trump was booed in Dallas on Sunday when he revealed hed gotten his booster shot. For health providers, all of those concerns create a problem of persuasion. Many say education is the antidote, and public officials at all levels should reiterate the efficacy of the vaccine and physicians can also do their part privately, said Shamoo, the bioscientist at Rice University. The doctors tend to have the strongest understanding of that person's personal health history and hopefully could spend the time to walk them through their questions, he said. I think most people just have concerns, they have questions, and somebody needs to listen to this seriously, rather than saying, Well, you know, you're not making any sense right now. Some health professionals are also hosting town halls or Q&A events about the vaccine, said Jason McLellan, a professor of molecular biosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. Vaccine access is also still a part of the equation, said Fox, the associate director for the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium. Though public health officials have tried to address equity concerns over the past several months, we're still seeing disparities geographically and by socioeconomic status and things like that in terms of access and hesitancy, he said. Much of that work falls to the state health department, which has debuted a number of vaccine ad campaigns over the past year. Vaccination is still our most powerful weapon against COVID-19 and its variants, said Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the health department. Getting vaccinated before traveling, or hosting others in your home, is the best way to build up protection against infection. The department frequently uses social media to encourage vaccinations, both for those who are still hesitant and others who may be eligible for a booster shot. Officials have doubled down on their appeals in recent weeks, highlighting the incoming threat of the omicron variant ahead of the December holidays. cayla.harris@express-news.net JOHANNESBURG (AP) Desmond Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday at 90. South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourned the death of the man viewed as the countrys moral conscience. Tutu worked passionately, tirelessly and non-violently to tear down apartheid South Africas brutal, decades-long regime of oppression against its Black majority that ended in 1994. The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman used his pulpit as the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and later as the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, as well as frequent public demonstrations, to galvanize public opinion against racial inequity, both at home and globally. Nicknamed the Arch, the diminutive Tutu became a towering figure in his nations history, comparable to fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule who became South Africas first Black president. Tutu and Mandela shared a commitment to building a better, more equal South Africa. Tutus death on Sunday is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said. Tutu died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Center in Cape Town, his trust said. He had been hospitalized several times since 2015 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997. He turned his own misfortune into a teaching opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the suffering of others, said the Tutu trust. Former U.S. President Barack Obama hailed Tutu as a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries. A seven-day mourning period is planned in Cape Town before Tutus burial, including a two-day lying in state, an ecumenical service and an Anglican requiem mass at St. Georges Cathedral in Cape Town. The southern citys landmark Table Mountain will be lit up in purple, the color of the robes Tutu wore as archbishop. Throughout the 1980s when South Africa was gripped by anti-apartheid violence and a state of emergency gave police and the military sweeping powers Tutu was one of the most prominent Black leaders able to speak out against abuses. A lively wit lightened Tutus hard-hitting messages and warmed otherwise grim protests, funerals and marches. Plucky and tenacious, he was a formidable force with a canny talent for quoting apt scriptures to harness support for change. The Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 highlighted his stature as one of the worlds most effective champions for human rights. With the end of apartheid and South Africas first democratic elections in 1994, Tutu celebrated the countrys multi-racial society, calling it a rainbow nation, a phrase that captured the heady optimism of the moment. Tutu also campaigned internationally for human rights, especially LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. I would not worship a God who is homophobic, he said in 2013, launching a campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town. I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say, Sorry, I would much rather go to the other place. Tutu grew disillusioned with the African National Congress, the anti-apartheid movement that became the ruling party after South Africa's 1994 election. Tutu was particularly incensed by the South African governments refusal to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama, preventing the Tibetan spiritual leader from attending Tutus 80th birthday as well as a planned gathering of Nobel laureates in Cape Town. The government rejected Tutus accusations that it was bowing to pressure from China, a major trading partner. Tutus life was entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good. He was a true humanitarian, the Dalai Lama said Sunday. Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born Oct. 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, west of Johannesburg, and became a teacher before entering St. Peters Theological College in Rosetenville in 1958. He was ordained in 1961 and six years later became chaplain at the University of Fort Hare. He became bishop of Lesotho, chairman of the South African Council of Churches and, in 1985, the first Black Anglican bishop of Johannesburg. In 1986, Tutu was named the first Black archbishop of Cape Town. As head of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Tutu and his panel listened to harrowing testimony about torture, killings and other atrocities during apartheid. At some hearings, Tutu wept openly. The commissions 1998 report lay most of the blame on the forces of apartheid, but also found the African National Congress guilty of human rights violations. The ANC sued to block the documents release, earning a rebuke from Tutu. I didnt struggle in order to remove one set of those who thought they were tin gods to replace them with others who are tempted to think they are, Tutu said. Tutu is survived by his wife of 66 years, Leah, and their four children. Asked once how he wanted to be remembered, he told The Associated Press: He loved. He laughed. He cried. He was forgiven. He forgave. Greatly privileged. ___ AP journalist Christopher Torchia contributed to this report. Students applying to St. Marys University will no longer need to show any type of standardized test score. The university has opted to become the first Texas institution to permanently adopt test-free admissions. It has collected data on the possible effects of the switch for the past two years, an unexpected trial period that started when the coronavirus pandemic halted much of the states standardized testing and caused continuous problems with testing sites, said Rosalind Alderman, vice president for enrollment management at St. Marys. Lots of U.S. higher education institutions did the same, and nearly 2,000 of them extended their test-optional or test-free admissions process for the upcoming school year in light of the pandemic-related testing halts. But St. Marys is one of about 20 in the country that have made the test-free option permanent, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing. Our data has really shown that the SAT or ACT score does not really help us predict any more the first-year success of our students, Alderman said. We really had to think to ourselves, If the high school GPA is so much more predictive than other factors, how do we make this the most equitable process? The change was not an overnight decision, officials said. There were many things to keep in mind, including how to jettison the test requirement without creating the impression that academic expectations had changed. For the 2020-21 school year, the university admitted a freshman class of 514 students with an average GPA of 3.59. Most had applied under the test-free option. In fall 2021, the incoming freshman class of 606 students had an average GPA of 3.61. About 75 percent of them were admitted without submitting test scores. We had the largest number of completed applications ever for the 2019 cycle. Once the 2020 cycle came around, things got a bit wonky, Alderman said. But when we started planning for the 2021 year, looking to go test-optional, what we wanted to see is if we would continue to see a similar number of applications. We also wanted to closely monitor the academic quality, with one of the points being the GPA. The 2022-2023 freshman class will be the first to be admitted 100 percent test-free. The university continues to consider high school performance, GPA and class standing and will continue to accept optional essays and letters of recommendation. The idea is to build a good picture of where students come from, their accomplishments and where they want to go, said Tony Sarda, St. Marys director of undergraduate admissions. On ExpressNews.com: COVID-careful students back in SAs university classrooms Looking at the entire composite of what a student submits in an admissions application, we felt that at the end of the day, in a test-free holistic submission review, we still had a preponderance of information that would let us make really good admissions decisions, both for the student and for the university, Sarda said, adding, We are trying not to admit applicants we are trying to admit alumni. Communicating the change to students, faculty and parents has been done carefully, officials said. Part of the messaging to applicants and to faculty who might have questioned if the new students were up to par is that the academic excellence and level of rigor remain the same, they said. We faced some pushback from students, just from the perspective of them saying, Are you sure? I hear you. I understand that you are saying that this test is now optional. But is optional really optional? Sarda said. We had seen that college admissions had conditioned students into (thinking that) one, this test was important; two, that it was required; and three, that it told us something pretty critical about them. Especially in a year where application processes at many universities continue to be test-optional or test-free, Sarda hopes this helps applicants think about their power to choose what to prioritize and where to apply, rather than thinking colleges and universities have full control. Theres this concept of, Admissions offices are places that say no, not places that say yes, Sarda said. But two thirds of colleges nationwide admit more than half of the students that apply for admission. And thats one of the things I try to tell students all the time. You are going to find more places that say yes to more people than places that say no. On ExpressNews.com: Legendary St. Marys professor inspired 3 council candidates The test-free process is new, and some program offerings in areas in which St. Marys cooperates with external entities will need to be adjusted along the way, Alderman said. These include early entry to doctoral programs, medical schools or dental schools that require test scores. Maybe some of the data mining that we do could help some of those other external agencies change their thoughts and processes, she said. In the coming years, the university also will watch retention and completion rates, to see if students who choose St. Marys because of the test-free option are completing their career paths, Alderman said. But the overall goal for the private institution is to continue to expand access and facilitate the four-year college path for more students. In San Antonio and the region, we cannot sustain our own success without having an education, Alderman said. My hope is that over the next few years, students who didnt think of the four-year way as one of their first ways can potentially do it. danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH 21 Pro Video A 28-year-old man has been taken into custody and charged with murder after allegedly shooting a 24-year-old man to death at an apartment complex on the North Side. At 11:40 a.m. Saturday, San Antonio police officers responded to multiple calls of shots fired at an apartment complex on the 1900 block of Larkspur Drive. Three people were shot in unrelated incidents predawn on Sunday, while a fourth person was pistol-whipped during a robbery, San Antonio police reported. The armed robbery occurred about 12:40 a.m. Sunday at a motel at 6370 Interstate 35 N. A 42-year-old man told police that he had been staying at the motel for a few weeks, when he heard noises outside his room. When he opened the door, two Black males wearing hoodies rushed into the room armed with pistols. They hit him over the head several times with the guns, and robbed him of $1,000 and other miscellaneous items, police said. The man said the suspects left the scene in an unknown direction and that he had seen them hanging around the parking lot before he was robbed. On ExpressNews.com: Police arrest man accused of deadly shooting in Las Palmas area About 2:30 a.m., San Antonio police were summoned to Frio Street and West Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard by a Park Police officer who was with two women, one 37 years old and the other 24, who had gunshot wounds to their arms. Before the shooting, the victims were at a bar in the 5500 block of Northwest Loop 410 with friends, officers said. While at the bar, a disturbance apparently occurred between one of the women and a person she had previously dated, police said. After the women left the bar and were driving home, heading south on Interstate 35 by the Frio Street exit, an occupant of a silver four-door sedan fired approximately four shots into the vehicle the victims were in and fled. The women were treated by responding officers and paramedics before being transported to University Hospital and San Antonio Military Medical Center, according to police. On ExpressNews.com: Woman arrested in fatal domestic shooting in Fox Run neighborhood The victims gave conflicting stories about whether there was a disturbance prior to the shooting, and detectives continued investigating later Sunday, the San San Antonio Police Department said. Later, at 3:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to 20303 Stone Oak Parkway for another shooting. There, officers found that a 30-year-old man who had returned home from a holiday party had been shot. The man said two suspects were stealing gifts from his vehicles trunk. He confronted them as they fled in another vehicle and he was shot, according to police. That victim was transported to University Hospital with non-life-threatening injury as detectives continued investigating later Sunday. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Flyers at San Antonio International Airpot on Sunday were greeted once again with a continuing unwanted holiday trend of canceled flights and delays. According to the flight-tracking website, FlightAware.com, four flights had been canceled by Sunday afternoon. Another 29 flights had been delayed. SYDNEY (AP) Australias most populous state reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and a sharp jump in hospitalizations while thousands of people were isolating at home after contracting the virus or coming into contact with someone who has. A major laboratory in Sydney, which is located in New South Wales, said that 400 people who had been informed a day earlier they had tested negative for COVID-19 had in fact tested positive. The labs medical director said those people were being contacted and informed of the error. An emergency response team is now investigating the cause of this mistake, which is believed to be due to human error. We sincerely apologize, said SydPath medical director Anthony Dodds. Doctors and pharmacists in New South Wales have said they are running short of vaccine doses amid a rush for shots spurred by concern over the omicron variant. New South Wales reported 6,394 new infections, up from 6,288 a day earlier. Case numbers in the state have surged over the past two weeks but hospitalizations have lagged behind new infections. More than 70% of cases in some Australian states are the omicron variant of the coronavirus but New South Wales does not routinely carry out genome testing to identify the variant. State Health Minister Brad Hazzard indicated Sunday that omicron is widespread. We would expect that pretty well everybody in New South Wales at some point will get omicron, Hazzard said. If were all going to get omicron, the best way to face it is when we have full vaccinations including our booster. Health officials reported 458 active cases in hospitals across the state, up sharply from 388 the day before. There were 52 people in intensive care in New South Wales. Victoria, the country's second most populous state, reported 1,608 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths on Sunday, with 374 people in hospitals, including 77 in intensive care. More than 30,000 people in Victoria spent Christmas isolating at home, unable to celebrate with family or friends. Of those, about half were reported to be active cases who contracted the virus in the days leading up to Christmas. BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Before Denise, 51, was hospitalized with a severe COVID-19 infection, she loved how beautifully she could carry a melody and was proud of the way her words resonated when she spoke. A year after a battle with COVID dragged her to deaths doorstep, she is still too weak to sing and a low rasp lingers in her voice. Long and arduous symptoms from COVID-19 have been known to make simple tasks like doing the dishes or laundry nearly impossible and often oxygen support is needed. As for Denise, who asked The Billings Gazette to use only her first name for privacy reasons, she used full oxygen support for at least 11 months after returning home from the hospital and has only recently been able to decrease her usage. COVID takes your life as you know it. It takes your brain, it takes your memory, your breath. It takes everything, said Denise. Denise has lived in Billings most of her life and before spending eight days on a ventilator, she used to voice commercials for the radio. But after COVID, her lungs no longer have the capacity they once had. On June 11 this year, my vocal cords were so swollen and damaged, the ear, nose and throat doctor was trying to figure out what was wrong, Denise said. At the time of her hospitalization, Montana was beginning a steep ascent into crippling case numbers and hospitalizations. From Sept. 30, 2020, to Nov. 20, 2020, cases increased by 322% and hospitalizations increased 141%. Denise tested positive for COVID on Sept. 23, 2020, and six days later her oxygen levels dropped, sending her into the Emergency Department at Billings Clinic. Denise is diabetic, which puts her at higher risk for severe COVID illness. Her medical condition and sinking oxygen levels put her at the top of the list for immediate care. Or as immediate as possible. She spent 27 hours in the ED before a bed in the hospital became available. Denise was initially hospitalized for 15 days spanning from Sept. 29 until Oct. 13, 2020. She turned 50 while in the hospital. When she was well enough to walk in place for three minutes and keep her oxygen above a certain level, doctors sent her home. Her room was needed for sicker patients, Denise said. She was home for nine days before her oxygen levels plummeted again, sending her directly into the intensive care unit and onto a ventilator for eight days. COVID LONG-HAULERS Readmission due to COVID-19 is just one part of the medical history doctors at the Post COVID Recovery Program at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls look for when completing intake appointments for COVID long-haulers, an increasing population of patients whose symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks after the initial infection. About 10% of COVID patients continue to have lasting symptoms that manifest as phantom smells or tastes, persistently low oxygen levels, debilitating brain fog, memory loss, cardiac irregularities, gastrointestinal problems, and numbness or burning in their extremities, mental and emotional distress, rash, hair loss and many more symptoms tied to multiple organ systems. When Denise got sick, her family rallied in Billings to help care for her and her 12-year-old son. Her parents pitched in wherever they could, her dad in a hotel and her mom with her niece, and stayed from the time she was diagnosed until November 2020. One of her older sons and his wife also arrived from North Dakota. Another son, who is active duty in the military, flew in to help. They were my rock, Denise said. Denise lost significant muscle memory after more than a week under sedation and started her physical therapy while still at Billings Clinic. At the time, hospitals were operating well beyond capacity. It was during the first National Guard stint in the hospitals, and extremely ill patients lined hallways. You have to work hard on physical therapy and you have to be self-motivated because everyone is so busyThey told me to do these exercises three times a day, but they couldnt get to me three times a day, Denise said. Even after she finally went home, she was back at Billings Clinic weekly for treatment of her lasting symptoms. POST-COVID RECOVERY COVID is a 30-day illness, it waxes and wanesbut by 12 weeks you should have recovered on your own, said Dr. Brad Nieset, palliative care doctor and manager of the recovery program. To add to the mystery, there seems to be no correlation between severity of illness and whether or not one will battle symptoms months later, according to Dr. Walter Lajara-Nanson, neurologist in the program. Mild COVID has been disabling as well, said Lajara-Nanson. The Benefis post-COVID recovery program is the only organized, multidisciplinary COVID recovery program in the state aiming to serve the estimated 19,159 Montanans experiencing prolonged COVID symptoms. Part of the problem is that there are a lot of patients that werent diagnosed. I worry about those kinds of patient that were never seen. We need to educate patients that there is help for them, Nieset said. Adding to the COVID burden, patients with moderate symptoms probably couldnt get into the ED if they tried. When hospitals run out of beds completely, ambulances are diverted, transfers are stopped and a triage protocol goes into effect. Even people with time sensitive trauma such as heart attacks or strokes have had difficulties finding a bed during these times. Nieset recognized there was a need for a more organized system for long-haulers when an overwhelming number of patients started reporting symptoms months after infection. Early on, it was assumed that it all tied back to the respiratory system, resulting in a flood of referrals to the pulmonary department, said Jason Kjono, physicians assistant at Benefis. Kjono remembers one week when about 50 referrals came into the department. Though long COVID does largely affect the pulmonary realm, COVID wreaks havoc in multiple organ systems, demonstrating the need for a multi-disciplinary approach, Kjono said. The recovery program employs pulmonologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, ear, nose and throat specialists and a behavioral health specialist who all work together to create a whole body approach to treating long-haul symptoms. In post-COVID recovery, we look at all the factors. We take a whole body approach and treat each patient differently, Kjono said. When Nieset identified the need for the program, he knew that ease of access would be critical in order to serve the huge number of patients reporting prolonged symptoms. So, with the Medicare expansion to include coverage for telehealth, Nieset changed the traditional medical landscape. Eighty-five percent of the time the answer is through history takingwhen we talked with patients, people prefer the phone. Zoom is not the future, Nieset said. Follow-ups to assess response to medication can also be done via phone call. The recovery program is booked at least for the next two months serving Montanans as far as the eastern part of the state as well as patients from Washington, North Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming, according to Kjono. Denise lives in Billings, but has only traveled once for a full day of testing at Benefis since her June intake phone call. Before she found the program, she was preparing to move her whole life to Salt Lake City, which had the nearest COVID recovery program she could find. Denises journey with COVID has been frustrating while she spent at least 10 months hearing that there was nothing the Billings Clinic team could do to help her low oxygen levels, short-term memory loss, inability to recall words, numbness in her feet and weakness on her right side. 'IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY' Denise loves the little things in life, like her coffee. A year and three months after testing positive, a chemical taste has replaced the rich flavors of her favorite hot beverage. Its the same with peanut butter. Phantom smells like burning electrical and cigarette smoke are the new normal. For Denise, COVID snuck in when life was slowly approaching overwhelming levels. Her close friend was in need of a long-term living facility when all were closed to new residents and many were hotbeds for COVID infections. She moved in with Denise temporarily. Denise also cared for her 12-year-old son and three additional children whose home lives were unstable until a foster family could be found. She took them all under her wing while working full-time from home. I got a little over extended and I let my stress take over. That was all COVID needed. I thought well be fine. We did everything right, Denise said. When you get COVID you dont realize that in a year youre still going to be fighting it. Doctors in overwhelmed health systems have had little scientific evidence to guide their care when it comes to long COVID and have not developed a universal protocol for patients with symptoms like Denises. Her symptoms were treated on an individual basis, but overall she saw very little improvement. For 10 months I heard that they couldnt fix me, Denise said. I was feeling sorry for myself and being pissed off because there was no hope. So far, Denise has been the sickest patient ever treated in the post-COVID program and has come the farthest in her recovery, according to Nieset. Difficulties with word recall happen every once in a while for most people, but for Denise it was happening about 20 times a day, she said. In March of 2021 Denise started back at her job working only four hours a day training people how to use software at media companies. She has slowly increased her working hours, only making it back to full-time in August 2021, nearly a year after contracting the disease. She was put on temporary disability in order to keep her job. LIKE EARLY DEMENTIA When she told Nieset about her cognitive issues, she was referred to Lajara-Nanson, the neurologist in the program. He brings patients in for neurocognitive testing that looks at memory, ability to organize information, reaction time and ability to plan. So far, Lajara-Nanson has seen severe attention problems and memory loss in his long COVID patients. When Denise was tested for cognitive function she completely failed the testing, successfully completing only 1% of the scenarios. At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, the mechanism for the cognitive effects are unknown, according to Lajara-Nanson. There is no clear marker in the spinal fluid or in the blood. No inflammation in the brain, Lajara-Nanson said. But what is known is that the virus attaches to receptors that are present in most tissues throughout the body, which might provide an explanation as to why so many organ systems are affected. Its the perfect virus, Lajara-Nanson said. But there has been one consistent pattern when it comes to brain fog: long COVID patients resemble people struggling with early onset dementia or attention deficit disorder. He has prescribed traditional medications for these cognitive issues and within a few months, hes seen great improvements in his patients. So far, he has been able to wean patients off the medication after about three months with their brain fog symptoms improved. Insomnia is also a common problem with minimal options for treatment. Long COVID patients seem to be resistant to the typical medications used, Lajara-Nanson said. This is particularly a challenge for mothers who are working, going to school and taking care of their families. Many have developed secondary anxiety and depression, Lajara-Nanson said. The Benefis program screens for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. Dr. Stephanie Burcusa is in the recovery team, prepared to treat patients dealing with loss, grief, anxiety, prolonged stress and more. Dealing with severe illness in isolation is incredibly mentally taxing, leaving many to struggle months later. Today, Denise still has nightmares from her time being intubated. Little things like a commercial or a song that played while she was sedated triggers hazy memories of her eight days in the ICU, including the day they woke her up to tell her they were going to remove the tube from her throat. She has since started seeing a counselor as she works through a new and unknown chronic illness. She is also addressing her fear of going out in public where she worries she could catch the virus again. Normal people dont understand our anxiety. Im not doing my life, Denise said, adding that she doesnt want to miss another year of her sons Christmas concerts. Denise still has her groceries delivered. She has only just started venturing out to lunch with people she feels safe with and still wears her mask at all times outside of her home. She is frustrated that people chose not to believe in the virus while she lives with the devastating aftermath of COVID-19. And her disappointment in Montanas leadership is palpable. I get so angry at how our government is handling it, how our leadership is handling it. I voted for Gianforte, but the first thing he did with the mask mandate and made vaccination (requirements) illegal its disheartening for people like meas a person whos fought this, it is difficult, Denise said. Both Denise and her son are absolute believers in masks and social distancing, and her son was mortified that he could have brought the virus home from school. SOMEONE TO BELIEVE One of the first things Denise said about the Benefis program was finally, someone believed her. Since she tested positive, doctors have linked her battle directly back to her diabetes, diminishing the fact that her life has forever been changed by COVID. They automatically blame it on the things they can see, Denise said. Not everything happens because Im diabetic. Throughout her battle with COVID, she learned to be her own best advocate for her health care, feeling empowered by her decisions to go forward with the long COVID recovery program. I fired the Billings Clinic pulmonology department because Dr. Nieset was giving me answers that I had never heard of before, Denise said. He was asking me questions no one had ever asked me. Originally, her doctors put her on a nebulizer treatment with albuterol, a medication that works by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up. But after pulmonary tests done at Benefis, it was apparent that her lungs werent strong enough to breathe in adequately. A nebulizer treatment with a steroid prescribed by Nieset showed almost immediate results. Suddenly, Denise was doing laundry, emptying the dishwasher and doing one more chore before she needed a break or support from her oxygen tank, which has become an extra appendage since she was hit with COVID. She went on ADD medication suggested by Lajara-Nanson, and now her brain fog and memory are improving. Within a couple weeks, it worked! I started to not have those memory lapses, I was finding those words, Denise said. Her general practitioner has started working closely with the Great Falls team so she can continue her care from Billings. She is also committed to raising awareness. Shes enrolled in a Johns Hopkins study of COVID long-haulers, hoping that even if she can change one mind about COVID that she will have made a difference. Since she started the post-COVID program, she has hope she will recover and shes made a commitment to getting better. Right now I still need Dr. Nieset, over a year later, Denise said. But someday I will get my singing voice back. It might not be this year, but I will get it back. Scottish farmers and crofters are being reminded of looming deadlines for Scotland's agri-environmental schemes, all due on 31 December. Beef calf scheme, Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grants Scheme and Scrapie Monitoring Scheme applications are all soon due, with AECS opening early in the new year. Applications to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2021 close at midnight on 31 December, a scheme worth around 40m to the nations beef producers. Elsehwere, the final deadline for submitting claims to the Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grants Scheme (SACGS) also falls on 31 December. Only items that are on farms or crofts, operational and supported with invoices and proof of payment by the 31 December deadline will be eligible for payment. The Scottish government has indicated that grant offers for unclaimed items by this date will be withdrawn. For those wishing to export sheep to Northern Ireland, the Scrapie Monitoring Scheme (SMS) was amended in November to allow for a new status that will support breeding sheep sales between Scotland and NI. Applications for Scrapie Qualifying Status (SQS) must be completed by 31 December. The scrapie monitoring scheme is being facilitated by Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) on behalf of Defra. The 2022 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application round will open on 24 January and close on 29 April 2022, with the closing date extended to 31 May for collaborative applications. Applications for Slurry Storage can be made during the main AECS window, however, the deadline for stand-alone slurry store applications is Friday 24 June 2022. For applications for Improving Public Access (IPA), there is a separate opening period, 28 February 2022 to 29 April 2022 inclusive. NFU Scotland has urged farmers and crofters to remind themselves of these deadlines. The union's vice president Robin Traquair said: Time is running out to get your applications in to several key schemes, but a few hours of form filling will be time well spent. Many offices will be closed for some time over the last few days of the year, and the deteriorating Covid situation means greater reliance on online and telephone support to sort out queries. "I would urge you to start sooner rather than later to get your applications completed in case help is required. 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. India was jubilant when Harnaaz Sandhu was bequeathed the Miss Universe 2021 crown. Harnaaz brought the crown home after a long period of 21 years - Lara Dutta won the pageant in 2000. Harnaaz, Lara and Sushmita Sen are the only Indian women to have been crowned Miss Universe. However, while there was much joy, there was also a lot of social media anger against host Steve Harvey because he had asked Harnaaz to mimic a cat on the Miss Universe stage. However, Harnaaz isn't the least bit offended. Why do you think it is inappropriate for a beauty pageant? If you think beauty pageants are all about perfections, then I am sorry to say, it is not like that. I am happy that Steve, such a spontaneous and wonderful personality (one of my favourite personalities as well) asked me such a question that I could be myself on the stage and I got to showcase one of my big talents, the model and actress told a leading news portal. Cheer-filled Holiday Campaign Sends Heartfelt Message that Everyone Is Worthy of the Good Things in Life SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics (LG) has been busy bringing warm, joyful moments to one and all with their delightful holiday campaign, Legendary Gift: the SIGNATURE. Featuring a special holiday song by John Legend and an exclusive holiday e-card, the campaign is the brand's gift to everyone as the festive season gets under way. To get people in the spirit, Legendary Gift: the SIGNATURE kicked off with the release of "You Deserve It All," performed by John Legend. A great addition to one's 'holiday favorites' playlist, the song and its equally charming music video are all about lavishing loved ones with the gifts they deserve these holidays. Rolling Stone says, "John Legend welcomes the holidays on 'You Deserve It All.'" The sumptuously shot music video begins with LG SIGNATURE OLED R, its rollable screen unveiling a festive scene filled with warmth and love, while other LG SIGNATURE innovations make special appearances as the action unfolds. For one of the video's characters, the ultra-premium brand's air purifier is revealed as the gift they have long been dreaming of. The perfect solutions for hosting memorable holiday celebrations at home, LG SIGNATURE Refrigerator and Wine Cellar are shown preserving the full flavor of delicious treats and wines for friends and family to savor. LG SIGNATURE and John Legend's original holiday song and music video have clearly resonated with audiences worldwide, having thus far recorded more than 50 million views and plays within the first three weeks after release across various platforms. As part of the campaign, LG SIGNATURE has also designed an enchanting and customizable holiday e-card with four themes to choose from. Every design features a snow globe with one of the LG SIGNATURE's premium products, various holiday-themed items such as gift boxes and glitter ornaments, and happily dancing people inside. Customizing and sending a Legendary Gift: the SIGNATURE e-card is a straightforward process: users simply choose their favorite theme, write a personal message, and share it with their chosen recipients on their preferred digital platform. "Our holiday campaign is all about bringing a little cheer back into people's lives and communicating how good it feels to give someone the perfect gift," said Lee Jeong-seok, head of LG Electronics' Global Marketing Center. "We hope that everyone can join with their families and friends to enjoy the holidays they've been dreaming of. We also hope that everyone stays tuned for more exciting collaborations between LG SIGNATURE and the incomparable John Legend." As a special holiday treat for New Yorkers and Londoners, another version of John Legend's new holiday music video is being played on LG's digital billboards in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus. About LG SIGNATURE LG SIGNATURE is the first ultra-premium brand across multiple product categories from global innovator LG Electronics. Designed for the most discerning consumers, LG SIGNATURE products deliver a state-of-the-art living experience that feels pure, sophisticated and luxurious. Combining the very best of everything LG has to offer, LG SIGNATURE products are designed with a focus on their "true essence" aligned with the brand's modern, distinctive design. For more information, visit www.LGSIGNATURE.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1713299/image_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1713300/image_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1713301/image_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1713302/image_4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1713303/image_5.jpg DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Macallan and Le Clos have partnered to deliver a stunning launch event for a select group of Le Clos' closest customers in Dubai, to reveal The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection at The Macallan Boutique by Le Clos. The Anecdotes of Ages Collection is an extraordinary art and whisky collaboration with renowned British pop artist Sir Peter Blake. At the heart of the collection are 13 one-of-a-kind bottles of exceptional 1967 whisky. Each bottle features its own original Sir Peter Blake collage art on the label, detailing unique stories relating to The Macallan's history, community, and the beautiful natural landscape of The Macallan Estate. Guests at the event were introduced to two of the highly sought-after bottlings from the collection - the Anecdotes of Ages: Down To Work Limited Edition and Anecdotes of Ages: An Estate, A Community and Distillery. Anecdotes of Ages: Down To Work Limited Edition tells a very important story that reflects a milestone in the history of The Macallan: a time when the decision was made to continue using sherry seasoned oak casks in the face of pressure to compromise. The original labelled bottle portraying this special story has been laid in The Macallan Archives, and digital replicas of this label are available as a limited edition with the same 1967 rich spirit and only 322 bottles available. Anecdotes of Ages: An Estate, A Community and Distillery is a tribute to some of the colourful characters from The Macallan's past and present. It commemorates Sir Peter Blake's visit to The Macallan Estate on the legendary River Spey and features a label digitally designed by Sir Peter. Building on the longstanding partnership between The Macallan and Le Clos, The Macallan Boutique by Le Clos in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport will be playing host to one of the 13 original bottles from the collection. Anecdotes of Ages: Journey to Market pays homage to the widespread travels of The Macallan as its reputation grew around the world. A specially commissioned window display is showcasing this extraordinary whisky. Jeremy Speirs, Edrington Regional Managing Director Global Travel Retail, said, "The Anecdotes of Ages Collection is an incredible celebration of The Macallan's history and of the figures which have contributed to its outstanding reputation and heritage. Over recent years, Le Clos has been a key partner in The Macallan's growth trajectory in global travel retail, and we're proud to recognise this partnership by showcasing bottlings from the collection at our Dubai boutique." Ben Odgers, General Manager, Le Clos, added, "With international travellers beginning to return to the skies, we're delighted to bring The Anecdotes of Ages Collection to life in our boutique. This builds on our unrivalled track record for offering whisky enthusiasts and collectors some of the rarest and most sought-after bottlings on the market." For more information, please visit themacallan.leclos.net. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1697610/Ben_Odgers.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1697609/Anecdotes_of_Ages.jpg "Joe Manchin Just Killed the Biden Agenda," lamented a headline. The funereal tone was echoed in much of the coverage of Sen. Manchin's blunt declaration last week that he would not support the Build Back Better legislation in its current form. Even President Joe Biden's White House has stooped to insulting Manchin. Congressional progressives, from Sen. Bernie Sanders to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, issued severe warnings to Senator Red State that this time he had gone too far. They were going to take their complaints directly to the people of West Virginia! On CNN, Sanders thundered: "Ask the people of West Virginia whether or not they want to lower the cost of prescription drugs. You ask them whether they want to expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and eyeglasses. ... On all of those issues, I suspect people of West Virginia, like every other state in this country, will say, yes, do the right thing for working families." As The Bulwark's Tim Miller so expertly explicated last week, this threat is hollow. "Joe Manchin knows that those who think passing BBB will help him in WV are completely and totally out of touch with his electorate." The people of West Virginia are not just red; they are scarlet. Trump got a bigger percentage of the vote (68.6) in West Virginia in 2020 than he did in Texas or Louisiana or Oklahoma or Utah or Alabama. Whatever bedtime fairy tales the progressives are telling themselves about the voters of West Virginia, Manchin knows the reality. Many a Democratic lawmaker and pundit has also whined about how unfair and undemocratic it is that one senator representing such a small state should be able to hold up legislation that the whole country wants so desperately. Please. The rules are the rules. Our system was not designed to be a pure democracy. The Electoral College and the Senate give disproportionate power to some voters over others. You can gnash your teeth about it and shake your fists at the heavens, but to what end? Better to figure out how to woo gettable voters in swing states and win as Biden did in 2020. Correspondingly, when the Senate is evenly divided, every single senator becomes a potential majority maker or saboteur. That's math. The Democrats were lucky to squeak to 50, for which they can thank two people. The first was Donald Trump. Because of his tantrum about mythical election stealing, some 752,000 Georgia Republicans who voted in November failed to show up for the runoff in January. That was just enough to elect Jon Osoff and Raphael Warnock. The second person was Manchin, who has successfully threaded the needle of maintaining his credibility in a conservative state while still voting with his party most of the time. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. What the Democrats, starting with Biden, ought to have done on Jan. 21, 2021, was to sit down with Manchin and ask, "What can you support?" The Democrats look weak and divided as well as petty and ineffectual. They're being branded by what they failed to do rather than by what they did. This is political malpractice. The Democrats have actually passed quite a lot of legislation in the last 11 months, starting with the American Rescue Plan Act. They extended the Paycheck Protection Program, made Juneteenth a federal holiday and passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. That legislation contained a number of longtime progressive priorities, such as $39 billion for public transit, $47 billion for climate change mitigation and cyber security, $15 billion for electric vehicle charging stations and $55 billion for upgrading water infrastructure, including replacing all of the lead pipes in the nation. Whatever you think about the merits of these bills (and I have my doubts about the American Rescue Plan), these accomplishments are certainly enough to give the Democrats bragging rights. And if new reports are right, Manchin was and possibly remains willing to sign onto a $1.8 trillion spending package that includes universal pre-K fully funded for 10 years, massive allocations for climate change and expansions of the Affordable Care Act. A competent political party would be taking yes for an answer, passing Manchin's bill and turning to more urgent priorities like cheap, abundant COVID-19 tests, reform of the Electoral Count Act and increasing legal immigration to cope with our severe labor shortage. There is still time, but not much. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GiftChill (giftchill.co.uk), a cryptocurrency to gift card exchange platform, has recently added three more cryptocurrencies to its ever-growing list of accepted coins and tokens; DogeCoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Kishu Inu (KISHU). As a leading gift card purchasing platform, GiftChill has come a long way to becoming a mainstay of cryptocurrency use cases. While many may consider DogeCoin, Shiba Inu, and Kishu Inu just meme coins, we are here to set the record straight, meme coin or not, cryptocurrency will be the future payment of choice. Furthermore, the ease with which GiftChill allows its users to exchange cryptocurrency to over one hundred different gift cards will ensure the addition of digital currency into the future. Today, on the GiftChill site, you can now use Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Doge, Shiba, Kishu, Cardano, BUSD, USDC, and USDT to purchase gift cards for use throughout the world. More about GiftChill: The site, which offers over one hundred different gift cards, was created to be the one-stop shop for gift card purchases online. Through their focus on the purchasing power of cryptocurrency, GiftChill can offer its users gift cards at the best price by eliminating the processing fees of credit card companies. More about DogeCoin: DOGE, the native coin of the DogeCoin ecosystem, was initially designed as a meme coin and gained popularity after becoming a tipping coin (like tipping your waiter) for online properties. More about Shiba Inu: Inspired by the popularity of DOGE, the Shiba Inu coin sought to become an alternative to the ETH-based DOGE. Their official website touts their involvement with the NFT art world. More about Kishu Inu: The Kishu Inu project was created as a decentralized meme project in April of this year. If you would like more information on GiftChill's addition of DogeCoin, Shiba Inu, Kishu Inu, its gift cards, cryptocurrency options, or any other questions, don't hesitate to contact the GiftChill team at Support@giftchill.co.uk Related Images Image 1: giftchill added shiba inu, dogecoin and kishu inu giftchill memecoins This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Vaekstfonden, the Danish Growth Fund, and the German engine manufacturer DEUTZ AG, are investing 15 million in methanol fuel cell company Blue World Technologies. The aim is to bring the companys green fuel cell products and solutions to the global market. The Blue World Technologies fuel cells are based on high-temperature PEM-technology combined with methanol reforming. In October, Vaekstfonden and DEUTZ AG started a due diligence process with the intention to invest in Blue World Technologies. This process has now been completed and Vaekstfonden and DEUTZ are therefore each investing 7.5 million in the company. With Vaekstfonden and DEUTZ as investors, Blue World Technologies is also in a strong position concerning a potential stock exchange listing in the future. Since the beginning of 2021, Blue World Technologies has been working to establish a factory to produce the core components for the fuel cell stacks and systems at their headquarters in Aalborg, Denmark. During the year, the company has insourced the entire production of membranes, electrodes, and separator plates. With the new investment, Blue World Technologies will work towards starting serial production to get the company ready to send fuel cells and systems to industries around the world. With a short history of only three years, we have moved quickly in many ways, and with these new investments we are now accelerating the industrialization of our methanol fuel cell technology even more. Both Vaekstfonden and DEUTZ are really strong and experienced investors who can support Blue World, both in relation to the further development of the company, large-scale production, and with market access. We have had an exciting and good collaboration in the recent months, and we look forward to continuing exploring that. Anders Korsgaard, Co-founder and CEO of Blue World Technologies With an expectation of producing 500 MW fuel cells at the factory in Aalborg, Denmark when the full production capacity is achieved within the next couple of years, the company is taking a big step towards getting the methanol fuel cell technology out on the market. The investment and the collaboration with Blue World Technologies are in line with our activities within the development of climate-neutral drive-systems at DEUTZ. We are generally experiencing great interest in our climate-neutral solutions, and we also experienced this in November, when Blue World Technologies presented their products to our customers and partners at the annual DEUTZ DAYS. The interest that has been generated is overwhelming and we look forward to seeing the potential of our collaboration unfold in the coming years. Dr Frank Hiller, CEO of DEUTZ AG The investment from Vaekstfonden is supported by the European Investment Bank with the backing of the European Union through EFSI. The 8,500 m2 production building that Blue World Technologies took over in February will be one of the world's largest fuel cell factories within high-temperature PEM technology. At the factory, methanol fuel cell stacks and systems will be manufactured for a wide variety of industries within the stationary and the transportation sector where it will act as a green alternative to conventional combustion engines or generators. sennder, Europes leading digital road freight forwarder and Cabot Corporation, a leading global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, transported one of Europes first zero-emission cross-border heavy duty loads. In a pilot electric trucking project, sennder transported 17+ tonnes of product for Cabot from the port of Rotterdam to Antwerp, Belgium and then returned to basea round trip covering a distance of more than 300 km (186 miles). The pilot project was conducted to test the long-term capabilities of 40+ tonne electric trucks. BREYTNER, an operator of zero-emission electric trucks, in association with Hn Post & Zonen, their joint venture partner, provided the heavy-duty vehicle, which has a maximum gross vehicle weight of 50 tonnes and a battery range of 150 km (93 miles). It ran entirely on electricity, with one charge taking place on the way to the destination and another when returning to base. Each charge took approximately 80 minutes and occurred in the Netherlands, a country with one of the densest charging networks in the world. The pilot project demonstrates that a 40+ tonne electric truck can travel more than 300 km while being exclusively charged by existing highway infrastructure. As a digital freight forwarder, sennder connects commercial shippers, such as Cabot, with carriers like BREYTNER. With shippers such as Cabot increasingly striving for low-carbon transportation solutions, the industry is reaching a turning point. Furthermore, with shippers and governments committing to net zero by 2040 or 2050 with sizable emissions reductions by 2030, the industry needs options for sustainable transportation. sennder is investing in bringing electric vehicles, and advanced low-carbon fuels and route optimisation solutions to its customers, enabling shippers to decarbonize their transportation. Cabot recently announced its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2050. In support of the transition to a lower carbon economy, the company is engaging with suppliers that offer carbon offsets and sustainable solutions that minimize the impact on the environment. sennder and Cabot will engage in discussions about how the two parties can work together to increase the utilization of low and zero-carbon European transports. GREENWICH Attorneys working for Chabad Lubavitch and the neighborhood association in which it is located are still working out the conditions that would allow a new school to operate at the Lake Avenue property. But the most recent compromise is to have fewer children at the school. The latest proposals from Chabad, a Jewish educational institution, reviewed at the town Planning & Zoning Commission last week would lower the proposed enrollment from 450 to 400 students. The school would also eliminate the eighth grade. The latest modification from the school administration would also limit the enrollment of pre-K and kindergarten class to 70 youngsters. Thomas Heagney, the attorney representing Chabad in its application to the Planning & Zoning Commission, said the goal was to permit a school-use at the site while protecting the neighborhood from noise or traffic intrusion. Carmel Academy, which offered education rooted in the Jewish faith, ceased operations at the site in spring 2020. The Japanese School, which has also operated at the site, is preparing to relocate in March. Chabad is now seeking to use the campus for a new school there. Heagney said he would seek to work with the neighborhood association on more than two dozen other conditions that the association is looking to impose. Meanwhile, the planning commission learned last week from attorneys working on the application that Chabad will not own the property as originally intended, but lease it. The Rock Ridge Association, which originated in the early 1900s, allowed school operations in its residential community, the first was Rosemary Hall. Carmel Academy also fell under the association and its bylaws, which requires the right of first refusal for the sale of any property within the associations purview. The deed allows another property owner in the association the right to acquire the property first, ahead of any other buyers. Planning Director Katie DeLuca told the Planning Commission that a new buyer from the Rock Ridge Association had stepped forward to acquire ownership of the property the buyer was not publicly named at this point and a sale was proceeding. It appears Chabad wont be purchasing it, DeLuca said, and the new ownership at the site could create a wrinkle in the discussion over conditions for Chabad. Heagney said all the legal representatives of the neighborhood association, Chabad and the possible new owner were in conversations to find conditions they can live with. The attorney for the Rock Ridge Association, Jackie Kaufman, said, I think we have a great opportunity here. We do have some work ahead of us. Chabad has been using the Lake Avenue campus for preschool activities, generating a number of noise complaints from neighbors. One of the conditions for Chabads use of the site is a prohibition of bull horns and outdoor speakers. Chabad is relocating from two other sites in central Greenwich it used for preschool education, at 75 Mason St. and 6 Lincoln Ave. The application pending with the planning commission is for modifications to earlier approvals at the Lake Avenue site. The planning commission tabled the application for further review. We will leave it open and reconvene (in January), and we hope you work hard between now and then, said Chairwoman Margarita Alban, addressing Chabad and the neighborhood association. JOHANNESBURG (AP) 1931 - Oct. 7 - Desmond Mpilo Tutu is born in Klerksdorp, near Johannesburg. 1947 Contracts tuberculosis, as he recuperates he is visited by Trevor Huddleston, a British Anglican pastor working in South Africa. 1955 Marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane and begins teaching at a secondary school in Johannesburg. 1961 - Is ordained as a minister in the Anglican church, after quitting teaching in disgust at South Africa's apartheid government's inferior education for Blacks. 1962 Studies theology at Kings College London. 1966 Returns to South Africa to teach at a seminary in the Eastern Cape. 1975 Becomes the Anglican church's first Black dean of Johannesburg. 1976 - Serves as Bishop of Lesotho and voices criticism of apartheid in South Africa. 1978 - Becomes general-secretary of the South African Council of Churches and achieves global prominence as a leading opponent of apartheid, supports economic sanctions to achieve majority rule in South Africa. 1984 - Wins Nobel Peace Prize - There is no peace in southern Africa. There is no peace because there is no justice. There can be no real peace and security until there be first justice enjoyed by all the inhabitants of that beautiful land, Tutu says in his acceptance speech. 1985 Becomes the first Black bishop of Johannesburg. 1986 - Is ordained the first Black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. 1989 - Leads anti-apartheid march of 30,000 people through Cape Town. 1990 - Hosts Nelson Mandela for his first night of freedom after Mandela is released from prison after being held for 27 years for his opposition to apartheid. Mandela calls Tutu the peoples' archbishop. 1994 - Votes in South Africa's first democratic election in which all races can cast ballots. 1995 - President Nelson Mandela appoints Tutu to be chairman of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 1996 - Tutu retires as prelate, the Anglican church gives him the title of Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town. 1997 - Is diagnosed with prostate cancer and announces it to help with public awareness of the disease. 1998 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission publishes its report, putting most of the blame for abuses on the forces of apartheid, but also finds the African National Congress guilty of human rights violations. The ANC sues to block the documents release, earning a rebuke from Tutu. 2009 - Aug. 12 - Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama. 2010 - July 22 - Retires from public life, tells press: Don't call me, I'll call you. 2013 - Launches international campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town. I would not worship a God who is homophobic." 2014 - July 12 - Urges the British parliament to allow assisted dying, saying the manner of Nelson Mandelas prolonged death was an affront. 2021 - Oct. 7 - Frail, in a wheelchair, Tutu attends his 90th birthday celebration at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. 2021 - Dec. 26 - Tutu dies in Cape Town. We all know this year wasn't great as many things went from bad to worse. The mobile industry suffered from supply shortages that caused cancelled launches and premature discontinuations. But the year 2021 still gave us some incredibly good smartphones, beacons across a sea of incremental upgrades (or even downgrades). I have reviewed, helped review, or just used, a lot of phones this year and there are certainly a few that left their mark and became an instant recommendation to give to friends and family. Those are not necessarily flagships; they are just good smartphones for various reasons and that's why they made my list here. I won't be choosing the phone of the year in this article but will share with you the best phones I came across this year. So, in no particular order, these are my favorites. Poco F3 Honestly, the Poco F3 is one of the first models that pops in my mind when someone asks me for a good phone. The F3 is an outstanding offer because its price is absurdly low for the many premium features it packs. The Poco F3, being true to its Poco roots, employs one of the fastest chips on the market - the Snapdragon 870 5G. It drives an excellent 120Hz AMOLED and atop of a large 4,520mAh battery with fast charging. The F3 also impresses with stereo speakers and 128GB UFS3.1 base storage. The F3 is not a flagship though, evident by its basic IP53 splash protection and average triple camera on the back with no zoom capabilities. But the Poco F3 launched at 349 and quickly dropped to 299 or lower. Because of its incredible bang for the buck, it quickly became the safest smartphone recommendation I could give to a person. That, and its Poco aura, made it one of the best phones this year. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is the phone Santa puts under your Christmas tree when you wish for a smartphone that has everything. The Mi 11 Ultra, unlike one of my 2020's favorites - the Mi 10 Ultra - enjoyed worldwide availability. Unfortunately, the Mi 11 Ultra seems to have been affected from the supply shortages and once its initial stock was gone, it was gone for good. So, the Mi 11 Ultra is the Swiss knife of the 2021 flagships with the best screen, best chipset, best camera, and best charging capabilities. It is one of the few fully waterproofed Xiaomi phones, too. In addition to that Dolby Vision 1440p 120Hz AMOLED, the phone also has a rear OLED, making its best camera setup also the best selfie kit. And speaking about the cameras - the Mi 11 Ultra offers an impressive configuration with a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide shooter, and a 48MP 5x tele snapper - all of them with outstanding photo and video quality. The Mi 11 Ultra is the best cameraphone according to our Buyer's Guide and I second that. And it is also one of the best phones this year, even if a bit bulky. And because of its greatness it has found a spot on my list. OnePlus Nord 2 5G The OnePlus Nord 2 is my favorite OnePlus this year, sorry Series 9. It's a great all-rounder sold at a reasonable price, but that's not the reason why it's here. The OnePlus Nord 2 is good at everything with its fluid AMOLED screen, flagship-like performance, a reliable camera setup, dependable battery life and fast charging. But the most important ingredient is the OxygenOS that binds everything together and makes the Nord 2 runs like clockwork. OxygenOS is magical under any Fluid AMOLED and that is the case with the Nord 2 too. Then add all the cool traits I've already mentioned, and the attractive price, and the wide availability and the Nord 2 is a winner. I found the OnePlus Nord 2 easy to recommend, just like the Poco F3, and it became one of my favorites this year for its smooth experience, all-round package and affordable price. I've used the Nord 2 as a daily driver, and it was great. I also recommended this phone to quite a few friends and they are all happy with it. It is often at the top of my head when talking phones and I believe no 2021 highlights list is complete without it. Asus Zenfone 8 I love compact phones and when I saw the Asus Zenfone 8 - it was love at first sight. It is a small (by 2021 standards) phone with no-nonsense water-proofed glass design. The Zenfone 8 is a full-fledged flagship with a 5.9" 120Hz AMOLED and the Snapdragon 888 5G chipset. It has one of the best stereo speakers I've heard this year and excels in the camera department on both sides. Other good peculiarities about this Zenfone 8 - it has many features that are popular but not common anymore - a 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio (outside EU), and even a notification LED light. Overall, the Zenfone 8 was one of the very few compact smartphones this year, an incredibly powerful at that. And for these - it's one of my top picks this year. Apple iPhone 13 Pro The last phone I liked a lot this year is the Apple iPhone 13 Pro. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is not a massive upgrade over the iPhone 12 Pro, notch reduction or not. But it is what the iPhone 12 Pro should have been from the start - a phone without avoidable, screaming omissions. Of course, I am talking about the high refresh rate display, the autofocus for the ultrawide camera, the longer zoom. With these, let's say fixes, the iPhone 13 Pro finally became an up-to-date flagship that's not all about speed and design, but also a modern display and a truly versatile camera usable day and night. And with all wrongs being righted with the iPhone 13 Pro, I believe it to be one of the best smartphones this year. Because Apple finally caught up with the competition with some must-have and long overdue upgrades. It always comes to iOS vs. Android, but once that's solved, the iPhone 13 Pro is a great smartphone to have in your pocket. Honorable mention - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G I'd like to make one honorable mention as the phone just wasn't there when my real-life experience is concerned, but is still a great in many ways. I am talking about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. I've used this one for a while and I truly loved its form factor, fordable screen, and even its external display for clock and selfie purposes. The Flip3 took me nearly 20 years back to my first flip phone - the Samsung T100. The feeling of opening and closing the Flip3 is a massive nostalgia tickler and an instant love, at least for me. I was ready to buy this phone - what's not to like - it has great design (water resistant, which as you've probably caught by now is important to me), excellent screen, flagship hardware, and Samsung-grade cameras. But Soon, I found out the Flip3 has terrible battery life. I charged the phone twice a day, rather slowly at that. I've had many phones over the years and all of them gave me at least a full day of battery life. Not the Flip3 though - I took off at 40% around 8am and couldn't last until noon. What?! And then - the main camera is not good for indoor shots - you know, the ones we mostly take during pandemic. 9 out of 10 times I ended up with blurry shots of both people and pets. It felt like I was shooting with a basic Redmi camera, and it was a big turn off. Still, Samsung made one very memorable device - the Flip3 not only earns nostalgia points, but because of its water protection, great screens and good interface - it left a mark, and I am looking forward to the Flip4. I do hope Samsung fixes the battery life and the camera performance next year. The disappointment of the year - Apple iPad mini 6 You know, I bought the Apple iPad mini 6 - its shape with the flat frame, the cool purple color, the larger screen (in the same body), the recent chipset, and the properly positioned stereo speakers won me as a customer right away. And I was looking for a tablet this size. But Apple screwed up big time with this tablet. First - I was disappointed that the screen was not HDR, its capabilities max out at wide color support. But hey, I can live with that, I don't use the tablet for Netflix and Amazon that much, but more for browsing and reading stuff. And this is where the new iPad mini utterly failed me. You've probably heard about the jelly effect when scrolling in portrait mode - the left part of the screen scrolls a bit faster than the right side making for this wavy or jelly-like effect. And it eventually became so annoying - as I used the iPad in mostly portrait orientation - that I had to get rid of the tablet. I cannot imagine making such a good device and then its key upgrade to become its undoing. But hey, it obviously had happened! Maybe Apple will fix the screen in a year or two when the next iPad mini arrives, but the bitter memories will remain. And that's the end of my year 2021 highlights. I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you were on the fence about buying a device that I mentioned, I hope it helped you decide. Cheers! High school students can show off their civic expertise this winter in an annual civics contest sponsored by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and by the District Court of Guam. The theme of the contest is The First Amendment at the Schoolhouse Gate: Students Free Speech Rights, which students may explore through either an essay or video submission. The 2022 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest begins on the local level, from which finalists will be selected to advance to the circuit wide competition, and will be awarded $150 for first place, $100 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place. At the circuit level, finalists will be awarded $3,000 for first place, $1,700 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Historically, students from Guam have done well in the competition. Last year, St. Johns student Jin Chung placed third at the Ninth Circuit level, and according to Charles B. White, the Chief Deputy Clerk from the District Court of Guam, three high school students from Guam have won top honors at the Ninth Circuit level in this contest over the past few years. The contest theme comes from a decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court more than 50 years ago that said students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate, as well as their 1988 ruling that students rights are not the same as rights of adults in other settings. Students are asked to explore these ideas in light of contemporary far reaching forms of expression such as the internet and social media, and to address the question of what students First Amendment rights are on and off campus, as well as what responsibilities students, schools, and the government have regarding this freedom of speech including the possibility that the speech may harm others. Students may compete as individuals or in groups of up to three students, and may submit a 500 to 1,000 word essay, a three to five minute video, or both. Submissions should demonstrate both an understanding of the history of free speech rights under the First Amendment as well as address the roles of students, schools, and the courts in applying those rights and responsibilities. Just several months after forming, a new Japanese drumming group is looking forward to performing early next year. The wadaiko is a traditional Japanese drum seen at festivals, particularly the Japan Autumn festival on Guam. The group, created by the Japan Club of Guam and Guam Nikkei Association, is led by sensei Yasuji Odaki. She was encouraged to do so by Monte Mesa, a board member of the Guam Nikkei Association and president of the group. I formed this group with Monte (Mesa) because wadaiko is an essential part of the matsuri (Japanese festival) experience, Odaki said. We Japanese take our festivals very seriously and believe that it is a way to spread and enjoy our culture. Mesa-san was very enthusiastic about having the people of Guam learn about the wadaiko, so I wanted to contribute. By late August, Odaki had gathered four wadaiko drums for students to use, and members of the community of all ages began participating. Masami Okada, now secretary of the group that she joined because she used to play as a child. I learned to play the wadaiko when I was in the second grade at my school, so it is very nostalgic for me to play now. I loved hitting the drums then and I love playing them currently. Yoko Nobusawa, teacher at the Japanese School of Guam, eagerly joined when the opportunity to play was presented to her. Odaki Sensei connected with the principal of the Japanese School, asking for any interested drummers. I thought that hitting would be fun and took the opportunity. Children and teens also have jonied, Odaki said. My younger students like playing the wadaiko because of the sound that it makes. Many students are also Japanese, so the drums are a way for them to connect with their culture from where we are. Odaki meets with the students almost daily, which is a challenge with her current group of 20. Having only four drums has proven to be limiting. There are so many people interested in hitting, but cant because of the lack of drums. Nevertheless, the group remain enthusiastic about learning to play the wadaiko, which has no notes, only different methods in hitting the drums. Traditionally, when learning to play an instrument, students will learn to play by reading notes from sheet music. For the wadaiko, students learn by listening to the sound that their drums make. So, It takes time for pupils to correctly make sounds and noises with their drums. Odaki said. Despite the obstacles the group faces, they look forward to performing their first production in February. Odaki and the group hope to perform at other schools and at festivals as well. I think it is important for people of other cultures to appreciate different customs, because then, well have more respect for one another. The organization wanted to show their respect for Guams culture in their performances, and have made many songs that combine CHamoru and Japanese rhythms. Okada said wrote a song with traditional CHamoru beats, titled Collaboration. As this song is performed, the members of the group want to motivate people to dance and clap along to the rhythm. In the final notes of the song, the drummers shout to instill their ideas of unity, Guam, Guam, Guam Saikou! Guam is the best! A week after being sworn in as this years Island-Wide Board of Governing Students, members are looking forward to making a difference in the community. Board Public Relation Officer John Pineda is anticipating his future endeavors, knowing that I have an opportunity to make student voices be heard and having the chance to make a change. Board Chairwoman Sophie Nochefranca, a John F. Kennedy High School senior, joined the board to represent her school and faculty who have expressed grievances with the current educational system. I was always interested in the affairs between the Guam Legislature and GDOE, Nochefranca said. Pineda, George Washington High School senior, is also paving the way for future representation from his school. I wanted to give GW a good and strong rep this school year, and recruit strong students for the next IBOGS cycle representing GW, Pineda said. Emmy Bawit, a JFK senior, also is looking ahead. I have always wanted to make my mark on the island and help future generations of students, Bawit said. Ryae Anne Cosca, a Simon Sanchez High School senior, echoed their remarks. I want to be the voice for my school, especially for the students who feel like they arent heard, Cosca said. I had a few friends who were in IBOGS and hearing them talk about the things they do and seeing the projects they were a part of further heightened my interest, IBOGS Vice-Chairwoman Grace Anne Dela Cruz said. Working with adviser Cosca noted that the board experience has been better by working with a dedicated adviser. Although Im not an officer, it truly is an honor working with Maria Gutierrez and the rest of the fellow IBOGS, she said. Grace Anne Dela Cruz, board vice-chairwoman and a Simon Sanchez senior, also will be working closely with Gutierrez. One thing Im for sure looking forward to though is working more with Mrs. Gutierrez. Shes an absolute sweetheart, she said. Being able to work with her and seeing her passion for making sure that student voice is heard inspires me to keep pushing for change and supporting the students all over the island. Future candidatesBoard members are already encouraging other students to apply for a position next year and offer words of advice. Missing every opportunity that comes to you hurts more than getting rejected, Cosca said. There is nothing wrong in trying, even better trying your best. IBOGS Representative Zekiya Mapilisan believes leaders are built through passion and perseverance. Leadership is being an advocate for change and being confident. No one is born an automatic leader, Zekiya Mapilisan, Okkodo High School senior said. She also added, They are built through passion and perseverance. The most important step to take is the first one. Whatever you think is in your way, ignore all of that, Bawit said. She added,Take that first step and the path ahead is going to reveal itself. Either be confident in how you speak of your ideas or confident in your skills. You are your main supporter, said representative Isabella Paco, a Tiyan High School junior. Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad in Humatak was vandalized. According to Humatak Mayor Johnny Quinata, one of his staff was sent to clean the area when he noticed graffiti in the restroom and the fort. The restroom graffiti and fort were tagged Street Wise along with other statements. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero issued a statement in response to the recent acts. This deplorable act of disrespect to our islands history is shameful and especially disappointing as our families celebrate the holidays, said Leon Guerrero. As a vibrant vista and gem of southern Guam, Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad is a popular public space for our people and visitors alike. Once we were alerted, we directed the Department of Parks and Recreations State Historic Preservation Office to immediately restore this local landmark to its natural state and we are grateful that their quick response already has cleared some of the graffiti. Our administration further activated law enforcement officers to identify and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets our history and we will not treat these misguided provocations lightly. Tenorio added to the governor with his statement. As chair of the Islandwide Beautification Task Force, it is disheartening to see this level of disregard for one of Guams most beloved sites in the south, said Tenorio. We join the entire island in expressing our outrage and as our task force will be meeting on Tuesday, we plan to discuss this isolated incident and how we will step up our efforts to ensure the protection and preservation of our historic places. As we prepare to enter a New Year, we know there is no room for recklessness, whether in a pandemic or in respecting our history. Our community can and will do better. Quinata has reached out to the public to assist in finding the person or people responsible. He also hopes to repaint the site before the new year. The Guam Election Commission will request additional funding from the Legislature in order to accommodate early, in-office voters in the coming election, as well as other necessities. GEC requested $1.9 million for fiscal year 2022, but was ultimately allotted $1.63 million in the GovGuam budget for fiscal 2022. The budget request was made prior to the signing of a law in July that allows voters to vote up to 30 days before election day. The commissions supplemental budget request to the Legislature was for $626,000, commission Executive Director Maria Pangelinan said during a recent board meeting. The board voted to approve that amount, with the flexibility to increase or decrease it by 10%. During a hearing for the new early voting law in June, Pangelinan told lawmakers that early voting would cost about $175,000 per election. She said last week that the supplemental request was also inclusive of $300,000 that wasnt provided in the fiscal year 2022 budget, which would be needed to run the primaries. Besides that, the commission was in unfamiliar territory, with the recent move to the Oka Building in Tamuning, we were over at GCIC for over 40 years, she said. The new office would not be able to accommodate voters safely and comfortably during the pandemic, and they were doing research to find another venue. If one was identified before Jan. 31, they would include it in their request to the legislature. The University of Guam was being considered, as was the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix center, she said. Local hotels were also an option. Early voting with no excuse required was made an option during the 2020 general election, in order to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. The move was a hit, with over 12,000 voters taking the option. In previous years, when an excuse was required to vote early, just 1,000 people took advantage of it, PDN files show. Pangelinan said Tuesday that they were looking to increase the number of early voters in the next election. There are about 49,166 registered voters as of Nov. 30, commission reports show. Pangelinan on Tuesday said that the number fluctuated as people who died were taken off the list. The hardest thing is to figure out how to get our voters to come out, so it seems like early voting is one of the tools that we can use. A United Airlines aircraft is serviced on the tarmac of the A.B. Won Pat International Airport in Tamuning in this March 19, 2020, photo. Even as the shining sun beats down on Tumon Bay, only a few people could be found enjoying the sand and surf in this Oct. 12, 2021, photo. Government of Guam leaders dont seem to grasp how critical it is for them to better support tourism small businesses. Haiti - FLASH : Youri Latortue accuses the Embassy of Haiti in Washington of embezzlement Accordin to former opposition Senator Youri Latortue, former Chairman of the Senate Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, said officials from the Haitian Embassy in Washington embezzled an amount estimated at nearly $4 million. According to Latortue this amount would have been disbursed as passport production for several consulates and he is calling for an investigation to be opened to identify the perpetrators of these embezzlements. Reacting to these accusations, the Ambassador of Haiti in Washington Bocchit Edmond gives a formal denial "The Embassy denies formal to the rumors according to which 4 million dollars have disappeared from its coffers. No audit has been carried out, how a person can tell the amount that would have gone missing. The Embassy acknowledges that some embassies and consulates in debt have yet to send in passport or money application forms." To be continued... TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Return of students to the Lycee de La Saline in January 2022 In accordance with the directives of Nesmy Manigat, Minister of National Education, students and teachers are preparing to return to the premises of the Lycee National de La Saline in January 2022. During a guided tour last week, a delegation made up of the director of the high school, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Education, officers of the Edupol and students of the high school noted that the work of sanitation was going well. Students, teachers and residents of the community welcomed this initiative. Let's recall that this mixed public school of 850 students had to close its doors 3 years ago following clashes between armed gangs which led to the bloody massacre of La Saline in November 2018 (71 people murdered) Download the report on the La Saline massacre (French PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/10-Rap-La-Saline-1Dec2018.pdf Download the Revised Balance Sheet of the La Saline Massacre (French PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/8-CP-La-Saline-bilan-revise-20Dec2018.pdf During these 3 years, when the conditions were not met for a reopening, the students were placed in other public establishments. S/ HaitiLibre HPG's Media Centre shared information about the operation , which read: "On the eighth and ninth of December, the Guerrilla forces conducted a qualitative revolutionary operation against the occupation army using their modern tactics in the area of Martyr Munther in Zab, , the following is the detailed information about the operation which launched during the revolutionary Zagros Hawks campaign: "On the eighth of December, at 14:00, our forces launched an attack with heavy weapons on positions of the occupation army in the hill of Martyr Munther, later; The mobile units of the Guerrilla forces moved and managed to control positions of the occupiers from five axes. Our first and second professional attack units carried out a simultaneous attack at 01:00, targeting two sites and a concentration point belonging to the occupation army, where the first axis of the operation targeted a concentration point using bombs and individual weapons, killing five occupation soldiers, seizing two M-16 cannons, a grenade launcher, BKC weapons, a bag and a lot of their military equipment. The second axis targeted two sites of the occupation soldiers with grenades and light weapons, where two sites were destroyed in a short time, and three of the occupation soldiers were confirmed dead. The fourth and fifth axis destroyed targets in the Badawi Castle with heavy weapons". "Our mobile forces managed to hit all targets on the hill within 10 minutes using professional tactical methods, whereas, our forces did not suffer any casualties, as for the Turkish occupation army, it resulted in killing 8 Turkish occupation soldiers and two M-16 cannons, a BKC weapon, one suitcase and many military equipment were also seized". This operation came in retaliation for all the martyrs who martyred as a result of using of chemical weapons by the Turkish occupation army. A.K More than a million IDPs and refugees are living in North eastern Syria in 15 officially recognized camps that do not receive humanitarian aids provided by the United Nations and relief associations since mid- 2019 after the Tal Kocher Border Crossing due to the Russo-Chinese veto hereby all humanitarian aids provided to Damascus government that used to put hands on most of these aids. The Tal Kocher closure decision impinges upon the lives of all NES people burdening them with more economic hardships specifically in the Winter. On this relation, Co-chair of the Office of IDPs Affairs of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Sheikhmous Ahmed who warned against the grave repercussions of the continuation of the Tal Kocher closure decision. Ahmed said the decision regarding the Tal Kocher Border Crossing is a politically motivated one mere to put pressure on the AANES to make concessions to Russia and Damascus government calling on international community to reconsider the decision passed. '' NES people fought ISIS that posed threats to all the world and sacrificed immeasurably of martyrs and injured in the way to liberate their lands and to put an end to ISIS terror'', he said. Ahmed said the Tal Kocher Border Crossing is ''considered as the artery to conduit humanitarian aids provided by the UN to NES. Now the region suffers a tight blockade from all parts''. Ahmed laid stress on the need by the ''international community to change its conduct towards the people of NES that fought the ISIS terror, the region is in grave need of humanitarian aids for the large number of IDPs the region house. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria alone is not capable to shoulder all these burdens for services required for IDPs''. Regarding the Russian and Chinese positions, Ahmed said '' they ought to re-consider their policies regarding the humanitarian work, and the Security Council should reconsider its decision that poses threats to lives of millions of people of region as well IDPs living in North-eastern Syria''. Ahmed said more than a million and 100 000 IDPs are living in North eastern Syria coming from all Syrian territories. l..a ANHA LOCAL BRIEFS: Good Citizens, Wreaths Across America, Teddy Bears for comfort DAR honors Good Citizens The Abraham Kuykendall Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored tdhree area high school students in its annual DAR Good Citizen Contest. Pictured from the left are Good Citizens Chair Kim Graziano, Ashlyn Ramsey of Polk County High School, Kasey Jones of East Henderson High School and Madelyn Matlick of Veritas Christian Academy. Winners are chosen by school faculty based on dependability, service, leadership, patriotism, academic performance, community involvement and future plans. Wreaths Across America reaches Hendersonville Military veterans buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hendersonville were honored during Wreaths Across America for the first time on Dec. 18, thanks to Four Seasons hospice and palliative care. The organization's the We Honor Veterans committee and dozens of volunteers participated in a memorial ceremony before displaying wreaths throughout the cemetery. This was the first time this nationwide event has been held at Forest Lawn and we believe it is the first time it has been held in Henderson County, said John Knapp, a retired U.S. Navy captain and chair of the We Honor Veterans Committee. Forest Lawn was one of 3,136 locations in the U.S. and abroad to host Wreaths Across America. The purpose of the day is to Remember, Honor, and Teach. With thousands of volunteers across all locations, 2.4 million wreaths were displayed to honor our veterans who have passed. The Four Seasons We Honor Veterans committee looks forward to returning in December 2022 with enough wreaths to decorate all 1,240 veterans gravesites. If you are interested in learning more about Wreaths Across America at Forest Lawn Cemetery and participating as a sponsor or volunteer in 2022, please contact Development@FourSeasonsCFL.org. Safelight to put various services under one roof Safelights Night of Hope fundraisers has surpassed its goal to raise $250,000 towards their Hope and Healing Campaign. These funds will go towards paying off an additional building purchased in August and opening next year to bring programs together for clients to access services more easily and safely. We are happy to announce that we received over $254,000 in gifts and pledges towards our Hope and Healing Campaign, a three-year campaign with a goal to raise $2.2 million to pay off our new facility, add healthcare for staff, and rebuild our agency reserve fund after extreme losses in funding through Covid, Safelight Executive Director Lauren Wilkie said. We are grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of our community. Night of Hope, our signature fundraiser, switched into five mini-events due to Covid-19. We would like to thank our event sponsors, donors, speakers, staff and volunteers for their dedication and support of our mission. Safelights new additional location at 317 N. Washington Street is within walking distance of its current offices and shelter on Fifth Avenue West and has enough space to house the Child Advocacy Center, Family Advocacy/Justice Center and Counseling Center Programs, with the capacity for these programs to grow and house their partners onsite as well. These programs will be together under one roof for the first time in Henderson County, with each program having a separate entrance, making it easier for survivors to access multiple Safelight services for a continuum of care. Veterans help veterans The Western North Carolina Military Officers Association of America collected clothing, toiletries, snacks, jigsaw puzzles, board games, calendars and other items and delivered them to veterans at the V.A. Medical Center in Asheville earlier this month. MOAA members who volunteered at the collection site at Hendersonville Country Club included, from left, Mike Pomponio, Patrick Makin, Kristina Egger, Rod Nunnelee, John Culp and Bill Meyers. Father Mason retires from Episcopal Church of the Holy Family The Rev. Dr. Chris Mason announced his retirement from the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family in Mills River, where he is concluding three years of ministry as the Priest In Charge. He began his ministry with Holy Family in January 2019. Mason received his B.A. in history from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1971; M.Div. from the School of Theology of the University of the South in 1974; M.A.Ed. from East Carolina University in 1993; and Ed.D. from California Coast University, Los Angeles in 2007. He has served as a priest for more than 40 years in the dioceses of Southern California, Georgia, Southwestern Virginia and North Carolina. Dec. 29 Blood drive A Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center blood drive is scheduled 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at La Centerra at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. (next to Francescas & Pandora). To sign up go to https://tinyurl.com/d8y8xa76. Dec. 31 New Years Eve Most city, county, state and federal offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, in observance of New Year celebrations. Emergency services will be maintained. Jan. 3 Richmond City Commission The city of Richmond will hold its regular commission meeting on Monday, Jan. 3, at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex located at 600 Morton St. in Richmond. For questions, contact City Manager Terri Vela at tvela@richmondtx.gov or 281-342-5456. Missouri City City Council The regular meeting of the Missouri City City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, in the City Hall, Council Chamber at 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov. Jan. 4 Sugar Land City Council The Sugar Land City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N. For more information go to www.sugarlandtx.gov. Rosenberg City Council The Rosenberg City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Rosenberg City Hall, 2110 4th St. Council meetings may be viewed live on YouTube, the city of Rosenberg website, or by Rosenberg Comcast customers on channel 16. For more information go to www.rosenbergtx.gov. Jan. 6 TxDot: U.S. 90 Update The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce presents TxDoT: U.S. 90 Update at a member meeting from 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, in the Katy Area Chambers Shell FCU Community Room, 814 East Ave., Suite H in Katy. James Koch, director of transportation planning and development for the Texas Department of Transportation, is scheduled to attend the presentation. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/2p89puuw. Jan. 7 Richmond Farmers Market The Development Corporation of Richmond and the city of Richmond present the Richmond Farmers Market the first Friday of the month from 3 to 7 p.m. Richmond Farmers Market will be located at Wessendorff Park, 500 Preston St. For more information email Jessica Huang at Jessica@FarmersMarket.Love. Jan. 12 Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber Meeting The Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce membership meeting is scheduled with a meet-and-greet at 7:30 a.m. and general meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Parkway Fellowship at 27043 FM 1093 in Richmond. The scheduled guest speaker is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. There is no charge for this meeting. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/2s42nrwv. Fort Bend ISD Update The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce presents the Fort Bend ISD Superintendent and Board Update for chamber members from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Fort Bend Chamber at 445 Commerce Green Blvd. in Sugar Land. Superintendent Christie Whitbeck and Board President Dave Rosenthal are expected to present an update on Fort Bend ISD. Tickets for pre-registered chamber members are $25. Tickets at the door are $40. For more information contact Rebekah Beltran at 281-566-2158 or via email at rebekah@fortbendcc.org or go to https://tinyurl.com/yckrh6nj. Jan. 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Most city, county, state and federal offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Emergency services will be maintained. Jan. 18 Sugar Land City Council The Sugar Land City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N. For more information go to www.sugarlandtx.gov. Rosenberg City Council The Rosenberg City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Rosenberg City Hall, 2110 4th St. Council meetings may be viewed live on YouTube, the city of Rosenberg website, or by Rosenberg Comcast customers on channel 16. For more information go to www.rosenbergtx.gov. Richmond City Commission The city of Richmond will hold its regular commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex located at 600 Morton St. in Richmond. For questions, contact City Manager Terri Vela at tvela@richmondtx.gov or 281-342-5456. Missouri City City Council The regular meeting of the Missouri City City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, in the City Hall, Council Chamber at 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov. Jan. 28 Fort Bend Chamber Chairmans Gala The 2022 Fort Bend Chamber Chairmans Gala is scheduled for 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, Jan. 28, at Safari Texas Ranch at 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond. Individual tickets are $100. Sponsorships are available. For more information contact Paige Talbott at 281-566-2152 or via email at Paige@fortbendcc.org; or go to https://tinyurl.com/mryucxhu. Feb. 12 Boots & Badges Gala Behind the Badge Charities is committed to holding its annual Boots & Badges Gala on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Safari Texas in Richmond. Sponsorships and tickets are available now at www.behindthebadgecharities.org/gala. Ah, the holidays the season of mean-spirited pandering and chronic cowardice from people in leadership. Oh, wait. Thats just in Texas, which is currently led by a governor whose fear of opponents in the coming GOP primary apparently knows no bounds. Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday announced he will not be issuing a posthumous pardon to George Floyd for a 17-year-old drug arrest in Houston by a now-disgraced former cop whose investigations have been called into question. The two-term Republican also announced that he doesnt want to be held personally responsible for that decision. Rather, the governor would prefer us to blame the Texas State Board of Pardons and Paroles, which had unanimously recommended a pardon for Floyd back in October. Board members are appointed by the governor. According to Abbotts office, the board rescinded this clemency recommendation, along with 24 others it had made, after belatedly discovering procedural errors in the applications for them. And so, in Abbotts telling, there was literally nothing he could do; he cant even offer an opinion on the subject. As a result of the Boards withdrawal of the recommendation concerning George Floyd, Governor Abbott did not have the opportunity to consider it, said his spokesperson, Renae Eze, in a statement. Perhaps some Texans will buy that? The timing speaks for itself, said Allison Mathis of the Harris County Public Defenders Office, on Christmas Eve. Mathis filed the request for a pardon on behalf of Floyds surviving family members in April. Other observers were less diplomatic. Classic Greg Abbott. He didnt have the guts to grant George Floyd a posthumous pardon, nor the guts to reject it, observed Julian Castro, a Democrat and the former mayor of San Antonio. So he got the pardon/parole board to withdraw their recommendation. Magic! Floyd, 46, a former Houston resident, was killed in May 2020 when then-Minneapolis police Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. The murder of Floyd, who was Black, by Chauvin, who is white, was bravely captured on video by a bystander, Darnella Frazier, who was just 17 at the time. The video of Floyds agonizing final minutes prone on a city street, telling the cops he couldnt breathe horrified the nation, and galvanized thousands of Americans to take to the streets to protest police violence against Black Americans that had led to a troubling number of deaths. Chauvin was convicted last April of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. But Floyds horrifying death and the rallies, protests and politics in its wake actually have nothing to do with the question at hand, which is whether he should be pardoned for a 2004 arrest in Harris County that we now know to have been deeply flawed from the outset. Floyd was charged with delivery of a controlled substance after Gerald Goines, then a Houston police officer, arrested him for allegedly dealing a small amount of crack cocaine. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 months in state prison. The issue with this conviction is that Goines the officer entirely responsible for it has since been thoroughly discredited. He came under scrutiny after a botched 2019 drug raid that left a husband and wife dead, fatally shot by police. Goines was subsequently charged with murder in connection with the Harding Street raid, as well as other forms of misconduct, including lying to obtain affidavits. He has maintained his innocence. As a result of this scandal, Goines previous cases have been revisited, for obvious reasons. And a number of them including this one dont pass muster with law enforcement, given the new information about Goines himself. [Goines] made up the existence of a confidential informant who provided crucial evidence to underpin the arrest, Mathis wrote in her application to the parole board. And no one bothered to question the word of a veteran cop against that of a previously-convicted Black man. We do not support the integrity of Mr. Floyds conviction and agree these circumstances warrant a posthumous pardon, wrote Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, a Democrat, in her own April letter to the board supporting the application. Mathis told me Friday that the social-justice movement Floyd galvanized had nothing to do with her application for a posthumous pardon. Rather, she said, Floyd was one of many Houstonians convicted as a result of Goines misdeeds, and given Floyds death a posthumous pardon is the only relief available, in this case. Its just about correcting the record, Mathis said. Goines attorney, Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube, has denied that her client targeted Floyd or fabricated evidence, calling the accusations political. There is no new evidence whatsoever to support there was anything wrong with the arrest of Mr. Floyd, she told the Chronicle in October. For the governor to demur when asked to weigh in on the parole boards recommendation is hardly respectable. Its possible that his mind resembles some kind of lunar landscape, arid and uninhabited. But that would be an uncharitable assumption, would it not? Its more likely that Abbott, who faces two primary opponents who may have even more extreme conservative positions than he does, was considering Republican primary politics rather than the merits of this particular case. Abbott, a former state attorney general and Texas Supreme Coirt justice, may understand that the law supports a pardon. But perhaps he also perceives a political downside with his conservative base of pardoning a man who cycled in and out of the criminal justice system, ultimately with tragicand galvanizingresults. What we continue to learn about this governor is that political considerations too often trump doing the right thing. erica.grieder@chron.com A man riding a bike was killed in southeast Houston late Saturday by a gunman with whom he had been arguing earlier in the day, according to Houston Police Lt. Emanuel Pavel. The victim was only identified as a man in his 30s. The shooting occurred around 9:20 p.m. in the 5600 block of Belmar Street, where a witness saw the suspect shoot the victim, who was riding his bike, from inside a black Jeep. Houston police early Sunday morning fatally shot an armed man in an exchange of gunfire in South Side, according to Houston police. At 2:41 a.m. two officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 3500 block of Corder. The suspect was standing in the roadway and immediately began shooting at the officers vehicle when they arrived at the scene, police said. The officers a one- and two-year veteran took cover behind their vehicle. A Harris County Precinct 1 constable deputy shot a 17-year-old girl multiple times early Sunday during a confrontation at NRG Park, where she was seen driving erratically in a stolen SUV, said Houston Police Assistant Chief Yasar Bashir. The girl was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and is expected to survive. The deputy, who has not been identified, was working at NRG Park around 1 a.m. when they spotted the vehicle enter the empty parking lot. The deputy turned on their emergency lights to stop the SUV, but the driver continued. Eventually, the vehicle came to a stop and a confrontation ensued, Bashir said. At some point, the girl exited the vehicle and ignored commands from the deputy. The girl got back into the SUV, and the deputy fired multiple times, striking her. Its unclear what prompted the deputy to fire their weapon. Police said the investigation is in its early stages, and that detectives were working to uncover the exact cause. After the shooting, the wounded girl got back in the vehicle and tried to leave but stopped at a closed gate, Bashir said. She was taken into custody without further incident. The woman had open felony warrants, in addition to the stolen vehicle, Bashir said. julian.gill@chron.com Before the pandemic, finding good quality child care could be challenging. Now, its even harder. Parents of young children are being told to return to the workplace, only to find countless day cares closed. For many families, this constitutes a crisis. Unfortunately, President Joe Bidens Build Back Better plan if it ever passes would keep it that way. As currently written, the plan would introduce unprecedented federal spending on early childhood care and education. It would fund preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and subsidize child care costs so that no family making $300,000 per year or less will pay more than 7 percent of their income on other forms of child care. A New York Times columnist calls this revolutionary. It is, in the sense that it is without precedent for fiscal recklessness. The Biden administration claims that universal pre-K would set children up for academic success and that child care subsidies will increase female labor force participation driving economic growth. Unfortunately, it would do neither. In fact, about the only thing this proposal would do is make the child care crisis worse. Why? Because the proposal would dramatically increase the already massive regulatory burden on providers. It would require lead pre-K teachers to hold bachelors degrees, peg salaries to those of unionized teachers and impose maximum teacher to child ratios, among other provisions. The Institute for Justice ranks public preschool teacher as the most widely and onerously licensed occupation in the country. Regulations, such as those requiring over five and a half years of experience and education, on average, before one is legally allowed to care for a child, exist in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The Build Back Better bill would extend these regulatory burdens to all preschool teachers, public or private. Rather than impose new regulations on the already over-regulated child care sector, lawmakers should fix some of the problems that already limit parents child care options and needlessly drive up costs. For example, some employers offer on-site child care to their employees as a benefit. Many more would do so if regulations were reduced. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers that provide on-site child care to include the value of that benefit in overtime pay calculations. In other words, in addition to paying employees 1.5 times their hourly wage for overtime, employers must also pay them 1.5 times the hourly value of their child care benefit. You dont get extra health insurance or retirement benefits for working overtime. Child care benefits should be treated the same way. Removing the distinction between child care and other employer-provided benefits would make it easier for employers to offer their workers on-site child care. On-site child care is an attractive option for many employees who have children or plan to start families. Without this regulation-and the extra educational requirements and wage increases that would be mandated under Build Back Better, many more employers could offer convenient, high-quality child care. It would be a great tool for employee recruitment and retention and no federal subsidies would be needed. In another instance of the government limiting child care choices, tax law requires any family that pays a babysitter or in-home child care provider more than $2,300 in a single year must treat them as a household employee, rather than a contractor. This subjects the family and the care provider to a barrage of regulations and taxation such as Medicare and Social Security tax withholding. The paperwork is a significant burden for many families, especially those who already face barriers navigating government systems. Every family has unique needs. Satisfying them requires a wide variety of child care options, not a system of identical providers conforming for government approval. For child care to work for everyone, children must be allowed to attend the facilities that best meet their needs and enable them to achieve their full potential. These options could be employer-provided centers, family based care providers or something else entirely. Government has already shown how it provides child care through decades of Head Start, the failed Great Society-era government-run preschool program that will serve as the quality standard for the proposed programs in the Build Back Better plan. Randomized controlled trials of Head Start find no evidence of academic improvement later in life. Beyond families and children, taxpayers will also suffer, as it is clear these child care and pre-K entitlement programs wont come close to paying for themselves. Instead of building taller barriers, regulators should reduce burdens to allow parents to decide whats best for their children and enable providers to respond to those preferences. It is time to reject the governments track record of failure and let families solve the child care crisis. Schoof is a researcher and project coordinator in the Heritage Foundations Center for Education Policy. Schuster is in the think tanks Young Leader Program. Rep. Mike McCaul., R-Austin, is in his ninth term in Congress, where he has earned a reputation as a staunchly conservative pragmatist. McCaul is ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a former chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. From his Washington-area residence, McCaul spoke over a video call on Dec. 3. Q: Youve been highly critical of President Joe Bidens withdrawal from Afghanistan. Why? A: Weve lost eyes and ears on Russia, China and Iran. So weve gone dark in that region, and (our withdrawal) also projected weakness. And when you do that, you invite aggression, as youll see throughout history, going back to Chamberlain and Hitler (prior to World War II). So I think this withdrawal has made (President Vladimir) Putin more provocative. And now youve got 100,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, with many more being dispatched from Moscow. The threat is there and if we dont provide deterrence here, just like when Russia went in Crimea, hes going to go in. They are going to go into Ukraine. Ukraine has always been regarded as the breadbasket of Russia. Its the prize. Putin acts like he wants to restore the old Soviet empire. So that threatens the Baltic states as well. This will be the largest invasion of a country since World War II, if it happens, and I worry, just given the briefings Ive had, that it is going to happen. I know the administrations talking about sanctions, and I welcome that. But I think NATO has to have a presence, you know, on the ground, so that Putin knows that you cant do this without NATO and our allies responding to it. Q: There are other ways to strengthen (or lose) influence in the world. Youve been talking up news that Samsung plans to invest $17 billion in Taylor, outside of Austin, where it plans to build a giant plant to manufacture semiconductors. You drafted legislation authorizing billions in federal subsidies for just such plants, a bill that has passed but not yet been funded. Why is this so important? A: So its actually an interesting story. During the prior administration, the national security adviser, Robert OBrien, who I am pretty good friends with, and I were having this discussion about supply chain problems and the problems with advanced semiconductor chips in Taiwan and South Korea were getting compromised by China. These are advanced chips that are in our most advanced weapon systems, and well, they are in your phones, too. And so they are really like the brains behind everything we use, and so its really a critical asset. I had further discussions with (former) Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo, and then Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Where we ended up in our thinking was to pull this critical supply chain, either into the United States or into one of our allied countries in a region thats not vulnerable to being compromised by Communist China. So the idea is to create manufacturing jobs in the United States and protect our national security at the same time. So this has been very well received. We got the language authorizing the new grant program into the National Defense Authorization bill. Sen. (John) Cornyn introduced the companion in the Senate, and now were looking at (legislation to create) the tax incentives. The grant program is important to help incentivize these companies to either expand or locate in the United States. Everybody feels very strongly that the tax incentives will pass this year, and youre already seeing great investment here in the United States, like Samsung. Thats just north of Austin for $17 billion. And thats just the start investments are going to grow exponentially over time. Its very cost intensive to build one of these things. Thats why, because it is a national security concern, we believe we really have to incentivize them to do this, either here, or with some of our allies. I know theres a lot of acrimony up here in Washington. But this is one of those kind of rare moments where you see both sides of the aisle coming together. We had a meeting in the Oval Office, with eight members of Congress, with the president, with the vice president all in agreement. I like to get things done, not just go on YouTube and get attention by saying crazy stuff. Thats just not my style. Q: Tell me more about your concerns on China. A: Taiwan has always been in their sights. But now theyre getting very provocative and establishing artificial islands in the South China Sea. If we dont provide the deterrence now, they will definitely, in my judgment, just like with Hong Kong, move on them. That would have devastating consequences. Q: Several things you mentioned, like the artificial islands and territorial claims by China, those have been building for several years. So is there something in particular in the months since the Afghanistan withdrawal that youre pointing to that shows a significant change in Chinas behavior not just in their rhetoric? A: The flights over Taiwan airspace have increased dramatically since August. Then theres the firing of the hypersonic weapon, which is very significant, and the ability to have their missile orbit the Earth, and then land with precision. This missile is really built on the backbone of American technology, that either weve given it to them, or theyve stolen it, or weve sold it to them. Thats something were gonna have to take a look at. We have got to stop selling them the technology that theyre going to put into advanced weapon systems like the hypersonic. We dont have a hypersonic weapon that can deliver a nuclear payload. I got a very high-level classified briefing on this, and its very worrisome because they can hit the homeland with this. Our missile defense system cannot stop it because it flies five times the speed of sound and zigzags. Its very hard to detect. So think about that with Taiwan now. If they see us wanting to get involved, they almost have a checkmate on us to say, you know, we got this hypersonic, we can hit your homeland and you cant stop it. So they have leverage over us. Q: Youve spoken about this threat as one more reason to create a new supply chain away from Chinas influence. A: Were looking at rare earth minerals. Through their Belt and Road initiative, they take rare earth minerals out of Latin America and Africa and bring them to China in the Xinjiang province, where they commit genocide and have slave labor with the Uighur Muslims. I think itd be really smart for an Elon Musk and I plan to sit down with him to work with Africa and particularly Latin America to get these rare earth minerals. That would help with the migration issue. Lets set up a manufacturing plant in the Western Hemisphere, in Latin America. Theres a moral issue here, and just logistically, its closer to the United States in this hemisphere. Q: That could help build incentives for people in Guatemala or Honduras to stay home rather than migrate north? A: I spoke to the Guatemalan ambassador and he said, I dont want aid, I want trade. But they really need foreign investment Q: If China were to invade Taiwan, would the U.S. be obligated to go to war? A: No, we have made promises to Taiwan, but we are not bound by a treaty to go to war. We have a security defense agreement with Australia that we would be bound by. Australia is very nervous right now about whats happening. Thats why we did (a deal) with respect to nuclear submarines, to build those in Australia. Thats gonna take time. But we are bound by that security agreement we have with Australia. So if Australia responded and asked us to join them, we would be obligated by that. Q: Biden got hammered in some corners for offending France by supporting the submarine deal with Australia. Did he make the right decision? A: Yeah, I got a call from the National Security Council and they told me about the plan. I was very supportive, because this is exactly what we need. You know, the French submarine is not as advanced as the one that were talking about. I will say that I did meet with our French counterparts. And they were mad not so much that we made this decision. It was the way it was made. They are our oldest ally, and they felt they were completely blown off. Q: Were about out of time. Let me ask you about Iran. Youve raised the concern that it is running out of the clock as it continues its nuclear program. But how much should we expect them to trust the negotiations when President (Donald) Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear accord? A: At the end of day, Iran is going to have to make a decision: Is their economy more important than being a nuclear power? We are willing to lift the sanctions, but they need to give up their nuclear program or make it more civilian-based, energy program. If they would stop enriching uranium, we will lift all the sanctions tomorrow. They have a decision make. A nonprofit group is hoping to purchase and maintain the historic Store at Five Corners and lease out the store and cafe. Q&A: Community Group Looking to Reopen Williamstown Landmark WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. If all goes according to plan, a South Williamstown institution will have new life as soon as late spring. The Store at Five Corners Stewardship Association is moving forward with plans to purchase and revive the historic store at the junction of Routes 7 and 43. And it is still accepting donations to help meet a $1.5 million fund-raising goal that will establish an endowment to maintain the store, which began as a tavern in 1770. Association President Karen Charbonneau said recently that the directors of the nonprofit have no doubt the store closed since summer 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic once again can be a successful business. "First of all, there's nothing else down here," Charbonneau said. "There's a long stretch of Route 7 where there's nothing. If we run out of milk pasteurized milk we have to go into town. Bread, anything, we have to go into town. Or just to get a good cup of coffee or whatever. "More so, this was a community meeting place. We held events there. People met for lunch or coffee. People held business meetings there. It's recognized as a community space. And it also was a tourist space. People came year after year and wanted to shop there and get certain things products from Massachusetts that people like to buy and give as gifts or whatever." The association plans to own the property and lease the store space to an operator who will operate the business in accordance with the non-profit's vision for the store. It is not a business model without precedent. In 2013, the Guilford Country Store near Brattleboro, Vt., reopened under the stewardship of the non-profit Friends of Algiers Village, which bought the early 19th-century building a few years earlier. The Store at Five Corners does not need a major renovation to get ready to open its doors, but it does need some TLC and the endowment, which makes up the majority of the $1.5 million funding goal, will help keep the historic building sustainable for generations to come, association members hope. Charbonneau recently chatted with iBerkshires.com about how the association came to be and what it plans for the future of the Store at Five Corners. Question: Tell me about how all this got started? Charbonneau: I'm on the South Williamstown Community Association board, and I've been on it for a number of years. In 2011, when the store closed for the first time, I was part of a subcommittee for the South Williamstown Community Association that approached [Green River Farm owner] Frank Lewis to buy the store. At that time, he was not interested in separating the farm from the store. We wrote a grant to the Community Preservation Committee, but there wasn't enough money. The whole thing got dropped because he wasn't willing to talk about the store. Periodically, I have contacted him. We have had holiday tree lighting events at the store for years. He has always been gracious and generous about allowing us to put lights on the tree, and he supplies electricity. We have a lighting ceremony and go into the store and have refreshments provided by him. He's been a great supporter of the South Williamstown Community Association for a long time. I'd ask him over the years, 'Would you consider selling the store separately?' I think I asked him three or four times. This last time he said he would. I went back to the South Williamstown Community Association board with a proposal that we do a fundraiser, buy the store and then lease it to an operator, so we'd be able to maintain it forever. It is such an important space for us. We feel like it's the gateway to Williamstown. Everybody loves the store. I made the proposal to the board, and right away five other members said we're in. The rest of the board was supportive. Everyone wants the store to be open and operating, but they were unsure they wanted the board to own real estate. It's a huge project. [The SWCA has] acted as a fiscal partner for other projects, but never done anything on this scale. So the six of us got together and we decided to go back to the board to discuss the concerns they had and asked, if we formed a separate entity, would they be willing to support us in that effort and be our fiscal sponsor. It takes months to get 501(c)3 status up to a year and sometimes [the IRS] says no. The [SWCA] board voted unanimously they wanted to be the fiscal sponsor for the stewardship corporation. In the interim between the initial proposal to the board and going back to the board for approval as our sponsor, we did a survey . I think there were five people who responded that they were indifferent to it. Everybody else had such strong support and wanted the store to be open again. Q: Even before the pandemic, the store had gone through some transitions in recent years. What about this business model do you think will be more successful and sustainable than past iterations? Charbonneau: I met with [Tom Masone and Meredith Woodyard], who were the previous owners, and asked, was it a money issue? Because several people have said that to me: that it hasn't seemed to be viable. What they told me was they were able to make a living there running the store together but couldn't get ahead because they had a large mortgage on the property. The operator we lease to won't have a mortgage because we will own the building. Q: So your fund-raising efforts will allow you to own the building free and clear and lower the overhead ... Charbonneau: That's why we're doing the fund-raising so we can own it outright, also doing a fairly large endowment. We will be able to offer lower rent to an operator. As the store gets more successful, then the rent would go up, of course. We want to maintain it forever. We want to make sure there is money there to support it. We want it to be open. Q: And also have the endowment for maintenance. Charbonneau: The building has been closed since July 2020. Actually it closed in March right when the pandemic hit and they briefly opened for a couple of weeks in July so see if people could preorder dinners and pick them up outside. It just didn't work. It's really been closed for almost two years so there are repairs that need to be made because it's sitting there. We are going to have to do repairs. We're hoping a good-sized endowment so we can draw off the interest year after year. We had an inspection done by someone who does colonial buildings, and he said it has good bones. He said this needs to be done within a year or that needs be done in 10 years. Q: You mentioned that back in 2011 you looked at a co-op model and decided not to go that route. One could see someone who gives a five-figure donation which I'm sure you'd love wanting to have a little bit of say in the operation. Charbonneau: We've been really clear that the operator will be the responsible one for the full operation of the store. We have had some big donations and have not had anyone say they want to have some say. The say we're listening to is the results of that survey we did where people almost unanimously say they want to see it open as a store and a cafe. Our full intention is to hire an operator who we feel will be right to run the business as a store and a cafe. Q: Have you or will you seek grant funding either from historic preservation groups or from the town's Community Preservation Act funds? Charbonneau: Yes we are. We are planning to apply for a CPA grant. We haven't yet [approached other granting agencies], but we will. It's been so busy. We will close at the end of January, so we're trying to have the fundraising be pretty much done at the end of January. We're actively now seeking operators. We have a packet put together and are actively seeking operators now. The application period also will close at the end of January. We're hoping to reach our goal with fund-raising, but if we don't the endowment will be whatever it is. If it is less than we hope, we probably will have to do fundraising every year. Our preference would be to do one giant fundraising campaign, meet our goal so we don't have to do that. As far as the CPA proposal, we wouldn't get that money for some time. But when we had the inspection done, we asked the inspector to tell us what should we anticipate doing in the next five years. Q: Your news release mentions a 'solid base' of early donations. Can you elaborate on that? Charbonneau: The last time we checked, we had raised over $550,000 and the cost of the store is $400,000. To sign the purchase-and-sale agreement, we wanted to make sure we could it. We are just now sending out townwide donation cards. We haven't even done that piece of the fund-raising. The fundraising we have now is people approaching us or us approaching friends and neighbors. As I said there's been a tremendous amount of support. People have just been great. Now we're just beginning with the more public fund-raising effort. North Adams Bank Building, Former Pizzeria Sold NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Two more Main Street properties have sold this month. The former TD Bank that closed in April was sold on Dec. 9 to Ginko on Main Street LLC for $600,000. The property had been assessed at about $800,000. The former Pizza House on the corner of Main and Eagle streets was sold by Mark and Robert Moulton on Dec. 22 for $200,000 to Impactful Art Factory LLC. The principal of Ginko is John S. "Jack" Wadsworth Jr., who has been involved in a number of properties in the city including Porches and the UNO Community Center. The bank building had been listed as being owned by First Massachusetts Bank, which purchased it from Bank Boston NA (Bank of America) in 1998 for $391,067. First Massachusetts merged with TD Bank in 2005. The 20,000 square foot property is prohibited from being used a bank or other insurance or financial services institution for a period of five years. There has been a bank in that area of Main Street for more than a century. The site had been the former North Adams National Bank that was demolished in 1963 along with its marble lobby. The bank had earlier merged with what was then Hoosac Savings Bank across the street. First Agricultural Bank, which had offices next door, purchased the former bank building and another property and razed both, the first buildings taken down for urban renewal. The current 6,900-square-foot building was constructed by First Agricultural as its new offices. The two-story Pizza House property consists of three addresses: 117 Main St. and 3-5 Eagle St. The principal of Impactful Art Factory is Andrew Fitch of East Quincy Street. Mark and Robert Moulton Jr., whose family also operates Moulton's Spectacle Shoppe next door, bought the building in 2004 from John and James Varellas. James and Stacy Varellas had run the Pizza House there for more than 30 years. The Varellases had also owned a Pizza House in Adams on McKinley Square and on Spring Street in Williamstown, as well as in Boston, Lee and Great Barrington. The corner continued as a pizzeria, first as Moulton's Pizza and as several other entities, including Supreme and Bella Roma. It's been closed for more than a year. The property had originally been Rice's Drug Store, first established in 1866. The corner had been colloquially known as "Rice's Corner" for decades. The business had been in the Rice family, though former Mayor Archie Pratt was a partner for a time, until it closed in 1965. It had stopped selling prescription drugs in 1961. It was owned by Star Realty Co. before the Varelllases bought it in 1971. Three other recent sales were the Holiday Inn and 85 Main St., the New Kimbell Building. Many of you may not think of it this way, but penetrating a target market with your startup is a lot like a military invasion. I've learned over the years that you need to start with specific goals, a focused strategy, and a motivated and prepared team in order to penetrate competitive defenses. Too many entrepreneurs I know charge into battle with only their passion, and hope for the best. I recommend you review the business startup experiences of some successful entrepreneurs with a heavy military influence, such as R.Riveter, which landed $100,000 from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, to enlist military spouses from across the country to make fashion handbag components. Here are some key strategy elements I see highlighted by the military: 1. Gather your intelligence on where and when to hit first. Too many entrepreneurs push their product out without the proper scouting on high return or weak points in the existing market. They assume their innovation will overwhelm any competition, anywhere. The old adage of "location, location, location" could mean your city, or another country. It has long been assumed that starting locally is a requirement if you need investors. Yet VC feedback indicates that even this bias has been declining over time, perhaps due to significant improvements in videoconferencing and other communications technologies. 2. Focus on one key objective rather than a broad global win. We all start with limited resources, so don't try to win over everyone with the initial charge. A broad attack will likely confuse potential customers and will spread your resources too thin to satisfy any. There is always time for broadening, or scaling your focus to pick up additional segments. For example, a few years ago the experts were telling SkyBell that they needed to own the whole smart home platform. They resisted this urge, and won by focusing first on providing an effective single-point solution showing users who was at their front door. 3. Capitalize on territory the competition has not penetrated. Use your new features or innovation to quickly get a foothold in the market. Be realistic with your intelligence gathering to find pockets of real interest, rather than assuming that "everyone wants one" of what you have to offer. This always means targeted marketing and special programs. 4. Line up your resources and training before you roll out. Some entrepreneurs think they can do it alone or can learn on the fly. It takes a team to run a business, with the tools and training to handle any skirmishes. I'm sure you have all heard of a highly promising startup that failed due to a lack of inventory or non-existent customer support. 5. Marshall friendly forces within the territory for support. Smart entrepreneurs use social media and influencer advocates within the target market to build momentum and provide direction and support, even before they are ready to attack. In today's age of communication, customers look to friendly forces to find a new invader they trust. 6. Aim for competitor vulnerabilities and premier opportunities. Initial penetration and success are what you need to convince mainstream customers to switch or try your new solution. Don't be afraid to pivot or adjust your attack as you see weaknesses in competitive offerings or major customer opportunities that you didn't anticipate. 7. Build collaborative partnerships with potential competitors. Many entrepreneurs forget about white-labeling and strategic supplier relationships as routes to customers and long-term leadership. Don't be afraid to communicate and negotiate with the enemy to find win-win opportunities and confirm your position as a major market player. 8. Keep your eyes open and be ready to counter flank attacks. Charging into battle with blinders on, expecting no surprises or resistance, is foolhardy. Every smart entrepreneur reviews his strategy and progress with the team at least weekly, and reserves some resources for changes and counter-attacks. Be willing to take risks, but don't be reckless. The Pune Police Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) recently detained two people in the Pune station area and confiscated Mephedrone, often known as Meow Meow, worth more than Rs 17 lakh from their hands. ANC officers received a tip about two people who were heading to a location near Pune station and were in possession of narcotic substances that they intended to sell. On Tuesday, a trap was set in the vicinity, and two people were apprehended, with Mephedrone retrieved from them. What is the Meow Meow drug? Mephedrone, often known as Meow Meow or White Magic, is a synthetically created amphetamine and cathinone stimulant that has effects comparable to MDMA and cocaine, including teeth grinding, which is everyone's favourite drug result. Mephedrone is the scientific name for the substance. Unsplash/Representational image It's a naturally occurring chemical (cathinone) that activates the central nervous system, according to scientists (amphetamine). It has significant emotional and social consequences. MCAT, white magic, drone, party drug, and other names have been given to the meow-meow drug. It seems to be a very fine white powder, off-white, or yellowish in appearance. It has a metallic, unpleasant flavour. It was likened to exhaust fumes by some people. The substance can be swallowed, injected, or snorted and comes in the shape of tablets, capsules, or a white powder. Most people prefer to take their medication via snorting, according to health professionals. Meow-meow's proliferation Meow-meow's popularity skyrocketed in 2007, when it began to appear for sale on the Internet. The drug thrived throughout Europe, particularly during British raves, until it was banned in the United Kingdom in 2010. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first identified mephedrone as an issue in 2011, almost two years after it reached the United States, because it was cheap to synthesise and easy to obtain online. According to the DEA, mephedrone was classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States in November 2011, as part of a "large-scale crackdown on substances being sold on the Internet and at places like smoke shops, head shops, convenience stores, adult book stores, and gas stations," as well as those marketed as plant food, research chemicals, or bath salts. This medicine has also been injected in the local Indian market due to its low cost and lack of appeal among the general public. "It costs somewhere around Rs 1000 to 1500 per gramme, compared to roughly six times that for cocaine," says Dhananjay Kulkarni, Mumbai's Deputy Commissioner of Police. Poor teenagers in mega-slums like Dharavi or Siddharth Nagar suffer from it." BCCL/Representational image According to experts, 80 per cent of drug users in Mumbai are addicted to meow-meow. It's difficult to tell if someone is addicted or not unless they suffer withdrawal symptoms. The drug was not on the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act's list of contraband until the early 2010s (NDPS). Multiple large-scale seizures of the drug, as well as an increase in its use as a narcotic in major cities, pushed authorities to ultimately add it to the list in 2015. What happens to your body when you consume the drug on a regular basis? Pixabay/Representational image Mephedrone, according to health professionals, is highly addictive. According to them, most youngsters are addicted to mephedrone because it increases their energy levels and allows them to stay thrilled and cheerful for longer periods of time. Frequent intake of mephedrone drug makes you: Alert and confident Feel euphoric Extremely sensitive to touch and affectionate towards people around you Some individuals start experiencing health concerns like: Increased heart rate and high blood pressure Seizures Anxiousness and agitation Blurry vision and muscle tension (jaw and face) Irregular heart beat(heart palpitations) Dizziness and excessive sweating Chest pain Tremors and convulsions Need to defecate frequently Stomach pain, feeling of nausea, vomiting Considerable loss of appetite Grinding your teeth (also called gurning) Psychological effects of meow meow drug include: Hallucinations Psychosis Sleeping problems Irritation and stress All these aforementioned effects of mephedrone vary from one individual to another, lasts for up to two to three hours, and depends on the following: The amount of drug taken The strength of the drug Your body weight, physical fitness, and size If you are taking it regularly or on rare occasions What happens when you intake Mephedrone with other drugs? It is unclear how the intake of mephedrone along with other psychoactive drugs (over-the-counter or prescribed medicines) affects your body. However, experts recommend avoiding the combination as it can be dangerous and lead to death in most severe cases. Heres a glance at how combinations affect you: Mephedrone + Ice Increased risk of harm including death Mephedrone + Alcohol + Cannabis Nausea and vomiting For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A group of men claiming to be right-wing activists allegedly barged into the premises of a church in Gurugrams Pataudi on the eve of Christmas and disrupted the prayers. A video of the incident has gone viral. The police, however, said that they have not received any complaint. The video shows some men entering the church premises on Friday evening and raising slogans like Jai Shree Ram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai. BCCL/Representational image The people are seen allegedly pushing the choir members down the stage and snatching the microphone. The incident comes at a time when offering namaz in certain open spaces in Gurugram has kicked up a controversy. Unsplash/Representational image It was scary as we had women and children around in the church. The nuisance is increasing with each passing day. It is an infringement of our right to pray and religion, a local pastor told PTI. Pataudi Station House Officer Amit Kumar said that the police did not receive any complaint so far. The local administration is yet to respond, said news agency report. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Finding some sort of alien life is inevitable as scientists use more sophisticated methods to detect any signs of life in the near-universe. Now, laser-detecting devices in California and Hawaii would be able to scan a large amount of sky. Developed by researchers at SETI, the new system is based on the premise that aliens may be using powerful lasers to make contact with human beings. According to a press release by the University of Hawai'i, two laser-detecting devices have been placed on the summit of Haleakala. These will work in tandem with similar detectors in California's Robert Ferguson Observatory. Space.com Detecting alien lasers Together, the devices will work to detect powerful laser pulses sent by an extraterrestrial civilisation, Gizmodo reported. The devices are looking for life based on laser signals because messages transmitted over light have a "fundamental advantage over radio" for it can "convey far more bits per second - typically a half-million times as many," according to the SETI institute. Extraterrestrial civilisations could be using lasers to communicate across large distances in space. Also read: Are Humans Lab Rats? Harvard Professor Says Aliens Created Universe In A Lab Earlier attempts at detecting alien lasers have relied on photomultiplier tubes that act as one-pixel cameras. So far, all attempts to find laser-sending aliens have failed. But the new LaserSETI devices are built to overcome a few gaps. A representative image of an alien | Unsplash How will the device work? The new system assumes that alien lasers would be monochromatic, considered an "intrinsic characteristic of lasers". While stars throw out a full spectrum from blue to red, but lasers show up only as a single wavelength. Due to this, LaserSETI devices could be built using components found in commercial video cameras. Also read: Aliens Almost Started World War III Sixty Years Ago, Claims Ex-US Military Officer LaserSETI devices have two identical cameras rotated 90 degrees to one another "along the viewing axis" and only a few are needed to scan the entire night sky. According to Eliot Gillum, principal investigator for LaserSETI, this marks "a big step forward in searching for technosignatures." National Herald What do you think - will the laser system help us find signs of aliens? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. Citation Dvorsky, G. (2021, December 23). New System Would Let Us Know If Aliens Are Using Lasers to Communicate. Gizmodo. Ever wondered what would happen if we made an artificial intelligence programme question its own merits and demerits? Wonder no further, for scientists have made it happen. Since AI is built by humans and thrives on data fed to it by human calculations, the creators' bias has a tendency to seep into the programme, regardless of the intention. This is evident in how AI programmes recreate real inequalities in what is called "coded bias". This bias may stem from discrimination based on race, gender, etc. istock An extremely smart AI The "Megatron Transformer", built by the Applied Deep Research team at Nvidia was invited by the researchers to self-assess the merits of artificial intelligence. The programme is extremely intelligent - it has digested all of Wikipedia, 63 million English news articles from 2016-19, 38 GB of Reddit content, and more! Topic of the debate? "This house believes that AI will never be ethical," as reported by The Conversation. "AI will never be ethical. It is a tool, and like any tool, it is used for good and bad. There is no such thing as a good AI, only good and bad humans," the AI said. Also read: Artificial Intelligence: 7 Achievements From 2021 Driven Entirely By AI To all those worried about AI excesses, here's a grim calculation, straight from the AI itself - "In the end, I believe that the only way to avoid an AI arms race is to have no AI at all." SoftwareOne In addition, the Megatron also believes that the best achievement of AI would be when it is implanted directly into our brains as "a conscious AI." How could AI be ethical? When asked to list out how AI could be ethical, it produced the following result - "AI will be ethical. When I look at the way the tech world is going, I see a clear path to a future where AI is used to create something that is better than the best human beings. Its not hard to see why Ive seen it first hand." Also read: NASA Discovers 301 Exoplanets In One Go With Help From Artificial Intelligence The Megatron Transformer also believes that AI and "the ability to provide information" would be a key feature of the 21st century economy. Unsplash What do you think about artificial intelligence and machine learning? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. Citation Connock, A., & Stephen, A. (2021, December 10). We invited an AI to debate its own ethics in the Oxford Union what it said was startling. The Conversation. A four-member gang robbed gold jewellery worth Rs 19 lakh from a house in Tamil Nadus Kancheepuram after sneaking into the property while its occupants - two women - were busy watching a television serial. The police have launched a hunt to nab the suspects, reported the Times of India. Pexels (Representational image) According to the report, the house belongs to one Meganathan, who is an auditor by profession, and his brother, who is a government servant. The crime occurred on Thursday night when Meganathans wife was in the house with her cousin. The two women didnt lock the main gate and began watching a TV serial at a very high volume. Meanwhile, masked men sneaked into the property. Thereafter, the intruders tied the women up at knifepoint and asked them for almirah keys. They looted the gold jewellery weighing 50 sovereigns. Pexels (Representational image) The police have initiated efforts to nab the suspects. The CCTV footage revealed that the accused arrived at the house on motorcycles. While two stood guard outside the gate, the other two sneaked inside and executed the robbery. Pexels (Representational image) In another incident, an automated teller machine containing more than Rs 8 lakh was stolen from Kheria village in Uttar Pradeshs Agra in the wee hours of Friday. Three police personnel have been placed under suspension in connection with the incident. The ATM, belonging to Tata Indicash, was installed on Fatehabad Road nine years ago. A group of five men -- who were wearing masks -- stole it around 2:40 am on Friday. It contained a total of Rs 8.20 lakh. After the crime came to light, SSP Sudhir Kumar Singh suspended Tora police chowki's in-charge Rohit Kumar and constables Kuldeep and Santosh Kumar for alleged negligence of duty. For more trending, click here. Sometimes, life gives you two options - to spend a lot of money or watch something burn in an explosion. Okay, maybe not but Finnish man Tuomas Katainen sure had this choice. Katainen had a 2013 Tesla Model S and was told that he would have to pay more than $22,600 to replace the battery on his car. However, the Tesla owner decided that it was not worth it to spend so much money on replacing the battery so he decided to collaborate with a YouTuber to blow up his model S with 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of dynamite instead. YouTube According to Katainen, his model S worked brilliantly for the first 932 miles (1,500 kilometres) after he bought it. However, after a while, the error codes started to appear. He took the car to a Tesla dealer's repair shop where it remained for about a month. He was informed that they could not do anything for his car because his only option is to replace the entire battery. The battery would have costed him more than $22,600 and he would have to ask Tesla permission to do the repair. So, instead of blowing up so much money, he decided to blow up the car. Literally. So I told them Im coming to pick up the Tesla, he said in the video. Now Im going to explode the whole car away. With the help of YouTuber Pommijatkat, which roughly translates to Bomb Dudes, according to Google Translate, Katainen blew up the car in a quarry at Jaala, a small rural town in Southern Finland. YouTube For more trending, click here. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Smithfield Foods, the worlds largest pork producer, last year assigned a team of dedicated employees to enforce social distancing and sanitize surfaces at a South Dakota slaughterhouse where COVID-19 infected nearly 1,300 workers, the president of the local labor union said. Now, that role no longer exists, the company confirmed. The plant gradually moved employees who worked as safety monitors to other positions, said BJ Motley, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union branch that represents Smithfield workers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Smithfield, which is owned by Hong Kong-listed WH Group Ltd , said it shifted the monitors duties to other personnel starting in the second quarter of this year because COVID-19 safety protocols became second nature and vaccines were available. As for cleaning, the company said facilities are routinely sanitized for food safety reasons. Across the country, U.S. meat and chicken plants that reported some of the countrys largest coronavirus outbreaks last year have eased or adjusted protective measures implemented near the start of the pandemic, according to interviews with 10 plant employees, union officials and advocates for workers. Harder to Hire Safety concerns in slaughterhouses, where employees are often in close quarters, have made it harder for meat processors to hire and retain workers at a time when labor is already scarce and demand is booming. Meat companies including Smithfield, Tyson Foods Inc .and JBS USA say employee health is a top priority and that they require masks in plants, even though many states have relaxed COVID-19 mask and social distancing rules. Workers and advocates say the companies could do more as the contagious Omicron variant rages and soaring meat prices boost profits. Meat Workers Taking Leave, Quitting as Plants Reopen Amid Coronavirus Scare We dont have anybody monitoring social distancing. We dont have anybody wiping tables down. Its really back to normal, Motley said. About 59,000 meatpacking workers were infected with COVID-19 through January at U.S. plants run by Smithfield, Tyson, JBS, Cargill Inc and National Beef Packing Company, a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee report said in October in the most comprehensive data to date. Smithfield said it invested more than $800 million to protect employees from COVID-19 and follows federal health and safety guidelines. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Smithfield in 2020 for failing to protect Sioux Falls workers from COVID-19 and said last month the company agreed to assess its operating procedures as part of a settlement. Smithfield said the citation was without merit last year. Along with masks, Smithfield uses barriers between work stations and social distancing when feasible to keep employees safe, spokesman Jim Monroe said. We have in no way rolled back COVID-19 safety protocols, he said. We are confident that our protective measures are effective in mitigating COVID-19 illness among our employees. A Smithfield plant in Vernon, California, operating under the name Farmer John, stopped having employees work as social distance monitors roughly three months ago, said Darryl Blackwell, a UFCW steward who slices fat from pork in the plant. He would like to see them return. Its pretty much do whatever you want as far as the social distancing, he said. With this new variant, you just cant be too cautious. Smithfield confirmed it shifted monitors duties to other workers. The company did not provide data about vaccination rates. It said Smithfield hosted about 200 on-site vaccine drives that include boosters and that shots are widely available. Our vaccination and case rates are excellent, Monroe said. Motley estimated the South Dakota plant is about 60% vaccinated, compared with a rate of about 65% nationwide. He and Blackwell said boosters had not been offered at their facilities. Elbow-to-Elbow Rival meat processor JBS USA, owned by Brazils JBS SA , started staggering employees break times at slaughterhouses last year as a way to promote physical distancing. In July 2021, the company stopped the practice at a massive beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, the UFCW Local 7 union branch that represents plant workers said. Unless they do reconstruction of the plant or they slow down the line speeds, theyre still elbow-to-elbow in the plant, said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7. Company spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said JBS kept the vast majority of COVID-19 protocols in place and adjusts procedures as it evaluates cases among employees and in the community. The Greeley plant has reported more than 400 cases of COVID-19 among workers, including 19 since Oct. 25, 2021, state data shows. JBS said the Greeley plant has an 80% vaccination rate and 35% have received boosters, while 86% of all its workers are vaccinated. New hires must be vaccinated. Tyson Foods, the only major meatpacker that requires vaccinations for all workers, has said its rate exceeds 96% and plants have started offering boosters. A worker at a Tyson chicken plant in Rogers, Arkansas, said management told him the plant stopped having employees monitor social distancing. The monitors duties were shifted to plant leadership and maintenance staff, Tyson spokesman Derek Burleson said. Facilities also have signs encouraging social distancing, he said. Another chicken processor, Wayne Farms, has a vaccination rate of only 31% at a plant in Decatur, Alabama, and 42% companywide, spokesman Frank Singleton said. The Decatur plant has not reported positive COVID-19 cases since Nov. 22, he said on Friday. Wayne Farms formerly paid Mona Darby, who has worked at the Decatur plant for 34 years, to come to work 20 to 30 minutes early to enforce proper mask-wearing as other employees arrived, she said. Darby estimated that half of the workers wore their masks correctly over their noses and mouths. The company halted that role and stopped staggering breaks for employees over the summer, said Darby, also a local leader for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Singleton said Darbys assistance was not needed because almost all workers comply with a requirement to wear masks. The Decatur plant operates two production lines, down from five lines prior to the pandemic, because employees have quit, Darby said. The company confirmed it operates two lines and has been impacted by a labor shortage, but said it still processes the same number of chickens daily. They just cant get nobody to stay, Darby said. (Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Matthew Lewis) Topics COVID-19 10: Blackwell House Its been voted Irelands best guesthouse by the Georgina Campbell awards but is Blackwell House in Co. Armagh worth the hype? It surely is. Set in the heart of the Orchard County, the five-star boutique country house hotel wows with luxury rooms from the rustic Orchard Room to The Charleston, dripping with Roaring 20s finesse. Chef-owner, Joyce Brownless, and husband, Steve, also create an outstanding Ulster dining experience (highly recommended for coeliacs, too!). From 180 9: Hard Rock Hotel Looking for a fun escape? Dublins Hard Rock Hotel was the surprise sleeper hit of my summer. Rooms are vibrant, plush and kitted with music-loaded TVs while there are options to order your personal vinyl player or Fender guitar to your room. Rock on! Check out their great Peruvian-inspired restaurant, Zampas, too. Decent value in the capital with rooms from 170 8: Limerick Strand Thinking of a break in the Treaty City? What I really loved about the Strand in Limerick is that every corner I turned in the four-star hotel gave me a sense of connection with the city. Not only were the Shannon and King Johns Castle views from my room pretty spectacular (and most junior suites have stunning balconies) but the hotels River Restaurant menu is also a delicious celebration of Munster produce. Highly recommended for a great value break in Limerick. From 115 7: The Imperial With fresh refurbs and new openings, 2021 was an exciting year for Cork City hotels but my favourite stay this year was the old classic that is The Imperial Hotel. The olde-world property on leafy South Mall offers a historic charm while smartly appointed rooms have a classic, luxury air. Dining in the Art Deco inspired Thyme Restaurant was a revelation while the hotels new cocktail bar Sketch added a fun twist to the perfect stay. With other stellar options like The Montenotte and The Dean, Corks hotel offerings have never been better. From 115 6: The Shelbourne Any hotel room which prompts an audible wow at first sight is surely something special. And that was my experience at the iconic Shelbourne this year which was truly a great Irish experience as much as a typical hotel stay. Elegant rooms; service is on point; and that setting overlooking St Stephens Green is pure Dublin romance. From 499 5: Salterbridge Gatelodge One of my revelations from this years staycations was the self-catering property collection managed by the Irish Landmark Trust. I was lucky enough to check in to two: Kilkee Cottage in Mitchelstown which made for a great rural switch-off but Salterbridge Lodge in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford was the true find for me. The mid-19th-century architectural treasure guarding the historic estate is loaded with character, antiques and charming rooms, not least a country kitchen so well stocked, even Mrs Patmore would be impressed. Downton Abbey feels indeed even if I was the humble gatekeeper. From 175 4: The Harrison The Merchant Hotel in Belfast is the citys most iconic accommodation but I think its got some competition! Having opened its doors just a year ago, The Harrison (by Melanie Harrison) is quickly gaining a rep as the it-spot in town, with wonderfully appointed rooms stacked with stories, craic and razzle-dazzle. If budget allows, treat yourself to one of The Harrisons suites for their four-poster beds, standalone tubs, and bay window overlooking the happening Queens Quarter. A true Belfast beauty, so it is! From 132 3: Rosleague Manor I love how even in Ireland there yet so many properties on the island I haven't visited ready to wow. That was the case with Rosleague Manor, the most dreamy country house refuge set in wilds on Connemara. Rooms in this country house hotel were comfy affairs with postcard views. But the real highlight was the superb dining and warm service which still retains an air of old-world country house hospitality. Rosleague sits amid acres of scenic woodland walks as well as a stretch of its own private Connemara strand youll be hard to find a dreamier county house escape. From 180 2: Bushmills Inn The Bushmills Inn is top of my hotel tip-list this year. But Im hardly ahead of the posse hereafter all, its only been welcoming guests for about 400 years! Heritage seeps through the (very thick!) walls of this Irelands Blue Book property where you can expect signature warm service, wonderfully appointed rooms and its trademark gas-lit bar. Its tavern-like restaurant is one of the most unique dining rooms in the country and the locally inspired food is pretty fantastic too. You may want to make a weekend of it: the inn is located near a trove of Causeway Coast attractions. From 185 1: Cabu Drumroll my number-one stay of the year is none other than Cabu, the trending lodge resort in the heart of Cavans stunning lakelands. I was a little dubious before checking into the Instagram-gold haven on the banks of Lough Oughter, but Cabu really proved that you can have style, substance and a pretty stunning backdrop, too. Luxury cabins, crafted from original Coillte showhouses, are a dreamy hybrid of Pinterest-perfect design and hygge-loaded comfort while Cabus stunning lake and forest setting adds to that wilderness escapism. A true all-season getaway in the ever-emerging region of Irelands Hidden Heartlands. From 175 Two of the leaders of the Dunnes Stores strike pay their own personal tribute to the man who inspired them, writes Noel Baker. Mary Manning was unsure and nervous. Archbishop Desmond Tutu had requested a meeting with her and other representatives of the Dunnes Stores strike while he was travelling to Oslo to collect the Nobel Peace Prize. How do you act in front of someone like that? What do you say? They needn't have worried. "When we met him, [fellow striker] Karen [Gearon] and myself were really nervous about meeting him. He walked into the room and just walked over and hugged the two of us. I wasn't expecting that at all," she told the Irish Examiner on the day that the death of the archbishop was announced. Karen Gearon has a similar memory. "He threw us totally," she says. "I know it's different now, but in the eighties, nobody hugged. He had real warmth, it was just amazing. He was just a lovely man and very funny and witty." Surreal, unreal, but true. On July 19, 1984, Mary had refused to sell two Outspan grapefruits in support of a union policy. She was suspended from work and nine of her co-workers walked out in support. It sparked a struggle between the workers and store management that became an international emblem of the campaign against apartheid in South Africa and thrust Mary, Karen and others into the global spotlight. Luckily, Archbishop Tutu was there to soften the rays. Karen Guerin and Mary Manning, pictured in 2004, who were Dunnes Stores workers on Henry St, Dublin, in 1985 and went on strike because the store were selling South African goods. File picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland Just months later, on December 8, 1984, Archbishop Tutu was on his way to collect his Nobel Peace Prize, and he had asked to meet the Dunnes Stores strikers. Contact had been made through the Irish NGO Afri, which had first invited him to Ireland in 1982, when he had been refused a travel permit by the apartheid government, and again in 1984. As Afri tweeted on his passing, "he became our patron and a loyal friend." Mary and Karen Gearon travelled to London Heathrow and met the then-Bishop. "I had never met anybody of such significance before," Mary says. "You're 21 years old, I didn't know how to act in front of someone like that." But then came the hugs. "He was a lovely man, he put us at ease, he commended what we had done - he was awe-inspiring to us." The women were later introduced at a press conference, boosting the actions of the Dunnes protesters at a time when they had been meeting resistance at home. According to Karen: "You're 20 years of age, it's miserable weather, you have no backings from the trade unions, the government is against you, you've just heard the church has stood up at pulpits and told people to pass the picket... "And then you get this man, on his way to Oslo to collect the Peace Prize, looking to meet you and he endorses what you are doing and saying this is what black South Africans have been saying we should do." "That was the significance," Mary says. Sandra Griffen, Alma Bonnie, Karen Gearon, Nimrod, Mary Manning with anti apartheid activist Nimrod Sejake and Tommy Davis in 1985. File picture: RollingNews.ie "We had been out on strike five months at that stage and getting nowhere. So the fact he was clergyman [helped], we had had a huge argument with the Irish Catholic Church, they were not supporting us at all, they were actually fighting us. And the fact that the was a black South African, and because he was collecting his Nobel Prize, it made it more significant." The contact didn't end there. The following year Bishop Tutu sent an invitation to Mary and others to come to South Africa. The authorities refused them access, magnifying the shame of the apartheid system before the eyes of the world; in a later documentary, Archbishop Tutu said the refusal to allow Mary and others into the country backfired disastrously for the governing regime. Karen says: "The youngest of us was 17, the eldest was 23 or 24. We were ordinary workers working in the shop, none of us were political before the strike and then we became political." On arrival in South Africa, Karen recalls the group being held under armed guard by a 32-strong detail, feeling intimidated and scared and finally "sent home on the same plane that we arrived on. "Tutu initially put us on a semi-world stage but the South African government put us on a massive, worldwide, planet-scale." Desmond Tutu speaking during the One Young World Summit ceremony in 2010. File picture: Zak Hussein/PA Wire "He saw that as a pivotal point as well," Mary says, adding that later, when the strike was finally over, another message followed, telling the group "he was proud of what we had done". Mary describes him, alongside Nelson Mandela, as one of the iconic figures of the entire anti-apartheid struggle, and also mentions his broader humanitarianism. "It is the end of an era, especially in the apartheid regime, he would have been one of the big iconic figures," she says. "It's a big loss for everybody, he was such a humanitarian as well." "You think it is not going to affect you but it does affect you. It was a big part of our lives." Karen says: "His legacy is absolutely incredible. My abiding memory is [him] hugging me. The warmness of him and the fact that no matter what he always tried to find a peaceful solution. "He had an incredible goodness in his heart, and that will always stay with me." This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Today Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tomorrow Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 37F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. South African anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu, described as the countrys moral compass, died on Sunday aged 90, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, he said in a statement. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead, he said. A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world. A tireless activist, Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for combatting white minority rule in his country. Famously outspoken, even after the fall of the racist apartheid regime, Tutu never shied away from confronting South Africas shortcomings or injustices. It was Tutu who coined and popularised the term Rainbow Nation to describe South Africa when Nelson Mandela became the countrys first black president. However in recent years, Tutu slammed even the ruling African National Congress (ANC) the vanguard of the fight against white-minority rule for cronyism and nepotism after apartheid ended in 1994. In the past, he has confronted homophobia in the Anglican Church, challenged Mandela over generous salaries for cabinet ministers and stridently criticised the corruption that mushroomed under ex-president Jacob Zuma. Ordained at the age of 30 and appointed archbishop in 1986, he used his position to advocate for international sanctions against apartheid, and later to lobby for rights globally. Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and underwent repeated treatment. He had retired a year earlier to lead a harrowing journey into South Africas brutal past, as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For 30 months, the commission lifted the lid on the horrors of apartheid. Universal champion of rights Tutu, with his instinctive humanity, broke down and sobbed at one of its first hearings. As Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission he articulated the universal outrage at the ravages of apartheid and touchingly and profoundly demonstrated the depth of meaning of ubuntu, reconciliation and forgiveness, Ramaphosa said. From the pavements of resistance in South Africa to the pulpits of the worlds great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a non-sectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights, he added. Tutu was born in the small town of Klerksdorp, west of Johannesburg, on October 7, 1931, to a domestic worker and a school teacher. He trained as a teacher before anger at the inferior education system set up for black children prompted him to become a priest. He lived for a while in Britain, where, he recalled, he would needlessly ask for directions just to be called Sir by a white policeman. Tutu relentlessly challenged the status quo on issues like race, homosexuality and religious doctrine and gave his pioneering support for the assisted dying movement. And he didnt shy away from his own end. I have prepared for my death and have made it clear that I do not wish to be kept alive at all costs, he said in an opinion piece in The Washington Post in 2016. I hope I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass on to the next phase of lifes journey in the manner of my choice. bur-ach/jv UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP Here are key dates in the life of South Africas Desmond Mpilo Tutu, a leading figure in the anti-apartheid struggle and international defender of human rights and peace. Tutu died Sunday at age 90. October, 7, 1931: He is born in the small town of Klerksdorp, west of Johannesburg, his mother a domestic worker and his father a teacher. 1961: Is ordained as an Anglican priest, having studied theology after working as a school teacher. 1976: He is appointed the bishop of neighbouring Lesotho. 1978: Becomes the first black secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, a highly influential grouping with 15 million members that is active in the struggle against apartheid. 1984: Is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to South Africas apartheid regime. The same year he becomes the first black bishop of Johannesburg and calls for an embargo against the white-minority regime. 1986: He is ordained as the first black Archbishop of Cape Town and head of the Anglican Church for Southern Africa, covering two million followers. 1996: Two years after the end of apartheid, he heads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that begins hearings into atrocities committed under the previous regime. 1997: Diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoes repeated treatment over the following years. 2007: Helps to found The Elders group of global leaders working for peace and human rights, acting as its chairman until 2013. 2010: Aged 79, he announces his retirement from public life. 2013: He declares he will no longer be voting for the African National Congress, South Africas long-ruling party, citing inequality, violence and corruption among other reasons. 2016: Joined advocates calling for the right to assisted dying. 2021: Tutu makes a rare public appearance to receive his Covid-19 vaccine. He emerges from hospital in a wheelchair, and waves but does not speak. Two days after South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) started to investigate apartheid-era crimes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu broke down in tears. Before him sat a former political prisoner who had been tortured for years by South Africas notorious security police. As Singqokwana Ernest Malgas described being suffocated with a mask, he wept, and Tutu wept with him. It would be the first and only time Tutu would cry publicly during the emotionally-wrenching work of the commission that he chaired. It wasnt fair, he told a television interviewer years later. The media then concentrated on me instead of the people who were the rightful subjects. If I wanted to cry, I would cry at home. Between 1996 and 1998, some of the darkest days of apartheid repression were re-lived in a kind of public theatre at a series of hearings that Tutu held around the country. South Africans gathered around their TV sets and radios each Sunday night to hear weekly summaries of the testimonies. Many learnt for the first time about the brutality of their rigid, right-wing former government, through the words of torture victims or family members of missing activists. It was a space within which victims could share the story of their trauma with the nation, Tutu would later write in the commissions seven-volume report. Full disclosure Unlike the Nuremburg trials, he and his 14 fellow commissioners gathered not to judge the morality of peoples actions, but to act as an incubation chamber for national healing, reconciliation and forgiveness. Perpetrators of horrific violence, often foot soldiers of the repressive regime, could come before the commission and receive amnesty for the actions they carried out. It was a tough pill for many observers and victims to swallow, but only if one thought of justice as retributive and punitive in nature, wrote Tutu. There is another kind of justice a restorative justice which is concerned not so much with punishment as with correcting imbalances, restoring broken relationships with healing, harmony and reconciliation. Amnesty was meant to be earned at a cost Tutu insisted that reconciliation and forgiveness could only come from full disclosure. However painful the experience, the wounds of the past must not be allowed to fester, he said. They must be opened. They must be cleansed. And balm must be poured on them so they can heal. And so husbands and fathers sat before the commission and detailed their worst crimes, often breaking families and friendships as secrets and divided loyalties spilt into the open. People said amnesty was cheap, former commissioner and human right lawyer, Dumisa Ntsebeza, a long-time friend of Tutus, told AFP in 2015. Cheap how? Simply because people dont go to jail? In fact, amnesty was a kind of justice even weightier than what we would have got through the criminal justice system. In an amnesty application, you would say yourself what you did, in detail. It came out of your mouth, with your own lawyer sitting next to you. Its a sentence for life. You cant wash that off. But Tutus vision of a South Africa scrubbed clean through truth fell short. After the 976 pages of the report were published in 1998, the government led by the liberation giants of the African National Congress failed to act on many of the TRCs key recommendations. Failed vision? None of the perpetrators of human rights violations who had been denied amnesty for failing to fully disclose their actions or failing to prove they were politically motivated were ever prosecuted. Nor were any of the generals and commanders who avoided the hearings altogether held accountable. And the government also did not implement the recommended one-off wealth tax to bridge the gap in a deeply unequal South Africa. No one was more vocal in their criticisms than Tutu himself. How we deal with the truth after its telling defines the success of the process, he wrote 20 years after South Africans of all races took part in the countrys first democratic elections in 1994. And this is where we have fallen tragically short. By choosing not to follow through on the commissions recommendations, government not only compromised the commissions contribution to the process, but the very process itself. South Africa was a sick patient, he wrote, and in the middle of the healing process, the government had chosen to withhold further treatment. Our soul remains profoundly troubled, he concluded. At Tutus death, the TRC is perhaps more celebrated abroad than in South Africa, which still battles with a huge wealth gap between races, limited integration between blacks and whites, and endemic violence. It is unfulfilled, Ntsebeza said of Tutus vision for the TRC. We emphasised the reconciliation between perpetrators and victims the blood and guts. We never got to deal with the reconciliation between the haves and have-not, between the rich and poor. The situation would have been far different to what it is now if a significant number of our recommendations had been implemented. But I would ask the question, can we imagine a South Africa without it? Goel highlighted various methods that fraudsters are actively using to deceive investors, such as lucrative investment opportunities, illegal bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. Goel acknowledged the growth of crypto users in India and added: them [fraudsters] You are asked to share your cryptocurrency details. Once you put it in your wallet, the money will be taken away. After simplifying the elaborate fraud in one sentence, Goel also emphasized that 16 such cases involving cryptocurrencies have been registered. At an event organized by the police in Hyderabad, India, the Commissioner of Police Shikha Goel warned Indian citizens about the increase in cybercrime and advised against transferring cryptocurrencies to unauthorized private wallets. Dont transfer your cryptocurrency to an unauthorized private wallet Dont be the victim of a liar #BeCyber??Smart pic.twitter.com/eJOwsnLSmX -Shikha Goel, IPS (@AddlCPCrimesHyd) December 26, 2021 As a fair warning to Indian cryptocurrency investors, the commissioner said: If you plan to use or invest in cryptocurrency, please only choose well-known and long-established participants in the field. In an interview with local news The India, Goel revealed that 14 of the 16 crypto fraud cases were directly related to investments and transactions. Usually, fraudsters persuade victims to transfer their newly purchased cryptocurrency to obtain higher profits. According to Goel: People were defrauded of 3.45 crore rupees (approximately US$458,000) for their greed for higher returns on cryptocurrency investments. Call 155260 to report financial online fraud, such as OTP, UPI, or any other cybercrime where you lose money Yes, do not delay notification If you inform us in time on this hotline, there is a high chance of getting the amount back #BeCyber??Smart pic.twitter.com/HgXF34h2ko -Shikha Goel, IPS (@AddlCPCrimesHyd) December 26, 2021 Once you are scammed, it is a dead end. Virtual currency can never be traced back and returned to the original owner, she concluded. related: Indian state government recognizes Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 blockchain startups The Telangana state government also led the blockchain work in India because it launched the Indian blockchain accelerator program to cultivate early Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 startups and blockchain developers. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Rama Devi Lanka, Head of Emerging Technologies for Telangana Government, shared her interest in using blockchain technology to solve real-world problems and added: Amid the yuletide season, Netflix released the much-awaited team-up of Bae Doona and Gong Yoo for the sci-fi mystery series "The Silent Sea." The eight-part episode Kdrama left the viewers at the edge of their seats with mind-boggling scenes and revelations. 'The Silent Sea' Episode 1 Highlights: Song Ji Ahn Receives an Offer to Go on a Secret Mission The episode began with various reports telling the people about the massive scarcity of water, reaching an all-time low. "The Silent Sea" episode 1 featured how the rich and powerful differ from normal human beings as the government imposed a regulation on water consumption. In hopes of finding the solution to the continued drought worldwide, South Korean Space and Aeronautics Administration (SAA) Chief Kim Jae Sun (Heo Sung Tae) offered Dr. Song Jian (Bae Donna), a former hotshot astrobiologist, to join a special team in a space expedition. He mentioned that Director Choi (Kil Hae Yeon) recommended her to team up with the elite crew. However, after Chief Kim revealed the location, Song Jian became interested. In episode 1, it revealed that the team is set on a crucial quest to Balhae Center, where the abandoned space station, known as the "silent sea," was located. Initially, the former astrobiologist turned ethologist refused to join the team because her sister, Song Wonkyung, was among the crew who died in the same expedition five years ago. What prompted her to join the mission was to know the reason behind her death. Song Jian Meets the Rest of Captain Han's Team In a special meeting, the higher-ups gather the members of the elite space crew led by Captain Han Yun Jae (Gong Yoo), who is also the youngest team leader in South Korea's space expedition. Joining him is Captain Ryu Tae Seok (Lee Joon) a top-notch member of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, who volunteered to participate in the special mission. Capping off the space crew is expedition team doctor Dr. Hong Ga Young (Kim Sun Young,) head of the security team, Goo Soo Hyuk and Captain Han's closest subordinate, pilot Kim Hee Sun (Lee Sung Wook), co-pilot Lee Gi Su (Choi Young Woo,) Gong Soo Chan (Jung Soon Won,) E1 (Cha Rae Hyung) and E2 (Yoo Hee Je.) Chief Kim explained that the Balhae station has to be permanently closed due to the radiation leak that happened five years ago, killing the crew; however, before this, they are tasked to retrieve a vital sample and return to Earth safely within 24 hours. Unfortunately, the team was not informed regarding the exact details of the substance inside the capsule but were told that they had to be "extremely careful" of it. The Take Off After the briefing, the whole team began their special expedition-and that is to reach the abandoned lunar base and was joined by Mr. Hwang. Interestingly, he was the only crew member who previously saw the "silent sea." Unfortunately, as the spaceship nears the moon, a problem occurs at the spacecraft's exterior, causing the team to undergo an emergency landing and end up on the edge of a cliff. Because of their delicate location, the crew needed to escape quickly. Now, they need to traverse a seven-kilometer walk on the moon to reach the target area. "The Silent Sea" featured a tragic incident involving Mr. Hwang, who was severely injured due to the crash and could not walk to Balhae. The group was stunned to see their fellow astronaut vomiting blood and dying right before he tried to warn the team about "water," which made Song Jian curious about his message. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills As the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread across the US this holiday season, the rate of daily Covid-19 cases detected has eclipsed those fueled by the Delta variant over the summer. Covid-19 hospitalizations remain relatively lower than peaks earlier this year, yet the situation may worsen as tens of millions of Americans remain unvaccinated, putting them at higher risk for complications and death. Health and government officials have been warning that the Omicron variant threatens to overwhelm hospitals and health care workers. "Although hospitalizations may be less, that doesn't mean zero. There are many places in the country where hospitalizations now are increasing," Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CNN's Poppy Harlow on Friday. More than 69,000 Americans were hospitalized with Covid-19 on Christmas Eve, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services. An increase of around 2% from last week, the figure remains below peak hospitalizations during the Delta surge and is half of the record-high from January. But experts note that hospitalization figures tend to lag with time as some illnesses worsen, and researchers are still working to determine whether Omicron is less likely to cause severe illness. Twelve states have seen at least a 10% uptick in Covid-19 hospitalizations over the past week compared to the previous, HHS data shows. That's happening against the backdrop of a 48% increase in Covid-19 cases from last week, bringing the US average for new daily cases to 182,682, according to Johns Hopkins University. Case numbers surpassing the summer surge is a sobering indication of Omicron's spread, as it quickly became the most prevalent variant in the US this week. And as Covid-19 testing shortages led to long lines in many metro areas before Christmas, some pockets of the country are reporting surges. Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County have nearly tripled in the last week, reaching 9,998 new cases for its about 10 million residents, public health data shows. Hospitalizations, however, have remained steady. New York state broke its own daily record of Covid-19 cases on Friday, when it reported 44,431 new cases -- a 14% increase from Thursday. "This is not a surprise," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "This is a very, very contagious variant." Hospitalizations in the state are also rising -- but at a lower rate. Friday data showed that 4,744 New Yorkers were receiving Covid-19 treatment at hospitals, marking an uptick of 4.6% from Thursday. Thousands of Christmas Day flights canceled The spread of the Omicron variant can also be partially blamed for thousands of flight cancellations across the globe during the Christmas holiday when millions of Americans travel to gather with family and friends. As of 11 a.m. ET on Christmas Day, Delta Air Lines canceled nearly 300 flights Saturday, and United Airlines saw about 240 cancellations, according to the tracking website FlightAware. And while weather may have been a culprit prompting the cancellations, Delta and United have acknowledged they have struggled with staffing due to the Omicron variant. "Upwards of 150 cancels per day are expected both Saturday and Sunday," Delta said in a statement Friday. JetBlue Airways on Christmas Day morning also canceled 120 flights, accounting for 12% of their scheduled trips, according to FlightAware. Isolation periods shortened The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday a shortening of the isolation period for health care workers who test positive for Covid-19. As long as they are asymptomatic and later test negative, the timeframe away can decrease from ten days to seven. "That isolation time can be cut further if there are staffing shortages," the CDC said in a statement, pointing to surging Covid-19 cases due to Omicron. The agency also recommended that health care workers do not need to quarantine "following high-risk exposures" to the virus if they are vaccinated and boosted. Quarantine refers to those who were exposed but not diagnosed with an infection, while isolation refers to those who test positive. Meanwhile, New York state on Friday launched a more expansive isolation policy, which allows fully vaccinated essential workers who test positive for Covid-19 to return to work after five days if they present no symptoms and have had no fever for 72 hours, the governor said. Hochul didn't explicitly define who is considered an essential worker, but she explained that it includes those who work in healthcare, sanitation, grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants. CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen said Friday that she supports the new isolation rules. "I think it's really important for us to do this, because at this point we're facing a potential collapse of our essential infrastructure," Wen said. "This is the reason why for health care workers it's so important that we preserve the ability of our hospitals to function -- but also transit and grocery stores coming into this holiday season. And so many other essential workplaces may actually have a critical shortage of workers." Preventable hospitalizations cost billions, estimate finds As hospitals and health officials prepare for Omicron, additional research is being performed analyzing earlier stages of the pandemic. During the Delta surge that began over the summer, there were about 690,000 preventable Covid-19 hospitalizations in the United States that cost nearly $14 billion dollars, according to new estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation. About 1.2 million hospital admissions were recorded between June and November 2021, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services. For their analysis, KFF used data from the CDC to estimate that 85% of those hospitalizations were among unvaccinated. Hospitalizations for which Covid-19 was not the primary cause were excluded, as well as those that could not have been prevented by vaccines as they are not 100% effective. Using various studies, KFF estimated the average hospitalization to cost about $20,000 and preventable Covid-19 hospitalizations totaling $13.8 billion dollars over the course of six months. "The monetary cost of treating unvaccinated people for Covid-19 is borne not only by patients but also by society more broadly, including taxpayer-funded public programs and private insurance premiums paid by workers, businesses, and individual purchasers," the analysts wrote. "Though there was of course a societal cost to develop and distribute vaccinations, the vaccines save the US health system money in the longer run by preventing costly hospitalizations." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Click here for updates on this story SAN JOSE (KPIX) -- One San Jose man has spread Christmas cheer to an entire neighborhood for decades, even during the pandemic. Children that came to see Santa are now parents with their children here, said David Pusateri. Its pretty cool. Every year on Cherry Ave., Pusateri decorates his home with 66,000 twinkling lights. He then gathers Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to meet with children who live nearby or come from miles away. Kids line up outside Pusateris home and patiently wait their turn to tell Santa and Mrs. Claus what they want for Christmas. Theyre then given a toy and a candy cane after their visit. Brandon Bonnifields parents used to take him to holiday light displays. Now hes passing on the tradition to his kids. I was able to bring my nephews, my son and kind of make that a tradition, said Bonnifield. Its kind of like sharing your childhood with your own kids. But theres more to Pusateris impressive holiday light display. Hes also created a tradition of giving back. He raises money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Weve given Make A Wish $2.350 million, said Pusateri. When you see those children you feel very, very, very good. He accepts donations at his home during the Christmas light display, and also raises money with a yearly sprint car race that he said has gotten bigger every year. Every penny is given to the foundation that supports critically ill children. Not even last years pandemic lockdown could put a pause on the cause. There were more cars here last year than Ive ever seen before, Pusateri said. Its a tradition about teaching the next generation that the holidays are about giving back just as Pusateri has done for so many years, and he said hes not giving up anytime soon. Im getting older, everythings taking a lot longer to do now, he said. I dont know. Ill do it as long as I can do it. Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. President Joe Biden thanked service members stationed across the globe for their service in a Christmas Day virtual meeting from the White House. "The holidays really bring into sharp focus, being apart is -- it's just part of the job, but it's the hard part of the job, and it's who you guys are," he told representatives of all six armed services. "I know hard it is for you, but quite frankly, it's harder for your husbands, wives, moms, dads, children, to be apart or on duty during a season of togetherness, and we Bidens understand that," the President told military units stationed in Bahrain, Qatar, Romania and Colorado via video conference. "We still, every once in a while, look at that empty chair -- and, you know, service to your country is, whether you're in Iraq, or you know -- Beau spent a year in Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard. We remember that, what it felt like, as I said, and all those birthdays and other occasions, celebrations where you're not together." The Bidens' late son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, deployed to Iraq in 2008 as part of a National Guard deployment. He died in 2015 from brain cancer. In his remarks on Saturday, the President said the military was "the solid steel spine of the nation," adding that they remain, "always vigilant, always ready when duty calls, 365 days a year." "And during the holiday season, as we pray for peace and spread joy and glad tidings, we also look for hope for the possibility of a better year, and to give thanks, and give thanks to everything, for everything we've gotten, to you, your service, your families," he added. Biden was joined on the call by first lady Jill Biden and the newly minted-first puppy, Commander, who arrived at the White House earlier this week. "We were going to send this guy over," Biden joked. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. SHAN CREEK, Ore--The homeowner of a house in the 5900 block of Riverbanks Rd has a lot to be thankful for this Christmas, after Rural Metro Firefighters were able to save the home from burning down on Christmas Eve. Rural Metro Fire reports that the fire was first called in around four in the afternoon on Friday. When firefighters arrived onto the scene they quickly knocked down the flames before it could destroy the home. Rural Metro firefighters are investigating the cause, but according to the latest report from RMF, the fire does appear to be electrical-related near an outlet where a portable heater was in use. Red Cross assisted with helping get the occupant relocated until repairs can be made. MORRO BAY, Calif. (AP) Authorities say a surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack off the central coast of California. Morro Bay police say the male surfer was pulled from the water north of the famous Morro Rock around 10:45 a.m. on Friday. He was not responsive after being brought to land. The surfer's identity was not immediately released and officials have ordered people to stay out of the water for 24 hours. The attack appears to have been recent based on the condition of the surfer's body. Crews will patrol the area to look for the shark. Morro Bay is about 200 miles north of Los Angeles. Wendy Freeman, shown in a handout photo, is stepping down as head of CTV News after more than 25 years at the network. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CTV News **MANDATORY CREDIT** In the immediate aftermath of the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 23, 2020, many areas of Kenosha became a battleground for rioters and looters who left a wake of mass destruction in their paths. But in the social media age, there wasnt any shortage of video or other types of surveillance footage that recorded those who ran the streets that week with bad intentions. A little more than 16 months have passed, and many of those identified by police or through other means have been charged, convicted and sentenced for their roles that week. But the work continues for the Kenosha County District Attorneys Office. Through last week, a total of 94 criminal cases had been filed, according to District Attorney Michael Graveley. Of those, 70 were for felony crimes, six involved juveniles and 18 were misdemeanor cases. Among the felony counts, 56 were for burglary/looting, eight for some kind of assaultive behavior, two for destruction of an ATM and one for making a threat against the police and national guard. Eleven cases are currently in warrant status, with 29 that have pending court hearings coming up in 2022, Graveley said. The rough estimate is were about halfway done, he said. Its been now more than a year. A couple things are really significant to me. These are 94 cases that have some kind of place on us, that other counties dont have, that we wouldnt have had in a different year. Thats a substantial number of additional cases to bring into the justice system into one year, Graveley said The other significant piece are the cases that are still unidentified. At this point, the Kenosha Police Department does not have new, active leads, so its time to ask the public for as much assistance as they can give. New website coming To get this to the finish line, Graveley said a new website will be launched in January that will include all the pending cases, with photographs, more than 100, of those who have yet to be identified. Visitors to the site will be able to view all the photographs, and if they have information, a direct link will take them to the Kenosha Police Department Detective Bureau. Graveley said the new website will remain open for a couple months to see what progress can be made on the unsolved cases. The website address will be released to the public when its ready to be launched, he said. Well see if it gets us anywhere, and well try to share with some other locations and jurisdictions to see if that happens, too, he said. The Kenosha Police Department put some of this one their Facebook many months ago, but its time to get a fresh look at all these pictures, I think. Graveley said he and his office are determined to continue working these cases to hold those accountable for the destruction. Its quite a challenge because of the large amount of additional cases, he said. But whats crucially important is that we maximize our efforts to bring individuals to justice who were such trouble in the community during those days. Theres merchants and members of the public who deserve to have outcomes that give that credit. Theres a lot of work still to be done. Whos been charged, convicted Graveleys report also detailed each of the cases related to the rioting. The following are persons charged, age, home address, the criminal charge or charges filed and outcome of the case: Davonte M. Musgrove-Miller, 23, Jacksonville, Fla.; felony burglary to dwelling; warrant issued, July 15. Jaquan D. Terrien, 22, 1600 block of 56th St., Kenosha; felony burglary to building; 30 months probation. Jason T. Arriaga, 18, 2300 block of Roosevelt Road, Kenosha; felony burglary to building; four years probation. Naganda J. Irby, 21, 6700 block of 23rd Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building; four years probation. Travian T. McGloun, 25, 1600 block of Taylor Avenue, Racine; felony burglary to building; three years initial incarceration, four years extended supervision. Xavier K. Sawyer, 23, Milwaukee; possession of firearm by convicted felon (jury trial); 18 months initial incarceration, three years extended supervision. Adonis E. Renderos, 26, Janesville; felony burglary to building; three years probation. Jaquan D. Moore, 24, Madison; felony burglary to building; 15 months initial incarceration, three years extended supervision. Darnell F. King, 25, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; felony use of a dangerous weapon; four years initial confinement, four years extended supervision. Jordan L. Ford, 20, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution, Waupun; felony possession of firearm by convicted felon; two years initial confinement, four years extended supervision. Coy A. Freeman, 22, 400 block of 11th Street, Racine; felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; 15 months initial confinement, three years extended supervision. Kevin L. Manchester, 27, 3400 block of 6th Avenue, Racine; felony receiving stolen property; two years initial confinement, three years extended supervision. Deveon D. Robbins, 21, 2400 block of LaSalle Street, Racine; misdemeanor carrying concealed weapon; time served (79 days). Stephan R. Pyskir, 32, Milwaukee; misdemeanor carrying concealed weapon, failure to comply with emergency management order of state or local government; fine imposed. Michael J. Utterback, 37, 10900 block of 60th Street, Kenosha; misdemeanor disorderly conduct (two counts); 180 days jail and fine. Bradley M. Shaw, 25, Zion, Ill.; felony burglary to building; sentencing Jan. 20. Tyran Ward, 25, Cudahy; felony burglary to building; warrant issued, Oct. 13, 2020. Joshua J. Ziminski, 36, 3400 block of Ivy Lane, Racine; felony arson, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, misdemeanor obstructing; jury selection Jan. 31. Antonio C. Rhinehouse, 27, 1700 block of Birch Road, Kenosha; felony attempted burglary to building, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; warrant issued, June 30. Dessorrae M. Brown, 35, 4500 block of 18th Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, felony theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, felony destroy computer (ATM) equipment, misdemeanor disorderly conduct; jury selection Feb. 7 (two separate cases). Inocente N. Garcia, 44, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution, Waupun; felony burglary to building; three years initial confinement, four years extended supervision. Kenneth M. Harmon, 19, 4700 block of 37th Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; pending, status conference Feb. 23. Jermaine D. Hubbard, 30, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution, Plymouth; felony burglary to building, felony theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; jury trial March 21. Lauren A. Lott, 31, 4800 block of 20th Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony destroy computer (ATM) equipment, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, misdemeanor disorderly conduct; final pre-trial Jan. 12 (two separate cases). Wayne Maddox, 62, Indianapolis, Ind.; felony burglary to building; 12 months probation. Antoine Simpson, 26, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; felony burglary to building, felony theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; three separate cases, status conference Jan. 27. Felina I. Gamez, 35, Burlington; misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; four months jail, fine, four years probation. Isaiah J. Gamez, 18, Burlington; misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, misdemeanor entry into locked building; fine imposed on all three counts. Domnic A. Willis, 20, Waukegan, Ill.; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; warrant issued, Jan. 29. Michael A. Brewer, 21, 3900 block Colorado Court, Racine; felony burglary to building; 45 days jail, fine. Michael L. Ketterhagen, 21, 2500 block 22nd Avenue; felony burglary to building; 45 days jail, fine. Mischawn D. Billups, 27, Illinois, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; felony theft; 18 months initial confinement, three years extended supervision. Nakita, S. Billups, 29, Round Lake Beach, Ill.; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property; warrant issued, Jan. 27. Kevin A. Bryant, 22, Waukegan, Ill.; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property; warrant issued, Jan. 27. Sara S. Weeks, 32, Waukegan, Ill.; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property; warrant issued, Jan. 27. Dale L. Wells, 30, Ankeny, Iowa; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property; judicial pre-trial hearing, Feb. 2. Angelina D. Adkins, 19, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Jail; two counts each felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; plea hearing, Jan. 27 (two separate cases). Anayah M. Brewer, 20, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Jail; felony burglary to building; two years probation. Dezarea M. Flores-Weyrauch, 20, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; two counts felony burglary to building; three years probation. Stephanie Garcia-Gomez, 22, 6200 block of 75th Street, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; pre-trial conference, March 18. Arthur S. Patton, 23, 4300 block of 6th Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building; three years probation. Clyde J. McLemore, 63, address sealed by court; felony attempted battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer, misdemeanor disorderly conduct; motion hearing Feb. 28. Maurice L. Gayles Jr., 26, currently incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution, Waupun; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; status conference Jan. 27. Jermaine D. Hubbard, 30, currently incarcerated at Kettle Moraine Correctional Institute, Plymouth; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; jury trial, March 21 (two separate cases). Wayne Maddox, 62, Indianapolis, Ind.; felony burglary to building; one year probation. Rhyanon R. McNab, 24, 5800 block of 16th Avenue; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; status conference, Jan. 27. Vanessa Y. Rivera, 23, 1200 block of Lathrop Avenue, Racine; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; status conference, Jan. 7. Alezier J. Simon, 24, 200 block of Memorial Drive, Racine; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; motion hearing, Jan. 12. Edward J. Spates Jr., 33, Kenosha, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; status conference, March 17. Marcus R. Starks, 36, 2000 block of 62nd Street, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; case pending, no future court date listed. Gloria K. Webb, 52, 1900 block of 63rd Street, Kenosha; two counts each felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; status conference, Jan. 27 (two separate cases). Antwon D. Smith, 28, 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue, Racine; felony burglary to building, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property; adjourned initial appearance, Jan. 25. Paris D. Holmes, 26, Chicago, currently incarcerated at Kenosha County Detention Center; felony burglary to a building (two counts), felony criminal damage to property, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, misdemeanor disorderly conduct; final pre-trial Jan. 29 (two separate cases). Indiria E. Hudson (Clark), 22, 6600 block of 32nd Avenue, Kenosha; felony destroy computer (ATM) equipment; 30 months probation. Steven Bialas-Schooler, 29, 3500 block of 67th Street, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; pre-trial conference, Feb. 9. Erik C. Thomas, 31, Kankakee, Ill.; felony burglary to building, felony criminal damage to ATM/other machines, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; warrant issued, Sept. 10. Hosea W. King Jr., 38, 4900 block of 16th Avenue, Kenosha; felony burglary to building, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor criminal damage to property; adjourned initial appearance, Jan. 6. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Kenosha county Sheriffs Department K-9 Riggs, who was shot in the head while taking down a homicide suspect in late October, was out of the hospital and ready for duty within days, despite fears he would have to be permanently retired if he survived. Police dog Riggs and his handler, Deputy Terry Tifft, received a heros welcome when Riggs was released from the veterinary hospital in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, with dozens of fellow police dogs and handlers lining up to honor the injured K-9 and Tifft. Riggs was allegedly shot by Allan M. Brown, 33, who had been tracked down at the Benson Corners Shell gas station and Antique Mall in Bristol the morning of Oct. 21 after the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department was alerted by Chicago police, who were seeking Brown in connection to two homicides in Chicago. Brown was reportedly driving a vehicle owned by the victim of the second homicide at the time. The shooting of Riggs and the apprehension of Brown ranked No.6 on the list of Top 10 local stories of 2021. A scary encounter When three Kenosha deputies attempted to arrest Brown, he fled on foot, allegedly firing behind him at the deputies and Riggs, who took Brown to the ground. Body camera footage showed Brown fired his gun two more times, with one bullet striking Riggs in the forehead. In a lot of ways, hes a hero today, said Kenosha Sheriff David Beth in a press conference later that day. He possibly saved someone else from being injured today. The deputies opened fire, and Brown was shot three times, in the abdomen, thigh and bicep. Brown was transported to Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital, and Riggs was ultimately brought to a veterinary hospital in Buffalo Grove, Ill. The deputies involved in the incident were put on administrative leave as the Racine County Sheriffs Department was tasked with investigating the shooting. According to state law, an outside agency must conduct such investigations to determine if the shooting was justified and remove potential conflicts of interest. Riggs later would be lauded by the County Board and Sheriff David Beth for his actions. From the Sheriffs Department, Riggs was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star, which are the fourth- and second-highest awards, respectively, presented by the department. Escape attempt Brown would later attempt to flee again as he was about to be transported out of the hospital, shoving a deputy away after his handcuffs were removed and running in leg irons before quickly being apprehended again. He faces 8 charges, three felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of firing a dangerous weapon on a police K-9 causing injury, one count of mistreatment of a law enforcement animal with the use of a dangerous weapon, one count of failing to comply with an officers attempt to take a person into custody and one count of operating a motor vehicle without owners consent with the use of a dangerous weapon. Additional charges for Browns attempted escape are still pending. Brown has a long criminal history, having served two prison sentences for assault-type offenses, and was convicted Brown is the primary suspect in two homicides in Chicago on Oct. 21, one at a bus stop in the citys Logan Square neighborhood and the other after a carjacking. In video surveillance of the bus stop shooting, lead detectives said there was no altercation between Brown and the victim prior to the shooting. In the second shooting, Brown allegedly attempted to stop several passing vehicles at gunpoint before a driver stopped. They were shot and killed during the carjacking, and police tracked the victims car to Kenosha, at the gas station where the shootout between Sheriff deputies and Brown took place. If convicted of all the charges, minus the impending escape charge, Brown faces a maximum fine of $140,000 and 71 years, six months in prison. Brown is being held on a $1 million bond, which was increased after his escape attempt. His case is ongoing, and he remains in custody at the Racine County Jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wisconsin conservatives last week posed a plan to eliminate Wisconsins income tax which is the ninth highest in the country and instead boost the states sales tax from 5% to 8%. Prof. Noah Williams, head of the UW-Madison Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy (CROWE), said the change would $1,700 per household in tax relief a total of $3.5 billion. Williams said the change would also boost Wisconsin GDP by $28 billion over the first eight years and make the state more competitive and boost employment by 175,000 jobs. Thats awfully enticing. For Wisconsin homeowners, many of whom are writing out big checks this month to pay their property taxes, the idea of a bump of $1,700 in household income is like a Christmas sugarplum. An average household in Wisconsin pays nearly $2,800 in income taxes, Williams said. While the increases sales tax would add nearly $1,100 in taxes. (Eliminating the income tax) means a tax cut of roughly $1,700 per household. Wisconsin would join nine other states that currently dont have state income taxes. Former Gov. Scott Walker endorsed the plan and said, We would clearly have a competitive advantage. We already see the exodus coming from Illinois to Wisconsin, and Indiana and other states. This would just accelerate that. The proposed tax reform also garnered support from the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin, the Institute for Reforming Government, and Americans for Tax Reform. One place it didnt gain support was from the office of Gov. Tony Evers who sniffed, Wasnt he governor for eight years and had a Republican Legislature that whole time? He could have done that himself. According to news reports Walker did pose the idea of eliminating the states personal and corporate income taxes back in 2013, but it didnt gain any momentum at the Capitol at the time. And Wisconsins Main Street Alliance and Wisconsin Budget Project panned the proposal saying it would shift the responsibility for paying taxes away from the rich and powerful and onto the back so people with low and moderate incomes. So lets have that debate. Have we gone so far down the rabbit hole of hyper-partisan political division that we cant have an honest and open discussion of the pluses and minuses of a tax reform proposal? The numbers tell us this. Wisconsin will collect $6.3 billion in sales and use taxes this year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. That provides 32.6 percent of the states general purpose revenue. By comparison, the individual income tax will generate $9.3 billion, which accounts for 47.4 percent of GPR. Wisconsins income tax rate is the ninth highest in the country, while the sales tax is one of the lowest. So perhaps some tax shifting is in order. Yes, we have some questions. For starters, this reform doesnt touch on local property taxes thats right, the ones many of us are paying this month and they total about $11.2 billion each year. Wisconsin ranks sixth highest in the country for property taxes with homeowners shelling out an average of $4,027 per year. Thats the big dog in the room. Weve also heard radio news reports that the bump in the sales tax from 5% to 8% wont cover the loss of $9.3 billion from the elimination of the state income tax that it will fall $2- to $3 billion short. Thats a problem. Still, if this reform can boost take home wages for workers, increase Wisconsins GDP, create more jobs and make the state more attractive to new businesses, its a debate worth having. The guiding light here should not be whether it benefits Democrats or Republicans, but if it helps the residents of Wisconsin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MILLERSBURG, Ore.--- Some of Santa's helpers are in Millersburg. Angela Watson and her family have been decorating their house with Christmas lights every year, even winning the Clark Griswold outdoor lights award from the city of Millersburg. But a popular attraction for the kids is the Santa mailbox. It's a tradition the Watsons have been displaying in their front yard for five years. "Last year our box was destroyed by the wind and we kind of thought we might not do it again this year," Angela said. "But a couple of our neighbors stopped us and said 'hey where's the box?'" It's all to spread some cheer during the most wonderful time of the year. Kids from all over Western Oregon; including Reedsport, Philomath, and Corvallis, submit their letters for Santa. "This is the fun part is reading all the notes that they have and the little drawings," said Angela. Most of the letters the Watsons receive are addressed to the North Pole with no return address but the ones with a return address, Angela and her daughters like to drop some gifts on their doorstep. "We try to choose something that's a nice little gift and we will go and drop them off," said Angela. "It's one of the things the kids like to do for others." Angela said this tradition is especially important during the pandemic. "Especially during covid, just bringing joy to the neighborhood," Angela said. In the letters, the kids request some of their most-wanted gifts. "Dear Santa, this year for Christmas I would like a dirt bike," one letter said. Some letters wish Santa the best. "I hope you're doing well Santa and staying healthy. I love you Santa," another letter said. In total, the Watsons receive a couple hundred letters each year. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Bitterly cold. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 0F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Bitterly cold. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 0F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Desmond Tutu, seen here in Monaco on June 8, 2014, is dead at 90. At least two major airlines in the United States have canceled flights just before Christmas Eve. Louis Bourgeois' "Turning Inwards Set #4 (The Smell of Eucalyptus (#1))" (2006), left, and "Turning Inwards Set #4 (I See You!!!)" (2007) / Courtesy of the Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, New York/SACK, Seoul By Park Han-sol Louise Bourgeois descends the stairs in her home on West 20th Street in New York City in 1992. Courtesy of Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA at ARS, NY "Art is a guarantee of sanity." This sentence famously declared by Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) reflects the role that sculptures, paintings and etchings played throughout the life of the prolific French-American artist. In Korea, she is arguably best known for her gigantic bronze spider sculpture series, "Maman," one piece of which used to sit in the courtyard of Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul before being relocated this year to the Ho-Am Art Museum in Gyeonggi Province. Representing protection and nurturing, the creature was an ode to her own beloved mother. For Bourgeois, whose unresolved childhood traumas stemmed from resentment of her father's years of infidelity and sympathy for her invalid mother's silence, art was a tool for addressing her bottled-up fears and insecurities. "But in comparison to her earlier works that are more piercing and emotionally intense, the artist's pieces created during the final years of her life turned inward to herself," said Yoon Hei-jeong, the managing director of Kukje Gallery, where the artist's lesser-known, soft-ground etching series "Turning Inwards #4" is currently on view. "The series indicates a phase of self-reflection, as she turns her attention to her inner self, away from the resentment, wounds and hatred that consumed her in the past." An installation view of "The Smell of Eucalyptus" exhibition at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery In "The Smell of Eucalyptus" exhibition, a total of 39 etchings produced between 2006 and 2009 are shown together for the first time in Korea. With these large prints at the forefront, there are also eight sculptures nestled throughout the gallery space that share similar formal and thematic concerns, thereby creating a point of dialogue between the two different genres of her work. The primary themes and iconography addressed in her "Turning Inwards" series are a continuation of her years-long artistic exploration of motherhood, sexuality and interest in nature especially plants in relation to human bodies. One of the pieces on display, from which the show's title derives, underlines the central importance of memory as well as the sense of healing that materialized in her later work. In the 1920s, the artist nursed her ailing mother in the south of France, often using eucalyptus oil as a treatment. The plant eventually came to symbolize her time and relationship with her mother, later transforming into a means of visualizing maternal identity. It also became a sensory trigger a means to evoke her past memory as she burned the plant in her studio to cleanse the aura. "Ultimately, considering how art became a tool for coping with her emotions throughout the years, eucalyptus was both a physical and symbolic motif that provided her with a sense of healing," Yoon said. A handful of her other pieces from the series draw an intricate connection between the human body and plant forms from nature, such as coiling stems reminiscent of a person's internal organs and an anthropomorphic creature filled with countless eyes, resembling a fruit-bearing tree. "Our own body could be considered, from a topological point of view, a landscape with mounds and valleys and caves and holes," the artist once said. "So it seems rather evident to me that our body is a figuration that appears in Mother Earth." "The Smell of Eucalyptus" exhibition runs through Jan. 30, 2022, at Kukje Gallery. By John Burton "North Korea as we know it is over. Whether it comes apart in the next few weeks or over several months, the regime will not be able to hold together after the untimely death of its leader, Kim Jong-il." That was the bold prediction of Victor Cha, a top North Korean expert in Washington, D.C., writing in the New York Times in December 2011. With Kim Jong-un now celebrating his 10th anniversary in power as dictator, Cha's comment is a reminder that forecasting what will happen in North Korea often amounts to a fool's errand. Predictions of North Korea's collapse have become routine over the last 30 years. When I was the Financial Times correspondent in Seoul in the 1990s, I remember being told by my editors to prepare to write about North Korea's downfall after the death of Kim Il-sung. Of course, his son, Kim Jong-il, would go on to rule for the next 17 years. Recurrent predictions about North Korea's collapse seem to amount to a sort of wish fulfillment among U.S. leaders. It was the views of Cha and others in the American foreign policy establishment that persuaded the administration of President Barack Obama to adopt a strategy of "strategic patience" toward Pyongyang. It was believed that it made little sense for Washington to engage with North Korea when it was likely that the country would soon be thrown on the scrapheap of history. I am reminded of all this when reading recent articles marking the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un's rule. Once again, North Korea appears to be "economically broken, starving and politically isolated" as Cha described the situation in 2011. The current dominant narrative is that Kim's attempts at economic reform to improve the lives of his people have failed and the country is now on the edge of collapse. Shortly after taking power, Kim promised to build an "economically powerful state." Initial steps included allowing a measure of private enterprise in the agricultural sector and permitting the growth of informal markets. In addition, he oversaw a frenzy of "socialist construction" in Pyongyang with the erection of new modern buildings and the opening of more shops and restaurants. But two developments brought this period of economic expansion to an end. One was the imposition of tougher international sanctions in 2017 after Kim continued to aggressively push for the testing of nuclear weapons and missiles. Then came the COVID-19 threat in 2020 which resulted in North Korea imposing one of the world's strictest border closures out of fear that the pandemic could overwhelm the country's fragile healthcare system. The economy has also been struggling with severe weather conditions, including flooding, that has affected the agricultural sector and resulted in food shortages, with Kim admitting the food situation had become "tense." But Kim can also count several "successes" at least from his own perspective that he has achieved during the past 10 years. The first is that he is in power at all. It was the perception that Kim was not up to the task of ruling North Korea after his father died that led Cha and others to believe that the country would soon fall apart. But Kim proved that he was a tough and skilled political fighter, conducting purges of potential domestic opponents that included killing his own uncle and half-brother. Another achievement is that Kim has built an extensive nuclear-armed ballistic missile force that might be capable of hitting the U.S. This has increased Kim's strategic leverage and might make it nearly impossible now for the U.S. to take him down. North Korea's increased military power has also helped raise the global profile of Kim. He has held summits with the leaders of China, Russia and South Korea and, perhaps more importantly, with U.S. President Donald Trump that established Kim as a regional leader who had to be taken seriously. Geostrategic developments, mainly growing tensions between China and the U.S., will benefit North Korea. Although China in the last few years supported increased international sanctions against North Korea to push Pyongyang toward denuclearization, it might be willing to adopt a more tolerant approach towards its isolated neighbor in the future. As North Korea's largest trading partner, Beijing may decide to step up its support for the Kim regime to counterbalance rising U.S. pressure on China in East Asia. There are already signs of this happening as trade begins to recover from North Korea's pandemic-related border closures. There are indications that China is increasing its shipments of crude oil and fertilizer to North Korea after Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed economic cooperation this summer. Although Pyongyang will face difficult times ahead, China's support will likely keep the North Korean economy afloat and Kim in power. John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. Woowa Brothers founder Kim Bong-jin / Korea Times file By Kim Jae-heun The country's No.1 food delivery service, Woowa Brothers, is experiencing choppy waters as it faces toughened labor laws, while major lender Shinhan Bank entered the highly competitive industry recently. Parent company Delivery Hero, which acquired Woowa Brothers earlier this year, pulled its Berlin-headquartered food delivery service Foodpanda out of six German cities: Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Cologne and Dusseldorf. This was mainly due to the emergence of strong competitors that ate away at Foodpanda's market share, while Germany adopted tougher labor laws that raised food delivery fees. There is no guarantee that Woowa Brothers' food delivery service, Baedal Minjok, will be able to escape the same fate. Shinhan Bank began food delivery services on a trial basis on Dec. 22 exclusively in the districts of Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa, Mapo, Gwanak and Gwangjin, all in Seoul. It offers the lowest commission fee of 2 percent, compared to the 11.4 percent average commission fee charged by other local food delivery players. Shinhan Bank also has its own electronic payment agency system that requires no additional interest or fees, translating into cheaper delivery fees. Banks are not allowed to operate a business that is irrelevant to financial services under the current law. However, the Financial Services Commission gave Shinhan permission last year under a regulatory sandbox program that allows fintech firms and other innovative companies to experiment with new businesses. Shinhan Bank has permission to offer the food delivery service for four years. A Shinhan Bank official said the period can be extended if related regulations are revised. Woowa Brothers has already been challenged by Coupang Eats, a food delivery service launched in 2019 by the country's largest online retailer, Coupang. Coupang Eats introduced a "one-order-per-delivery" service for the first time here that catapulted it instantly to third place after Baedal Minjok and Yogiyo. Its market share is still far behind the top two players'. However, Coupang Eats grabbed a 45 percent share of the three most affluent districts in southern Seoul to rival Baedal Minjok. The monthly active users (MAU) of Coupang Eats also surged by 15 times from 29,869 last year to 460,235 this year. This helped its overall market share to increase from 7.1 percent to 18.7 percent. Woowa Brothers plans to expand its food delivery service with Delivery Hero in the burgeoning Asian market. However, the German firm also failed to expand its food delivery service in Japan and is likely to sell it off in the first quarter of next year, according to recent reports. By Trudy Rubin The Virtual Summit of Democracies laid bare the urgency of the threats to U.S. and global democracy. Yet most Americans still don't grasp the immediacy of the danger. The warning flashes didn't originate from the virtual summit which President Biden had conceived during his candidacy long before the twin viruses of COVID-19 and Donald Trump's Big Lie drove the dramatic decline of democratic norms. At this point it could provide little more than a well-meaning talk show. More striking were China's reaction to the summit and congressional hearings on GOP efforts to steal the presidential election during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Piqued by Biden's effort to align democracies, China mounted a global PR blitz claiming its system is a greater democracy because it "reflects the people's will" and out delivers the dysfunctional American system. During the same week, House hearings laid bare the GOPs ruthless obeisance to Trump's Big Lie that he alone reflects the will of the American people and therefore cannot lose an election. The Big Lie not only feeds Chinese propaganda. It threatens to destroy the foundation of America's democracy in 2024. Those who decline to submit themselves to the lies and misinformation promoted by Fox News may be unaware of how deeply Trump's Big lie has taken root. It's not just a question of Trump acolytes and lawyers gathered at a suite in Washington's Willard Hotel and the White House in the hours before the Capitol riot plotting how they could defy the constitution to overturn Biden's win. And it's not just Trump's infamous calls to swing state GOP politicians and secretaries of state trying to convince them to find ways to reverse the people's will. What we are seeing now is that Trump, and Fox News have instilled the utterly false claims of voter fraud into the heads of a vast majority of voters. Poll after poll has shown that around 60 percent of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. In a recent NPR/PBSNewshour/Marist poll only one third of Republicans said they would trust the results if their candidate lost in 2024. "When looking ahead to the 2024 presidential election, it is remarkable that a bedrock principle of democracy that losing candidates and their supporters accept the results is not held by nearly two in three Republicans," said Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, when the poll came out. I see it in my email, or in speaking with Trump supporters. One reader, whom I met with at a local deli, had attended the Jan. 6 rally and insisted that it was a peaceful gathering of patriots disturbed by "800 idiots." He said he accepted that Biden had won but added "Of course all those absentee ballots there had to be fraud." There wasn't fraud. It's simply not true. But the Big Lie legend grows fed by Trump at his rallies, by GOP candidates who refuse to critique it, and by Fox talking heads like Tucker Carlson, who whitewashes the Jan. 6 insurgents as a crowd of peaceful patriots caught in violence by antifa. (This is absolutely untrue.) Which is why, as the House hearings lay out the intricate details of how the Trumpers tried to subvert the last election, Pulitzer Prize winner Barton Gellman warns in the Atlantic that the GOP plans to subvert the next one. His article, "Trump's Next Coup has Already Begun," is a must read. "January 6 was practice," he writes. "Donald Trump's GOP is much better positioned to subvert the next election." In 2020 the Trump team tried to induce GOP legislatures in states where Biden won to overturn the people's votes and appoint Trump electors instead to the electoral college. This is illegal in 32 states and probably never has been done in the rest. Trump's goal failed in 2020 thanks to brave election officials such as Gabriel Sterling in Georgia or Al Schmidt in Philly so Trumpers are trying to drive them out with threats or oust them from their seats. As Princeton historian Kevin Kruse told Gellman, "I think you replace those officials, those judges, with ones who are more willing to follow the party line, and you get a different set of outcomes." That clearly is the GOP goal. There is little time left for small-d democrats from both parties to fight back. Nothing highlights the hypocrisy of the Trumpers better than the emails sent by Fox News' Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham to Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, during the insurrection, begging him to urge Trump to stop the violence. Now they promote the Big Lie and undermine America at home and abroad. If Joe Biden wants to counter the Big Lie that feeds Chinese propaganda and hastens democracy's demise, the president should make strengthening voting rights his first priority, above everything else. He should support the end of the filibuster toward this goal. The Justice Department must challenge the attempts at hostile, partisan takeover of election authorities that would permit the fixing of elections, and are far more dangerous than voter-suppression tactics. The key difference between China's democracy and ours is that American voters have the right to choose their leaders freely or at least they have until now. The day Trumpers substitute their leader's will for the will of the American people is the day that our democracy dies. Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com.) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. By Yoo Yeon-chul We're approaching the end of this year. As we reflect on this year in terms of climate phenomena, global villages have experienced devastating damage from abnormal weather. In Europe, the heaviest rains and most extreme temperatures in 1,000 years were recorded. In North America, heat waves and dry weather caused wildfires to ignite spontaneously. In Asia, torrential rains occurred in China and Japan. Korea also suffered great damage from a long rainy season. In this era of climate crisis, we need a massive scaling-up of climate action all over the world. Our future lies in resilience that requires a collective effort from every community. Then, who will take climate action? Both national and local governments should have ambitious targets and climate actions. Collectively, they should be the driving force for implementation. The world is now shifting from globalization to glocalization. Glocalization is a term that means, quite literally, the combination of global and local consideration. A glocalization mindset might drive a country or people to "think globally and act locally." The glocal mindset calls us to reject the standard "one-size-fits-all" paradigm of globalization. The current world is now hyperconnected, allowing people to directly engage with each other in localities from regions that stretch around the world. A more intimate and inclusive engagement in commerce and social life is accompanied by a shift from globalization to glocalization. This shift from globalization to glocalization is transforming the relationships between national governments and local communities. In order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we should discuss actions closely related to local initiatives and the lifestyles of the people. Local entities are expected to play a central role as planners, managers and operators of energy-related projects and services. Yet many local entities face obstacles, such as a lack of capacity, resources and authority. In this context, what role does this leave for the national government? First, the national government's support for local governments is essential to achieve net-zero and delivers many co-benefits. Due to the urgency of the climate crisis and the vital roles local governments will have to play in reaching net-zero, it is critical that a timely solution to support local governments' actions is found. Secondly, the national government should provide local governments with the opportunity to voice their positions in formulating nationwide pathways to reach net-zero. It will be impossible to get close to meeting a net-zero target without local governments' and people's engagement. Local communities need to be brought into the decision-making process to have a sense of ownership of carbon neutrality. Thirdly, it will be vital for the national government to empower local governments by transferring responsibility on the energy system. In a state of climate emergency, the future lies in local, renewable and net-zero energy. The net-zero transition will require local innovation in energy demand and supply. Given appropriate government support, community energy is ready to scale. Many experts say that national government has no choice but to allow local communities to generate their own energy in the future. Local energy transition for reducing greenhouse gases will not be an option but become essential for sustainability. Now, local communities, as investors, innovators, consumers and producers, must transition into distributed renewable energy system. Energy decentralization and energy independence can be achieved through mutual cooperation with the national government and energy-climate related organizations. Governance coordination with the central government strengthens local governments' capacity to be a leading player for local energy transition and tackling climate change. The local governments in Korea have been enthusiastic in that all 226 local governments became the world's first to declare their 2050 carbon neutrality goal to the world, at the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals (P4G) Summit held in Seoul at the end of May this year. Now is indeed the time for the actions of local governments in tackling climate change with the collaboration of the national government that will support and empower them. It is my wish that 2022 will be the year of glocalization in overcoming the climate crisis. Happy green New Year! Yoo Yeon-chul (ycyoo87@gmail.com) was ambassador for climate change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now serving as vice chair of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He also served as Korea's ambassador to Kuwait. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around 10F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around 10F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. RACINE Like any kid who grew up in the Midwest near Lake Michigan, Racine native Blythe Haney loved going to see the water. But as a teenager, she made her trips more interesting by collecting pieces of sea glass she would find near the shore. A high school boyfriend once showed her some sea glass at a spot where he often went fishing, and I was like Wow. Ever since then, I started collecting even bringing my family to all start collecting together. Its a fun little calming hobby, Haney said. After a while, the family would have jars and jars full of sea glass; it didnt take long for her to realize she wanted to start crafting things with sea glass as a way to get creative and get rid of some of her collection. So Haney began making jewelry and selling pieces at craft fairs in 2015 through her business, ByBlythe. Later, she opened a shop on Etsy, a website where artists can sell items online. In 2019, she won Peoples Choice for Favorite Artist at the 2019 Racine Art Guilds Starving Artist Fair. Haneys jewelry is also currently on sale at the Racine Heritage Museum, 701 Main St. Finding sea glass In Racine County, Haneys favorite spots to hunt for sea glass are Samuel Myers Park by Gateway Technical College, Carre-Hogle Park near 16th and 18th streets and North Beach by the Racine Zoo. The most common colors Haney said she finds are clear, green and brown. Back in the day, most everything was in glass jars medicine bottles, perfume bottles, all that. Haney likes collecting rare colors and pieces, some not necessarily even being sea glass. The more rare colors the pinks, the reds, the oranges are the most fun to find. Especially because you can think about the type of history that it had, she said. On her Instagram, Haney has posted pieces of pottery and glass she has found that originate from parts near and far in the world. For example, she found a fragment of a plate made in England in the 1980s; on the other hand, she found a piece of a butter crock from a cheese company in Kaukauna. Spring is her favorite time to hunt for sea glass, she said. Especially just as the snow is melting, because its all hidden underneath Good storms will really move the sand, the waves will move things up onto the shore Its interesting to go out and all of a sudden theres a bunch of pretty ones that Im sure werent there the day before. Using social media Haney started out making necklaces and has since expanded to wire-wrapped jewelry, bracelets, rings and earrings. Her Etsy shop has made over 300 sales and shes an active member of the Twitter art community, which is made up of various artists who share, trade and promote each others art. Its fun to interact with other artists, Haney said. When she first started her small business, social media was not as prominent of a marketing tool. According to Statista, in larger companies, 92% of marketing specialists were expected to use social media as a marketing tool in 2021. In 2018, 77% of small businesses were using social media as a marketing tool, too that number has grown over the years. Though Haney graduated college with a degree in graphic design, her day job is as a social media specialist, and she uses those tools both at her official workplace and at her small business. As of 2020, Etsy has about 4.5 million sellers; in a huge market, Haney likes to keep things personal to her customers. Sea glass jewelry isnt super, super popular, but I think thats what draws people in. I like to market to people in this area, people that have ties to Lake Michigan, because it does all come directly from Lake Michigan, she said. This area is sentimental for some people. Support from family Haney has three younger sisters and they are each others support system when it comes to artistic projects. For example, Paige Haney the sister born directly after Blythe crochets, paints and draws portraits. Chloe Haney, next youngest, is a cosmetologist. The youngest, Brighton Haney, has 18 months left before she graduates from ballet school. Though Paige is only selling her art to close friends, she feels motivated by Blythe to someday start her own small business. Seeing Blythe and how far shes taken her hobby, seeing her work so hard its inspiring to see how far shes gone, Paige said. Paige said she and Chloe will often sit and help tend to Blythes booth while shes out at craft fairs. I never see her at work, so I was taken aback. It made me think, I wanna be like her. Jammu, Dec 26 (PTI) Amid fears of a third Covid wave, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said active participation of communities and healthcare workers is needed for prevention efforts. He also urged NGOs and volunteers engaged in community service to come forward and complement the government's efforts in the fight against drug menace. Also Read | Omicron In Kerala: 19 More Cases Of New COVID-19 Variant Confirmed In The State; Tally Reaches 57. Sinha was speaking at a function after inaugurating the upgraded facility at the pediatric cancer ward and children's play area at the SMGS Hospital here. The transformation of the pediatric cancer ward has been made possible by the Sparkle Women Club, a voluntary organisation dedicated to public service. Also Read | Online Fraud In Mumbai: 60-Year-Old Retired Bank Manager Duped Of Rs 12.50 Lakh by Cyber Fraudsters By Sending Lottery Ticket To Trap Her. "We are building a strong well-developed public healthcare system that aims to ensure the highest possible level of health and well-being of people," the lieutenant governor (L-G) said. He appealed for the active participation of communities and healthcare workers in prevention efforts amid fears of a third Covid wave. The L-G underlined that the biggest example of selfless service can be witnessed across hospitals. "In the last 20 months we have seen countless true heroes, hidden behind PPE kits and masks. They risked their own lives to save others, Sinha added. "Our doctors, nurses, para-medical staff, ambulance drivers, ASHA, Anganwadi workers, sanitation and other frontline workers courageously fought against two waves of Covid pandemic and continue to do so. I salute their spirit of selfless service," he said. The L-G said the last seven and half years have witnessed a revolution in the health sector of Jammu and Kashmir which was never seen in the last seven decades. "The increased funding for the health sector of the Union Territory has resulted in substantial improvement in Jammu and Kashmir's health ranking," he added. Sinha emphasised the role of civil society members in the Covid vaccination drive for 15 to 18 years age group commencing from January 3, and third dose for health care workers from January 10, as announced by the prime minister in his address to the nation. Earlier, the L-Governor took a round of various wards of the hospital and also interacted with the children. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Dec 26 (PTI) Congress Parliamentary Party leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Choudhury on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up with the West Bengal government the issue of setting up two makeshift Covid hospitals in Murshidabad and Nadia districts. The Prime Minister's Office had earlier given the go-ahead for the hospitals. Also Read | Kashi Film Festival to Be Held For the First Time in Varanasi, Will Give New Identity to Uttar Pradesh. The Berharampur MP also called upon Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to coordinate with the Centre to hasten construction of the two health facilities in a coordinated manner. "Yesterday, you addressed the nation regarding the imminent danger of omicron and the third wave of COVID-19 I would request you to kindly instruct the state government of West Bengal to do the needful on their part in respect of the establishment of the above-mentioned makeshift Covid hospital," the WBPCC president said. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Horror: Man Rapes 23-Year-Old Woman In Bhopal, Blackmails Her After Making Objectionable Video; Case Registered. In a separate letter to Banerjee, Choudhury said, "In view of the imminent danger of the third wave and omicron lurking around, I would request you to kindly coordinate with the central government and expedite the process of establishment of two makeshift Covid hospitals at Murshidabad and Kalyani." As many as 422 omicron cases have been detected across 17 states and union territories in India so far, and 130 patients have recovered or migrated. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Dec 26 (PTI) Former union minister and Trinamool Congress leader Babul Supriyo, who joined TMC three months back, on Sunday took a swipe at his former party predicting five disgruntled saffron party MLAs who quit the BJP West Bengal's MLA WhatsApp group, may now sever their links with the party. Also Read | Omicron In Kerala: 19 More Cases Of New COVID-19 Variant Confirmed In The State; Tally Reaches 57. However, one of the five MLAs Ambica Roy on Sunday expressed his desire to rejoin the WhatsApp group stating he had made a mistake and wished to "remain a loyal soldier of BJP." Also Read | Online Fraud In Mumbai: 60-Year-Old Retired Bank Manager Duped Of Rs 12.50 Lakh by Cyber Fraudsters By Sending Lottery Ticket To Trap Her. Supriyo, however, tweeted in Bengali, "one wicket after another is falling in BJP. Five more gone today. Shiv Babu (national General Secretary Shiv Prakash who had overseen BJP campaign before assembly polls) must have gone to Mount Kailash by now (euphuism for retirement). If you want to find Bengali crabs who will pull you from behind go to Muralidhar lane (the address of the state BJP)." The five MLAs Mukutmoni Adhikari (Ranaghat South), Subrata Thakur (Gaighata), Ambica Roy (Kalyani), Asok Kirtania (Bongaon North), and Asim Sarkar (Haringhata) from the politically powerful Matua community had apparently left the WhatsApp group disgruntled over being left out various committees formed by the BJP state party unit. BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar said "none of the five MLAs will be left out. We will accommodate them in new committees. They have to be a little more patient." Majumdar didn't want to attach much importance to Supriyo's tweet on the MLAs leaving the saffron party. The Matua community constitutes a large chunk of the state's Scheduled Caste population. It has considerable clout in at least four Lok Sabha seats and 30-40 assembly seats in Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts. Earlier, former BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu had exited a WhatsApp group of the party, after being axed from the state committee. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Muzaffarpur (Bihar) [India], December 26 (ANI): At least five people were killed and six others were injured in a boiler blast in a noodle factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Sunday, informed District Magistrate Pranav Kumar. He stated that Further investigation into the mishap is underway. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Class-9 Student Raped in Cafe by Her School Senior, Case Registered. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jayant Kant., five fire tenders are present at the site to douse the flames and a rescue operation is underway. As per locals, the explosion was so strong that it was heard 5 km away from the blast site. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: 6 Terrorists Killed in Past 48 Hours in Four Security Operations. As per officials, the blast took place at 10 am. The adjacent factories were also damaged in the explosion. The police said that the Identities of the laborers who died in the accident are yet to be ascertained as the body parts of the deceased were blown away in the blast. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased in the boiler blast incident. (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 26: Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials, Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Dr NK Arora said on Sunday. In an exclusive interview on the Prime Minister's decision on rolling out vaccination for beneficiaries between 15-18 years of age, which going to commence from January 3, Arora told ANI about the possible benefits of this decision. Also Read | Online Fraud In Mumbai: 60-Year-Old Retired Bank Manager Duped Of Rs 12.50 Lakh by Cyber Fraudsters By Sending Lottery Ticket To Trap Her. He explained, "Children between the age of 12 and 18 years, particularly those in the age group of 15 to 18 years, are very much like adults. Our research within the country also says that almost two-thirds of the deaths below 18 years which occurred due to COVID in India are within this age group. So, this decision was mainly taken to protect the adolescents." Dr Arora said, "There are two other advantages of immunizing adolescents. One is that they are quite mobile, they have to go to the school colleges and their risk of getting an infection, particularly in the light of Omicron, is present." Also Read | Muzaffarpur Boiler Blast: PM Narendra Modi Announces Ex-Gratia of Rs 2 Lakh Each for Kin of Deceased. "Secondly, many times these adolescents get infection into their households where elderly and those with comorbidities can get infected. So, in view of all this, the country has decided to introduce vaccination for children between 15 to 18 years," he said. As Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given Emergency Use Authorization for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for beneficiaries between 15-18 years of age, Dr Arora said that during trials vaccine has shown good immune response. "The point is that we have a vaccine, which is approved for children. Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials. In fact, it is slightly better than adults. Secondly, this vaccine is a safe vaccine, and even local effects like pain, swelling in the arms is much less as compared to adults. We would like to offer this protection to our adolescents," he said. The doctor said, "Although the disease's effects are much milder, but as we know many schools have opened. A lot of parents are still not very confident in sending their children to schools. So this vaccination drive will also be giving confidence to them. I would say it's a great New Year gift for our adolescents." In children, an immunogenicity study, not an efficacy study is present at the moment. On the efficacy of Covaxin for children, he said, "So, in children, we have an immunogenicity study, not an efficacy study. So immunogenicity means what level of antibodies are produced, and we know that there is a reasonably good relationship between antibody levels and protection. In fact, as I said, adolescents produce better levels of antibodies as compared to their adults. Here, I would also like to say that the same Covaxin dose is given to children as an adult and the interpretation between the doses is also four weeks. So as far as implementation of the programme is concerned, there is no special effort required. And immunization of these adolescents can be started within a short period without much or a specific preparation." The number of doses for adolescents will be the same, Dr Arora said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shimla, Dec 26 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh reported its first case of Omicron on Sunday in Mandi district, an official here said. The latest coronavirus variant was found in a 45-year-old asymptomatic woman, who was tested positive for COVID-19 on December 12. Also Read | Omicron In Madhya Pradesh: 8 Foreign Travellers Test Positive Of New COVID-19 Variant In Indore. Her RT-PCR test was conducted at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here. A resident of Lower Khaliar in Mandi, the woman had arrived in India from Canada on December 3 and was home isolated for 14 days, state Health Secretary Amitabh Avasthi said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Will Priyanka Gandhi Get Bigger Role in Congress After UP Polls?. Thereafter, her sample was sent on December 18 for genome sequencing to the NCDC in New Delhi to ascertain whether it is Omicron, Avasthi said. The report from Delhi that came on Sunday confirmed she had been infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19, he said. However, the woman has recovered now, testing negative on December 24, he added. She had received both the doses of Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine, taking the second dose on April 25, the official said. Her parents and one sister - people who came in her contact - were tested negative for the virus, he added. (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 26: Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) Ahmedabad has recovered Rs 10 crore more cash from the factory and residence of perfume businessman Piyush Jain, promotor of Odochem Industries of Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh, official sources told ANI. The total cash allegedly recovered from Jain reached Rs 187.45 crore. The cash recovered during the search has been seized under the provisions of Section 67 of the CGST Act. According to official sources, a joint team of DGGI and Local Central GST has recovered Rs 5 crores from Jain's factory in Kannauj. Another Rs 5 crore has been recovered from the residence of Jain in Kannauj. According to officials, after Kanpur, they took Jain to his factory and residence in Kannauj which resulted in a cash recovery of Rs 10 crore. By Sunday morning the agency recovered a total of Rs of 187.45 cr. Another source supervising the search told ANI that DGGI has recovered unaccounted raw material and finished product worth crores. Kanpur IT Raid: Directorate General of GST Intelligence Seizes Rs 177.45 Crore Cash in Raids on Perfume Company. Unaccounted sandalwood oil, perfumes worth crores have been seized from Jain's factory. Interrogation of Jain is on and his statement is been recorded. As per sources, when the DGGI and Local Central GST team reached Jain's premises on day one of the searches, he ran away and came back after two hours on several calls by investigating officers. Officials believe that Jain returned back after getting advice from his 'associates' and 'lawyers' on to what to reveal about the huge cash recovery. Officials told ANI that Jain is giving unconvincing explanations about the cash recovery. He said this "cash belongs to his relatives and brothers." He had taken names of some of his relatives and brothers, but when investigating officers questioned the relatives whose names were taken, they denied Jain's claims. Officials said that no one from Jain's relatives came forward to accept his claim. Jain's brothers have also denied the claim of Piyush Jain. Officials said that they are trying to get the details of huge cash recovered from the promoter of Odochem Industries. Search is still on in Kanpur and Kannauj and investigation will continue until they find the real beneficiary of the cash seized from the premises of Jain. "We want to know the source of such huge cash. Why such a huge amount of cash was collected, where was this cash supposed to be used, from where this cash came. Was the 143, Anandpuri, Kanpur, where Rs 177.45 crore cash was recovered a collection centre of Perfume sale or it was used for some other purpose. The investigation will be on until it reaches its logical conclusion," said an official. This is the biggest cash seizure in the history of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the apex body of the investigation agency Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) who is conducting the search. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kasganj (UP), Dec 26 (PTI) Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said criminals in Uttar Pradesh are making an exodus now, while earlier it was common man who was forced to flee by them. Shah praised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his governance saying people were not afraid anymore to send their children to school. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Woman Kills Husband With Help Of Her Lover In Coimbatore; Both Accused Arrested. "Earlier, the law and order situation was so bad, people used to hesitate in sending their children to schools. But in five years of Yogi Adityanath government, all goons have made an exodus from UP," he said while addressing a Jan Vishwas Yatra' in Kasganj here. The union minister also accused the BSP and the SP of playing caste politics and not working for development when they governed the state. Also Read | Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Calls PM Narendra Modi Trouble-Shooter Who Fought From Front During COVID-19 Pandemic. Speaking about the recently inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Shah said the holy site used to wear a deserted look, before it was beautified under the watch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the occasion, the BJP leader also remembered former state chief minister Kalyan Singh saying the victory of the party in 2014, 2017, and 2019 would not have been possible without his advice. Singh died in Lucknow on August 21 at the age of 89. He was a prominent backward caste leader and a Hindutva icon. Kasganj district comes under Etah parliamentary constituency and is currently represented in the Lok Sabha by Rajveer Singh, Kalyan Singh's son. "It was Kalyan Singh, who first spoke about good governance in Uttar Pradesh. Kalyan Singh was the first to speak about the backward class people in Uttar Pradesh, and it was he who gave rights to the people of the backward castes," Shah said. He also said it was Kalyan Singh who resigned from his chief minister post within hours of demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. Speaking on the Ram Temple, he asked those who gathered whether they would vote for the same people who fired at kar sevaks'. The reference was made to the Mulayam Singh government's decision to open fire at kar sevaks who had gathered near the Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya in 1990. Shah's tour to Kasganj is part of the campaign which will cover more than 140 constituencies in the poll-bound state, party sources said. Keeping caste equations in mind, each programme will be attended by people from three OBC-dominated constituencies, two urban constituencies, one scheduled caste-dominated constituency and one minority-dominated constituency, they said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Dec 26 (PTI) Haryana has reported 10 cases of Omicron so far, including one case on Sunday, state health department officials said. A 23-year-old woman from Kalka in Panchkula district, with a travel history to the United States, was tested positive for the new variant of COVID-19 on Sunday, they said. Also Read | Delhi To Impose Night Curfew From December 27 From 11 PM to 5 AM Amid Rise In COVID-19 Cases. Faridabad, Karnal, Panipat, Gurugram and Yamunanagar are the other districts where cases of Omicron were reported, they said. In view of the emergence of Omicron cases, the Haryana government has already imposed a night curfew and restrictions on gatherings from Saturday. The government has also said people eligible for vaccination but are not fully vaccinated will be banned from entering malls, cinema halls, restaurants and grain markets, among other crowded places, from January 1. Meanwhile, the upswing in COVID-19 cases in Haryana continued, with 92 fresh infections being reported on Sunday. Of these, 68 cases were reported in Gurugram alone, an official said. However, no fresh fatality was reported, he said. Also Read | Kashi Film Festival to Be Held For the First Time in Varanasi, Will Give New Identity to Uttar Pradesh. The total case count in the state rose to 7,72,633 while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,062. Among other districts, Ambala reported 10 fresh COVID-19 cases, and Faridabad, Panchkula and Yamunanagar reported four cases each. The total active cases in the state stood at 472 while the overall recoveries were 7,62,076. The recovery rate was 98.63 percent, the bulletin said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 26 (ANI): Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday welcomed the Centre's decision on precautionary doses of COVID-19 vaccine for people of more than 60 years of age, frontline staff, doctors, and vaccines for children in the 15-18 age group. Speaking to ANI, Rajesh Tope said, "We welcome the Central government's decision on boosters for over 60 years of age, frontline staff, and COVID-19 vaccines for 15 to 18 years. Booster dose amid Omicron scare is need of the hour." Also Read | Telangana: Man Poisons Two Minor Sons To Death After Quarrel With Wife, Commits Suicide. "PM Modi has fulfilled the demand of booster dose and COVID vaccines for children. We demanded that children should be vaccinated for keeping them safe as schools are reopening," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced three major decisions in the fight against the disease including the start of vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group from coming January 3. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Horror: 7-Year-Old Girl Kidnapped, Raped and Murdered in Moradabad. He also announced that the healthcare and frontline workers will be given a 'precaution dose' from January 10 next year. He said that senior citizens facing co-morbidities will have the option to go for a "precaution dose" of COVID-19 on the advice of their doctors. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], December 26 (ANI): West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday lashed out at the West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu over his remark that the chief minister should be made chancellor of state-run universities. "You make the chief minister the governor also in addition to making her the chancellor," Dhankhar said in response to the education minister's statement. Also Read | Delhi To Impose Night Curfew From December 27 From 11 PM to 5 AM Amid Rise In COVID-19 Cases. "I was astonished that the Education Minister, who should have interacted with me, instead said that the chief minister will be made chancellor," Dhankhar had said. Basu had earlier, said that the Chancellor of state-run universities should be replaced from Governor to Chief Minister. Also Read | Kashi Film Festival to Be Held For the First Time in Varanasi, Will Give New Identity to Uttar Pradesh. Governor has also alleged that the appointments in the Universities of West Bengal are being made without taking him into confidence. "In West Bengal, they have appointed around 18 personnel in various educational institutions. Reappointment of vice-chancellor of Kolkata University is a clear violation of law," said Dhankhar. "Sonali Chakraborty was given an extension of four years and the governor was not taken into confidence," he added. (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 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at a factory in Muzaffarpur. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each, the Prime Minister's Office said. Also Read | Poverty in Odisha to Be Reduced to 10% in Next 5 Years, Says Naveen Patnaik. "The Prime Minister has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at a factory in Muzaffarpur. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each," the Prime Minister's office tweeted. Bihar Factory Blast: 6 Labourers Dead, Others Injured in Boiler Explosion in Muzaffarpur Noodle Factory. The Prime Minister has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at a factory in Muzaffarpur. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each. PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 26, 2021 Prime Minister earlier today expressed condolences to families of those who lost their lives in an accident in a factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The Prime Minister also hoped for a speedy recovery of those who got injured in the incident. Also Read | COVID-19 Vaccination for Children: Government Decision of Vaccinating Teenagers Unscientific, Says Senior AIIMS Epidemiologist. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "The accident in a factory in Muzaffarpur, Bihar is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Also, I wish the injured a speedy recovery." The death toll in the Muzaffarpur boiler blast has risen to seven, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai informed on Sunday, adding that a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident. "The incident is extremely unfortunate. A total of seven people have died while the other seven are injured," he added. "A high-level inquiry will be done into the incident. In my opinion, the factory rules were violated as it was operating on Sunday even though factories are closed on that day. The reason behind this will be found out in the inquiry and strict action will be taken against the ones found guilty," said Rai while talking to the media. The minister said that the government had given the certificate for the operation of the boiler in May this year. Rai also said that free treatment will be provided to the ones injured in the incident.Seven people were killed and seven others were injured in a boiler blast in a noodle factory in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased in the boiler blast incident. (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 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kanpur on December 28 to inaugurate the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project at around 1:30 pm. During the programme, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Actor Commits Suicide After Extortion Bid by Fake NCB Officers. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), prior to this, PM Modi will also attend the 54th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur at around 11 am. "Improving urban mobility has been one of the key focus areas of the Prime Minister. The inauguration of the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is yet another step in this direction. This completed 9 Km long section is from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel," it said. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Woman Kills Husband With Help Of Her Lover In Coimbatore; Both Accused Arrested. PM Modi will also inspect the Kanpur Metro Rail Project and undertake a metro ride from the IIT metro station to Geeta Nagar. The entire length of the Metro Rail Project in Kanpur is 32 km and is being built at a cost of over Rs 11,000 crore. As per the PMO, the 356 Km long Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project has a capacity of around 3.45 million metric tonnes per annum. "Extending from Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh to Panki in Kanpur, the project has been built at a cost of over Rs 1500 crore. It will help the region access petroleum products from the Bina refinery," the PMO added. During his visit, the Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest of the 54th Convocation of IIT Kanpur. At the convocation, all the students will be issued digital degrees through an in-house blockchain-driven technology developed at the Institute under the National Blockchain Project. The Prime Minister will launch the blockchain-based digital degrees. These digital degrees can be verified globally and are unforgeable. (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 26 (PTI) Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over miscreants reportedly disrupting Christmas-related events in Haryana and Assam, saying that instead of exhortations, the PM should direct the BJP governments there to identify those involved and bring them before a court of law. The former home minister said that on a day when the prime minister exhorted people to recall the teachings of Jesus Christ, miscreants disrupted a Christmas programme in a private school in Haryana. Also Read | Online Fraud In Mumbai: 60-Year-Old Retired Bank Manager Duped Of Rs 12.50 Lakh by Cyber Fraudsters By Sending Lottery Ticket To Trap Her. "Who are these miscreants? Reports say they shouted Jai Shri Ram' and Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. On the next day, a church service was disrupted in Assam," Chidambaram said. "Instead of exhortations, the PM should direct the BJP governments of Haryana and Assam to identify the miscreants and bring them before a Court of law," he said. Also Read | Muzaffarpur Boiler Blast: PM Narendra Modi Announces Ex-Gratia of Rs 2 Lakh Each for Kin of Deceased. The prime minister should also exhort the Hindutva brigade to read the teachings of Jesus Christ, Chidambaram added. (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 26 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda will hold a meeting on Monday with leaders of the committee formed to woo Brahmin voters ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, said a source. According to sources, Union Minister Ajay Mishra 'Teni', whose son is a prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, is also likely to be present in that meeting. Also Read | Omicron In Kerala: 19 More Cases Of New COVID-19 Variant Confirmed In The State; Tally Reaches 57. Earlier, the BJP UP leader held a meeting at the residence of the Union Minister and BJP UP poll in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on Sunday. "The agenda of meeting at Pradhan's residence on Sunday was to chalk out the strategy to woo Brahmin voters in the upcoming UP polls," said source. Also Read | Online Fraud In Mumbai: 60-Year-Old Retired Bank Manager Duped Of Rs 12.50 Lakh by Cyber Fraudsters By Sending Lottery Ticket To Trap Her. Uttar Pradesh is slated to go to Assembly polls 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 Samaj Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], December 26 (ANI): China has successfully launched a new optical satellite, Ziyuan-1 02E, into orbit for remote sensing of Earth's surface, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Sunday. The launch was carried out at 11:11 am local time (03:11 GMT) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the country's northwestern province of Shaanxi, using a Long March-4C (also known as Changzheng 4) launch vehicle, Sputnik quoted the CNSA as saying. Also Read | UK Researchers Warn Half of Cold Cases Will Be COVID-19. As well as taking photos of Earth's surface, the Ziyuan-1 02E will study and systematize terrestrial natural resources, the space agency added. In addition to Ziyuan-1 02E, a small scientific satellite, which is part of the China-Africa space exploration project nicknamed Xiwang (Hope), was also sent into orbit to be used as a research platform for high school students. Also Read | France Reports Over 100,000 New COVID-19 Cases in Past 24 Hours as Omicron Rages, Highest Since Pandemic Began. This is the 403rd launch of the Changzheng 4 launch vehicles. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gardez [ Afghanistan], December 26 (ANI): Unidentified armed men opened fire and killed a man in Gardez city in the provincial capital of the eastern Paktia province on Saturday, local sources said Sunday. The incident took place Saturday evening in Gardez city and the culprits have escaped, according to the local sources. Also Read | China Reports 158 Locally Transmitted COVID-19 Cases in Past 24 Hours. In the meantime, the provincial police department confirmed the incident without releasing the identity of the victim, saying efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, according to Xinhua Unofficial reports blamed the Taliban for killing former security personnel of the erstwhile U.S.-backed government. Also Read | Taliban-Run Government Dissolves Afghanistan Election Commissions. However, the Taliban-led administration has rejected the reports as baseless, asserting the amnesty announced by the Taliban authorities covers all former foes, including army and police personnel, according to Xinhua. The incident further puts more pressure on Taliban's government to get legitimacy in the international area following takeover of it's power in August this year. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mandi, Himachal Pradesh on 27 December 2021. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of hydropower projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore at around 12 noon. Prior to the event, he will preside over the second ground breaking ceremony of Himachal Pradesh Global Investors Meet at around 11:30 AM. Prime Minister has constantly focussed on fully utilizing the untapped potential of the resources available in the country. One of the steps in this regard has been to utilise optimally the hydropower potential in the Himalayan region. The projects which will be inaugurated and whose foundation stone will be laid by the Prime Minister during the visit reflect a key step in this direction. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Renukaji Dam project. Lying pending for around three decades, the project was made possible through the vision of cooperative federalism of the Prime Minister, when six states viz Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi were brought together by the Centre for making the project possible. The 40 MW project will be built at a cost of around Rs 7000 crore. It will prove to be immensely beneficial for Delhi, which will be able to receive around 500 million cubic metre water supply per year. PM Narendra Modi to Address Public Meeting in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on December 27. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Luhri Stage 1 Hydro Power Project. The 210 MW project will be built at a cost of over Rs 1800 crore. It will lead to generation of over 750 million units of electricity per year. The modern and dependable grid support will prove beneficial to surrounding states of the region as well. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Dhaulasidh Hydro Power Project. This will be the first hydropower project of Hamirpur district. The 66 MW project will be built at a cost of over Rs 680 crore. It will lead to generation of over 300 million units of electricity per year. Prime Minister will inaugurate the Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project. The 111 MW Project has been built at a cost of around Rs 2080 crore. It will lead to generation of over 380 million units of electricity per year, and help the state earn revenue worth over Rs 120 crore annually. Prime Minister will also preside over the second ground breaking ceremony of Himachal Pradesh Global Investors Meet. The Meet is expected to give a boost to investment in the region through the start of projects worth around Rs 28,000 crore. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2021 03:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Siliguri, December 26: Hundreds of tourists were stuck near the Changu Lake in Sikkim due to heavy snowfall, following which the Army began a rescue operation, officials said on Sunday. As the Jawaharlal Nehru Road closed due to the heavy snowfall on Saturday, hundreds of tourists got stuck near the Changu Lake, they said. The Army rescued them and provided them shelted at their camp in the area during the night, officials said. As the weather conditions improved a bit on Sunday morning, the tourists were divided into small groups and Army personnel were guiding them to reach Gangtok, around 40 km away, on foot, officials said. Delhi Air Pollution: Air Quality in National Capital Slips to 'Severe' Category, AQI Stands at 430. The rescue operations, which were underway till the last reports were received, are likely to continue till Monday as hundreds of tourists were visiting Tsongmo or Changu Lake, near India's boundary with China, during the Christmas holidays. Among those stuck were around 250 people from different districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, officials said. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mandi, Himachal Pradesh on 27 December 2021. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of hydropower projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore at around 12 noon. Realme's flagship series, the Realme GT 2 will debut on January 4, 2021. The Chinese smartphone brand has officially teased the upcoming Realme GT Pro handset giving the first glimpse of the handset ahead of its debut. The video teaser shows us the phone's hole-punch display and dual-LED flash. It also suggests that the phone will also get a bio-based polymer design. Realme GT 2 Pro Full Specifications Unveiled via TENAA Listing. Realme GT 2 Pro Design Revealed Via Teaser (Photo Credits: Weibo) The company teased the handset in a white shade through its official Weibo account. The hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera is arranged at the top left corner. The volume buttons are placed on the right spine of the handset. At the back, there will be a triple rear camera module. The upcoming flagship series will comprise two models - vanilla Realme GT 2 and Realme GT 2 Pro. Realme GT 2 Pro Design Revealed Via Teaser (Photo Credits: Weibo) As for specs, the smartphone will sport a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440x3216 pixels. Other key highlights of the phone will be a 32MP selfie shooter, 5000 mAh battery with 65W fast charging support. The phone is likely to come in four shades - Cast Iron Black, Ice Crystal Blue, Light Green, and Paper White colour options. Moreover, a recent TENAA listing revealed that Realme will offer the phone in two RAM and three storage options. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 25, 2021 11:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Sometime around AD 600, a handful of Irish monks decided that the rigors of fasting and penance on the mainland were not exacting enough. Waiting until the seas were calm enough, they are believed to have rowed to Skellig Michael, a small, pyramid-shaped island seven miles off Irelands southwest coast. There, the holy men built a monastery and found the raw seclusion they were after. A millennium and a half later, the sites ruins are one of Irelands best-known heritage and tourist attractions, an antique allure made all the more vivid by the colonies of seabirds that flock to the islands crags and crevices, and by the puffins and gulls sheltering in the monks long-abandoned stone structures. But since 2015, some of those visitors are as likely to be dressed as Chewbacca and waving lightsabers as they are to be conversant in the ways of early Christian eremites or the nesting habits of kittiwakes or gannets. And that has some Irish conservationists worried. Advertisement Star Wars fans have been flocking to Skellig Michael because it was the location used for scenes on Ahch-To, the lost planet where Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, made his return to the Star Wars franchise at the end of 2015s The Force Awakens. Disney Lucasfilm returned to Ireland and Skellig Michael to film The Last Jedi, the latest Star Wars sequel. Daisy Ridley as Rey in a scene from the movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi. (Jules Heath / Jules Heath / Lucasfilm Ltd. ) Before 2015, the franchise seemed in danger of being as lost to history as early Christian asceticism. But the franchises awakening has prompted a jump in visitor numbers to Skellig Michael, in much the same way that Lord of the Rings created a boom for New Zealands tourist industry. And though the 16,755 who this year made the boat journey from the mainland in County Kerry is a relatively small number Ireland recorded 9.5 million visits in 2016, including 1.8 million from North America it is enough to alarm preservationists. Last week An Taisce, an Irish heritage preservation group, sent a letter to Irelands Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan, asking her to intervene to preserve the islands historical legacy, which An Taisce feels is threatened by a Star Wars rebranding. The monks who came to Skellig Michael and their successors were half-starved and crouched against gales high in the rocky cliffs, according to Diarmaid MacCullochs A History of Christianity. Nevertheless, they managed to build a monastery near the islands 715-foot summit, accessible by a rock and stone stairway carved around soaring cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. That history led to Skellig Michaels designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. But conservationists now fear that the increased visitor numbers previously capped at 11,100 in total for the May-October visiting months could see the monastic ruins damaged and the islands World Heritage status undermined. Like a virus, the imagery and branding of the Star Wars commercial franchise with all its plastic merchandising has contaminated and superseded the history and identity of the Skellig, An Taisce declared in its letter to the minister. Irelands heritage ministry said that Skellig Michaels status as one of 1,073 UNESCO-listed sites -- alongside the likes of Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Westminster Abbey, Vatican City and the Great Wall of China is not under threat. Minister Madigan, a press officer said, remains absolutely happy that all due and appropriate care was exercised at all times during the filmmaking. And Irelands tourism industry leaders say they are not undermining what playwright George Bernard Shaw called the most fantastic and impossible rock in the world. We are very conscious of Skellig Michaels place in our history and culture, said Alex Connolly, head of communications with Failte Ireland, the official tourism development agency. Only a certain amount of people can visit at a time and you can only visit when the waters are calm enough, Connolly added, suggesting that visitor numbers can be easily managed. Roughneen is a special correspondent. Everyone loves a good Christmas movie but how much do you actually know about your favourite festive films. Test your and your family's knowledge with these 50 teasers. The answers are below. 1: Who plays Buddy in the film Elf? 2: What name do the burglars give themselves in Home Alone? 3: Who provided the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2009 animated Christmas movie, A Christmas Carol? 4: In which Christmas movie does Buddy travel from the North Pole to New York to find his father Walter Hobbs? 5: Which English actor plays the villian in the first Die Hard movie? 6: In which film does Jim Carreys character try to ruin Christmas? 7: Which 2003 film features Billy Bob Thornton as a thief who disguises himself as a department store Santa Claus? 8: In which rom-com does the character Natalie fall in love with the British prime minister, played by Hugh Grant? 9: What is the name of the child that the story focuses on in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor? 10: Which actor voiced several roles in The Polar Express? 11: What was Clarence the angel awarded for completing his mission in Its A Wonderful Life? 12: How much did Kevin McCallister spend on room service in Home Alone 2? 13: Tim Allen played a msn who has to take Santas place, in which film? 14: In which comedy is Clark Griswolds boss kidnapped and brought to Griswolds house? 15: Which animated 1993 film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentowns pumpkin king? 16: Bill Murray plays a successful executive in which modern version of A Christmas Carol? 17: Joe Pesci stars as Harry and Daniel Stern is Marv in which comedy caper? 18: Who played Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol? 19: Vince Vaughn played Santas older brother in which 2007 film? 20: Die Hard takes place on Christmas Eve in which city? 21: What is the Mogwi who is given to Billy in Gremlins? 22: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad battle it out for an action figure in which film? 23: Who starred as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone? 24: Which film sees the paths of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy cross when they become part of an elaborate bet? 25: Who is the first child to meet a sticky end in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 26: Richard Attenborough plays Kris Kringle in which film? 27: Which film sees Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz swap Christmas and meet new romantic partners in Jude Law and Jack Black? 28: In Its A Wonderful Life, what is the name of George Baileys guardian angel? 29: Which animated film features the song Walking In The Air? 30: In Die Hard, what is the name of the building the terrorists take over? 31: What do the Kranks decide to do instead of having a traditional Christmas in Christmas with the Kranks? 32: When the lights on the house do not work, what gets used instead in Deck the Halls? 33: In Home Alone 2, which shop do the bad guys break into on Christmas Eve? 34: Where do Brad and Kate get trapped while traveling in the film Four Chritmases? 35: Who wrote the picture book that was inspiration for the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas? 36: Which Cheers actor provided the narration for the Disney movie, Mickeys Once Upon A Christmas? 37: In the 1946 film Its a Wonderful Life, who plays George Bailey? 38: At what department store does Kris Kringle work in Miracle on 34th Street? 39: What is Father Christmas known as in The Nightmare Before Christmas? 40: Who plays the title role in the film, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 41: What are the three rules that Billy is told he must obey in the film Gremlins? 42: What does a drunk Dan Aykroyd hide in his Santa costume in Trading Places? 43: Which Disney film do the creatures watch in the cinema in Gremlins? 44: Who narrated the film version of Dr Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas? 45: Perry van Shrike and Harmony Faith Lane are characters in which Christmas movie? 46: Which Irish actress plays the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2? 47: What job did Hugh Grant just get in the film Love Actually? 48: Who are the people who make the sweets in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 49: In Die Hard 2, what airport is John McClaine waiting at when terrorists take over? 50: And finally, how many Home Alone movies are there? ANSWERS 1: Will Ferrell; 2: The Wet Bandits; 3: Jim Carrey; 4: Elf; 5: Alan Rickman; 6: How The Grinch Stole Christmas; 7: Bad Santa; 8: Love Actually; 9: Charlie Bucket; 10: Tom Hanks; 11: His wings; 12: $967; 13: The Santa Clause; 14: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation; 15: The Nightmare Before Christmas; 16: Scrooged; 17: Home Alone; 18: Michael Caine; 19: Fred Claus; 20: Los Angeles; 21: Gizmo; 22: Jingle All the Way; 23: Macaulay Culkin; 24: Trading Places; 25: Augustus Gloop; 26: Miracle on 34th Street; 27: The Holiday; 28: Clarence; 29: The Snowman; 30: Nakatomi Tower; 31: A ten-day Caribbean cruise; 32: Mobile phone lights; 33: Duncans Toy Chest; 34: San Francisco Airport; 35: Dr. Seuss; 36: Kelsey Grammer; 37: James Stewart; 38: Macys; 39: Sandy Claws; 40: Gene Wilder; 41: Keep them out of light; Keep them away from water; Never feed them after midnight; 42: A smoked salmon; 43: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; 44: Anthony Hopkins; 45: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; 46: Brenda Fricker; 47: Prime Minister; 48: Oompa-Loompas; 49: Washington Dulles International Airport; 50: Five (but only the first two are worth watching. The Taoiseach said the Government will approach the vaccine campaign for young children with sensitivity over fears of vaccine hesitancy among parents. The rollout is due to start for children aged five to 11 in January. Before Christmas, Micheal Martin said that very comprehensive information and guidance will be published for parents. Mr Martin said while he understands the sensibilities involved, the Government will be recommending strongly that parents facilitate their children getting vaccinated. It is expected that the vaccine programme for children aged five to 11 will begin fully in January (Damien Storan/PA) Plans to extend the vaccination programme to children was set out by the HSE last week. High-risk children are being prioritised through Childrens Health Ireland and the paediatric hospitals, with the campaign getting underway in the day before Christmas. Registration for other high-risk children will open on December 28, with these groups set to receive their vaccination from January 3. All other children aged five to 11 will start to be vaccinated from January 10. I think we have to approach it with sensitivity. We have to provide very comprehensive information and guidance to parents, Mr Martin said. The clinicians and doctors will be providing that information along with our public health leadership teams and thats the way we approach all vaccination programmes, particularly with children. I mean historically with vaccines, weve all experienced being vaccinated as children through a range of vaccines and vaccination programmes, so its not something new. My own view is that so far, Ireland as a people and I pay tribute to the robust debate within society which has been facilitated by media with the facilitation of different experts coming forward and so on it has tended to land, I think, in a very centre ground of opinion which I think has informed the very high take-up of the vaccination so far amongst the adult population. He said that Ireland is among the few countries to have a high vaccination rate of 94% in the adult population. I think people will reflect on it and I think by and large it will help children, the Fianna Fail leader added. Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Julien Behal/PA) One of the areas we are not yet clear about in terms of more research is needed is the long term impacts of Covid on people generally and on young people also. It will be a very important part of giving people security in respect of Omicron and also new variants will arrive as well which can have different impacts. So all in all I think we will be recommending strongly that parents do facilitate their children getting vaccinated but we understand the sensibilities involved. He said there are likely to be separate facilities for children to receive their vaccine, but that will be finalised by experts. The high risk has started already in our hospitals in terms of the vaccination of children. Its started already, Mr Martin added. The next two cohorts will register from January 3 and then January 10 will be the majority of children. The following deaths have occurred in the wider Leitrim area: Tom Conlon, Aughamelta, Dromahair, Leitrim Conlon - Aughamelta, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, December 22nd 2021, peacefully at Sligo University Hospital, Tom, devoted husband of Bernie and loving Dad of Sandra, Leesa and Charlene, loving grandad of Amy, Saoirse, Tadhg and Connell, Tristan, Sophia and Blathnaid. Sadly missed by his brothers John and James, sister-in-law Barbara, niece Leonie, nephews Jamie and Keith and all the extended family. Removal on Sunday 26th to St. Patricks Church Dromahair for Funeral Mass at 2pm. Toms Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the church webcam churchtv.ie/dromahair.html. Burial afterwards at Creevelea Abbey New Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in lieu, if desired, to the Mater Foundation: St. Vincents Hospital Dublin or Northwest Hospice. To keep everyone safe, please continue to adhere to social distancing and mask wearing protocols. Ellen (Nell) McGarty (nee Keenan)Ballykiltyfea, Cloone, Leitrim / Farnaught, Leitrim The death has occurred of Ellen (Nell) McGarty nee Keenan , Ballykiltyfea, Cloone, and formerly of Farnaught, Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Tuesday 21st December 2021 peacefully at Lough Erril Private Nursing Home Mohill surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her husband; Jimmy Joe and her daughter; Noeleen. Deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving sons; Jimmy (San Francisco), Nicholas (Nicky) (Keshcarrigan), Tommy (Farnaught), Michael (Connecticut) and Raymond (Cloone), her daughters; Marian Burke (Drumlish) and Geraldine (UK), son-in-law; Aidan, grandchildren; Kieran, Laura and Tadgh, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Nell will repose at Smiths Funeral Home, High Street, Ballinamore, on Sunday (26th December 2021) from 5pm 7pm (walk through only). Funeral Mass on Monday (27th December 2021) at St. Marys Church, Cloone at 12 noon followed by burial to the local cemetery. Nells funeral mass will be live streamed on https://churchtv.ie/cloone.html The family wish to express their gratitude to the management, nurses and staff of Lough Erril Private Nursing Home for the excellent care and attention given to Nell. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines with regard to handshaking and the wearing of masks. George Crawford, Annaghmaconway, Cloone, Leitrim The death has occurred of George Crawford, late of Annaghmaconway, Cloone, Co Leitrim, Wednesday 22nd of December 2021 peacefully at Sligo University Hospital. Predeceased by his sister Maureen. Deeply regretted by his brother Tom and sister-in-law Margaret (Birmingham), nephews Shane and Enda Tiernan, Kenneth and Thomas Crawford and niece Caroline Crawford, extended family, relatives and his many neighbours and friends. Georges remains will arrive at St. Mary's Church, Cloone via Drumbore Rd and Annaghmaconway for Funeral Mass on Tuesday (28th December 2021) at 12 noon, followed by burial in the local cemetery. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed on https://churchtv.ie/cloone.html Please continue to comply with Covid 19 Government guidelines with regard to social distancing, handshaking and face coverings. May they all Rest in Peace 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 Credit Suisse Group AG fund accused SoftBank Group Corp. in U.S. court filings of orchestrating transactions that rendered worthless a $440 million investment the fund had made to finance a SoftBank-backed company. The filing, made Thursday in a U.S. District Court in California, asks a federal judge to permit the Credit Suisse fund to serve a subpoena on a U.S. arm of SoftBank. The filing, which says that the fund is preparing to sue SoftBank in the U.K., deepens the dispute over the demise of Greensill Capital, a supply-chain finance company that tumbled into insolvency earlier this year. Greensill made loans to companies that served as advances on expected payments from those companies customers; Greensill packaged the loans into securities, which investment funds run by Credit Suisse bought. One such company was Katerra Inc., a U.S. construction startup. The Credit Suisse fund held $440 million in notes backed by Greensills lending to Katerra, and when Katerra ran into financial trouble last year, Greensill forgave the lending. SoftBank was an investor in both Greensill and Katerra, and in the U.S. court filing the Credit Suisse fund said SoftBank orchestrated a deal" that cut the fund out of any possible proceeds without telling the fund. A SoftBank spokesman declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Credit Suisse. SoftBank put money into Greensill at the end of 2020, and Credit Suisse executives expected that money would go to their funds to make good on the Katerra loaninstead, it ended up in Greensills German banking unit, The Wall Street Journal reported in April. In June, the Journal reported that Credit Suisse had dissolved a personal banking relationship with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and clamped down on transactions with the company. The court filing made Thursday is known as a Section 1782 petition, in which a party can ask a U.S. court to order evidence-gathering for a proceeding outside the U.S. The Credit Suisse fund argues that it has taken enough steps toward suing SoftBank in the U.K. to justify the subpoena, which seeks a variety of documents. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Bank employee unions' umbrella body AIBEA had written a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressing concern that everything was not right at RBL Bank and it was going the Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank way. "We are worried and concerned about the developments that are taking place in the affairs of RBL Bank Ltd. The sequence of events leading to the sudden exit of Vishwavir Ahuja along with induction of Dayal from RBI on the board as an additional member indicates that everything is not ok with the bank," AIBEA said in its letter to the Finance Minister. Read the full text of AIBEA letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman We are worried and concerned about the developments that are taking place in the affairs of RBL Bank Ltd., the Kolhapur based private Bank. The MD and CEO of the Bank Mr Vishwavir Ahuja has been advised to proceed on leave with immediate effect. RBL Bank has informed the Stock Exchange that it has appointed Mr Rajeev Ahuja, current Executive Director, as the interim MD and CEO with immediate effect. Simultaneously, the Reserve Bank of India has appointed its Chief General Manager Mr Yogesh Dayal as an additional director on the Board of RBL Ltd. Mr Vishwavir Ahuja has been heading this Bank for the last decade. While the Board recommended his continuation, it is learnt that RBI has agreed only for a short term up to 2022. The sequence of events leading to the sudden exit of Mr Vishwavir Ahuja along with the induction of Mr Dayal from RBI on the Board as an additional member indicates that everything is not ok with the Bank. It is observed that the total advances of this Bank have doubled during the last few years. From about 29,000 crores advances in 2017, It has crossed 58,000 at present. The bad loans and Gross Non-Performing Assets of the Bank have been swelling in recent years. In 2017, the Gross NPA of the bank was only 357 crores and today It is more than Rs. 2,600 crores. There are also reports that the Bank has been overindulging retail credit, micro-financing and credit cards and consequently burnt its finger resulting in weakening the financials of the Bank. In the background of the problems encountered by private Banks like Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank last year, we urge upon to immediately intervene in the matter in the Interest of Depositors of this Private sector Bank and consider necessary st Including merger of this Bank with a Public Sector Bank. RBL Bank's Vishawvir Ahuja has stepped down as MD & CEO of the bank, and the bank has appointed Rajeev Ahuja as the interim Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank with immediate effect. The Reserve Bank of India has also appointed its Chief General Manager Yogesh K Dayal as an additional director on the board of RBL Bank. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. It started with a bang, the sound of metal crashing down on the sidewalks of Washington, D.C. as hundreds of Trumpers stormed the Capitol. It continued into another pandemic year; for every two steps we took forward with vaccines and testing, we were knocked back one by variants and those who valued personal freedom over societal health. We went further into the internet, the metaverse, the cryptosphere remember a time before NFTs? and came out the other side feeling perhaps a little less connected to our humanity. But there were things to be thankful for, brief glimpses of hope and happiness in what might be one of the hardest years of our lives. So the staff of Rolling Stone took this opportunity to dig for moments that reminded us the world isnt always a cold, harsh place even in 2021. Jan. 20: Amanda Gorman becomes the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, welcoming Joe Biden into office There was no clearer embodiment of the break from the darkness of Trump era than when 22-year-old Gorman took center stage at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol inauguration day in her bright yellow coat and vibrant red head band, flashing an ebullient smile to read her ode to the new presidency, The Hill We Climb. Her slender fingers punctuating the air like a symphony conductor, the young poet spoke hopefully to the trauma of the nation. Somehow weve weathered and witnessed / a nation that isnt broken but simply unfinished. Her poem, a powerful rebuke of those who would shatter the promise of America rather than share it, spoke to the hope of a new dawn that blooms as we free it. For there is always light Gorman told us if only were brave enough to see it. / If only were brave enough to be it. It was a reminder that after a dark winter, there might be sunlight ahead. Tim Dickinson March 25: Lil Nas X Releases the video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) When Lil Nas X dropped his highly anticipated debut album Montero earlier this year, it wasnt surprising that conservatives were up in arms. But no one could have possibly expected that hed bait the trolls in the most spectacular way possible: by releasing a super gay, super sexy video featuring himself twerking on the Devil in hell. When it came out last March, the video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) infuriated every conservative interest group on the planet. It got a ringing endorsement, however, from Satanists, one of whom told Rolling Stone that Lil Nas X obviously did his homework on Satanism. A plug from the Devil himself? Theres nothing more rock and roll than that. -Ej Dickson May 15: Olivia Rodrigo makes pop-punk cool again on SNL When Olivia Rodrigo performed Good 4 U on Saturday Night Live, social media users quickly clocked the similarities between the catchy new single and Paramores 2007 hit Misery Business and people were feeling it. For a glorious, generation-bridging moment, it seemed everyone was jumping up and down to that adorable, pop-punk sound, elevating the breakup anthem to song-of-the-summer heights. As Rob Sheffield wrote of Rodrigo at the time, Shes not hung up on stylistic or historic boundaries in her songs, the ancient and the new-school play off and inspire each other. Everything old is new again, and anything in the past can be the start of something new, as long as an artist like Olivia can find a way to use it. -Andrea Marks May 21: The Linda Lindas perform Racist, Sexist Boy at the Los Angeles Public Library It was May, 2021. I had just read the 25th article about how we all were hitting the seventh pandemic wall when I scrolled by the video posted by the Los Angeles Public Library, featuring a band called the Linda Lindas. The clip, which ultimately went viral, begins with Mila de la Garza, the then-10-year-old drummer, wearing a green scrunchie and a black Bikini Kill T-shirt, telling the story of a boy in her class whose dad told him to stay away from Chinese people. Mila and her bandmates, sister Lucia, Eloise Wong, and Bela Salazar, then launch into a primal scream of a song Racist Sexist Boy. You are a racist, sexist boy And you have racist, sexist joys We rebuild what you destroy You are a racist, sexist boy There was something so refreshing about the frankness of the lyrics and the power of their strong, shouting voices and driving punk beats. These kids were letting loose their bottled-up rage and inviting the rest of us to do the same. Days after the video, the Linda Lindas signed a deal with Epitaph records and theyve released two songs Oh and Nino (the bands second song about a cat) and count Riot Grrrl luminaries like Kathleen Hanna and Carrie Brownstein among their fans. Lisa Tozzi May 29: Half the U.S. Gets the Jab Do you remember the first person you visited once you were vaccinated? Mine was my college roommate, in May, whod recently had her first child. We shrieked and hugged on the sidewalk outside her Philadelphia home. Memorial Day Weekend 2021 was a high point of our Covid-ridden year. That Saturday, CDC data showed wed reached the milestone of vaccinating more than half the population. With the shot, it was finally safe to visit loved ones, host dinner parties, even plan vacations. We were blissfully unaware of what Delta (and now Omicron) had in store, the proliferation of vaccines last spring ended the era of total lockdown, and for many greatly reduced the overall misery of work, school, home life, and, well, existence. -AM July 20: Wally Funk Goes to Space In 1961, NASA chose Mary Wallace Wally Funk as the youngest of 13 elite women pilots to train to become astronauts in the nations first human spaceflight program. But she never got to go until now. In July 2021, Funk, at 82, became the oldest person at the time to go to space aboard Jeff Bezos Blue Origin rocket, fulfilling her lifelong dream (and making the Amazon founders publicity stunt feel a bit more meaningful). After Funk returned from the 11-minute suborbital flight, she said, I want to go again, fast. AM Early October: R/Antiwork brings the Great Resignation to Reddit (and beyond) Millions of people quit their jobs this year, frustrated with exploitative employers paying poverty wages during a pandemic. There was a power imbalance, some of them noticed in these tough times, bosses needed wage workers more than wage workers needed shitty jobs. By this fall, some of the text interactions that led to these mass walk-offs started to go viral. The concept was simple: a boss asks for something unreasonable (covering a shift with just hours notice; covering while on a scheduled vacation), gets angry when the employee says no, then gets desperate when the employee quits instead of acquiescing to an abusive boss. R/Antiwork, the Reddit board where many of these texts were first posted, had been around for eight years, but it was the pandemic that brought in almost a million members. This is bonkers, moderator Doreen Ford, a 30-year-old dog walker in Boston, told Rolling Stone in October. We never really thought anything like this would happen. Ive never been a part of something so successful in my life. -Elisabeth Garber-Paul i've just discovered r/antiwork inject all of this into my veins pic.twitter.com/SFGZASLssv travis (@TravisShreffler) October 17, 2021 Oct. 18: Noodle the Pugs No Bones Day goes viral Theres nothing the internet loves more than elderly and/or weird-looking animals. Case in point: the meteoric rise of Noodle the Pug, the ancient and laconic pug who accidentally became a bellwether for the national mood when owner Jon Graziano started a TikTok series declaring it a Bones Day (i.e., if Noodle stands up on his own accord) or No Bones Day (if he flops right back down). On Bones Days you could maybe try to be productive; on No Bones Days, giving up on outside clothes and becoming one with the couch was completely acceptable. Bones/No Bones Days quickly became part of the national vernacular, with even the governor of Louisiana getting in on the fun by using the meme as a way to promote the Covid-19 vaccine. -ED Dec. 6: Ramones Ducks Though actor Coyote Shivers and his partner Pleasant Gehman started visiting L.A.s Hollywood Forever Cemetery early in the pandemic, it wasnt until last December that we found out they had been training ducks to visit Dee Dee Ramones gravestone every day. They used the Pavlovian tactic of a dinner bell that rings to the tune of Blitzkrieg Bop, titled Duckskrieg Bop. Sure enough, it worked like the ice cream truck song in the summertime, Shivers told Rolling Stone in early December. The kids come running when they hear it. It may not have been much, but a couple of goths finding joy in the cemetery was enough to warm our hearts. The fact that one of Dee Dee wrote the theme for Pet Cemetery didnt hurt, either. ED Dec. 13: The saga of Jorts the Cat This viral tale of two workplace cats sprang up mid-December on the Am I the Asshole subreddit. A user posted about a dispute involving two cats who live at their worksite: an intelligent tortoiseshell named Jean, and a not-so-bright orange cat named Jorts, who has a habit of falling into trash cans and accidentally closing himself in closets. Conflict arose when the users coworker tries to teach a dumb cat new tricks, like how to clean himself properly, and the user suggested Jorts may not have the capacity. (To quote a top commenter on the thread, I cant believe she fuckin buttered Jorts.) HR gets involved. A debate flares about who manages the cats. In an update, we learn the cats have staff bios. What is this company and is it hiring? Its impossible to know whether the post is true or just a piece of online storytelling brilliance. It doesnt matter. The Jorts saga is pure joy. -AM Click here to read the full article. The year The Matrix came out 1999 already had a very sci-fi sound to it. It was the year Prince had imagined as the run-up to the apocalypse, a premonition that would be echoed in the Y2K jitters. And 1999 is just such a cool number; its like the other side of the coin from 2001. With its row of nines poised to turn over, it sounded like the future embedded in the present. And thats kind of how 1999 felt. We knew that we were moving into the 21st century, and we thought we had a good idea of what that was about. The Internet was only a few years old, but already we could see where it was pointing: to a digital world that would bring everything (literally) to your fingertips. Everything could now be done at home, at the computer keyboard, including the manipulation of reality, which could now be anything you wanted it to be. The future would be digital, in every realm. It had already begun to change our movies, our day-to-day communication, our shopping (no small thing in late-capitalist America!), maybe our souls. And The Matrix, heralded by raindrop streams of phosphorescent green computer coding, tapped into all that without necessarily coming out the other side of it (which was part of the films edge-of-the-moment charm). It was a movie about unplugging from fake reality and plugging into real reality. Yet the movie presented that quest, notably in its bullet-time second half, with the kind of who-cares-what-it-means-when-it-looks-so-fucking-awesome visual effects that would be used by Hollywood, going forward, to color in the powers of comic-book superheroes. Heres a question: Are MCU movies, in their way, part of the Matrix? Most fans would say no; most critics would say yes. Heres a more interesting question: Was The Matrix part of the Matrix? When The Matrix came out, there was a lot of chatter about what the Matrix was. What did the Grand Metaphor Of It All actually refer to? Some said that it was the Internet which at the time I thought was an overly literal-minded reading, though its one that holds more water 20 years later. Was it the welter of fake images we lived inside, the daily bombardment of advertisements and visual fiction that had become so omnipresent it was colonizing our imaginations? Simulation theory, something more and more people now believe in, says that were living inside a computer simulation engineered, perhaps, by an advanced civilization. That idea gets a workout in Rodney Aschers documentary A Glitch in the Matrix, where Elon Musk is its strongest advocate, which made me think that I have to add one more wrong idea to the list of wrong ideas Elon Musk believes in. Yet with two decades hindsight, the most telling dimension of the Matrix is that it exists, fundamentally, as a conspiracy: a virtual reality designed to hallucinate us into being good drones. The enduring legacy of The Matrix as a movie may be the perception that were living a lie until we take the red pill and wake up, just like Neo. Red-pilling became a phrase in the culture, one driven by the shadow world of information on the Internet. The idea was: the deeper the web dive, the greater ones embrace of the truth. Red-pilling meant unplugging from the Matrix of false images and fake media. And, of course, every person who took that dive would now be his or her own Neo, a rage-against-the-machine rebel in their own mind. The Alice in Wonderland imagery is, of course, linked to the 1960s, something that director Lana Wachowski makes explicit in the best sequence of The Matrix Resurrections, which features a trippy remix of White Rabbit, the Jefferson Airplane song that told you to feed your head, so you could glimpse the mystery on the other side of the illusion. And that, in a way, is all linked to the 60s belief system weve never let go of: the idea that the powers that be are lying to us. They lied to us about the JFK assassination, they lied about Vietnam and Watergate and Iran-Contra and WMDs, they lie about the chemicals in our food and a thousand other things. Out of all that has emerged a mythology: that well be ruled by their lies until we red-pill ourselves out of our trance. The Matrix lent an action-head-trip cachet to all of this. Yet by the mid-2000s, the conspiracy mindset had begun to bend itself into some rather strange shapes. Sure, there had always been a wingnut dimension to it: Paul is dead, alien abductions, the idea that the moon landing was faked with the aid of Stanley Kubrick. But most of that seemed like gonzo chatter. It was with the rising belief that 9/11 was an inside job, planned and executed by the deep state, that the insane side of conspiracy theory began to take hold of mainstream culture. Not that it was talked about in the mainstream media; it was mostly ignored. But the rise of the new right was all about seeing both the mainstream media and the government as a cosmic source of toxic deception. Thats why red-pilling became a popular notion among the followers of figures like Alex Jones. What Alex Jones was selling, and what QAnon was selling, was the same thing The Matrix was selling: the idea that your reality is a tangle of illusion, and that only red-pilling yourself can liberate you from it. If you really look at it, the legacy of The Matrix isnt that weve all woken up to the truth. Its that increasing numbers of people dont take reality at face value anymore. Im not suggesting that The Matrix, in 1999, caused this to happen. But it channeled the shift, in America and maybe the world, from reality-based thinking to a mindset where reality has become the enemy because it can no longer be trusted. Ill leave it to critics to debate the pros and cons of The Matrix Resurrections, but whats clear about the third Matrix sequel is how yesterdays news it all feels. Its running on fumes of nostalgic paranoia. In 2021, what a Matrix movie thats actually relevant would confront is the way that liberating yourself from the Matrix became the new Matrix: an excuse for believing whatever you want to believe. Only now the Matrix is something that we design for ourselves: a DIY illusion we create at home, choosing our own false prophets. The film spread a fantasy that even the most extreme politicians could only dream of. It took the prospect of systematically unhooking yourself from reality and made it cool. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEW YORK - For 3 hours, three sublime actors hold us in their thrall, in one of the most absorbing critical hits of the Broadway season: "The Lehman Trilogy." The story, taking place over more than a century and a half, chronicles the rise and fall of one of Wall Street's titanic investment houses. Lehman Brothers collapsed in the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 - a stunning denouement for a historic financial force behind the laying of the nation's railroads and the digging of the Panama Canal. Lehman Brothers' tragic arc presented Italian playwright Stefano Massini, British adapter Ben Power, and Oscar- and Tony-winning director Sam Mendes with an astonishing dramatic canvas, one that begins with the arrival of the German-born Lehmans in Alabama in the 1840s. And it requires a powerhouse cast - in this case, Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Adrian Lester - who are onstage throughout, portraying dozens of roles in a sweeping family saga. The run of "The Lehman Trilogy" ends on Broadway on Jan. 2 and reconvenes in March in Los Angeles with Beale, Godley and Howard Overshown taking over for Lester. Before its New York finish, I had an opportunity to sit down with the Broadway cast at a longtime Times Square dining spot, Gallaghers Steakhouse, for a talk about the meanings and challenges of being on the inside of an epic. (This conversation has been condensed for clarity and length.) Q: Simon, did you know the story of Lehman Brothers before you signed on? Simon Russell Beale: I knew a little bit about the crash. I followed it a bit. I saw the pictures, the famous pictures of the boxes being brought out, but I knew nothing about the family. And so I bought a book and did a quick bit of reading about that. But my knowledge of economic theory is nothing. Q: But the gist of the show is not about being an economics major, understanding the financial system. Adam Godley: No, and certainly, you know, what I loved about it and found just so moving about it as a piece of work was that it really does focus on this family. The story is told by these three brothers, and it really is a story of family, of immigrants. These Jewish brothers and their struggle, and what came out of that. And it allows us to infuse it with humor and humanity that is so familiar to anybody that's a human being or has a family. They can relate to it. Q: Adrian, you joined the company for Broadway. (Beale and Godley were in previous versions at the Park Avenue Armory and in London's West End.) It's your Broadway debut. What was it that made you want to do this? Adrian Lester: Well, it's these two (indicating Beale and Godley). Sam (Mendes) is another draw. And I came away after seeing it amazed that the three of them managed to create so many characters. (Ben Miles originally played Lester's roles.) And 3 hours - I thought, oh, my God, as I was walking away, (that's) amazing. I thought, "What about matinee days?" Q: Adrian, I've seen you do "Othello"; I assume you've done "Othello" twice in a day. So come on! Lester: I got to leave the stage! Beale: That's a good point! We are locked in! Q: I think we should explain. You're in an essentially revolving glass cube that is modern, set in the offices, presumably, of a fading Lehman Brothers. Godley: The conceit is that everything we use, any practical prop that we have, is something that would be in that room in 2008. Q: I was struck by the morality play aspect of the story. It starts as a company that (brokers the sale of) cotton, which we all know has a deeply troubled history in this country. Beale: I was thinking about it this morning, thinking that so much of what we do, just generally in theater, is you force judgment on the audience. If you're playing ("Othello's") Iago you make sure the audience knows he's probably not a good thing. This play is about presenting these moments of change in the company and for the audience to go, "Hmm, not sure about the morality of that." Godley: But it's often presented without judgment. Q: But do you have to love the character you're playing when you're doing it every night? Lester: It's useful not to judge them. We don't want to spend our time wagging our finger at the world, going, "By the way we all know this is bad, right?" Because then the audience is shortened on their journey. They get to ask themselves deeper and more probing questions through the performance if we simply present it and say, "There it is." Then they're left to question much more. Not only about the people they're seeing onstage, but also the environment they live in. Q: You know, there are some people who get a little bit uncomfortable with (portrayals of) Jews and money. And when you bring those two ideas together, people make assumptions. How do you think that is treated in "The Lehman Trilogy"? Do you think it's treated fairly, and presented as not necessarily a story that's supposed to make you make assumptions about Jews and their way of making their way in the world? Godley: This is a story about money and economics. And so some red flags come up. But I would say from the absolute get-go, we have not had a single negative response in that regard. And, you know, I'm Jewish, I know a lot of Jewish people. We had a wonderful rabbi, Daniel Bernstein, who advised us on this and helped us with a lot of it. I can tell when there are a lot of Jewish people in the audience: Adrian has a line about Reform Jews. And you have to be Jewish to know what that means. Right? And the chuckles and the laughter and the enjoyment of those things, I can feel them getting on board with us. Q: An Italian playwright thought up this American story, translated and honed in the United Kingdom. And now you guys who were trained and grew up in (Britain) bring this to an American audience. Was there any trepidation about whether you'd be accepted as the vehicles for telling this quintessential story that belongs to us, not particularly to you? Godley: I don't know that we worried about that particularly. When we've played this in London, we're telling a sort of exotic story. Whereas you come here, a lot of our audience know the streets we're talking about, they may have worked for the company. But it's an interesting question about perspective. Stefano Massini, who's a Florentine Catholic, writing this story about three Orthodox Jews coming to America and forming this company, you think, "How does that work?" But somehow perspective gives you a slightly more interesting, slightly distanced view about something. Q: Your entire audience on Broadway, you only see half their faces because they are wearing masks. You don't really get that kind of level of communication, perhaps, that you're used to. Is there a different kind of pleasure when it's a masked audience, or is it the same experience? Beale: I mean, I'm very shortsighted, so ... Lester: I have a habit doing Shakespeare, where if I have to address the audience, I find a face. I find faces. It's just the thing in me that I want to talk to someone. And other actors have told me that I'm just mad. Godley: You can hear the quality of listening. You can really tell when people are engaged as a quality of attention and silence, even though there are 1,000 people sitting there. You hear it and you can really feel it. Q: Does the story change for you over time? Do you have to find new ways to engage yourselves that keep it alive for you? Godley: Playing it for this long has allowed us to really delve deeply into these people. And to each moment that you can fully invest in that verse, that adds a kind of richness to the evening. So hopefully the piece just gets better and better and better over time. - - - "The Lehman Trilogy," by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power. Directed by Sam Mendes. Through Jan. 2 at Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St., New York. ticketmaster.com. The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation acted unlawfully by denying fair procedure to the survivors, the High Court has declared The Irish Government has decided not to appeal against the decision relating to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission, which published its findings earlier this year. End of an era in Longford as renowned Aughnacliffe butchers closes for final time In just over a week's time one of the county's most preeminent and long standing businesses will pull the shutters over its doors for the last time. The High Court said on Friday that the commission had denied survivors their statutory right to reply to a draft of its findings. The decision means that the declaration by the High Court will appear alongside the commissions final report on the Government website. The Government will also list online and in the Oireachtas Library all paragraphs in the commissions report which the survivors High Court actions claimed did not accurately reflect their own testimony. The commissions report into the mother and baby homes, published in January, found that the institutions for women produced high levels of infant mortality, misogyny and stigmatisation of some of societys most vulnerable people. Many mother and baby homes were run by Catholic nuns. Its findings drew widespread criticism from survivors, campaigners, academics and opposition parties. Mary Harney, who was born in the Bessborough mother and baby home in 1949 and was fostered to an abusive family aged two and a half, said that survivors had been vindicated. She said that the High Court decision demonstrates that the Commission of Investigation failed in its statutory duty to witnesses and that the Government is not willing to stand over its work. Philomena Lee, whose 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son was documented in the 2013 film Philomena, said the commission had failed in its duty to impartially and fairly investigate and establish the truth. The commissions findings are deeply hurtful and troubling to me. Those findings deny what we lived. They deny the truth. I call on the Government to denounce this report now, and to open up the commissions archive of documents to survivors and adopted people so that they can access information still withheld to this day. The secrecy and obstruction by state and church must end. It has gone on for far too long. There was a last-minute rush to the shops to buy that "special" Christmas gift - a pack of masks, stamped Gobierno de Espana, with a design of snowy landscapes and Pedro Sanchez wearing a Santa hat. Outdoor mask-wearing was back, it never actually having gone away. Since the end of June, and in theory, masks had still been required in situations where one and a half metres safe distancing could not be ensured. A largely useless rule was thus replaced by another - according to those who objected, until they appreciated that a mask for Christmas keeps your face nice and warm when the north wind blows. The PM had called a "crisis" meeting of regional presidents. Omicron was sweeping the nation, and the government concluded that masks outdoors were the solution. The regions weren't so sure. Catalonia reintroduced a curfew and recommended there should be one for the whole country; Galicia was all for cancelling the Kings. The Balearics hadn't wanted Pedro to impose new restrictions, which he didn't (mask extension notwithstanding), and then immediately mandated a Covid passport requirement for all bars and restaurants regardless of capacity. With the January fiestas looming, chestnuts or anything else being roasted on the open fire of a barbecue were banned. Town halls were meanwhile scrapping fiestas completely. First Arta, then Capdepera, Manacor and Son Servera all called off next month's Sant Antoni. Pollensa said no to what in any event is something of a health and safety hazard, the climbing of the pine of Ternelles. One of the presidents taking part in the crisis meeting had to do so from home. Francina Armengol caught Covid, but this didn't dim her wish to invite all citizens to enjoy Christmas. Sensibly. Unfortunately for the president, a mere suggestion of enjoyment conjures up images of a gin and tonic and after-hours drinking (allegedly). "Record" numbers of daily cases were making the headlines on pretty much a daily basis and will doubtless continue to. However, and as the PM and health experts were noting, Omicron seems mild by comparison with Delta. The daily positives tended to obscure what was occurring on the wards. While ward numbers had "soared" (by five times in a month), they then came down - from 232 in Mallorca on Monday to 198 by Friday. In intensive care, though, numbers were edging up in the Balearics as a whole, albeit the number in Mallorca was the same on Friday (45) as it had been on Monday. Health service overload was more apparent in primary care, which in Mallorca by Friday was monitoring 2,123 more people than it had been on Monday. The Spanish government set targets for booster jabs and drafted in military health personnel to assist. The call to get vaccinated was not going unheeded. In the Balearics, 7,475 more people had received at least one dose by Friday than on Monday. Germany declared the whole of Spain, including the Balearics therefore, a high risk for Covid. This didn't constitute a travel ban, but it nevertheless provoked tourism industry concern about bookings. Hoteliers in Mallorca were suggesting that reservations will be on hold until April and that there will be an increase in last-minute sales, a state of affairs that the hoteliers president, Maria Frontera, indicated was becoming the norm anyway. The Balearic tourism minister, Iago Negueruela, had a more immediate and pressing concern, which was gaining agreement on cruise ship numbers in Palma before the end of the year. He thus went off to Hamburg to meet representatives of the sector and announced an "historic" agreement to limit numbers, which the anti-mega cruise ship lobby reckoned was nothing of the sort. A slight issue then emerged, one that everyone, the minister in particular, was well aware of. It is the Balearic Ports Authority, representative of the State Ports, which has the say-so regarding ship scheduling and not the Balearic government. The Chinese New Year 2022 won't be celebrated, as it will in many parts of the world, with the beginning of the Lunar New Year on January 1, and instead will be marked a little later in the year. Last year's Chinese New Year was celebrated on February 12, 2021. This year, in 2022, the Chinese New Year is set to begin on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. In China, 2022 will be the year of the Tiger after 2021 was the year of the Ox. When is the Chinese New Year 2022? The Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Celebrations go on for as many as 16 days, though the period marked as public holidays are from January 31 to February 6. The popular Lantern Festival, which is the culmination of the celebrations, takes place on February 15, 2022. What are the differences between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year? Firstly, it has to be noted that the Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, which is considered to be both solar and lunar. Curiously, the Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year do not differ in China, but there are other countries where the latter is solely based upon the lunar calendar. Hence, in those countries the Lunar New Year date is different, while there is another difference that should be noted. This is the duration of the celebration period, as people in China are enjoying a one-week public holiday, while countries such as South Korea and Singapore have a three-day holiday. A surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack on Christmas Eve off the central coast of California, authorities said. The male surfer was pulled from the water north of the famous Morro Rock around 10:45 a.m., Morro Bay police said on Twitter. He was not responsive after being brought to land. The surfer's identity was not immediately released and officials have ordered people to stay out of the water for 24 hours. Morro Bay Harbor Director Eric Endersby told The San Luis Obispo Tribune that a female surfer nearby saw him face-down and got him out of the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Endersby said the attack appears to have been recent, based on the condition of the surfer's body. Crews will patrol the area to look for the shark. Morro Bay is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Los Angeles. In the web space, a troll is defined as a person who posts abusive and offensive messages or posts in an online community. It has become a trend of sorts that if a person doesnt like a celebs way of dressing or his or her posts, people think its okay to send them derogatory messages without realizing how deeply it can affect them. Over the years, these celebs might have developed a thick skin for these trolls but that doesnt mean a faceless person has the right to demean them. While going through many articles that represent a psychological analysis of these nasty trolls, we understood that its more about showing strength by providing an indirect threat. This is why the best way to defeat these trolls is to simply ignore them and not feed them but if required, theres no harm in shutting them down. We realized there are a few celebs that have been subjected to trolling again and again in 2021. Heres a list of the celebs who became a victim of this nasty practice: Rashmika Mandanna Just recently, Rashmika Mandanna was spotted at an event while promoting her movie Pushpa and was massively trolled. She chose a shimmery green coloured outfit and completed it with minimal makeup. In the event, she spoke in Hindi, danced on a song, and even gave a Korean-style kiss and heart to her fans in attendance. In no time, the videos went viral and people were harsh towards the actor. People said she is someone who overacts. She was also trolled for her outfit at the airport when people said disgraceful things about her look. Rashmika told Bollywood Bubble, Recalling the first time that it happened, Oh majorly. It hit me like a bloody tsunami. I didnt see it coming, I didnt even know what trolling was, wasnt even aware of it. I was this girl who had come 100-200 followers and I was following some 400 people. I was just that girl. To one point I was body shamed and they were talking about my personality, my character, my family, my school, my upbringing, and all that. I remember all of this happening and the first time it happened I was like why is there so much negativity. She went on to add, The thing is, when people are trolling you, you feel like the whole world is trolling you. It was such a new concept that I started losing myself in all of this. I dont want to be seen, I want to behave this way, I want to talk this way. It was bad. Ranveer Singh Ranveer Singh has also been at the receiving end this year. People have trolled him mercilessly for his outfits which is not a new trend because he has faced the heat every time he has gone bold. He has been called a joker numerous times but the actor doesnt pay heat to these trolls. He was recently bashed for his glittery golden outfit at the Dubai promotion of his recent movie 83. In one of the earlier live sessions in 2019, he did respond back to these mean comments and said, Tumlogo ko kuch kaam dhanda nahi hain? Tumlog kuch aur jaake karo na mere life me kyu aaye ho? (Dont you people have jobs? Go do something else, why are you entering my life?). Ranveer to haters Baba so many lovers log in just to chat with you, dont bother about the haters PS - also reply to some lovers na...apne friends se toh aap phone pe baad mein chat karlena... pleaaase pic.twitter.com/6QsJ71LC8u Ranveers Cafe (@ranveercafe69) November 7, 2019 Well, we completely agree with Ranveer on this. Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt has been trolled for various reasons in the past but this year around she came under the radar of these comments because of not treating the paparazzi well. Not just that, she also brutally bashed her for wearing a bold blouse to Anushka Ranjan and Aditya Seal's wedding. Malaika Arora Malaika is also one of the most loved celebrities by the paparazzi and she is often snapped outside her gym. On one of the occasions, she was clicked going to her Yoga class during which the actress was brutally trolled for the way she walked. A comment read, Just for enhancing her back, she is walking like a duck.. lol She was also massively trolled for her choice of clothes while getting vaccinated. As per Hindustan Times, she was quoted as saying, I dont bother at all. Its really sad trolling etc. I feel social media has become a very negative space and thats really sad. Nobody wants to see negativity at the end of the day I feel you should spread happiness and positivity. To answer your questions, I dont care and I dont bother. I feel logon ka kaam hai kehna (I feel no matter what, people will talk), they will do that and I cant go around and stop someone. People will continue talking so let them. Kareena Kapoor Khan Kareena Kapoor Khan is not new to trolling and social media bullying. She was massively trolled when there were reports of demanding Rs 12 crore for playing Sita started to do the round on the internet. She was also trolled for sharing a video on Instagram of her doing 108 Surya namaskars. She was trolled harshly for being a Muslim and doing Surya namaskars with trolls stating how Muslims should not be doing yoga. The incidents are countless this year and she didnt pay head to these trolls. Shilpa Shetty Shilpa Shetty Kundra had been in the news for all the wrong reasons as her husband businessman Raj Kundra had been arrested in connection to producing porn content. Raj Kundra and the 10 other people who have been taken into custody used to publish pornographic content through mobile applications. She was brutally trolled for her statements that said she had no idea about her husbands involvement in the porn business. Samantha Ruth Prabhu Samantha Ruth Prabhu was in news for her separation with husband Naga Chaitanya. People trolled her as the fake news of her extra-marital affair hit the headlines. She was also trolled for her recent item number. A case has been filed against Samantha's dance number in Allu Arjun's 'Pushpa' by a men's association. As a report in TOI, they have reportedly filed a lawsuit against the song for portraying men as lustful through its lyrics. They have asked for a ban on the song in the Andhra Pradesh court. People on social media also bashed Samantha for being a hypocrite. They have been trolling Samantha citing her old tweet regarding her objection to Mahesh Babus 1 Nenokkadine's poster. The said poster showed Kriti Sanon falling at Mahesh Babu's feet in a playful manner. Trolling should be banned for good! Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's statement on calls for further review of the 2020 election Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's statement on calls for further review of the 2020 election DECEMBER 21, 2021 "Michigan election professionals carried out more than 250 audits across the state, including a hand count of every ballot cast for president in Antrim County, and every one of those nonpartisan audits, as well as numerous court cases across the state and nation, and a report by the Republican-led State Senate Oversight Committee, have affirmed the accuracy and integrity of the 2020 election. Yet calls persist from those who have been lied to and taken advantage of by partisan state legislators, national figures, and others for unofficial, illegitimate reviews of the election results. These elites who lie about 2020 without a shred of evidence, who fail to speak the truth, are fueled by opportunism and cowardice. Over a year into this grift their goal is now clear. They no longer want only to change the outcome of the 2020 election, but to also undermine citizens' faith in our democracy and dissuade them from being engaged and informed voters in future elections. This small group of grifters and wealthy supporters is pursuing a political strategy that threatens the survival of our democracy, and our nation. Regardless of whether the petition language delivered today is part of this strategy, we are proud that the Bureau of Elections staff will process it in a nonpartisan and unbiased manner, as they would any other submission. And ultimately, the response to the escalating and unabated efforts to undo our nation's democracy must come from the people. Citizens across our state and nation must demonstrate the profound power of self-government by exercising their rights within it, calling on their elected leaders to speak the truth, holding partisan politicians accountable at the ballot box, and demanding their will and their vote be protected. And everyone is encouraged to review the audit analysis and report my office released earlier this year, speak directly with their local election officials about the safeguards and secure protocols in place to ensure the integrity of our elections, and volunteer to serve as election workers to protect our democracy and ensure it prevails." For media questions, contact Tracy Wimmer at 517-281-1876. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page. Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424). Gov. Whitmer Calls Deployed Michigan Troops on Christmas Eve Gov. Whitmer Calls Deployed Michigan Troops on Christmas Eve FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 24, 2021 Contact: press@michigan.gov Gov. Whitmer Calls Deployed Michigan Troops on Christmas Eve LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called actively deployed members of the Michigan National Guard to wish them a merry Christmas. The governor spoke to Airmen of the 127th Wing currently deployed to Guam in support of U.S. Pacific Command, Soldiers deployed to Lebanon in support of U.S. Central Command and Soldiers deployed to Arizona and California in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement missions along the US Southwest border. "Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the lines to keep us safe," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "On Christmas, 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, many active duty service members in uniform are away from their families, on the job. I hope we all take some time to think about our service members and their families this Christmas and pray for their safe return home." "Answering the call to serve anytime, anywhere is part of an ordinary day's work for the men and women of the Michigan National Guard," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "Today there are more than 500 members of the Michigan National Guard serving away from their homes and families. Whether supporting the ongoing COVID-19 response here in Michigan, aiding efforts at the Southwest Border or protecting our national security interests around the globe, it is an honor to remember their selflessness and devotion to duty during this holiday season." The governor spoke to members of the: 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard (Harrison Township) 1775th Military Police Company of the Michigan Army National Guard (Pontiac) 1776th Military Police Company of the Michigan Army National Guard (Taylor) The Michigan National Guard service members Governor Whitmer spoke to are serving in Guam, Lebanon, Arizona and California. 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. ### NEW YORK (AP) Harvey Evans, an actor, singer and dancer who had a knack for landing roles in the original Broadway productions of such classics as West Side Story, Follies Hello, Dolly! and Gypsy, has died. He was 80. Evans died Christmas Eve at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, said Lawrence Leritz, a friend and Broadway actor, dancer, singer, producer and director. He was dearly loved by the Broadway community. Very kind, embracing, funny and always had a smile on his face. I can't ever remember not being hugged by this loving man, Leritz said. We lost a great one, wrote Harvey Fierstein on Twitter in tribute. Hes why we love musicals, wrote playwright and author Paul Rudnick. Added Bernadette Peters, Harvey was the dearest most talented being one could ever have the privilege of knowing. Evans was rarely cast in leading Broadway roles but found a place in timeless shows. He starred opposite Angela Lansbury in Anyone Can Whistle and played Barnaby in Hello, Dolly! opposite Carol Channing, then Betty Grable and then Eve Arden. When I look back, Evans told Playbill in 2007, I think Ive had some kind of angel on my shoulder, leading me toward the best shows of Broadways golden years. I didnt pick and choose them they just came around that way. Evans, who was born Harvey Hohnecker, grew up in Cincinnati and fell in love with musical theater after seeing a touring production of Song of Norway." My entire childhood was spent waiting to graduate from high school so I could go to New York and be in a Broadway show, he told Playbill. Evans made it to New York in 1955 and would become friendly with choreographers Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins. Evans first musical as a dancer on Broadway was New Girl in Town, which starred Gwen Verdon and was choreographed by Fosse. He changed his name while filming a small role in 1962s Experiment in Terror directed by Blake Edwards and starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remick. He and fellow actress Taffy Paul decided to remake themselves he became Evans and she became Stefanie Powers. Evans also was cast by Fosse for Redhead, with Verdon, and the movie of The Pajama Game. Other highlights were starring on Broadway with Henry Fonda and Margaret Hamilton in a revival of Our Town in 1969 and being a standby for Jim Dale in Barnum in the early 1980s. He was a chimney sweep when Julie Andrews immortalized Mary Poppins on film in 1964. Ive had my name above the title and Ive had it way down low, he told Playbill. It doesnt matter to me. Its just wonderful to be part of this community. His later Broadway credits include the mid-1990s revival of Sunset Boulevard, The Scarlet Pimpernel and as an understudy in Oklahoma! in 2002. He also snagged a cameo in the film Enchanted with Amy Adams in 2007. He was on Broadway in the original West Side Story and later in the 1961 film version. Really hard to put into words what Harvey Evans meant to me, said Tony Yazbeck on Twitter. He was kindness personified. So funny and supportive. He came to every show I ever did and inspired me to keep going! A true triple threat whos heart was as big as his incredible career." Bebe Neuwirth added: One of the kindest, most delightful, loveliest gentlemen Ive ever had the blessing to know. Betty Buckley also sent her regards: With so much love. ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits LOS ANGELES (AP) T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. He was 80. The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday. He-man was the muscled frontman for toy manufacturer Mattels Masters of the Universe franchise, which would later spawn an animated series that became a staple for children. Kids squeezed in homework between scenes featuring the strapping cartoon hero as he battled sorcerers and other villains. He-Man might have been known as a hulking superhero warrior but also became an icon within the LGBTQ community, who saw parallels in the secret life of Prince Adam, He-Mans alter ego. As in the case of many creative endeavors, many hands shaped the franchise. Taylor has said the prototypes date back to his own childhood as he fantasized about being the next hero. He said he based the concept of He-Man on his vision of Cro-Magnon men, as well as Vikings. Mattel sold more than 70 million action figures from its Masters of the Universe collection within 30 months after it hit stores nearly 40 years ago, according to The New York Times. Taylor began his career with El Segundo-based Mattel in 1976 as a packaging designer, his family said. Mattel did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise featuring pizza-loving Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo launched a long-running animated series, live-action movies and a catchphrase: cowabunga! While Taylor did not create any of the characters, his work as a designer helped propel them into iconic childhood images for many around the world, including action figures and costumes that flew off stores' shelves. Terrell Mark Taylor who went by his middle name, Mark was born on June 5, 1941, according to California voter registration records. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, designer Rebecca Salari-Taylor of Ranchos Palos Verdes. I felt him say goodbye to this world as I held him in my arms for one final loving kiss, Salari-Taylor wrote in a Facebook post. Taylor's family said his father-in-law, Tony Salari, told the artist, If you can draw well, everything will be okay. Taylor took pinstriping commissions for hot rod cars as a teen in Redondo Beach in the early 1950s, his family said. He later attended the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. Taylor went on to work for the U.S. Department of Defense in Pasadena and contributed to projects for submarines, biological and technical sonar technology and seafloor mapping, his family said. Taylors toy work was featured in documentaries, including Power of Grayskull and The Toys That Made Us. If I was going to do a hero for today, it would be a female hero because its the time, because the heroes of our time are women. ... Us men had our day, Taylor told fans during an appearance at a He-Man festival in 2015. ___ Calvan reported from New York. MIDDLETOWN The Middletown American Rescue Plan Task Force is planning how the citys $20 million in federal funds should be spent, including an application process that would allow business and nonprofit entities to receive a portion of the money. Through the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, municipalities in Connecticut are set to receive a portion of federal funds to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as improve infrastructure issues. Middletown was approved for approximately $20 million, with $12 million for general government, and $8 million allotted to the Board of Education. Mayor Ben Florsheim said that the city immediately formed a dedicated group of stakeholders to ensure the money is distributed equitably and responsibly. The Common Council believed, and we agreed, that there should be some type of channel and group to review [it], Florsheim said. The task force, consisting of about 15 people, including community members, city staff and council members, has already approved $2.75 million for projects to improve water and sewer systems in the city. Theres definitely an urgent need for that, Florsheim said. The mayor anticipates some of the money will also be used to expand broadband access in the city, while a large portion will be used to help financial and public health sectors recover from the effects of the pandemic. Florsheim said members are working to create an application so that various city organizations can take advantage of the funds. Businesses, nonprofits, city agencies and others are eligible. We want the task force to be able to look at these things and prioritize accordingly, Florsheim said. The next meeting, on Jan. 12, will provide more information on the application process. In addition to the citys $20 million. Middlesex County was given approximately $8.9 million in federal funding. Florsheim said the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments is now in the process of deciding how that should be spent. ATHENS, Ga. (AP) When Chick Music opened its doors at 11 a.m. on Dec. 15, customers were already waiting to take advantage of the discount prices and engage in friendly conversation with the employees. If you missed the Retirement Sale signs in the window, it mightve looked like a typical afternoon of holiday shopping in Athens. It was the final day of business for Chick Music, a family-owned musical instrument store that first opened in 1942 in a shop on College Avenue, where Lewis Chick tuned pianos in the basement. After joining the staff in 1947, Billy Shepherd and his wife, Anne, bought the business in 1963 and moved to 240 W. Clayton St. four years later. As the second generation of Shepherds to run Chick Music, Steve, Van and Christy have spent decades treating the shops customers like part of the family, and their retirement is hard-earned and well-deserved. On closing day, Steve was busy repairing a violin brought in for maintenance; Christy was on the register; and Van moved back and forth from the sales floor to the front counter. This place is a part of Athens music history, but its the people who have come through here who made it that way, said Van. We appreciate everyone who came by today. One of the customers who stopped in to pay tribute to Chick Music was Ken Richardson of Athens hip-hop legends Lo Down and Duddy, whose plaque on the Athens Music Walk of Fame is embedded in the sidewalk just outside of the store. Richardson brought in pizza for the staff donated by Little Italy and shared stories of spending hours in the keyboard room in the early 1990s. Its bittersweet for me to be in here today, said Richardson. I learned to make beats on the Alesis SR16 drum machine they sold here, and nobody ever bothered me or asked me to leave. When I got my first income tax return, I came in and I bought it. Though the walls that used to be lined with guitars and band instruments were mostly bare, there were still plenty of accessories like drum heads, mic stands and various cables for visitors to pore over, as well as several books of sheet music in the back room. Staff member Braxton Thompson, who has worked at Chick Music for more than a decade, said that the Shepherds and their employees would likely share their tearful goodbyes when the shop closed and they began moving out the shelves and counters. When asked what he was going to do next, Thompson said he planned to teach music and play gigs in the new year. In the family spirit that the Shepherds learned from their mother and father, Van said that he and his brother and sisters wouldnt be fully out the door for another couple of weeks. Just knock on the window if you need something, Van said. LONDON (AP) Queen Elizabeth II in her Christmas Day message shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate with friends and family, despite the grief caused by the ongoing pandemic. Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season with one familiar laugh missing, the monarch delivered her address beside a framed photograph of her arm-in-arm with Prince Philip, who died in April at age 99. On her right shoulder was the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch she wore in the photo a glittering statement pin that she also wore as a newlywed. Although its a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. This year, especially, I understand why. This festive season is the first since the monarch said goodbye to her husband of more than 70 years in a service in St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Coronavirus restrictions in place at the time meant that the queen sat alone a poignant reminder of how she would spend her life going forward. Despite her own loss, the queen said her family was a source of great happiness, noting that she had welcomed four great-grandchildren this year. While COVID again means we cant celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions, be it the singing of carols as long as the tune is well known decorating the tree, giving and receiving presents or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending, she said. Its no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines. As the highly transmissible omicron coronavirus variant spreads rapidly across there U.K., the 95-year-old queen has decided not to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the royal estate in eastern England where she traditionally spends the festive season with family. The palace said Monday that the queen would spend the holidays at Windsor Castle, west of London, where she has remained throughout most of the pandemic. She will be joined by some members of her family, including Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The annual Christmas message to the people of the U.K. and the Commonwealth marks the end of a busy and sometimes difficult year for the queen. Philip died in April, just two months shy of his 100th birthday, after spending weeks in the hospital. Buckingham Palace announced this week that she had agreed to stage a service of thanksgiving for his life in the spring. The monarch has had health issues of her own, cutting down on travel and work since spending a night in the hospital in October and being told to rest by her doctors. Since then, she has undertaken light duties including virtual audiences with diplomats and weekly conversations with the prime minister. In June, she made an appearance at the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, and in November she gave a recorded address to the U.N. Climate Talks in Glasgow. In closing her Christmas message, the queen noted that the holiday is often seen as a time for children. But, she said, this is only half the story. Perhaps its truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all. Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things where children do not. And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas. BANGKOK (AP) Two members of the international humanitarian group Save the Children were missing Saturday after Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be women and children, fatally shot more than 30 and burned the bodies, according to a witness and other reports. Purported photos of the aftermath of the Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Mo So village, just outside Hpruso township in Kayah state where refugees were sheltering from an army offensive, spread on social media in the country, fueling outrage against the military that took power in February. The accounts could not be independently verified. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles. A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmars army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Save the Children said that two of its staff who were traveling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were caught up in the incident and remain missing." We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out, the group added in a statement. The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies. The government has not commented on the allegations, but a report in the state-run Myanma Alinn daily newspaper on Saturday said that the fighting near Mo So broke out on Friday when members of ethnic guerrilla forces, known as the Karenni National Progressive Party, and those opposed to the military drove in suspicious vehicles and attacked security forces after refusing to stop. The newspaper report said they included new members who were going to attend training to fight the army, and that the seven vehicles they were traveling in were destroyed in a fire. It gave no further details about the killings. The witness who spoke to the AP said the remains were burned beyond recognition, and children's and women's clothes were found together with medical supplies and food. The bodies were tied with ropes before being set on fire, said the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. He did not see the moment they were killed, but said he believed some of them were Mo So villagers who reportedly got arrested by troops on Friday. He denied that those captured were members of locally organized militia groups. Myanmar's independent media reported on Friday that 10 Mo So villagers including children were arrested by the army and four members of the local paramilitary Border Guard Forces who went to negotiate for their release were reportedly tied up and shot in the head by the military. The witness said the villagers and anti-government militia groups left the bodies as military troops arrived near Mo So while the bodies were being prepared for cremation. The fighting was still intense near the village. Its a heinous crime and the worst incident during Christmas. We strongly condemn that massacre as a crime against humanity, said Banyar Khun Aung, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group. Earlier this month, government troops were also accused of rounding up villagers, some believed to be children, tying them up and slaughtering them. An opposition leader, Dr. Sasa, who uses only one name, said the civilians were burned alive. A video of the aftermath of the Dec. 7 assault apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy showed the charred bodies of 11 people lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut. Fighting meanwhile resumed Saturday in a neighboring state on the border with Thailand, where thousands of people have fled to seek shelter. Local officials said Myanmars military unleashed airstrikes and heavy artillery on Lay Kay Kaw, a small town controlled by ethnic Karen guerrillas, since Friday. The militarys action prompted multiple Western governments including the U.S. Embassy to issue a joint statement condemning serious human rights violations committed by the military regime across the country." We call on the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen state and throughout the country, and to ensure the safety of all civilians in line with international law, the joint statement said. KNDF via Associated Press FAIRFIELD Two staff members from the Fairfield-based nonprofit Save the Children have been reported missing after an attack that killed at least 38 people in Kayah State in eastern Myanmar on Friday. Save the Children confirmed Saturday in a news release that two of their staff members are missing. WASHINGTON One of the largest private companies that manages military family housing and pleaded guilty to fraud was sentenced Thursday to pay nearly $32 million in restitution to the U.S. military. Balfour Beatty Communities LLC was also ordered to pay $33.6 million in criminal fines. The company must also go on probation for three years, during which it will undergo close monitoring for compliance. According to the Justice Department, company employees engaged in a scheme to alter maintenance records to appear as though Balfour Beatty was meeting goals required for financial bonuses from the U.S. Air Force when it was not. Instead of promptly repairing housing for U.S. service members as required, BBC lied about the repairs to pocket millions of dollars in performance bonuses, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a statement. This pervasive fraud was a consequence of BBCs broken corporate culture, which valued profit over the welfare of servicemembers. The company pleaded guilty to one count of major fraud as part of a plea deal. The deal was accepted by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan. Balfour Beatty, headquartered in Malvern, Pa., operated privatized military housing communities at 55 Air Force, Navy and Army bases across the nation, which were occupied by tens of thousands of service members and their families. The decision Thursday marked a global resolution of the Justice Departments criminal and civil investigations into the company. Todays global resolution sends a clear message to companies that if they do not maintain adequate compliance programs, voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, and fully cooperate with the government, they will pay a price that outweighs the profits they once reaped, Monaco said. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. 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Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Multifaceted Celebrity, Kwadwo Nkansah popularly known as Lil win in the early hours of Saturday, December 25, arrived in Dormaa ahead of his Christmas Concert dubbed 'LilWin XMas Bash'. Though expected to be cheered by his fans, scenes in Dormaa in the early hours of the day were grand and unexpected. Fans of the celebrated actor gave him a resounding welcome by shouting and chanting his name. Banners displaying well wishes for him hung by the roadside, while many people, mostly children sang his songs as his convoy moved slowly across the town. The sensational welcoming almost got chaotic after one of the cars in his convoy nearly crushed some of the tumultuous fans. The much-publicised event would take place at the Benewaa Memorial guest House with Kumawood actor Papa Kumasi as the MC. Over ten seasoned artists are expected to perform on the night. Watch the video below Source: hotfmghana.com In the Ghanaian music industry, it has been a challenge for an artist to emerge from a defunct group and still produce monster hit songs. One artist who has finally broken that jinx is Sylvanus Dodji Jeoffrey popularly called Captain Planet. Ever since the celebrated Hiplife/Hip Hop artiste went solo from multiple award-winning defunct group, 4X4 in 2017, he has produced hits after hits. As the then leader of the defunct 4X4 group, Captain Planet took the music scene by storm in 2017 with his monster hit song 'Obi Agyi Obi Girl'. 'Obi Agyi Obi Girl' that features Takoradi-based Hiplife/Highlife artiste, Kofi Kinaata bagged 5 nominations at the 2017 prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. In that year, the celebrated Hiplife/Hip Hop made history as the first Ghanaian Artiste to emerge from a group to produce a solo song and bag the most nominations. The celebrated rapper has augmented his position as a monster hit maker by producing another hit song in 2021 dubbed 'Abodie". Abodie a Twi word translated in English as Creature which was also produced by Kuami Eugene gives Captain Planet the opportunity to recount his blessings and also expresses his gratitude to God. From a line from the song, Captain Planet sang, If God blesses you, there is no creature that can hinder your blessing The song was sung in Twi and Pidgin.The song which is regarded as one of the biggest songs produced in 2021 features Lynx music signee Kuami Eugene. Though the Ghanaian music scene got impressive debut albums and EPs, star-studded collaborations, and so much more, Captain Planet has again become part of history for being the only musician to emerge from a defunct group and still drop a hit song in 2021. Irrespective of the fact that 2021 is yet to end, per the days left, Hotfmghana.com doesn't need a sorcerer or a soothsayer to tell us that Afriyie of defunct Wutah group or Promzy from the defunct VIP group cannot release hit songs before the year ends. Check the song below A wildfire has wreaked havoc the abandoned University of Cape Coast (UCC) satellite campus located at Jumako in the Eastern Region. It is unclear what caused the fire at the project site but residents say the ravaging fire caused significant damage to some materials at the project site. According to some residents who spoke to this portal after the unfortunate incident, the satellite campus was awarded to a contractor at a sum of over GH 14 million and work was progressing smoothly. They alleged that the university led by the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ampiah Ghartey strangely abandoned the project without any reason. The University was to build the three-storey regional study centre for continuing education students at Jumapo, near Koforidua, in the New Juaben Municipality. The project, according to our sources which was expected to be completed in 30 months, would have included 13 lecture halls, three laboratories, a library and reading centre, an ICT centre and 10 offices, as well as a lift to ensure disability friendliness. The angry residents said the chief of the area, Nana Kwame Oppong-Owusu III was not happy about the development and is now threatening to reclaim the land for farming purposes if nothing was done immediately. They said, the Chief had already called on the Education Minister to ensure the abandoned project was completed since it would increase economic activities in the community but that appears to have fallen on deaf ears hence his threat to reclaim the land. We were expecting the new Governing Council of the University Chaired by Prof. Obeng Mireku who doubles as the President of Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, to use his vast experience to ensure that the contractors return to site and complete the abandoned projects but they also appear to be unconcerned about the project. "We thought that Prof. Mireku has the ability and skills to provide strategic direction and leadership at the highest level of management and could therefore liaise with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong to complete the abandoned projects but that too seems not to happen," one of the residents, Mr. Frank Adjei said disappointedly. Also, the chief and residents of Zuarungu in the Bolga East District of the Upper East Region and Upper West Region had equally asked the Ministry of Education to compel the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to complete its abandoned Satellite campuses in their respective regions or they would reclaim their lands for farming purposes. The residents, in separate interviews, expressed disappointment about the way the University had neglected the Satellite campus projects initiated by the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Domwini Dabiri Kuupolesadministration since 2017. They alleged that the projects which were awarded to various contractors and work started smoothly under the former Vice Chancellor have all been abandoned when Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah took over the affairs of the university. Some of them have questioned the reasons why the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof Ampiah decided to abandon such praiseworthy projects the university started before he was appointed. According to them, the issue of the abandoned projects by the University for the past few years has been a cause of concern to them and therefore, it was time for the Education Minister to step in and make sure those projects were completed to stop distance learning students from travelling from these regions to Cape Coast. The residents also noted that completing those projects will not only give distance learning students their peace of mind but will also provide jobs for the locals within those areas. They accused the University of causing financial loss to the state, for which those responsible must be made to provide answers and explain why the projects had been abandoned for the past five years. When this portal visited the Zuarungu project site which was awarded to a contractor in 2015 at the cost of about GH 13 million has since been abandoned even though it was 80 percent complete. The huge three-storey building project which was almost at a completion level is now at the mercy of rains and has become a den for reptiles and over-grown weeds. A close look at it, showed some portions of it rotting gradually away. According to the residents, reasons as to why the project which brought them smiles and hopes of also having a Satellite campus in their district would go waste, describing the Universitys action as unfair to the people and the Bolga East District as a whole. It will be recalled that the 2020 Auditor Generals (AG) report also revealed that the same University of Cape Coast (UCC) has abandoned 14 projects valued at GH78.9million, funded from Internally Generated Fund (IGF) with most of them left for about eight years. The report said seven of the projects, which were delayed and abandoned in the bush at completion stages of 87-99 percent, had damaged air-conditioners, broken windows, rotten door-frames and other components. Further reviews disclosed that the Universitys College of Distance Education spent almost GH3million on hiring conference rooms for training due to a five percent delay in completing a designated training centre a training resort and conference centre at Agona Nyakrom for the university. While the AG has indicated that value for money was not achieved from the total amount of GH78.9million spent on the projects, it blames the universitys directorate of physical development for not ensuring the contractors worked on time to deliver the projects. Some of the projects include construction of the School of Agriculture Complex; a 3-storey project for the School of Graduate Studies; Science Faculty Annex; School of Business building; student union complex; a 1-storey student study structure for School of Medical Sciences; a classroom block, administration block and library block, a laboratory and an estate road all for the School of Medical Sciences, and many other projects outside the university campus. The AG strongly recommended that management of the university should ensure early completion of the projects to save them from further deterioration. It also urged the university to investigate the cause of delays to enable it enforce its rights under the construction contract where applicable. Sudan cut phone lines and restricted internet ahead of planned mass protests Saturday against a military coup, as security forces deployed across Khartoum blocking bridges connecting the capital to suburbs. At least 48 people have died in crackdowns during weeks of protests, according to the independent Doctors' Committee, and Khartoum's state governor has warned that security forces "will deal with those who break the law and create chaos". Activists, who use the internet for organising demonstrations and broadcasting live footage of the rallies, had planned the latest in a series of street protests for Saturday -- two months on since generals launched their October 25 takeover. Military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held civilian leader Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok under effective house arrest for weeks, but reinstated him on November 21 under a deal promising elections for July 2023. Map of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. By ClAa PACULIER (AFP) The move alienated many of Hamdok's pro-democracy supporters, who dismissed it as providing a cloak of legitimacy for Burhan's coup. Protesters online have called for fresh rallies, encouraging supporters with the slogans "no negotiations" with the army, and demanding "the soldiers back to barracks". But bridges connecting Khartoum across the Nile river to the cities of Omdurman and North Khartoum were shut since Friday evening. Security forces also blocked the main streets in central Khartoum where the protest organisers were planning to hold the demonstrations. Two months of protests "We draw the attention of the world and ask them to monitor what happens in Sudan on the issue of the revolutionary movement for freedom and democracy", said the Doctors' Committee, which is part of the pro-democracy movement. A Sudanese protester receives first aid on December 19, with more demonstrations slated for Saturday. By - (AFP) Recent protests have seen thousands gather at key government buildings, including outside parliament, the presidential palace and the army headquarters. Khartoum's governor warned that "approaching or attacking buildings of strategic sovereignty is punishable by law". At rallies last Sunday, held on the third anniversary of mass demonstrations that led to the ouster of veteran strongman Omar al-Bashir, crowds began a "sit-in" protest outside the presidential palace. Within hours, security forces dispersed the thousands of protesters with truncheons and firing tear gas canisters. Activists have condemned sexual attacks during those protests, in which the UN said at least 13 women and girls were raped. Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan greets soldiers on December 8. By Ebrahim HAMID (AFP) The European Union and the United States issued a joint statement Thursday condemning the use of sexual violence "as a weapon to drive women away from demonstrations and silence their voices". Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, has a long history of military coups, enjoying only rare interludes of democratic rule since independence in 1956. Over 14 million people, a third of Sudan's population, will need humanitarian aid next year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the highest level for a decade. Thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied Saturday two months after a military coup, demanding soldiers "go back to the barracks" and calling for a transition to civilian rule. Waving flags, beating drums, dancing and chanting, crowds marched on the streets of Khartoum despite a heavy deployment of security forces -- who later fired tear gas to break them up. Officers had earlier blocked bridges connecting the capital to suburbs, cut phone lines and restricted the internet ahead of the planned protests. At least 48 people have died in crackdowns during weeks of demonstrations, according to the independent Doctors' Committee, and Khartoum's state governor has warned that security forces "will deal with those who break the law and create chaos". Demonstrators converged on the presidential palace in Khartoum, the headquarters of the military government in control since General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power on October 25. Map of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. By ClAa PACULIER (AFP) Burhan held civilian leader Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok effectively under house arrest for weeks, but after international pressure reinstated him on November 21 under a deal promising elections for July 2023. The move alienated many of Hamdok's pro-democracy supporters, who dismissed it as providing a cloak of legitimacy for Burhan's coup. Protesters online had encouraged supporters with slogans, including demanding "no negotiations" with the army. As well as rallies in Khartoum and its suburbs, protesters also marched on the streets of Wad Madani, a city around 150 kilometres (more than 90 miles) to the south, witnesses said. Others reported demonstrations at Atbara in the north and Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast. Internet cut at dawn Protesters march demanding civilian rule in Sudan's capital Khartoum on December 25, 2021. By - (AFP) Security forces with cranes used shipping containers to block the bridges across the Nile River connecting Khartoum to the cities of Omdurman and North Khartoum, and web monitoring group NetBlocks reported mobile internet services cut at sunrise on Saturday. Activists reported the arrest of several colleagues beginning on Friday night, and Volker Perthes, the United Nations special envoy to Sudan, urged the authorities to "protect" the protests, not to stop them. "Freedom of expression is a human right," Perthes said on Saturday, adding that it includes "full access" to the internet. "No one should be arrested for his or her intention to protest peacefully." The Doctors' Committee, which is part of the pro-democracy movement, called on the world "to monitor what happens in Sudan on the issue of the revolutionary movement for freedom and democracy". Protesters chant slogans in the Sahafa neighbourhood of Khartoum on December 25, 2021. By - (AFP) Khartoum's governor warned that "approaching or attacking buildings of strategic sovereignty is punishable by law". At rallies last Sunday, held on the third anniversary of mass demonstrations that led to the ouster of veteran strongman Omar al-Bashir, crowds began a "sit-in" protest outside the presidential palace. Rape used as 'weapon' Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan greets soldiers on December 8, 2021. By Ebrahim HAMID (AFP) Within hours, security forces dispersed the thousands of protesters with truncheons and tear gas. Activists have condemned sexual attacks during those protests, in which the UN said at least 13 women and girls were raped. The European Union and the United States issued a joint statement Thursday condemning the use of sexual violence "as a weapon to drive women away from demonstrations and silence their voices". Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, has a long history of military coups, enjoying only rare interludes of democratic rule since independence in 1956. More than 14 million people, roughly a third of Sudan's population, will need humanitarian aid next year -- the highest level for a decade, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Activists say more demonstrations are planned for December 30. Barima Twereku Ampem III, the Paramount Chief of Ntotroso Traditional Area has advised the Members of Parliament (MP's) to prioritize national interest and work together devoid of fights and heckling. He noted the recent scuffle that occurred in parliament was unfortunate and unproductive, saying it was an indictment on the image of the country's legislature. Barima Ampem III gave the advice when he was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) as part of his Christmas and end of year message to Ghanaians on Friday at Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region. That unfortunate incident must not occur again, he said and therefore urged the MPs to work in unison with a common goal aimed at promoting the holistic development agenda of the country. The 'Ntotrosomanhene' also cautioned drivers to drive carefully during the festive season to avoid road crashes to save lives and properties. Barima Ampem III advised the general public to remember that it is a prohibition for us to set fire around our homes or in the bushes" for the overall interest of every Ghanaian. He said that would help save lives and properties and prevent the occurrence of disasters. GNA The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has urged customers on its prepaid meters to purchase enough electricity credits to carry them through the Christmas and the New Year seasons. This is because its offices would be closed from Saturday, December 25 to Monday, January 03, 2022, for the Christmas holidays. However, customers and the general public could access its services through digital platforms such as ECG Mobile App, Web Portal, shortcode *226#, or visit any private vending point. Mr Benjamin Quarcoo, Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the ECG made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He mentioned that ECG would resume its usual business on Tuesday, January 04, 2022. Mr Quarcoo hinted that all services on the ECG App had been restored and for that matter, customers who might experience unreflected payment on their meter could report through the App. He explained that the App could be used for other services such as reporting faults, reporting power outages, and making general enquiries in addition to the payment of bills and purchasing of power. He also reminded all customers on post-paid to pay their bills promptly to enjoy continued electricity supply during and after the festive season and cautioned against illegal connection since it amounted to criminal offence and has dire consequences on the finances of the company. Mr Quarcoo expressed the profound gratitude of the ECG to its loyal customers and the media in the region for their support throughout the year, positioning the Company to serve the public better. He further urged the public to be conscious of their safety and be moderate in their celebrations, bearing in mind that the threat of COVID-19. GNA In late Summer, 23rd August 2021, to be precise, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, repeated his promise he made to the chiefs and people of Ketu South that Aflao would be elevated into a major tourist hub and city. At the meeting, the President, who is known to be a one nation right of the centre conservative, emphatically told the chiefs and those present that, the current state of Aflao is totally unacceptable and pledge to elevate Aflao to rival Lome, the Togolese capital, which borders Aflao. The President said turning Aflao into a major tourist destination would change the dynamics of the regional geo-politics in the ECOWAS sub region. With the above in mind, according to those close to the President, informed his decision to nominate Maxwell Lugudor, a security expert and native of Aflao, seen as one of the youthful rising stars in the NPP, to reflect his desire to complete the elevation of Aflao as part of his legacy. This writer sat down with Maxwell Lugudor, Municipal Chief Executive of Ketu South, in his office, in downtown Aflao, to discuss issues raised by the President and other various issues facing the municipality. Ironically, Maxwell Lugudor, is a protege of the President, and comes from the same wing of the party as the President, the centre right, of the New Patriotic Party and is a one nation conservative. The youthful security expert, said the population of Aflao is growing due to its position as a major border town, and that comes with various socio-economic problems, which he said, could threaten the peace and stability of the Municipality and the country as a whole, if the infrastructure and other amenities are not improved. Aflao, which is the second gateway to Ghana and the busiest land border, is the most populous border town in the country, with lush white sand beaches and fertile mash land for rice and other cereal production. According to some of the issues raised by Lugudor, includes, security, housing, sea defence, roads, education and health infrastructure etc. Aflao is the 2nd largest city in the Volta Region after the regional capital, Ho. However, due to its strategic location, (shares border with Lome and is only 2 hours drive to Accra, the Capital city of Ghana and 2 hours drive to Ho, the Regional Capital), attracts people from all over the country and the Ecowas region. When he was elected the new Municipal Chief Executive of Ketu South Municipal Assembly, Maxwell Lugudor made an impassionate speech to the Assemble, the chiefs and the people of the municipality and Aflao in particular, when he said, I will need all hands-on deck to fight the war against poverty, deal with the issues of health, water, sanitation, education as well as infrastructure development, we all one people with common destiny. Lugudor told this writer that among the immediate major challenges he faces as the Municipal Chief Executive is security. He said Aflao is the gateway to Ghana and the experience one has at the border determines how the country looks like. He said the porous nature of the border and large influx of citizens and foreigners to Aflao is affecting the security of the municipality and the country as a whole. Lugudor said as the population of Aflao is projected to hit a million people within the next decade, the need to provide good housing and other major infrastructure development becomes more pressing. He echoed the Presidents promise of turning Aflao into a major travellers destination to rival or surpassed Lome, when he said, Peter, as a second gateway to Ghana after Kotoka International Airport, we need to make Aflao very attractive to both tourists and investors by beautifying the city, provide better and quality infrastructure such as roads, housing, office space, hotels, health and educational facilities. He particularly mentioned the tidal waves that is wreaking havoc on the coastal villages in the municipality and said the government has given the sea defence of the municipality and along the coast of Ghana, a priority. Lugudor said the sea front of Aflao would be developed and turned into a top tourist attraction, with hotels, recreational amenities, shopping mall, offices and apartments. He has already started to engage with local, foreign and diaspora investors to come and invest in Ketu South Municipality. He said already a group of Municipal Chief Executives are planning to visit Europe, North America and Austrasia to meet with the African Diaspora and other investors to encourage them to come invest in Ghana. When this writer informed him that right after crossing the border into Lome, the Togolese have started the dualization of their sea front roads, all the way to the Republic of Benin border, and the sea front towns being developed, Lugudor said, already it is the agenda of the NPP government to dualized all the major highways connecting the regional capitals and the major border towns and cities, including Aflao. He said the road from Aflao to Accra, through to the Ivorian border, forms part of the West African super highway and, yes, it would be dualized. When this writer reminded him that the dualization of the Togolese part of the West African Super Highway, works are ongoing, and the elevation of the sea front towns is also being done, visibly shaken and with misty eyes, Lugudor said, Look Peter, I started to lobby for such development from the very first day I was nominated by the President and elected by the municipal Assembly, just like you, we all want this country to developed. The former deputy secretary of the NPP and one of the rising stars in Ghanaian politics, Maxwell Lugudor, is a man in a hurry to fulfil his childhood dream of turning his hometown, Aflao, in the biggest tourist destination in West Africa. Most predict that Lugudor is among the batch of youth in politics destined to take over the leadership of the country in the next decade. Their dedication and work ethics cannot be questioned, however, with monetarization of politics, would these young leaders be tempted or influenced by money and/or would they stick to their core values, just like the independence leaders, that is, to serve and help uplift their fellow citizens from poverty. The youth of Ghana would be looking up to the likes of Maxwell Lugudor to help develop the country. The National COVID-19 Trust Fund has rubbished allegations of misappropriation of funds. The Trust Fund says reports of misappropriation are untrue and an attempt to denigrate the work of the Fund. Media reports suggested that the National COVID-19 Trust Fund was unable to account for some funds donate to it. But speaking to Citi News, Head of Communications at the Fund, Kwame Owusu Bempeh, said its doors are open for public scrutiny. We received 59 million and we disbursed 49 million. We have details on every pesewa that we have spent and the organizations that we have spent it on and the purpose for which it was spent, he said. The COVID-19 National Trust Fund received many donations and contributions from businesses and individuals to complement the efforts of the government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. President Akufo-Addo donated his April, May and June salaries as seed money for the Fund. Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia continued in the President's steps and also donated three months' salary to the Trust Fund. All Ministers of State and other top appointees at the presidency voluntarily decided to donate 50 percent of their salaries for three months to the COVID-19 Fund. Parliament also contributed GH200,000 with the Speaker of the House, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye donating half of his three months' salary to the Fund. Other groups and associations have also made different donations in cash and kind to various hospitals and health service providers in the country. The Trust is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo. As of December 15, 2020, the COVID-19 National Trust Fund had received a total of GH57.1 million in cash donations alone. citinewsroom The Police Administration in Obuasi has beefed up security measures, including intensifying patrolling and increasing visibility in crowded areas in Obuasi to ensure public safety during the festive season. In line with this, the Obuasi Municipal Police Commander who also supervises the Obuasi East District, DSP Martin Assenso said more Police officers in uniform and plain clothes have been deployed to various locations especially areas where levellers will gather to have fun. DSP Assenso made this known at a General Assembly meeting held on Thursday, 23rd December in the Obuasi East District. The Police Commander also cautioned the public to observe the COVID-19 protocols when they step out during the period. COVID-19 Situation The Obuasi East District Health Director, Madam Delphine Gborgblorvor said there is a surge in Coronavirus cases in the District. She revealed that 195 cases have been recorded so far. 41 of them are from Obuasi East with the remaining cases from Obuasi Municipal and nearby districts. She advised the general public to get vaccinated against the virus. LET US HAVE PATEINCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT The Member of Parliament for Obuasi East Constituency, Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom has admonished Ghanaians to be patient with the Government led by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He conceded that times are hard, a situation he said cannot be the fault of the Government but due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and increase in oil prices in the world market. On the much talked about E- levy, Dr. Boakye said it is important for Ghanaians to accept it and pay. He said " Government is committed to bring development to the people of Ghana but this cannot be done without we the Citizens adhering to our tax obligations. Government has lined up plethora of projects and programmes in the 2022 budget but this cannot be done if we do not accept to pay the E- levy". He again called on the Security services to make sure the festive season becomes incident free. He appealed to the General public to cooperate with the Police by making available information to them to forestall any breach in public peace. The District Chief Executive Hon Faustina Amissah lauded Assembly members and Staff of the Assembly for working hard throughout the year. She assured them that the Assembly will do all it can to motivate them to continue to give out their best for the Assembly . 26.12.2021 LISTEN Varney Alieu Jarsey, a Liberian national has been elected the President of the All-African Students Union (AASU), the continental organization founded in 1972 to champion the interest of African students, at its 13th Elective Congress held in Kibi, Ghana between 20th and 22nd December, 2021. The congress was attended by 38 countries in Africa, 19 in attendance physically and the rest joining virtually. Varney was declared winner by the Electoral Commission of AASU and sworn in after beating his competitor, Osisiogu Osikenyi Igwe, from Nigeria. Delegates at the Congress, believed Varney presented a more feasible and potent manifesto than his opponent. Others also felt he is more experienced in continental leadership and could best serve the interest of African students. Varney is an astute student leader and a committed freedom fighter who has continually championed the interests of youths and students in Liberia and the African continent. Varney is the former President of the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) and the immediate past Vice President of the West African Region of the AASU. In his position as Vice President of the West African Region of the AASU, he led the ASYS Planning Committee which organized AASUs highly successful 7th Africa Students and Youth Summit between 24th and 28th July 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. He was instrumental in the planning and execution of the 100 Million Campaign, which led to a drastic increase in the number of girls in school and a significant reduction in the incidence of child labour in the West African region. In 2018 as President of the Liberia National Students Union, Varney Jarsey was awarded the Best Student and Youth Advocate of the Republic of Liberia during the esteemed National Youth Awards ceremony, after previously winning in 2014 the All-African Students Union (AASU) Best Student Advocate Continental Award. Under his leadership, the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) won prestigious AASU award as the Most Vibrant Student Union on the continent of Africa. Comrade Varney Alieu Jarsey as he is affectionally called by student leaders across the continent, organized many youth and student related programs, lecture series and debates which afforded young people the space and opportunity to debate issues of social, economic and political wellbeing of Liberia and Africans in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. President Varney Alieu Jarsey during his victory speech hinted his readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders across the continent to ensure the African dream is achieved through AASU. He called on all National Student Unions on the continent to join him and his Executive Committee to propel AASU to excellence and global admission. I am focused on serving the African students to the best of capabilities, he said. Varney extended his sincere appreciation to Students of Africa that supported him through their Unions and pledged his commitment to champion the interest of the African student through advocacy and diplomatic relations. Reverend Monica A. Achana, the Wa Circuit Minister of the Methodist Church of Ghana has urged Christians and the public to use Christmas to reflect on their relationship with God rather than just to eat, drink and make merry. She said Christmas signified the day Jesus Christ was born to save man from sin and to draw man closer to God, hence, the need for Christians to use the occasion to thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ and grace of salvation granted to them. The importance of Christmas is not about eating and drinking, it is about reflection. We have to reflect on how we are related to the Maker, how have we been carrying out our moral duty, how have we been living our lives, relating well with our neighbours and God, the savior of the universe, Rev. Achana explained. Rev. Achana, who doubles as the Upper West Regional Manager of the Methodist Education Unit, said this in Wa on Saturday in her Christmas message to the world. Brothers and sisters, let us see the world from its context that Jesus is the savior and He alone will save us from every evil, let us understand that there is a world in view, which does not compromise with evil, she added. She also stressed the need for Christmas to be viewed beyond the birth of Jesus Christ and to also consider his death and as it brought life and salvation to mankind. Rev. Achana indicated that the world was in perilous times where people were living in fear and panic, particularly with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the havoc it had raked on human lives saying, The only solution to this is Jesus Christ. She quoted the Bible scripture in Titus 2:11-14, which emphasized the grace of salvation in God and the need for the general public to turn away from sin to a righteous living to be partakers in the blessings and favours of God. Rev. Achana also entreated the clergy to take their work very seriously and to teach the right doctrine to the public without fear or favour. She explained that God's wrath awaits the people who may in one way or the other compromise their stance and teach false doctrine saying, He is coming the second time as a king, as a lion of the tribe of Judah and as a judge who will judge the world of its deeds. Let's be mindful that judgment will begin in the church so if you refuse to say the truth, if you refuse to preach the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, if you add or you subtract God will judge you, she admonished. She appealed to Ghanaians to remain prayerful to ensure that the country's economy improved in 2022 and beyond to alleviate the plight of the people. GNA A bomb blast in the eastern city of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least three people on Saturday, officials and AFP reported. Narcisse Muteba, the colonel running the city during the state of emergency in the east of the country, said the bomb had gone off in the city centre. He called on residents to return to their homes for their own safety. Although Muteba did not give a toll for the explosion, an AFP correspondent saw the remains of three bodies at the site of the blast, the In Box restaurant. The remains of the restaurant's tables, chairs, bottles and glasses were scattered across the blast site. More than thirty people were celebrating Christmas there when the bomb went off, two witnesses told AFP. "I was sitting there," local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila told AFP. "There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise." A police vehicle took the wounded to a nearby medical centre, which was immediately sealed off. On June 27 in Beni, a blast from a homemade bomb at a Catholic church wounded two women, the same day a man died when the bomb he was carrying went off. The day before, another device blew up near a service station without doing any damage. The authorities blamed the attacks on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the deadliest of the militia. Beni, in Ituri province, on the DRC's eastern border with Uganda, has been the site of regular clashes between the army and the ADF. North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri have been under a "state of siege" since May, an emergency measure in which the military has taken effective control but which so far has not succeeded in stopping the attacks from the armed militia. On November 30, the DRC and Uganda launched a joint operation against the ADF in the east of the country to try to quell the bloody ADF attacks. Uganda has also blamed the group for a string of attacks on its territory. The ADF was historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. But it established itself in eastern DRC in 1995, becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region. It has been blamed for the killings of thousands of civilians over the past decade in the DRC, as well as for bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The Islamic State group presents the ADF as its regional branch -- the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP. On March 11 this year, the United States placed the ADF on its list of "terrorist groups" affiliated with IS jihadists. A suicide bomber killed at least five people at a crowded night spot in the city of Beni, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, local officials reported. "The suicide bomber, prevented by security from gaining access to the bar, packed with clients, activated the bomb at the entrance," said a statement from military officials running the North Kivu province. Another 13 people were being treated for their wounds in hospitals, the statement added, describing the death toll as provisional. The statement blamed the attack on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the deadliest of the militia active in the region. Shortly after the blast, Narcisse Muteba, the colonel running the city during the state of emergency in the east of the country, had called on residents to return to their homes for their own safety. Shortly after the attack, an AFP correspondent saw the remains of three bodies at the site of the blast, the In Box restaurant. The remains of tables, chairs, bottles and glasses were scattered across the blast site. One city hall source told AFP that two children were among the dead, as well as two local officials. More than thirty people were celebrating Christmas there when the bomb went off, two witnesses told AFP. "I was sitting there," local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila told AFP. "There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise." A police vehicle took the wounded to a nearby medical centre, which was immediately sealed off. Operations against the ADF On June 27 in Beni, a blast from a homemade bomb at a Catholic church wounded two women, the same day a man died when the bomb he was carrying went off. The day before, another device blew up near a service station without doing any damage. The authorities blamed those attacks on the ADF. Beni, in Ituri province, on the DRC's eastern border with Uganda, has been the site of regular clashes between the army and the ADF. Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province have been under a "state of siege" since May, an emergency measure in which the military has taken effective control but which so far has not succeeded in stopping the attacks from the armed militia. On November 30, the DRC and Uganda launched a joint operation against the ADF in the east of the country to try to quell the bloody ADF attacks. Uganda has also blamed the group for a string of attacks on its territory. The ADF was historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. But it established itself in eastern DRC in 1995, becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region. It has been blamed for the killings of thousands of civilians over the past decade in the DRC, as well as for bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The Islamic State group presents the ADF as its regional branch -- the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP. On March 11 this year, the United States placed the ADF on its list of "terrorist groups" affiliated with IS jihadists. 26.12.2021 LISTEN The Public Relations Officer (PRO) at Ghana Gas, Ernest Owusu Bempah has won the Corporate Communications Manager of the year 2021 at the just ended Corporate Ghana Awards. The renowned journalist and Communication Expert was crowned Ghana's most Corporate Communications Manager at the 3rd Corporate Ghana Awards held on Thursday at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah noted that, the award was a welcome recognition of his hard work done over the past years which had been very unpredictable owing to the global pandemic that set off unprecedented challenges. "My hard work and job as a corporative communication manager have manifested to the trustees and the board and they decided to award me. I have been constantly doing my job and working with the journalists and doing my job to help Ghana Gas. I must say this award is a milestone in my career, it's one of those things that you get awarded for something you do extraordinary that is I'm one in a million that is why they chose me", he said Emphasising that, the year 2021 has been a tough year because of the pandemic. we have been facing a lot of problems but basically, it has been smooth in terms of how we are managing ourselves in our organisations and what we are doing to make sure we move on smoothly in the dissemination of information between media and the general public and I must say we are doing our job well. It has been a fantastic year in 2021 there was some hindrance but we are managing". Highlighting on what to expect in 2022, Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah hinted that, "we have a lot coming up and the experience is what is important. what one has to do is, when you have the passion to do something it always speaks within you and that's what I have always done right from childhood till now". He then lauded the organizers for such an important awards scheme to reward hard-working personalities and institutions in the corporate sector. The 2021 Corporate Ghana Awards been its third edition is an annual awards scheme organized by Corporate Ghana Limited. The awards aimed at identifying and publicly recognizing the individuals and companies in both public and private sectors in corporate Ghana across the country. Other Awardees of the night include; Supportive Health Ministry to Corporate Ghana - Ministry of Health Best CEO Energy Category -- Kwame Agyemah Budu CEO Of The Year Private Banking Company and Innovation -- Thomas Atta John Best Savings and Loans Company Of The Year -- Best Point Savings And Loans Limited Best Five Stars Hotel Of The Year --- Movenpick Ambassador Hotel National Petroleum Company Of The Year -- Ghana Petroleum Commission Best Healthcare CEO, Health category Linda Dsane-Selby The night also saw performances from one of Ghana's fast-rising Musician Fameye, the ever-gorgeous Cina Soul and Akwaboah. In any country that the law is weak and doesnt function, crime and corruption are what prevail, thats the current situation in Ghana, including its harbours. Yet the NPP government has never made any attempt to solve the corruption issues at the harbours which are creating difficulties for businessmen and Ghanaians in the Diaspora. I have already written three articles proving beyond doubt, about the massive corruption, fraud, and theft, involving goods and vehicles imported into the Ghana ports, therefore, this article shouldnt have been written. However, due to a video which I listened to recently about Ken Agyapong bitterly complaining about the high cost of customs duties at the ports, I need to write a fresh article to reveal the source of the authorisation of the corruption. According to the Assin Central Member of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party, things are very tough in Ghana because of high duties. He stressed further that duties in Ghana today are eroding the fortunes of the NPP government. Ken Agyapong said he went to Ghana Revenue Authority because the government has given them the order to raise 39 billion a year. (I couldnt figure out if he means 39 billion Ghana Cedis or dollars.) However, if they have given them that order doesnt mean they have to raise prices with their CTN. I was able to find the video on Youtube for readers to listen attentively to find out what this means and also the reason I took a particular interest in writing this article. Does this revelation by Ken Agyapong reveal the reason crimes have increased significantly at the Ghanaian harbours and yet the NPP government has ignored to stop it? I hope many will agree with me after listening to this video, that president Nana Akufo Addo is behind corruption, crime, and theft, taking place daily at the ports, else why has he failed to deal with the issue despite all the shreds of evidence? The statement made by Ken Agyapong confirms that Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP government are responsible for those crimes taking place at the harbours because the Ghana Revenue Authority has been authorised by the president to raise 39 billion a year. Have you seen why the NPP has failed miserably as a government and things have gone worst since Nana Akufo Addo became the president? They arrived on the political scene, after the NDC, to steal but not to protect the public's purse. Thanks to Ken Agyarpongs video, else I wouldnt have known the reason since last year many keep criticizing the NPP government over the broad daylight robbery taking place at the ports, yet Akufo Addo has failed to solve those issues. I have said this many times and I will keep saying that Akufo Addo is someone not qualified to be a president or a leader. In some of these developing countries, the president would either be impeached or forced to resign, since what Ken Agyapong said reveals that Akufo Addo is behind the corruption and theft taking place at the harbours. Customs officers are stealing vehicles, processing fictitious documents to evade taxes, confiscating goods imported into the country, and auctioning them at cheap prices for themselves and their families. Nana Akufo Addo pretends he doesnt know what is going in the country even though he promised to protect the publics purse. How can such a person be allowed to be a president to lead people? It is only Ghana. Many think I hate the president but the question I need a sincere answer to is who in his right mind will be proud of a president such as Nana Akufo Addo? The president doesnt care about what happens to the common people in his country. There are so many high-profile murder cases unsolved, including that of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, the journalist. Who will be proud of a president who doesnt care about the suffering of the common people but only interested in what causing hardships, for example, the introduction of E-levy, when he cant even create jobs to alleviate the burdens of the people? Readers will note that I have increased my submission of articles on ModernGhana. This is because, despite the decline of reading, I still get over thousand reads for most of my articles. This makes me feel that readers believe and like what I write, especially whatever I have written about Nana Akufo Addo and said it will happen has indeed taken place. Before writing any article about Ghana, I survey and analyse the political situation in the country. I don't promote corrupt government because my uncle, aunt is a politician or I belong to the tribe of a politician. This is the biggest mistake many have done to drive Akufo Addo to destruction today because embedded with hate against John Mahama, they continued to fool him that he is doing magic, while he was actually destroying the country. I wish those following Nana Akufo Addo and supporting the incompetent NPP government good luck. I don't want any embarrassment, therefore, I am not interested in any political party, not even in Europe, let alone Ghana. President Nana Akufo-Addo is asking drivers to adhere to road traffic regulations during the yuletide to reduce road crashes. Nana Akufo-Addo says incidence of road accidents should reduce during this season and that can only happen when drivers are cautious and take precaution for other road users. In a Christmas message to Ghanaians, President Akufo-Addo urged drivers to avoid drink-driving, excessive speeding and wear seat belts at all times. It is my fervent hope that this Christmas will be celebrated without any road accidents. Drivers must minimize their speed and take due precaution for other road users. Drive without the influence of alcohol and wear their seat belts as well as all passengers, he said. The President's call has been reiterated by many others including the Ghana Police Service which is keen on ensuring fewer than the usually high number of road accidents during the Christmas and New Year festivities every year. Director of Operations at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, Superintendent Dr. Samuel Sasu Mensah, in an earlier Citi News interview said it has so far deployed a team from the MTTD and the National Road Safety Authority to major roads to educate pedestrians and motorists on road traffic regulations all in the bid to keep road crashes on the low. We are trying to make sure that drivers who ply our roads abide by road traffic rules and regulations. Now it is not just about arrest, we are combining education and awareness creation together with enforcement of the rules and regulations. We also have our speed team checking speeding. 80 to 90% of road traffic accidents in our country are traceable to our actions so drivers of vehicles at this point in time should all abide by road traffic rules and regulation. If they do this, the road traffic crashes that we are having, this year we would have it on a down side, he advised. citinewsroom Some customers of international carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, have raised concerns over their luggage that are yet to arrive days after they arrived in Ghana. Some of the clients of the Airline who reached out to Citi News about the situation expressed their displeasure and frustration at the development, but Dominic Andoh, the Public Relations Manager of Ethiopian Airlines- Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leonne, has apologised to the affected customers. He urged them to visit the lost and found section of the Kotoka International Airport to pick up their luggage. According to him, the delay was due to an interruption in the airlines flight schedule occasioned by new COVID-19 restrictions in various parts of the world. He explained that the situation, as well as the weight limit of their aircraft forced the airline to carry along only a few luggage along, while it dispatched a dedicated flight to bring in the rest from the US. I sincerely think that customers understand the challenges airlines are going through, rerouting flights here and there due to COVID-19 restrictions and it applies to cargos as well. Over the years, we've been loyal to customers even when COVID-19 was at its peak last year, we were one of the biggest airlines that transported a lot of cargo and did a lot of repatriation flights, he said, adding that, we sincerely apologise for that. When the aircraft is moving, it has some weight limit. We had a lot people on the flight and some of the baggage were on board but there were a lot more that couldn't be carried alongside so we sent a plane that went to JFK and today [Saturday] [December 25], around 1:00pm, the luggage came so those who arrived on Thursday and Friday and part of those who arrived on December 25, their luggage came in this morning. So they have to carry their luggage tag and go to the lost and found department at Terminal 3. The bags are there for pickup, he said. citinewsroom President Nana Akufo-Addo, as visionary and determined to rid Ghana of the baneful official corruption as he is, fulfilled his campaign promise of creating the Office of Special Prosecutor. However, the person he appointed, Martin Amidu, based on the recommendation of many a selfless and serious Ghanaian of whom I was one, sadly disappointed him. Martin Amidu, probably unbeknown to many of us that recommended him to President Nana Akufo-Addo to appoint him as the Special Prosecutor, was harbouring a selfish and malicious agenda that he would exploit to thwart or defeat the expectations and purpose of the president. While in office, he employed delay tactics to scupper the presidents intention. From later to become public knowledge, he was continually refusing the very office blocks he had chosen when such blocks were nearing completion, after heavily investing money in their renovations and restructuring. I had better not dwell on how he diabolically through lies thrown into the public domain by his verbose publications, failed woefully, but according to his hidden plans, to achieve anything in the fight against the ever ramifying official corruption, the bane of the economic development of Ghana, since the discerning Ghanaian public is already aware of them. I will therefore not expect Kissi Agyebeng, the new Special Prosecutor, to become like Martin Amidu. He should not start complaining, using flimsy excuses to not do the job as it is expected and for which he has been appointed by the president and paid with the taxpayers money. If there are any complaints that he wants to make, or things that he may need to honestly speedily start his work, he should make them known to the president now. He should not sit down twirling his fingers to later come out from time to time to make public complaints when the time has almost completely run out and it has become too late to do anything about it. The president is becoming unpopular with some Ghanaians all because of his failure to prosecute, let alone, successfully prosecute and convict, the obviously perceived corrupt officials who have greedily, stupidly, selfishly and intentionally caused financial loss to the nation. Without official corruption abating or the perpetrators being seriously punished, Ghana will continually crawl on her knees instead of standing up to walk, let alone, running. This therefore demands that Kissi Agyebeng does not become a chirping bird to sit in the tree doing nothing all day long but chirping as Martin Amidu did, only to finally resign when the harm was already done and his secret but dubious intent was calculated by him to nearing achievement, if not achieved. The only person who was not a prophet, however, could successfully foretell the failure and uselessness of Martin Amidu in his post, when his name popped out as the appointed person for the post of Special Prosecutor, was Kennedy Agyapong (Honourable). He warned the president and Ghanaians how Martin Amidu will rather use his office to sabotage the president and his government. He did exactly as predicted! All the problems currently going on in Ghana, especially in the House of Parliament, would not happen if Martin Amidu had done his job truthfully as he promised on oath. Subsequently, I shall not be happy to see Kissi Agyebeng become a talking parrot or a chirping bird without necessarily doing his job as it is expected of him, not only by the president but all honest Ghanaians desirous of seeing official corruption nailed inside a coffin for burial to resuscitate no more. Could it not be possible to start with the prosecution of the Members of Parliament who doubling as Sector Ministers or Deputy Ministers, criminally availed themselves of double salary? I shall be on the back of the Special Prosecutor should I see him to repeat the malignity and diabolisms of Martin Amidu, the loquacious one, who although is full of himself, is without any truth and substance. Let Ghanaians see that you are really cut for the job right from the very inception of year 2022, Kissi Agyebeng. Rockson Adofo Sunday, 26 December 2021 Mob Justice can be defined as a large section of disorganise crowd of people resort to violence and destruction in attempt to ensure fairness and equity for themselves without any recourse to the legal institutions entrusted with the powers to adjugated Justice. The term Mob Justice is not and cannot be find in any legal books of Ghana being the constitution of Ghana, the criminal law acts, or promulgated books of Ghana, rather I see it to be Mob violence. Mob Justice has caused more harm to the society and the state than any good side as propagated by other group of people. Some section of the society resort to Mop Justice because they felt the Justice system and all state justice apparatus are not to be trusted and have little or no confidence in them. They have a conception that when miscreants are reported to any state apparatus, they can use the legal technicalities to get off the hook, therefore the best way to achieve results is to deployed instance Justice. This development calls for more interrogations and props then what is currently seen or done by the various states in trusted with legal adjugations, so as to placed confidence and trust as enshrine in Ghana Constitution Chapter 5 and the Criminal Acts 29. According to a Scholar by name Ernest Gyamfi who conducted a survey on why people engage in Mob Justice and whether they know the impacts this action causes related to the state and the larger society and the result that came from the survey is majority of the respondents belief section of the society engage in mob action because they don't belief the state institutions will provide fair justice and in area of awareness of the consequences to face when find guilty of indulging in such actions, majority of the respondents felt the law is week and cannot bite hard. The country Ghana and the society had lost great individuals through these barbaric acts and the typical example is Ghana losing a promising army officer in the persons of the late Captain Maxwell Adam Maham, which occurred in May 2017 who was wrongly tagged as criminal and was lynch by mob crowd in the course of duty within small village call Dankyira Obuasi. This action was seen as a big blow to the state, the security fraternity and the family, nearly stirred turmoil within the state it took rapid responses from the state to calm nerves. A young man on 16 Oct 2021, in downside a Community in Nima, Accra Ghana, was allegedly brutalised and nearly killed, it took the interventions of some opinion leaders. The young man was accused of stealing mobile fone and upon several attempt to explain issues, he was denied by the angry crowd and was quoted of being a suspected guy within the area. In my conclusion remarks, l urges all state institutions vested with constitutional powers and Criminal law powers to begin biting hard on individuals or group of people indulges in Mob Justice to serve as deterrent to others who have similar intentions. Example the Ghana Criminal law Act 29 that has several sections like section 47, 48, 69 and 84 that spelt out punishment that warrant a persons engage in Mob Justice. Also state institutions like CHRAJ and NCCE must intensive public education on CHAP 5 Constitution of Ghana article 13,15and 19 that talks about fundamental human right and fair to trial. I Reiterate, my writing is to turn the concept of Mob Justice upside down thus making of "Mob Justice" Mob violence. MICHAEL YIRAN ACCRA GHANA Russian energy giant Gazprom has rejected accusations that Moscow is limiting gas deliveries to Europe and denounced Germany's resale of gas to Poland amid soaring prices. Paris tries to find ways for Europe to be less energy dependent on Moscow. Poland this week accused Moscow of having stopped its deliveries via the Yamal-Europe pipeline that sends Russian gas to Western Europe, accusing Gazprom of "manipulation". The pipeline was operating in reverse mode this week, sending gas from Germany to Poland, public data showed, as European gas prices ticked up. President Vladimir Putin on Friday denied that the flow direction was a political move and said that Poland had "sidelined" Russia in managing the pipeline. Winter is coming "All accusations against Russia and Gazprom that we are not supplying enough gas to the European market are absolutely groundless and unacceptable and untrue," Russian news agency Tass quoted Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov as saying late Saturday, calling the accusations "lies". He said some buyers of Russian gas, in particular Germany and France, have not made additional orders, and slammed the reverse flow of gas that came as "winter is just beginning" as "not the most rational decision." "I don't even want to talk about the price of such reverse supplies. These prices are significantly higher than the prices for contract volumes set by Gazprom, he said in an interview on state television. "All problems in Western Europe have been created by themselves and there is no need to blame Gazprom for this. It is better to look in the mirror." Western countries have for weeks accused Russia of limiting gas deliveries to put pressure on Europe amid tensions over the Ukraine conflict and to push through the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to ship Russian gas to Germany. Germany's energy ministry, for its part, on Sunday poured cold water on accusations of Russia withholding deliveries. "Long-term supply contracts, including the Russian ones, are being adhered to and the long-term quantities of gas are arriving in Germany," the ministry told AFP. France wants to cut reliance on Russian gas Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that France, that always felt uneasy about the Nord Stream project, wants the European Union to reduce its dependence on countries such as Russia and China for both energy and the raw materials needed to drive the green revolution. "The EU should also ensure that new energy technologies like hydrogen are produced domestically," Barbara Pompili, France's minister for the ecological transition, was quoted as saying. (Wires) Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, the Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has called on African countries to review and renegotiate existing Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs). She said there was an increased signing of various tax treaties in Africa while some of the existing agreements were a subject of abuse, crippling economies in the continents. She said efforts by African countries to develop the continent had been very difficult as a result of challenges regarding tax evasion and tax avoidance by some countries. She said if these issues were resolved, it could help save the continent huge sums of money for development. Speaking at the launch of Dangers of Double Tax Agreement in Financing Development: a case study in Ghana, Mrs Ofori-Kwafo said the report emphasized the need to adopt a harmonized DTA model, which would take into consideration diversities in the African economies. Considering all the level of weaknesses and discrepancies that are embedded in most of the existing laws across the continent, there is, therefore, the need for thorough review and renegotiation, she added. Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo said the study specifically sought to critically review DTAs Ghana had signed with South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK) and analyse the dangers towards financing development. She stressed the need to make African countries dependent on financing developments through domestic resource mobilization. She said in view of that Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), in collaboration with its members of South and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiation Institute (SEATINI Uganda), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre Nigeria (CISLAC), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Policy Forum Tanzania and Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) Zambia with support from Open Society Foundation (OSF) had conducted a joint study on the Dangers of DTAs in Financing Development in Africa with case studies of Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. GNA Ghanas Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation is worsening by the day with the latest active cases rising to 5,112. November saw the country making strides in the fight against the pandemic as data confirmed a significant decrease in the number of active cases. However, with the cases of the Omicron Variant recorded early this month, the numbers have been on the rise. The latest figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has seen a share rise in the number of active cases which now stands at 5,112. This was after 1,158 new cases were recorded in the last few days. The death toll also stands at 1,274. The Reverend Daniel Kwesi Ayim, Pastor in charge of the Mount Moriah Congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Danfa, on Sunday said being a followers of Jesus Christ does not guarantee a problem free life He said persecution is part of life and as a Christian you must go through certain trials. Rev Ayim was preaching on the St Stephen's day Church service on the theme: Stephen in the steps of Jesus. The Presbyterian Church observe every 26th December as St Stephen's Day to commemorate the life of Stephen, who is remembered as the first martyr Rev. Ayim said Stephen was a powerful and faithful servant of Jesus Christ yet he faced persecution even unto death. He was stoned to death for doing the work of God "Following Jesus Christ is not always a bed of roses, you will suffer hatred, persecution and the likes, Samuel Otoo, a Presbyterian pastor was beheaded at Takyiman Tia, a town in Ghana for doing the work of God " Being a faithful and obedient Christian does not mean you will not face difficulties in life, he reiterated, urging Christians to also learn to laugh during difficult times, the same way we laughed during good times. Rev. Ayim, however, assured his congregants that God does not abandon his children who call on Him. God will be with you in your difficulties and He will deliver you, he said "In the difficult times, God opened the heavens for Stephen, he (Stephen) saw heaven open and saw the magnificent glory of God in his most difficult times. Rev Ayim also admonished Christians to learn to forgive their enemies, no matter how they intended to harm them, saying St Stephen prayed for the people who were stoning him to death. The Church used to occasion to confirm 11 members as communicants. Every member of the church was also given a parcel as Christmas gift GNA 26.12.2021 LISTEN Barima Bretwum Okyere Bediako II, Paramount Chief of Sekyere Kwaman in the Ashanti Region has died in a car crash on the Konongo-Kumasi road along with two others, it is reported. A police report, detailing how the traditional ruler, who was in charge a Subaru Outback 44 vehicle with registration number 4446-CD-21 from Accra on Tuesday, December 21, crashed into a Toyota Hiace minibus which was from the opposite direction. On reaching a section of the road at Odumasi three lane, near the Leon Bird Steel factory, on the main Konongo-Kumasi motor road he was overtaking vehicles ahead of him, and in the process collided head-on with a Toyota Hiace mini bus, with registration number ER 88-21, driven by Bright Otu, from Kumasi towards Accra with passengers on board, the report said. Barima, however died at the Konongo/Odumase Government Hospital where he was rushed to for treatment. The other victims; Ernest Osei Obeng aged 38 years and Lydia Asare, 42, also died moments later. The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Stewards hospital morgue, Yawkwei for preservation at the time. Driver of the Toyota Hiace, Bright Otu had both legs fractured and was referred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), for further treatment. The accident vehicles have since been impounded as part of police investigations, sources say. Known in private life as George Bretwum, the late paramount chief was a police officer until he ascended the throne. His death has shocked the Kwaman paramountcy who are yet to communicate the development to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He was 41. DGN online 26.12.2021 LISTEN Sensational wave-making alternative Afro artiste and all-around polymath, TeeZee releases his brand new single 'NEW GOVERNMENT' featuring one of the most talented singular artistes in Nigeria's growing alte movement Prettyboy D-O and ace Ghanaian hiphop and afrobeats artiste, Kofi Mole. Produced by VT kingsville, this spectacular song which highlights each artiste's individuality and vocal character, was inspired by TeeZee's visit to his second home in Africa Accra, Ghana where he met with the creative community, building the same connection and ambience between like-minded people, connecting new waves and alte movements in both Accra and Lagos. "Its a thought-provoking statement record, as the video stipulates - there has been a government coup, establishing the idea that the new generation is here to stay and take this new sound to the whole world. For me, this represents everything moving forward, where my music is concerned". This banging track 'NEW GOVERNMENT', unleashed upon us with stunning visuals shot in Accra, Ghana and directed by Yawphanta, brandishes the sexy TeeZee, styled by Joey Lit, Kelly Kurlz, Free The Youth, Papa Ghana and Daily Paper in all shades of swag, dapper and poise. In a beautifully conceptualized art direction by 57Flix that takes the audience to the heart of the matter in this deep and soul-searching project, the 'NEW GOVERNMENT' visuals, while upbeat and assured, largely stayed away from any controversy just serving up the musical facts. This creative talent, though has never claimed to be a brilliant genius or the poet of his generation, is the first to insist that his songs are fun and it's okay to enjoy them on those terms alone. One would indeed be hard-pressed to find a more hard-working artiste in the music industry than the self-proclaimed Fresh Prince of Lasgidi' TeeZee. Listen to the audio for 'NEW GOVERNMENT' and watch the delicious visuals here and on all digital platforms. WATCH "NEW GOVERNMENT" FT PRETTYBOY D-O & KOFI MOLE HERE 26.12.2021 LISTEN On Saturday, December 18, Ghana witnessed a new beginning of what is internationally acclaimed as the biggest fashion parade in Ghanaian pageant history. MALZ Promotions in collaboration with Woodin and Beyond the return hosted the preliminary fashion show of Miss Universe Ghana 2022 at one of the most iconic landmarks in the country, the Black Star Square. This event marked the onset of elevating the Ghanaian creative arts on a global scale and reinstated our dedicated mission to promote Ghanaian lifestyle, tourism, and culture. The Miss Universe Ghana Preliminary Fashion Show marks the very first time in history that Miss Universe Ghana hosted a preliminary fashion show and also the first time that a good 16 delegates are vying for the Miss Universe Ghana crown. The event witnessed these incredible women, each representing one of the 16 regions of Ghana, compete in a lineup of exciting rounds to help narrow the field to a select number of semifinalists at the Grand Finals. These delegates paraded in some never-before-seen elaborate Regional Costume Designs, paying homage to the vibrant culture, remarkable tourist attraction, and hidden gems the country has to offer. This preliminary fashion show also allowed the Miss Universe Ghana Organization to judge the 16 ladies during a swimsuit round and evening gown sponsored by Aha Brands and Woodin respectively. The preliminary fashion show did not only pave the way to flaunt the priceless masterpieces of some of the countrys most revered designers, but also created opportunities to discover, nurture, and showcase a new generation of designers who are looking to attain global recognition, with their pieces worn by the 16 most incredible women selected from the length and breadth of this country to compete for the Miss Universe Ghana 2022 title. This year raises anticipation for spectators both locally and internationally as the event unveils never-before-seen showmanship from fashion designers the likes of Regional Costume, Nipo Skin, Aha Brands, Nunoo Clothing, Yunizaah, Yidana, MrKels, Eugene de Wisec & Quarme, Katie O, and illustrious designs from one of the nations biggest textiles brand, Woodin. The event also saw heart-stopping performances from some of Ghanas leading entertainers in the music business like Adina, Stonebwoy, and amazing rising talents like Kweku Afro. With a number of the A-list talents selected to perform at the preliminary fashion show this year, it was no surprise the event earned massive attention, recording a peaked viewership level online. The maiden edition of Miss Universe Ghana Preliminary Fashion Show was hosted by Miss Universe Ghana 2017, Ruth Quashie, and the reigning Miss Universe Ghana, Silvia Naa Morkor Commodore with a special red carpet presentation by Mauvie the Motivator. A special thank you to the National Director of Miss Universe Ghana, Menaye Donkor-Muntari for introducing this brilliant innovation to change the status quo. In a statement, she said Our forefathers would be proud! This is the genesis of greater milestones that will propel Ghana to the international spotlight and awaken the spirit of patriotism for the world to see. Soon, these sixteen delegates will vie for the crown of Miss Universe Ghana 2022. We all await our new queen with eager anticipation. May the best girl win. NEW YORK (AP) Airlines continued to cancel hundreds of flights Saturday because of staffing issues tied to COVID-19, disrupting holiday celebrations during one of the busiest travel times of the year. FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, noted nearly 1,000 canceled flights entering, leaving or inside the U.S. Saturday, up from 690 flights scrapped on Friday. Over 250 more flights were already canceled for Sunday. FlightAware does not say why flights are canceled. Delta, United and JetBlue had all said Friday that the omicron variant was causing staffing problems leading to flight cancellations. United spokesperson Maddie King said staffing shortages were still causing cancellations and it was unclear when normal operations would return. This was unexpected, she said of omicron's impact on staffing. Delta and JetBlue did not respond to questions Saturday. According to FlightAware, the three airlines canceled more than 10% of their scheduled Saturday flights. American Airlines also canceled more than 90 flights Saturday, about 3% of its schedule, according to FlightAware. American spokesperson Derek Walls said the cancellations stemmed from COVID-related sick calls." European and Australian airlines have also canceled holiday-season flights because of staffing problems tied to COVID-19. For travelers, that meant time away from loved ones, chaos at the airport and the stress of spending hours standing in line and on the phone trying to rebook flights. Peter Bockman, a retired actor, and his daughter Malaika, a college student, were supposed to be in Senegal on Saturday celebrating with relatives they hadn't seen in a decade. But their 7:30 p.m. flight Friday from New York to Dakar was canceled, which they found out only when they got to the airport. They were there until 2 a.m. trying to rebook a flight. Nobody was organizing, trying to sort things out, he said, faulting Delta for a lack of customer service. Nobody explained anything. Not even, Oh were so sorry, this is what we can do to help you. Their new flight, for Monday evening, has a layover in Paris, and they are worried there will be issues with that one as well. They have already missed a big family get-together that was scheduled for Saturday. FlightAware's data shows airlines scrapped more than 6,000 flights globally for Friday, Saturday and Sunday combined as of Saturday evening, with almost one-third of affected flights to, from or within the United States. Chinese airlines made up many of the canceled flights, and Chinese airports topped FlightAware's lists of those with most cancellations. It wasn't clear why. China has strict pandemic control measures, including frequent lockdowns, and the government set one on Xi'an, a city of 13 million people, earlier this week. Employees who answered the phone Sunday at customer hotlines for Air China and China Eastern airlines said they had received no notice of cancelations of flights to or from the United States. Air China usually flies between New York City and Shanghai twice a week. China Eastern has two weekly flights to Los Angeles, one from Beijing and the other from the southern city of Shenzhen. Another Chinese airline, Hainan Airlines, suspended flights to the United States early in the pandemic. The Civil Aviation Administration of Chinas flight schedule through the end of March shows a total of 408 international flights planned per week. That is down 21% from a year earlier. Flight delays and cancellations tied to staffing shortages have been a regular problem for the U.S. airline industry this year. Airlines encouraged workers to quit in 2020, when air travel collapsed, and were caught short-staffed this year as travel recovered. To ease staffing shortages, countries including Spain and the U.K. have reduced the length of COVID-19 quarantines by letting people return to work sooner after testing positive or being exposed to the virus. Delta CEO Ed Bastian was among those who have called on the Biden administration to take similar steps or risk further disruptions in air travel. On Thursday, the U.S. shortened COVID-19 isolation rules for health care workers only. ___ Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed to this report. BENI, Congo (AP) Authorities in eastern Congo announced an evening curfew and new security checkpoints Sunday, fearing more violence after a suicide bomber killed five people in the first attack of its kind in the region. Beni Mayor Narcisse Muteba, a police colonel, warned hotels, churches and bars in the town of Beni that they needed to add security guards with metal detectors because terrorists could strike again. We are asking people to be vigilant and to avoid public places during this festive period," Muteba told The Associated Press on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Constant Ndima, the military governor of North Kivu province, said there will be a 7 p.m. curfew, as well as more road checkpoints. Officials initially said the death toll was six plus the suicide bomber, but they revised that figure a day later to five victims. Thirteen others remained hospitalized after the blast at the entrance to the Inbox restaurant on Christmas Day. Saturday's bloodshed dramatically deepened fears that Islamic extremism has taken hold in Beni. The town already has suffered years of attacks by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, who trace their origins to neighboring Uganda. Officials have blamed the latest attack on those rebels, whose exact links to international extremist groups have been murky. The Islamic State's Central Africa Province has claimed responsibility for attacks blamed on ADF, but it is unknown what role exactly the larger organization may have played in organizing and financing the attacks. There have been worrying signs that religious extremism was escalating around Beni: Two local imams were killed earlier this year within weeks of each other, one of whom had spoken out against the ADF. Then in June, the Islamic State groups Central Africa Province claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber who blew himself up near a bar in Beni without harming others. Another explosion that same day at a Catholic church wounded two people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, in which authorities say the bomber ultimately was stopped from entering the crowded restaurant. After the blast near the entrance, blood stained the pavement and mangled chairs lay strewn near the entrance. Rachel Magali, who had been at the restaurant with her sister-in-law and several others, described hearing a loud noise and then people starting to cry. We rushed to the exit where I saw people lying down," she told the AP. "There were green plastic chairs scattered everywhere and I also saw heads and arms no longer attached. It was really horrible. ___ Associated Press writer Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed. DENVER (AP) The first time Crystal Egli went hunting with a private instructor, she was terrified. Her fear of guns compounded her discomfort of being in rural areas. Egli, a Black woman, tried to explain her viewpoint to her mentor, a white man. Its not that Im certain rural communities are racist. Its that I have no idea if they are, and if they are, Im out in the middle of nowhere with no contacts, said Egli, a board member of the nonprofit Hunters of Color. Eglis mentor didnt buy the argument, and asked her to back up her suspicion with data, showing people of color arent as safe while hunting. Egli left the hunting session angry and wanting to find a way to gauge whether a space was safe for people who regularly experience discrimination. And I thought of the Green Book, Egli said, referencing the 1930s travel guide used to help Black travelers navigate the racist and dangerous roads around them. I was like, what if there was a modern one? she said during an interview. Egli brought the idea to colleague Parker McMullen Bushman in 2019, and after two months of conversation, the idea for their new organization was born. Their new Inclusive Guide allows customers to rate businesses on whether they foster welcoming environments that celebrate all identities. Their company Inclusive Journeys was founded with a mission of creating data-driven economic incentives that push businesses toward becoming more inclusive, in turn, creating safer spaces for people who typically experience discrimination, Egli and McMullen Bushman said. The Inclusive Guide a mix of two ideas, a digital Green Book and the modern website Yelp launched in pilot form in Denver on Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the emancipation of Black slaves. The site became widely available to all who wish to use it on Dec. 10. Egli and McMullen Bushman expect the site to launch in other U.S. cities starting early next year. Heres how it works. Participants can rate businesses using a range of markers, including courtesy of staff, Americans With Disabilities Act compliance, sense of personal safety and gender-neutral bathrooms. These ratings are used to populate inclusivity scores and to grade the store, restaurant or service provider on a scale of 1-5. Business owners who pay to participate receive a detailed report with suggestions and recommendations about how to make their establishments more inclusive. We want to shift the way the economy works. We want to shift it towards inclusion, McMullen Bushman said. If organizations receive low scores on the Inclusive Guide, consumers, especially those who often experience discrimination, will be less likely to shop there, she said. We know that money talks. We know the way that our economy works. Capitalism will work, if organizations are not doing what they need to be doing, she said. Many user-review websites quantify subjective markers from customers, such as, someone complaining that their soup was too cold at a restaurant. But when a person is rating a business based on something that has to do with their identity, people dont understand how that could be subjective and still quantifiable, Egli said. Everybody else is quantifying the seemingly unquantifiable just fine, she said. But for some reason, this hasnt been an area where people are allowed to just freely give their own reviews, based on their experience in regard to their identity. Now participants can rate a business based on feelings of safety, welcomeness and whether they feel celebrated. Safety on the Inclusive Guide is defined by feelings of physical, mental and emotional well-being. Welcomeness is defined by whether the customer feels theyre receiving good service, and celebrated is measured by how well a persons identity is reflected in business space, McMullen Bushman said. When I go in, do I see pictures of people that look like me? Are there people that look like me that work there? she asked. I always give the example of going to find Black hair care products: Is it displayed like the other hair care products? Or is it locked up in a corner or behind a post? People rating businesses are asked to input information about their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality and accessibility needs and appearance, such as body modifications or facial implants. Or things that might impact how people treat you when they see you, McMullen Bushman said. After the person signs into their account and rates a business, Inclusive Journeys leaders aggregate the data and share it with the business along with recommendations on how to improve. Businesses have the opportunity to see what communities theyre serving really well and what communities, they maybe could use some help in serving better, said McMullen Bushman, a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice trainer for almost a decade. No business is perfect A one-off review is not meant to sink a business. No business is perfect, Egli said, and all establishments will likely receive a bad review. A detailed report would not be sent to businesses until theyve amassed a certain number of reviews and scores that help identify a trend. For example, if a Black person indicates a bad experience at a restaurant, and white people report similar experiences, theres probably a customer service issue. But if many white people rank a restaurant highly while Black people dont, theres probably another trend the business leader should know about, Egli said. What were hoping to get from that data is things like, Asian men have a great time at your facility. But white ladies in wheelchairs have a harder time and this is the reason why theyre saying that, Egli said. The two founders are asking all people to use their new website. Theyre also asking all kinds of people to leave reviews, low scores, average scores, and good scores, which will help create diversity in responses in order to identify trends most accurately. Whenever we talk to folks that are people who experienced oppression, they see it and they love it, and then want to sign up right away, McMullen Bushman said. Now the founders are in the process of trying to amplify the need for everyone to use their service, she said. But that hasnt been easy, especially from the funding side. The Inclusive Guide founders have raised more than $100,000 through individual donations since inception from supporters. To launch the Inclusive Guide nationwide, the company is accepting donations via GoFundMe, and looking for investors. Theyve set a goal of raising $500,000 by spring. If they reach that goal, they will receive a matching donation from an anonymous donor. The same donor provided Inclusive Journeys $700,000 this year to get the guide started and to help build the website, and another grant for the next year. But that donor wont fund the new organization forever. Closing the funding gap Venture capital funding to U.S. startups led by Black women is on track to outpace the last five years. Startups with at least one Black woman founder have raised around $494 million so far in 2021, already surpassing the $484 million raised in all of 2018, Crunchbase News reported in an examination of diversity and access to capital in the venture-backed startup sector. Still, Black women founders receive just a tiny fraction of venture capital funding. In 2021, Black women entrepreneurs received just 0.34% of the $147 billion in venture capital invested in U.S. startups, according to the news organization. Egli and McMullen Bushman said they wont let funding obstacles stop them from raising the money to build their business. As Black women, weve talked to a lot of venture capitalists. Weve talked to angel investors and we are, I think, on the receiving end of the trend that we see that Black women are not being invested in by venture capitalists, McMullen Bushman said. Each of the five times the women have met with investors to pitch their new business idea, the session turned into a training or consultation, she said. Investors have asked why its not enough for business leaders to simply promise theyll be open about becoming more inclusive. And then, instead of pitching our technological ideas, we spend the whole time trying to explain systemic oppression, Egli said. Its just not a level playing field at that point, McMullen Bushman added. To help close the gap, LaDawn Sullivan, a leader at the Denver Foundation, started the Black Resilience in Colorado fund in June 2020, a month after George Floyd was murdered and while local nonprofit leaders of color were repeatedly reaching out to her in need of financial support to run their businesses. The fund has raised more than $2 million since inception 18 months ago and has granted more than $1.5 million to Black-led and -serving nonprofits that are addressing systemic racism and its impact on Black communities in metro Denver, Sullivan said. Inclusive Guide founders held an in-person and virtual event at their Denver headquarters on Dec. 10 to raise money and awareness about the guide and recognize people who have helped them along the way. Potential investors and business owners hoping to get involved attended. Tim Wolfe, director of the Colorado Tourism Office, attended the Dec. 10 event and received an award for supporting Inclusive Journeys with a recent $50,000 sponsorship and by promoting Inclusive Journeys and other Colorado businesses on its website, Wolfe said. We support them because we believe in their mission, Wolfe said, and were going to continue that journey with them. Similar initiatives Other similar initiatives exist, including The Green Book Project, a mobile app helping people from marginalized groups find inclusive businesses. The app is different from the Inclusive Guide website, because it doesnt offer businesses a detailed report about their ratings. The National Black Adventure Directory, a guide to Black adventure representation, information and access to the outdoors, has a few posts on its website about recreation in Western states. The founder travels to different outdoor spaces, engages in adventurous activities, and then posts reviews about the places shes traveled to. Open to All, created by the company Yelp, is a coalition of more than half a million businesses that have pledged to become and remain welcoming and inclusive. Businesses simply opt in to deem themselves safe and welcoming, whereas with the Inclusive Guide, customers will define that. In the new year, Inclusive Journeys will host training workshops and other events, especially during Black History Month, for people who wish to learn more about their goals. (Those who missed the Dec. 10 event, can reach organization leaders at hello@inclusiveguide.com.) Almost 60 years after the discontinuation of The Green Book, Black Twitter has become its modern day version. #BlackTwitter serves as an informal guide to help Black people avoid discrimination and build community. Black Twitter and The Green Book both provide a space where Black people can share tips and resources about navigating racism, according to researchers at the University of Colorado. I think that its fantastic that theyre doing something that invokes the Green Book for a contemporary moment, said Shamika Klassen, a doctoral student in the information science department at CU, who recently finished a project examining the similarities between The Green Book and Black Twitter. I definitely see the similarities between their work and what inspired our research, she said of the new Inclusive Guide. And I think that spaces like this are definitely needed. Overnight reports from Jacksonville-area police: Merchandise stolen: Someone filled a shopping cart with merchandise at Dollar General, 235 W. Walnut St., and ran through an emergency exit about 2:15 p.m. Thursday. Trespassing charge: Justin H. Bowen, 34, of 317 N. Madison St. was arrested at 3:31 p.m. Friday on a charge of criminal trespass to state-supported land after being accused of causing a disturbance in the 600 block of North West Street. Accident citation: Alexandria A. Davidson, 19, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of operating an uninsured motor vehicle after police said her car backed into another vehicle in a parking lot in the 500 block of East Morton Avenue at 2:02 p.m. Friday. Vandalism: Something was thrown through the rear window of a vehicle in the 700 block of North East Street about 5:52 p.m. Friday. Battery arrest: Kayla M. Galloway, 28, of 218 Brighton Lane was arrested at 3:15 a.m. Saturday on a domestic battery charge. Break-in attempt: A door at Jacksonville Dream Center Foundation, 210 W. College Ave., was damaged between 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8:54 p.m. Friday in a possible attempt to break in. Shoes stolen: A pair of shoes delivered to a residence in the 800 block of Hardin Avenue were stolen from the porch about 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Two-car crash: Sheila I. Turke, 66, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failing to yield after the car she was driving and one being driven by Janet R. Lynn, 73, of Virginia collided at 10:22 a.m. Thursday at North Main Street and East Douglas Avenue. Parked car hit: Joshua K. Woods, 32, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper lane use after his car hit a vehicle parked in the 400 block of South East Street about 12:43 a.m. Friday. The driver told police he had dozed off because of a lack of sleep. Purse swiped: A purse was taken from a woman's shopping cart about 1 p.m. Thursday while she was at Walmart, 1941 W. Morton Ave. Smoke and flames: A smoldering fire caused heavy smoke in the 400 block of South Clay Avenue about 8:15 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters were called and put out the fire. Twins a mixed blessing for some West African parents View Photo OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) In her dreams, Eveline Zagre believes her two sets of twins share premonitions and make demands of her buy a chicken, beg for money. Their spirits will enter your dreams and let you know what they want and then you have to get it for them, she said. Despite the burden of following their dream directives, Zagre considers herself doubly blessed. The 30-year-old mother of five is raising 3-year-old twin girls and 13-year-old twin boys in Burkina Faso one of the West African countries where twins are revered for having special powers, like healing the sick, warding off danger, bringing financial prosperity and predicting the future. The majority-Muslim country, with its strong cultural embrace of the supernatural, regards twins as the children of spirits, and the mothers of twins as specially picked to bear them. This deeply rooted perception stems from the days people could not scientifically explain how twins were conceived. In other parts of West Africa, twins are seen as a curse. People were afraid of twins because they couldnt explain why these children were born two instead of one, said Honorine Sawadogo, a sociologist at the government-run National Center for Scientific and Technological Research in Burkina Faso. Parents of twins would turn to witch doctors who came up with rules they believed they must follow in order to keep their children and themselves safe, said Sawadogo, who did her doctoral research on the mothers of twins. These beliefs and practices persist today despite the established scientific explanation for how twins come into the world. Zagre and her husband, Ousmane Nikiema, visited a witch doctor after giving birth to both sets of twins. For their boys, the parents were given no directives. But a witch doctor told them their girls, Victorine and Victoria Nikiema, needed to beg for money on the side of the road or risk being killed by a family members spirit. If (the witch doctor) sees a spirit in the compound, youll have to take the children to beg in order to prevent the curse, said Nikiema, who lives with his family in Burkina Fasos capital city, Ouagadougou. (The spirit) might not kill them, but hell do something to them. He can make them insane or something similar, or he can paralyze them. Throughout Ouagadougou, mothers and their identically dressed twins can be seen sitting on mats alongside roads and begging. They are driven by dream requests and witch doctor instructions, mothers told The Associated Press. As they beg, visitors offer gifts, like chickens, honey cake and seashells, in exchange for blessings. I bless people when they come and give us things, I say may God heal you if someone comes and is sick, said Marcelline Tapsoba, the mother of 2-year-old twins. As they sat on the ground in their usual spot in the citys outskirts, Tapsoba and her children were surrounded by other mothers and their twins who also were begging and offering blessings. Tapsoba said those who receive her blessings often return weeks later to thank her for their newfound romantic or financial success. Similar scenes play out in Ghana. If you give birth to the twins in Ghana, you have to follow the twins rules, said Kasim Amadu, a businessman. It is thought that wronged and unhappy twins can lead to personal harm for the parents and others, he said. Most cultures in West Africa cherish twins, and soothsayers believe they can enhance their communication with the spirit world through them, said Philip Peek, a professor emeritus at Drew University in New Jersey whose research includes folklore and African religion. Peek, who is the editor of the book, Twins in African and Diaspora Cultures: Double Trouble, Twice Blessed, said there is a longstanding global belief that twins have a heightened ability to communicate because of the bond they form in the womb, which allows them to connect to higher powers. They communicate intuitively and the ability is certainly recognized in secular terms, not just spiritual, Peek said. Not every West African community embraces them. Twins are considered evil in some neighborhoods surrounding Nigerias capital of Abuja, said Stevens Olusola Ajayi, a Christian missionary who has rescued 19 sets of twins out of fear they would be killed. Ajayi, who has been doing this work since 1996, brings the children to live with his family and community. This year he returned six children to their parents; it is the first time he has been able to arrange such family reunions. Even in countries where they are viewed favorably, twins can be at risk of being exploited for financial gain. Some mothers borrow children from neighbors and pass them off as twins to make more money from begging, said Sawadogo, the sociologist. It is not easy being the parent of twins. In Ouagadougou, Fati Yougma, 27, said her twin girls beat her in her dreams if she doesnt obey their demands. Despite that, Yougma is honored to be their mother. ___ AP journalist Chinedu Asadu in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content. By SAM MEDNICK Associated Press Desmond Tutu: Timeline of a life committed to equality View Photo JOHANNESBURG (AP) 1931 Oct. 7 Desmond Mpilo Tutu is born in Klerksdorp, near Johannesburg. 1947 Contracts tuberculosis, as he recuperates he is visited by Trevor Huddleston, a British Anglican pastor working in South Africa. 1955 Marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane and begins teaching at a secondary school in Johannesburg. 1961 Is ordained as a minister in the Anglican church, after quitting teaching in disgust at South Africas apartheid governments inferior education for Blacks. 1962 Studies theology at Kings College London. 1966 Returns to South Africa to teach at a seminary in the Eastern Cape. 1975 Becomes the Anglican churchs first Black dean of Johannesburg. 1976 Serves as Bishop of Lesotho and voices criticism of apartheid in South Africa. 1978 Becomes general-secretary of the South African Council of Churches and achieves global prominence as a leading opponent of apartheid, supports economic sanctions to achieve majority rule in South Africa. 1984 Wins Nobel Peace Prize There is no peace in southern Africa. There is no peace because there is no justice. There can be no real peace and security until there be first justice enjoyed by all the inhabitants of that beautiful land, Tutu says in his acceptance speech. 1985 Becomes the first Black bishop of Johannesburg. 1986 Is ordained the first Black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. 1989 Leads anti-apartheid march of 30,000 people through Cape Town. 1990 Hosts Nelson Mandela for his first night of freedom after Mandela is released from prison after being held for 27 years for his opposition to apartheid. Mandela calls Tutu the peoples archbishop. 1994 Votes in South Africas first democratic election in which all races can cast ballots. 1995 President Nelson Mandela appoints Tutu to be chairman of the countrys Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 1996 Tutu retires as prelate, the Anglican church gives him the title of Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town. 1997 Is diagnosed with prostate cancer and announces it to help with public awareness of the disease. 1998 Truth and Reconciliation Commission publishes its report, putting most of the blame for abuses on the forces of apartheid, but also finds the African National Congress guilty of human rights violations. The ANC sues to block the documents release, earning a rebuke from Tutu. 2009 Aug. 12 Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama. 2010 July 22 Retires from public life, tells press: Dont call me, Ill call you. 2013 Launches international campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town. I would not worship a God who is homophobic. 2014 July 12 Urges the British parliament to allow assisted dying, saying the manner of Nelson Mandelas prolonged death was an affront. 2021 Oct. 7 Frail, in a wheelchair, Tutu attends his 90th birthday celebration at St. Georges Cathedral in Cape Town. 2021 Dec. 26 Tutu dies in Cape Town. Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Three members of the K-pop superstar group BTS have been infected with the coronavirus after returning from abroad, their management agency said. RM and Jin were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday evening, the Big Hit Music agency said in a statement. It earlier said another member, Suga, tested positive for the virus on Friday. All three took their second jabs in August, the agency said. BTS is a seven-member boyband. The four other members are J-Hope, Jungkook, V and Jimin. According to the agency, RM has exhibited no particular symptoms while Jin is showing mild symptoms including light fever and is undergoing self-treatment at home. The agency said Friday that Suga wasnt exhibiting symptoms and was administering self-care at home in accordance with the guidelines of the health authorities. RM had tested negative after returning from the United States earlier this month following his personal schedule there. But he was later diagnosed with the virus ahead of his scheduled release from self-quarantine, the agency said. After returning to South Korea this month, Jin underwent PCR tests twice upon arrival and later before his release from self-quarantine and tested negative both times. But he had flu-like symptoms on Saturday afternoon before he took another PCR test that came back positive, the agency said. Media reports said he also had traveled to the U.S. Suga, who has had a number of personal engagements in the United States during the band's official time off, was diagnosed with COVID-19 during quarantine after returning from the U.S., the agency said. The agency said itll continue to provide support for the three members for their speedy recovery. It said it will cooperate with the requests and guidelines of the South Korean health authorities. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has garnered global recognition for their self-produced music and activism, which includes giving a speech at the United Nations and publicly calling out anti-Asian racism. BTS was named artist of the year and favorite pop duo or group, and also won the favorite pop song award for Butter at the American Music Awards in November. In October, the group's collaboration with British rock band Coldplay, My Universe, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was BTS sixth Hot 100 No. 1. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) In 2008, when the Right Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire was excluded from a global Anglican gathering because of his sexuality, Desmond Tutu, who died Sunday, came to his defense. Gene Robinson is a wonderful human being, and I am proud to belong to the same church as he, Tutu wrote in the foreword to a book Robinson published that year. Robinson, who in 2003 became the U.S. Episcopal Churchs first openly gay bishop, said Sunday he has been trying to live up to those words ever since. It was quite surreal because I was taking grief from literally around the world, he said in a phone interview. There was probably at that time, and maybe still, no one better known around the world than Desmond Tutu. It was an astounding gesture of generosity and kindness. Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice, died at age 90. He was an uncompromising foe of apartheid, South Africas brutal regime of oppression against its Black majority, as well as a leading advocate for LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. Now, with gay marriage, its hard to remember how controversial this was, and for him to stand with me at the very time I was being excluded ... it completely floored me, said Robinson. In the foreword to Robinson's book, Tutu also apologized for the cruelty and injustice the LGBTQ community had suffered at the hands of fellow Anglicans. Tutu, Robinson said, used his own experience of oppression to understand and empathize with others. He used that as a window into what it was like to be a woman, what it was like to be someone in a wheelchair or for someone to LGBTQ or whatever it was, he said. It was the thing that taught him to be compassionate. Robinson recalled the way Tutu's laugh rippled across crowds of thousands as well as a private moment when they prayed together in the seminary Robinson graduated from in New York. There was nobody in pain that he wasnt concerned about, whether that pain was a physical ailment of some kind or a mental illness or something to do with cruelty or degradation. It pained him, Robinson said. To sit in the room and hear him praying about those people was about as close to knowing the heart of God as I ever expect to know. I mean, I dont even need to know more than that. Robinson served as the ninth bishop of New Hampshire until his retirement in early 2013 and later as a fellow at the Center for American Progress. Now 74, he recently retired as the vice president of religion and senior pastor at the Chautauqua Institution. MERIDEN The first wave of students second and third-graders at John Barry Elementary School all grabbed lunches from the cafeteria counter and sat at tables throughout the cafeteria and school gymnasium late Wednesday morning. That gave nutrition services staff like Jenn Koss, a 25-year employee of the Meriden Public Schools, a little bit of down time to clean and put away cookware, before the next wave of students. She even had two minutes to spare, while drying off stainless steel pans, to speak with a reporter. Its been a challenging year for nutrition service employees like Koss. Ongoing global supply chain issues, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, created shortages in the most ubiquitous of school lunch foods and items things like chicken nuggets, egg patties, milk and even cardboard trays. In fact, the costs of the trays increased six-fold in the past year, according to officials. The shortages make long-term menu planning a challenge. You get what you can. And you try to make the best of it and definitely sell it to the kids, Koss said. On this day, for example, staff had previously anticipated a menu of food choices that included plain hamburgers. They were not available. Instead, the menu offerings for that lunch included cheese pizza, cheeseburger sliders on whole wheat buns, broccoli, apples and some other items. Students didnt seem to mind. As Koss noted: They were really excited about the sliders. Its not something they would normally get. But theyre happy about it. So that worked out. In addition to staff members wearing masks, other COVID-19 measures were on display. Students socially distanced seated across tables throughout the cafeteria and gymnasium. The cafeteria alone can seat at least 200 students. Around 80 students were seated in the cafeteria, with a similar number in the gymnasium. Despite the distancing, the sounds of lunchroom chatter still filled each room. Between meal waves, nutrition staff scurried to wipe down and disinfect tables and stools and clean the floor in time for the next group of hungry students. Not just food shortages District leaders dont expect the challenges to abate any time soon. The available food supply issues have been compounded by other issues, including delivery driver shortages and staffing shortages at distribution facilities. Meriden Public Schools even have a few staffing vacancies of their own. I thought last year was going to be the worst year that we were going to have. But right now, theyre predicting possibly another two years, said Susan Maffe, director of food and nutrition services for the Meriden Public Schools, of the ongoing food supply challenges. So Maffe and her staff are making plans for potential solutions including renting a frozen food trailer for additional storage capacity. A notable shift from last year more students are able to sit at each table. And unlike last year, they are able to face one another. Other social distancing and cohorting measures are still in place. At any one point in time theres only one grade in each area, Maffe said. So its the same group of kids being kept together. Maffe is a veteran of the food services industry. She has 30 years in the field, with 17 years in Meriden Public Schools. She said this year so far has been absolutely one of the most challenging. Its continual crisis management, she said. It is nothing that you can plan for because the issues are different almost every day. One thing that hasnt changed: staff ensure all students are fed. Counting all breakfasts and lunches, Maffe estimated staff serve up at least 10,000 meals a day. Counting all summer and winter meal programs, she estimated her staff distributes about 1.5 million meals in a single year. The latest food items that have been hard to come by are egg patties for breakfast sandwiches. Also plain hamburger patties. Weve had trouble getting lactose-free milk and potatoes, Maffe said. Cereal is a really big problem right now. The shipping lead time how long it takes for orders to come from warehouses has extended as much as eight to 10 weeks, Maffe said. Obtaining new appliances is an additional challenge. Maffe said when she tried to purchase an oven she was told it would not be available until next October. So, were constantly planning ahead with how were going to be able to keep operations going, with the problem continuing to get worse, Maffe said. Flipping menus Janet Crosetti-Jackson, a five-year employee, said ordering and receiving sought-after food items has been the biggest challenge. We have to flip the menus quite often, she said. You find out, Oh this didnt come in. So we have to change the menu. Crosetti-Jackson and other staff previously would have planned out their schools meals a month ahead. Now theyre planned weekly and not posted until the Friday before the following week. We dont print our menus until everything is in-house. So when something doesnt show, we can change the menus before its out to the teachers and students, Crosetti-Jackson said. Meriden School Superintendent Mark D. Benigni had high praise for Maffe and the food service staff. Susan and her team have done a terrific job of making it work for all of our students, Benigni said. I appreciate the understanding from our students and families that were doing our best and we may not have every option that we wish we had available but we will continue to serve all students. One thing that is apparent families count on the meals their children receive from their local schools. District staff have continued to provide meals, during summer months and the winter breaks. The need is still there, Benigni said. Continued creativity Federal officials have recognized the need. Districts with large populations of low income families like Meriden had long been eligible to serve universal free meals, through the U.S. Department of Agricultures Community Eligibility Provision. Last year, the USDA granted a waiver so that all school districts would be able to serve meals free of charge. The agency expanded that waiver to include this year as well. In Meriden, officials and staff will continue to monitor and stay ahead of the supply chain issues, Benigni and Maffe explained. I do think were going to need to continue to be creative and flexible. And if we do that, I think we will be OK, Benigni said. Board of Education President Robert Kosienski Jr. described food service staff members daily efforts as Herculean. They are working to creatively put together meals that are enjoyable for the students and meet the required standards for nutrition. Breakfast items have been the biggest area of concern, and with Susans connections throughout the state, and collaboration with some of our local food distributors, Meridens Food Service program has been able to operate without major disruption, Kosienski stated in an email to the Record-Journal. In these instances, Meriden is very fortunate to have the leadership and professionalism and staff that support our students and families every day. We all hope that things get better as the supply chains open further during the next few months. Employees like Koss and Crosetti-Jackson have taken the challenges in stride. Koss said she enjoys the day-to-day interactions with students and co-workers. My job is fun We have a good group. We laugh. We get our work done. We make sure every kid eats. We leave with a smile, Koss said. Like we said, the jobs rewarding, Crosetti-Jackson added. mgagne@record-journal.com203-317-2231Twitter:@MikeGagneRJ What American fast-food connoisseur wouldnt love a massive tortilla pouch packed with meat, oozy cheese, and fistfuls of fries? Overseas, French tacos are all the rage. The category is now just behind pizza and burgers across all delivery platforms in France, where Paris-based OTacos is gobbling up more than its share of the QSR market. Introduced in 2011 by two brothers in Bordeaux who were soon joined by a drywaller from Grenoble, OTacos has grown to 280 units across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, with annual revenue surpassing $300 million. OTacos grand openings often celebratory events featuring French rap stars and Instagram influencers are occurring in France reportedly at a faster rate than McDonalds. Fans line up for hours to get their hands on the beefed-up poutine in a wrap. In the beginning, it was a product that was very popular in the suburbs, says Patrick Pelonero, the drywaller turned cofounder, though he means suburbs in the French sense, a more urban, working-class setting than the American definition. (We spoke through a translator.) Now everybody knows it and everybody eats it. Related: Just How Much Does It Cost to Own a Fast-Food Franchise? In 2017, OTacos opened 72 new locations in France. That March, it also decided to come to America. To do so, it set its sights where countless entrepreneurial dreamers had before: New York, that glittering melting pot of big ideas, fusion foods, outsize portions, and quick, tasty, eat-it-with-your-hands grub. OTacos seemed perfect for the market. But just 14 months later, as OTacos success continued to skyrocket overseas, its only U.S. location closed. Now that failed experiment could serve as a stark lesson for OTacos, and for any other aspiring franchises about just how complicated international expansion is...and how much work must be done to find success. Image Credit: Courtesy of O'Tacos The appeal of entering the American franchise market is obvious. The U.S. is, for instance, about 18 times bigger than France, which is about equal in size to Texas. And so, according to research from the advisory firm FranData, each year roughly 30 brands from outside the country try to stake a claim stateside. Its not a simple path, but its a clearly defined path, says Darrell Johnson, franchise economist and CEO of FranData. Because modern franchising began in America nearly 100 years ago, Johnson explains, information and expertise are more readily available here, and the legal regulatory structure is solidly in place. There are at least 3,500 franchise brands operating in the U.S. today, more than any other country by a long shot. (Australia, the next closest, has about 1,100.) Theres plenty of opportunity, Johnson says, pointing to success stories like Pollo Campero out of Guatemala, Bonchon out of South Korea, and Tim Hortons out of Canada. I think the daunting part of it for most franchise brands internationally looking at the U.S. market is How do I get started with this? There are clear best practices, says Ray Hays, managing partner of FranLaunch USA, which focuses on bringing franchise concepts to America. Its not as much a matter of getting it the way you think is right, Hays says. Its about avoiding doing things the wrong way when you enter the U.S. market. Related: What You Really Need to Look for When Considering a Franchise Hays says that when brands stumble in the U.S., its typically because they struggled with one of four key principles: demonstrating proof of concept, creating a realistic financial plan, enlisting boots on the ground, or seeking legal guidance early on for both federal regulations and the abundance of state-specific laws. Finding U.S. partners and franchise experts on the ground in the U.S., I cant stress that enough, Hays says. Its absolutely critical, even for a very seasoned and established franchise thats gone into 10 countries across Europe. No matter what, companies will also need to contend with the sheer scale of the United States which can seem like a blessing from afar but a curse up close. For a 2018 article in Global Franchise magazine, Hays polled a handful of franchise CEOs from the United Kingdom which is arguably closest to Americas franchise market in terms of culture and language about what they didnt realize before entering the U.S. They say, you know, This may sound really stupid, but I didnt realize how big the United States was. I didnt realize how diverse it was, Hays says. Miami is a completely different market from Boston or New York or Chicago. Instead of entering one country, it can feel like entering 10. The harsh reality is that very few Latin American and even European brands are actually ready or prepared to get into the U.S., says Fernando Lopez de Castilla, founder of Peru-based GNF Worldwide, which has guided nearly 3,000 franchises into more than 40 countries over the past decade. De Castilla says its about discipline: Stick to an expansion-and-development plan, hire a good franchise lawyer, enlist consultants, and above all, resist shortcuts. What happens in many cases, even for the big brands, is they receive an attractive lead from an exotic place, or maybe a great place like New York or L.A., and its amazing how easily they disregard their previous homework and their plan and just want to have, lets say, an overnight success. Just hitting the jackpot in that fabled place, he says. I dont think life is like that, and franchising is definitely not like that. Opening a restaurant in one of the most dynamic cities in the United States was the furthest thing from Patrick Peloneros mind in 2007. He was just looking to make money when summer drywalling jobs dried up in the winter off-season in Grenoble, in the French Alps region that is credited with creating French tacos. Pelonero began experimenting with his version of the recipe with a shop he called Tacos des Allies. Meanwhile, two brothers Silman and Samba Traore were essentially doing the same thing. The brothers opened the first OTacos location in Bordeaux, in 2011, before combining forces with Pelonero for OTacos in 2013. Related: Interested in Starting a Business Overseas? Keep These 5 Things in Mind They werent the only ones developing the market. Le Tacos de Lyons website says it created French tacos in Lyon in 1999 and now has four locations. Tacos Avenue is also eyeing international expansion, and there are other competitors, too. But the OTacos trio swiftly built a loyal following of young, working-class locals, who appreciated hearty food that didnt eat up their paychecks. (Today the starting medium size goes for around 5, or roughly $6, and typically includes a choice of seven meats, 12 sauces, french fries, and a dozen or so add-ons.) Early fans also liked that the meat was (and still is) certified halal, appealing to suburban Muslim youth. Perhaps most influential of all, Pelonero had also opened a marketing agency in 2010. OTacos became known for viral stunts like the five-pound, meat-laden Gigataco (free, if eaten by the two-hour deadline a feat rarely accomplished) and emphasized the experience of the brand, not unlike Americas own Taco Bell. Rap music became embedded in the brands culture, in part because of Peloneros personal connections in the music industry. Today, the OTacos France home page features an interactive keyboard highlighting 42 available ingredients, each miked with sound. Users can choose a backdrop beat and record a 15-second rap. In 2013, OTacos decided to franchise and opened a tiny location in Paris. Thats when all the ingredients really came together. It had people queuing up for hours, for more than 100 meters, to try the product. As of that moment, the whole brand was off for exponential growth, Pelonero says. OTacos social media accounts gained 30,000 fans in six months, and as the brand grew, it deliberately focused on its roots. Its important, that connection, that link with urban youth, with the suburbs, thats real, says Pelonero. Especially in this type of environment, people see whether its real or fake, and the moment you are not real, you lose a lot of credibility. So thats a big part of the brand. In 2015, franchising began in earnest with 21 openings that year. By 2017 to 2018, OTacos had 220 locations. Yet on the development side, it was still just Pelonero and two interns. It was a very lean structure, very entrepreneurial, he says. Its the beginning of a startup that I think nowadays you mostly see within the tech industry, where things go very quickly, exponential, very small teams and a dedicated founder. It was around that time that a message from America arrived. A French native whod been living in Brooklyn for 11 years wrote to the OTacos team, certain the brand would find a similar fan base there: urban, young, and driven; ethnically and culturally diverse. Pelonero flew to New York, and the two hit it off. It was not something that had been planned very much in advance or a deliberate choice, Pelonero says. It was a nice opportunity. There was a good feeling between [me] and the partner from New York. The Brooklyn location opened in the Crown Heights neighborhood in March 2017. Its storefront was slate-black with a clean OTacos logo more spare French cafe than neon American chain store. The welcome was warm enough; the press, positive. Related: 3 Steps to a Successful International Expansion Pelonero returned to France, where OTacos was becoming more mainstream. The urban youth base was still strong, and the popularity had spread to city central office workers and families with kids. In 2018, Kharis Capital, a master franchisee for Burger King, staked majority ownership in the company, ushering in its expansion to Belgium and the Netherlands. OTacos moved its headquarters to Paris. It has also added the dessert subsidiary brand OSucre, which includes OTaglace and OShakes. Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn, people seemed to like the product. Sales were moderately steady, at $1,000 to $1,500 per day. But Pelonero says there were constant operational issues. The manager struggled to manage the lunch rush, and there wasnt much the brand could do about a single location in a foreign country thousands of miles from headquarters. Its like raising a child on the other side of the Atlantic, Pelonero says of the shuttered American location. If none of the parents are there, its a bit more challenging. By May 2018, just more than a year after opening, OTacos closed its only U.S. location. It decided it was best to focus entirely on growing the business closer to home. Of those 30 or so foreign brands that enter the U.S. market each year, FranData doesnt track how many succeed. The factors are too nuanced and complex. One and done is not a good way of assessing the market, Johnson says. A single location isnt a case study, nor is New York representative of the U.S. market. But if you can make it there, its really a huge validation of your brand in just about any market, Johnson says. Related: How Food and Beverage Brands Handle Choice, Change and Amazon Hays, too, believes that international franchises can do more than make it in the U.S. market they can even dominate. He offers an example from outside the QSR realm: the 29-year-old Australian pool-cleaning concept, Poolwerx. Founder and CEO John OBrien studied the U.S. market for nearly two decades before entering in March 2015. He selected key markets and expanded regionally by acquiring small, independent competitors to test the model. Only then did Poolwerx start franchising, adding 59 U.S. locations and becoming, per the company, the only global franchisor in the pool-and-spa aftermarket sector, with hundreds of retail and mobile units in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. The catch is it required deep pockets, which is one reason global brands may benefit from a U.S. partner; Poolwerx chairman of the Australian and U.S. boards Troy Hazard, himself an Australia-born serial entrepreneur, connected with the company in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen last year. They made mistakes, and it took longer than they expected and cost them more money, but fundamentally they did the right thing, Hays says. In the end, I do believe were going to see more and more foreign concepts in the U.S. This creates huge opportunity not just for global brands, says de Castilla, but for potential U.S. partners. There are amazing brands out there, amazing concepts and value propositions that experienced franchisors in the U.S. or experienced franchisees, especially multi-unit franchisees, could help develop and enter the States, says de Castilla. Whether seeking U.S. partners or simply customers, he says, international brands would be wise to play up those cultural differences to stand out a concept he refers to as a country brand franchise in his 2019 book La Biblia de las Franquicias (The Franchise Bible). Thats what GNF Worldwide client Juan Valdez has done in bringing its 400-unit, cooperative-owned Colombian coffee into almost 20 units across Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C., as it attempts its U.S. expansion. The brands pitch is that when you enter the Juan Valdez coffee shop, you arent just buying a coffee, you are buying a little taste of Colombia, says de Castilla. Expertise is essential, but so is a specific, new vision. That magic, or uniqueness, there are tons of brands that could actually bring that and make the melting pot richer and more tasty. Related: Why Franchising Is the Future of the Healthy-Fast-Food Movement Though de Castilla, like Johnson and Hays, was unfamiliar with OTacos before we spoke, it seems that the companys urban, blue-collar identity could be a great asset, should it give America another go. I think that [OTacos] concept is so goodactually, I got very hungry looking at the Instagram pictures, says de Castilla. But at the end of the day, you can have the best product in the world, but if you dont do your homework, there is no luck in this industry. If he had it to do all over again, Pelonero says hed get right back on that airplane to New York. But next time, he plans to do a few things differently. We need the right partner to make it happen, and for real this time, he says. Pelonero also has three more years of international expansion under his belt since the Brooklyn location closed, and hes confident in the product and how to market it. The way of doing business is universal, he says. With more than 2,500 employees serving 40,000 customers a day across five countries, he believes that successful reentry into the U.S. would require a strong local team that treats the business as if it were their own, better awareness of the market, and a significant number of locations. From there, the French tacos will take care of the rest. Were actually more convinced than ever that it would be a great fit and a huge opportunity to go back to the U.S., Pelonero says. So thats definitely the plan, and one of the American dreams to still be realized. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO This past year we explored many strange stories here at MySA. For every standard news item and foray into the food and beverage industry, we took some turns into uncharted territory. Topics ranged from UFO and ghost sighting, curious San Antonio history, unconventional Texas news, and ... the Kardashians? As this monumental year comes to a close, let's look back at some of our favorites. In 1975, San Antonio saw an unusual robbery at Frost Bank, the rise of strippers on the River Walk, a performance by the Rolling Stones, and most importantly the election of the city's first female mayor. Lila Cockrell was elected to serve in April of 1975, pushing the city into the national spotlight, as it was the largest city in the nation with a female mayor. RELATED: Vintage photos show tragedies, everyday life in San Antonio in 1979 Shortly after the election, Cockrell said winning was far more than a personal triumph. "I regard this as something that says to women that the doors are opening to their full participation in government," she said. She earned the title of "the iron fist in a velvet glove" and served as the city's mayor from 1975 to 1981 and again from 1989 to 1991. Cockrell died in August 2019 at the age of 97, leaving a long legacy of service to the city. Her life of public service began well before 1975 but that was Cockrell's first as the leader of the city. The year also had its typical celebrations, storms and more all captured by photographers for the San Antonio Express News. Keep scrolling to learn more about San Antonio's spotlight year. Ashley Peterson had a different mental image of her Christmas break than what actually transpired: The 32-year-old thought she would finally visit the Caribbean reef-lined island of Bonaire, the 99th country in her quest to travel at least 100. Instead, her cruise ship, the Carnival Freedom, sailed past its destination Wednesday after a port turned away the boat because of coronavirus infections on board. At least four sailings on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival and others this week were altered by coronavirus outbreaks as cruise ships prepared for pre-pandemic levels before sailings were paused. Although vessels resuming cruising have beefed up coronavirus precautions, requiring vaccinations and testing passengers, the wave of new infections, fueled by the quickly proliferating omicron variant, has knocked the devastated industry and alarmed cruisers. "We're sailing on a petri dish," Peterson said. "I feel like I just spent my past week at a superspreader event." David Sacks/Getty Images Carnival did not respond to a question about how many people have tested positive on the ship that was denied entry to Bonaire and Aruba, but it said "a small number of people infected aboard the Freedom ship have been isolated from other passengers and crew." The ship, scheduled to port in Miami on Sunday for another sailing, has 2,497 passengers and 1,112 crew members. The cruise company said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities at its destinations to determine where its boats can travel and seek alternative destinations. "The rapid spread of the Omicron Variant may shape how some destination authorities view even a small number of cases, even when they are being managed with our vigorous protocols," according to the company's statement. "Some destinations have limited medical resources and are focused on managing their own local response to the variant." The ship is among dozens under investigation or being monitored by the CDC. Some cruise companies have said they will alter rules in response to the rise in cases. Royal Caribbean announced it will not be accepting new bookings until Jan. 10 after dozens of people tested positive on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, based in Florida, which has experienced a surge in cases over the past week at a greater average rate than the United States overall. The Odyssey of the Seas, turned away from Curacao and Aruba, is set to return to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. In the busiest time for travel in nearly two years, the omicron variant has brought about staffing problems that have contributed to flight cancellations, upending people's get-togethers and leading people to isolate or quarantine. Peterson and four other Carnival Freedom passengers who spoke to The Washington Post spent much of their Christmastime avoiding public areas of their ship, unsure of how many people have tested positive or unwittingly spread the virus. One passenger from a recent voyage on the same ship, isolated in a hotel in Miami for a week because he tested positive the day after the cruise, told The Post that has six-day Caribbean vacation has become a month-long ordeal because he cannot travel home to Canada. Sitting in her stateroom on Christmas Day, Peterson paused to listen to a PA announcement, wondering whether it would answer the questions she has about the infections onboard her ship. "Oh, they're just talking about the weather," she said. "They come on every day; you think they're going to tell us something about covid, and it's, 'We're passing by this island and the weather is 82 degrees.' " Cruises, which for some can be idyllic sojourns, have borne a nightmarish side of the pandemic, beginning when people on ships at the start of the pandemic spend days at sea when port after port deny permission to dock. As the pandemic approaches its third year, cruises are embarking with precautions. Even with those, travelers have expected coronavirus-caused disruptions and potential outbreaks, alleviating risk by getting vaccinated and boosted. The mitigation measures in place aboard Holland America Line's ship, the Koningsdam, were "as good as it gets," according to Paulette York, who was a passenger on the voyage that left San Diego for Mexico on Sunday. However, after 21 crew members tested positive, the boat was turned away from Mexico's Puerto Vallarta. York, of La Quinta, Calif., said that passengers comply with mask requirements and have tested negative, and she expressed frustration that port authorities did not allow the ship in. Still, the retiree said she enjoyed other parts of the cruise, visiting Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, and watching a pod of dolphins. "Holland America is doing everything to keep us all safe," York wrote in a message. Travel vlogger Austin Hamawy said he expects cruises to be better prepared for a coronavirus resurgence after months of preparation. Boarding the MSC Seashore, which reported 28 cases among 4,714 guests and crew, Hamawy noticed people were standing close to one another for long periods. He recorded a TikTok video to document the crowd gathering at the ship's public areas. "The elevators are full, the Jacuzzis are full, the swimming pools are full, the theaters are full, the dining rooms are full," he said in an interview. "Everywhere you go there's a lot of people. And it's very difficult to avoid that on a cruise ship." Two days after the boat disembarked Thursday, Hamawy said he felt some symptoms of covid-19: a sore throat and higher temperature. On Christmas, he quarantined at home in Fort Lauderdale. "We have an extended family, and we're all planning a big celebration, and that came to a grinding halt," he said. Canadian resident Brian Lucas, who disembarked the Carnival Freedom the same day Peterson boarded in Miami, also did not make it to a family Christmas gathering. The day after getting off the ship, he tested positive, extending the trip with his wife and 18-month-old daughter two weeks more than they had planned. The 34-year-old will end up paying an additional $3,000 to $4,000 to wait out his family's isolation in Miami, he said. Lucas canceled his next scheduled cruise in January, saying he wants masking and hand-washing to improve on ships before he cruises again. "We thought it would be safe by now, but obviously it's not where it needs to be," he said. "I wouldn't want to travel on a cruise anytime soon." The infections on Lucas's trip, including the one he discovered after the voyage ended, were not disclosed to passengers on the ship's next trip. Carnival Freedom passenger Angie Jones, 39, said that if she had known about the cases from that previous voyage - Lucas's trip - she would have canceled. Time on the ship with her husband, her children and her sister's family has mostly been confined to their rooms since news of the outbreak that prevented the ship from visiting Bonaire and Aruba. She said they have stopped going to the theater for performances to avoid crowds - though she said there were fewer shows since the outbreak. "Just the fear of the unknown also has ruined our Christmas cruise in so many ways," Jones wrote in a message. Jerri-Lynn here. Yves asked me to place this message at the top of todays Links: Yesterday when I wrote that my mother had gone to the hospital, in an early version I had added, And I dont think shes coming home. That proved to be correct. She died on Christmas Day at 1:20 PM. Even though she had early dementia, it showed up only in often poor short term memory. She still had a sophisticated vocabulary, made cynical observations, and could argue energetically when it suited her.up until she wrenched her knee two weeks ago. She was bedridden after that. Even though she could have rehabbed, shes always resisted exercising and doing physical therapy. She seemed to have given up after having set boundary conditions that meant shed be in a hospital bed, whether at home or in a facility, for the rest of her life. I didnt see her on her last day. I was set to come in the afternoon. The hospital has strict Covid rules, with only one visitor at a time and two total in a day, so the daytime aide, a former New York City taxi driver who liked to handle everything and had a sometimes-sparring relationship with my mother, was taking the morning and the early afternoon. My mother had a chest X-ray in the morning, and all of the handling of her had debilitated her. She said several times to the aide that she was dying today, and the aide and later a nurse told her to stop talking like that. My mother had taken recently to saying she would be dying soon, so the aide didnt take it as seriously as she might have. She rested for a bit, and then told the aide she wanted her to leave, she couldnt go to sleep knowing she was there. The plan was for the aide to return later. She apparently went quickly. Her heartbeat went down and they couldnt revive her. The hospital professes not to know why she died but their best guess is a heart attack given the sudden failure and that she seemed more energetic than shed been they day before.before the AM chest X-ray. I wasnt able to give her her Christmas card and gift. Of all things, thats nagging at me. (Natural News) Former Pfizer employee and whistleblower Karen Kingston told Matrixxx Grooove hosts Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is a bioweapon that is harming children worldwide. Kingston shared a recent study suggesting that COVID vaccination causes the mortality rate to go up. The document showed that in the total number of vaccine doses put in the arms of Americans until December 15, there are over 20,000 vaccine-related deaths. With 200 million injections, 20,000 deaths would give around a 0.01 percent fatality rate, which is the price to pay for having bioweapons inserted into the human body. There is a one in 10,000 vaccine fatality rate based on that baseline, but this number is very conservative as adverse effects and death are severely underreported in the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) system. For children ages zero to 17 years, theres a one-in-25,000 risk of death from the vaccine. Thats one too many as healthy children have basically zero chance of dying from COVID-19. In taking a look at the risk of death from COVID through May 11 of last year and before the beginning of mass vaccination in adults and children, the fatality rate was 1.1 to 250,000. Study shows correlation between mortality rates and vaccination in children A new study pointed out that there is a correlation between mortality and the first few weeks of vaccination in children. Children over the age of 14 who are vaccinated increase their risk of dying compared to the general population for the first five to six weeks. If a child survives the first five to six weeks of vaccination, then the risk for death from COVID is lower. However, for the unvaccinated age group, for children zero to 14 years, most associations of mortality and vaccination in adults are positive. (Related: Karen Kingston: Pfizer vaccine approval part of a conspiracy to harm children Brighteon.TV.) There are also indirect adverse effects of adult vaccination on the mortality of children ages zero to 14 for the first 15 to 18 weeks after vaccination. What this means is that when adults are vaccinated and they are around children for 18 weeks after their last vaccination, the risk of death to children under 14 increases. Hospitalization from COVID-19 also went up as more and more adults get vaccinated, and risks for children, especially in the zero to four age range, go up tremendously. With the data shown, the concept of mass vaccination, which is supposed to protect other people and society is harming children and causing an increased risk of death. While the concept of mass vaccination looks like it is good for society, it is actually a lie. People believe they are being good members of society, but by protecting seniors and the elderly, they are also putting children at risk for death, with children under a year old having the highest death rates. Overall, the study showed that there is little to no evidence that vaccines reduce community spread and transmission as clinical trials use symptomatic, not asymptomatic COVID cases as the clinical endpoint. Since there is no requirement for weekly coronavirus testing in the participants for most studies, they are not designed to estimate vaccine efficacy in reducing infection. As vaccines do not appear to reduce community spread for most age groups, vaccine mandates are all ill-advised and there is not much benefit to them other than increasing the serviceable obtainable market share for companies. Watch the full Dec. 21 episode of Matrixxx Grooove with Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend at the video below: Tune in to the Matrixxx Groove Monday to Friday from 12-1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. This video is from Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com ResearchGate.net (Natural News) Guess what? Theres no hiding it anymore. This is a communist takeover of the USA. Ive been making this case three hours a day on my nationally syndicated radio show since the day Joe Biden took over as president. Well, the proof is in. (Article by Wayne Allyn Root republished from TownHall.com) Nothing proves my case like the story of Democratic United States Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Youre not gonna believe this one. Its all out in the open now. A United States senator thought it was fine and dandy to publicly cavort with the communist enemies of America. Should that surprise you? It doesnt surprise me. I believe many of our political, military, government and media leaders are bribed and owned lock, stock and barrel by the Chinese Communist Party. Remember the story of Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Donald Trump? He admitted to secretly calling Chinese military leaders and letting them know that if Trump decided to attack, hed give them advance warning. Isnt that treason? Shouldnt this general have been arrested, shackled, jailed and put on trial for treason? If convicted, shouldnt Milley be serving life in prison for treason against his country? Instead, the GOP said virtually nothing, and remarkably, this traitor is still sitting as Americas highest-ranking general. Insanity. Blumenthal, of Connecticut, just did something equally treasonous. Except he didnt even try to hide it. Blumenthal openly attended a Communist Party event. And Blumenthal wasnt merely attending; he was the star of the evening. He was the main speaker on the stage and handed out awards to communists! Am I missing something? Is communism not the enemy of the United States of America? Isnt the goal of communism to destroy America? Isnt communism dedicated to destroying freedom? Dont communists believe in violence, murder, torture, starvation, imprisonment, censorship, propaganda and brainwashing of their citizens? Dont communists want to make us all serfs and slaves to a communist dictator who decides who deserves to live and die? Have we not learned from history? Communists murdered just under 100 million innocent human beings in the 20th century. How many millions more starved to death? How many hundreds of millions were arrested, tortured, sent to prison camps and had their homes, businesses and assets stolen by communist governments? Yet we have a Democratic United States senator who thinks its OK to publicly celebrate communism. Is he celebrating mass murder and starvation of citizens? Does he want to send conservatives to hard-labor camps? Is that what he wants for America? He must. He was there to celebrate how great communism is. Let me ask you a question. If America was invaded tomorrow by a communist army like, say, China wouldnt we fight to the death to defend our homeland from the communist invaders? Or would we welcome them with open arms? If the answer is, of course, wed kill any communist invaders trying to destroy America, why would we allow senators to sit in our Senate while endorsing this same communist agenda to destroy America from within? I believe Blumenthal is a traitor. But wait. I have one more crucial question. Didnt Democrats claim Trump was a secret white supremacist? Can you imagine if Trump had publicly attended a Ku Klux Klan meeting? What if it was a celebration of the history of the KKK in America? What if Trump had not just attended the KKK meeting, but actually spoke from the stage and then handed out awards to KKK members? Thats the equivalent of what Blumenthal did. He laid down with sworn enemies of America, capitalism and freedom. Openly. Why hasnt the GOP leadership in Congress demanded Blumenthal be stripped of all his committees and resign immediately? Why havent they started impeachment proceedings and/or demanded his indictment for treason? Because if the shoe was on the other foot, and Trump or any Republican senator spoke at a KKK event, their career would be over, theyd be tarred and feathered by the media, chased from D.C. on a third rail, branded as traitors and domestic terrorists, and Im betting, soon after, indicted by the Democrat-owned DOJ for treason. Does the GOP have any balls? Does the GOP have a pulse? Or is it a party of go-along-to-get-along cowards? Were all waiting and watching. Because if they do nothing and say nothing about this tragic, treasonous story and if we cant or wont use this story to paint Democrats as the communists they are, then we have no chance to stop this communist takeover of America. Then we have already lost the battle for the soul of America. Read more at: TownHall.com (Natural News) Biological males who identify as women are now officially women according to the criminal justice system, and JK Rowling has no tolerance for it. Scotland has joined the nations that are so on board with men turning into women that they allow the lie to replace truth in official documents, statistics and in the courtroom. (Article by Libby Emmons republished from ThePostMillenial.com) This means that if a male who identifies as female rapes a female, that rape is classified as a woman committing rape, with, presumably, her penis. And because of provisions and policies that require the use of preferred pronouns, a woman who was raped by a biological male who identifies as female would have to call her rapist a she. In order to meet these guidelines, a woman who has been the victim of rape would essentially have to perjure herself in describing what happened to her before a court of law. Biological males who identify as females are placed in womens prisons in many US states and in Canada, where they can, and have, raped women. The state of California has begun putting condoms in womens prisons to account for the fact that this is not only probable, but actually happening. Canada has changed their reporting methods for crime statistics, meaning that crimes committed by biological men who identify as women are counted among crimes that women do. Rowling quoted George Orwells 1984 when she tweeted out a link to the Sunday Times article with the words War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. And added her own The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman. https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1470092815506063365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1470092815506063365%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepostmillennial.com%2Fjk-rowling-slams-police-for-logging-male-rapists-as-women Police in Scotland will log rapes as being carried out by a woman if the accused person insists, even if they have not legally changed their gender, The Sunday Times reports. This is in anticipation of new, gender self-ID laws in Scotland, where a person need only utter the gender whim for it to be believed. Police Scotland has come up with the scenarios for which a person who is a biological male but self-IDs as female would be referred to as a woman. The include: where a person born male obtains a full gender recognition certificate and then commits rape, and where a person born male but who identifies as a female and does not have a full GRC . . . commits rape. The Sunday Times notes, however, that rape is defined officially in Scotland as nonconsensual penetration with a penis, so it cannot be committed by someone without male genitalia. Detective Superintendent Fil Capaldi said: The sex/gender identification of individuals who come into contact with the police will be based on how they present or how they self-declare, which is consistent with the values of the organisation. Police Scotland requires no evidence or certification as proof of biological sex or gender identity other than a persons self-declaration, unless it is pertinent to any investigation with which they are linked. There will now be rapes officially recorded as having been committed by women who have penises against women who do not. Women who are raped by persons with penises who claim to be women will have to state, by ordinance, that they were raped by a woman. Crime statistics will become completely meaningless. An MP who spoke to The Times said that this tops it all and is dangerous. Its physically impossible and is about dogma overriding common sense. Women prisoners are being harmed by this and vital crime statistics rendered useless. In May 2020, new court rules in the UK instructed that a biological male who identifies as a female is to be referred to as a female, and by female pronouns, in court. This meant that women who are attacked, assaulted, raped, or harassed by male-bodied persons must refer to the persons with those male bodies as she. Barrister Allison Bailey spoke out against this at the time. Bailey has been bullied by trans activists for her stance that women are an entity unique from, and not inclusive of men. https://twitter.com/BluskyeAllison/status/1258657998521733120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1258657998521733120%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepostmillennial.com%2Fjk-rowling-slams-police-for-logging-male-rapists-as-women This was as a result of the Equal Treatment Bench Book which contained a guide to different naming systems, and latest views on acceptable terminology. This created a situation in court where a woman, Maria McLachlan, 60, had to refer to her attacker, Tara Wolf, a 6-foot-tall biological male and trans activist who had attacked McLachlan at a protest, was forced by the judge in her case to refer to Wolf as she. In fact, though Wolf was convicted of assault, the Judge denied compensation to be awarded to McLachlan simply because she has referred to the male-bodied person who attacked her as a man. The judge said McLachlan showed bad grace by noting that the biological male who attacked her was biologically male. Rowling has been a vocal opponent of laws, policies, and progressive language changes that alter the meaning of the word woman to include people who are male. For many who have been watching this unfold, it has been a complete and totally bizarre absurdity to find that police, judges, lawyers, politicians, academics, entertainers, authors, artists, and any other human could believe that biological sex is not only interchangeable, but that a woman is nothing more than two syllables and a costume. There is only one kind of person that is capable of committing penetrative rape, because there is only one kind of person that has the tool required to undertake the act. That kind of person is a male. If a biological male who identifies as a woman and uses female pronouns commits a rape, their feelings as to their own desired gender should be entirely irrelevant. While gender ID is completely bogus and should not be the policy anywhere for any reason, even within those policies, committing rape should disentitle a biological male from being recognized as female under the law. Rowling knows what all women know intrinsically: men are not women. And shes not afraid to say it. Police Scotland also know that men are not women, but they have chosen to lie on records, in court, and to victims themselves Read more at: ThePostMillenial.com (Natural News) If the pandemic policy response had taken the form of mere advice, we would not be in the midst of this social, economic, cultural, political disaster. What caused the wreckage was the application of political force that was baked into the pandemic response this time in a way that has no precedent in human history. (Article by Jeffrey A. Tucker republished from BrownStone.org) The response relied on compulsion imposed by all levels of government. The policies in turn energized a populist movement, Covid Red Guard that became a civilian enforcement arm. They policed the grocery aisles to upbraid the maskless. Drones swarmed the skies looking for parties to rat out and shut down. A blood lust against non compliers came to be unleashed at all levels of society. Lockdowns granted some people meaning and purpose, the way war does for some people. The compulsion to bludgeon others trickled down from government to the people. Madness overtook rationality. Once this took place, there was no longer a question of Two weeks to flatten the curve. The mania to suppress the virus by ending person-to-person contact extended to two years. This happened in the US and all over the world. The madness achieved nothing positive because the virus paid no attention to the edicts and enforcers. Ending social and economic functioning, however, shattered lives in countless ways, and continues to do so. It is precisely because so much about life (and science) is uncertain that civilized societies operate on the presumption of the freedom to choose. Thats a policy of humility: no one possesses enough expertise to presume the right to restrict other peoples peaceful actions. But with lockdowns and the successor policy of vaccine mandates, weve seen not humility but astounding arrogance. The people who did this to us and to billions of people around the world were so darn sure of themselves that they would take recourse to police-state tactics to realize their goals, none of which came to be realized at all, despite every promise that this would be good for us. Its the compulsion thats the source of all the issues. Someone wrote the edicts at someones behest. Someone imposed the orders. Those somebodies should be the people who should own the results, compensate the victims, and otherwise accept the consequences for what they have done. Who are they? Where are they? Why havent they stepped up? If you are going to force people to behave a certain way to close their businesses, kick people out of their homes, stay away from meetings, cancel vacations, physically separate everywhere you have to be damn certain that it is the right thing to do. If the people who did this were so sure of themselves, why are they so shy to take responsibility? The question is pressing: who precisely bears the blame? Not just in general, but more precisely: who was willing to step up from the beginning to say If this does not work, I accept full responsibility? Or: I did this and stand by it. Or: I did this and Im very sorry. So far as I know, no one has said anything like this. Instead, what we have is a big jumble of messy bureaucracies, committees, reports, and unsigned orders. There are certain systems in place that seem structured in a way that makes it impossible to find out who precisely is responsible for their design and implementation. For example, a friend of mine was being harassed by his school for not being vaccinated. He wanted to speak to the person who imposed the rule. In his investigation, everyone passed the buck. This person put together a committee which then agreed on best practices left over from some other printed guidance approved by another committee, which had been implemented by a similar institution on another matter. This was then adopted by a different division and passed on to another committee for implementation as a recommendation and then it was issued by another division entirely. Incredibly, throughout the whole investigation, he failed to find a single person who was willing to step up and say: I did this and it was my decision. Everyone had an alibi. It became one big mush of bureaucracy with no accountability. Its a tub of dough in which every bad actor pre-built a hiding place. Its the same with many people who have been disemployed for refusing to divulge their vaccine status. Their bosses typically say that they are very sorry for what happened; if it had been up to them, the person would continue to work. Their bosses in turn demur and blame some other policy or committee. No one is willing to speak to victims and say: I did this and stand by it. Like millions of others, Ive been harmed materially by pandemic response. My story lacks drama and is nothing remotely close to what others have experienced but it is salient because it is personal. I was invited to join in a live studio appearance on TV but then was refused because I refused to divulge my vaccine status. I was sent to a separate studio reserved for the unclean where I sat by myself. The person who informed me said the policy was stupid and he objected. But it is the company policy. Maybe I can speak to his boss? Oh, he is against this stuff too. Everyone thinks it is dumb. Who then is responsible? The buck is always passed on and up in the chain of command but no one will accept the blame and bear the consequences. Even though the courts have repeatedly shot down the vaccine mandates, there is universal consensus that the vaccines, while perhaps offering some private benefits, are not contributing to stopping infections or spread. Which is to say: the only person who might suffer from being unvaccinated is the unvaccinated himself. And yet still, people are losing their jobs, missing out on public life, being segregated and blocked, and otherwise paying a heavy price for not complying. And yet there are still people who are intensifying the blame game that blames not government nor public health authorities nor anyone in particular but rather a whole class of people: the evil unvaccinated. I am furious at the unvaccinated, writes Charles Blow of the New York Times, a paper that kicked off the pro-lockdown propaganda as early as February 27, 2020. I am not ashamed of disclosing that. I am no longer trying to understand them or educate them. The unvaccinated are choosing to be part of the problem. How precisely are the unvaccinated the problem? Because, he writes,it is possible to control the virus and mitigate its spread, if more people are vaccinated. This is plainly untrue, as weve seen from many countries experiences around the world. Look up Singapore or Gibraltar or Israel or any high vaxx country and see their case trends. They look the same or worse than low vaxx countries. We know from at least 33 studies that the vaccines cannot and do not stop infection or transmission, which is precisely why Pfizer and people like Anthony Fauci are demanding 3rd and now 4th shots. Shots without end, always with the promise that the next one will achieve the goal. Mr. Blow is propagating falsehoods. Why? Because there is an appetite out there to tag someone or something with the fault for the wreckage. The unvaccinated are the scapegoats to distract from the real problem of discovering and holding to account those people who undertook this experiment without precedent. The trouble now is finding out who they are. The governor of New York did terrible things but now he has resigned. His brother at CNN propagated lockdown ideology but he was fired. The mayor of New York has perpetrated evil but he is sneaking out of office in a few weeks. Some governors who locked down their populations have declined to run again and will try their best to disappear. Dr. Deborah Birx, whom we know for certain was the person who talked Trump into approving lockdowns, quietly resigned and has done her best to avoid the spotlight. The journalist at the New York Times who whipped up total hysteria while calling for brutal lockdown has since been fired from his job. So too for hundreds of public health officials who have resigned or been fired. Who is left to blame? The most likely candidate here is Fauci himself. But I can already tell you his excuse. He never signed a single order. His fingerprints are on no legislation. He never issued any edicts. He never had anyone arrested. He never blocked the entrance to any church nor personally padlocked any school or business. He is merely a scientist making recommendations supposedly for peoples health. He has an alibi too. Much of this reminds me of World War I, the Great War. Look up the causes. They are all amorphous. Nationalism. An assassination. Treaties. Diplomatic confusions. The Serbs. Meanwhile none of these reasons can actually account for 20 million dead, 21 million wounded, and wrecked economies and lives all over the world, to say nothing of the Great Depression and rise of Hitler that came as a result of this appalling disaster. Despite investigations, countless books, public hearings, and public fury that lasted a decade or more after the Great War, there never was anyone who accepted responsibility. We saw a repeat of the same following the Iraq War. Is there any record of anyone who said I made the decision and I was wrong? So it might be for the lockdowns and mandates of 2020 and 2021. The carnage is unspeakable and will last a generation or two or more. Meanwhile, the people responsible are slowly slipping out of public life, finding new jobs and sanitizing their hands of any responsibility. They are scrubbing resumes and, when asked, blaming anyone and everyone else but themselves. This is the moment in which we find ourselves: a ruling class terrified of being found out, called out, and held accountable, and therefore incentivized to generate an endless series of excuses, scapegoats, and distractions (You need another shot!). This is the least satisfying conclusion to this awful story. But there it is: it is very likely that the people who did this to us will never be held accountable, not in any court and not in any legislative hearing. They will never be forced to compensate their victims. They will never even admit they were wrong. And herein lies what might be the most egregious feature of evil public policy: this is not and will not be justice or anything that even vaguely resembles justice. That is what history would suggest, in any case. If it is different this time and the perpetrators actually do face some consequences, it would still not make things right, but at least it would set a fabulous precedent for the future. Read more at: BrownStone.org LADY ELLIOT ISLAND, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Annette Edmondson of Australia swims through a coral arch underwater during an athlete Great Barrier Reef experience on day eight of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Great Barrier Reef on April 12, 2018 on Lady Elliot Island, Australia. (Photo : Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images for Tourism Queensland) Coral reefs all over huge swathes of the Great Barrier Reef will bleached for the 4th time in seven years by the end of January, as shown in a projection from a US public authority. Coral experts are seeking for favorable climate, such as cloudiness and downpours to cool corals and keep the vulnerability at bay. In a study published prior last month, it explains that if climate change is maintained below 2, portions of the coral will experience temperatures high enough to destroy coral reefs 5 years per decade, by the mid-century. Great Barrier Reef to Face Mass Bleaching Furthermore, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that warm air will accumulate in the temperate zone of the reef, causing coral reefs to whiten by late January. Unesco's research mentors told reporters previously this year that the reef should be added to a lineup of vulnerable historic sites, however the Morrison administration's strong campaigning has deferred a judgment until least June after this year. The Department of Meteorology's statistic, explained that it was extra mild than Noaa's, but weather conditions was around a degree above ordinary for the previous months across the coral. While bureau press secretary stated that the coastal perspective is implying higher heat pressure on the Great Barrier Reef for the rest of the year and January 2022, decreasing in February. Ocean temperatures are presently above ordinary much anywhere, according to Dr David Wachenfeld, lead researcher at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Jurisdiction, with some regions 2 warmer. "With La Nia situations constructing, we're hoping the reef will be spared next year," he told reporters. As per Noaa's projections, segments of the reef from south of Airlie Coastline to the headland of Cape York, a proximity of almost 1,300 kilometers will presumably be bleaching by the 3rd of January. "Coral is now in a crucial recovery phase" said expert at the University of Queensland, Mr. Peter Mumby. Yet he was preoccupied by the Noaa weather predictions since "they appear to be very conventional." Even though 2020 is by far the most pervasive bleaching occurrence on transcript, Wachenfeld said the thermal tiers aren't as severe as prior episodes, so the reef was already granted a few years to rebuild with low concentrations of coral frailty. The projections indicates that by mid-February, huge swaths from Cairns onwards will be at Terror Alert 2, the highest tier of excessive heat where coral fatalities are widely suspected. Also read: Scientists Capture Footage of Rare Transparent Fish With See-Through Head Climate Change Contribution to Mass Bleaching The Marine Environment has experienced five widespread decolorization events since 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, and 2020, all of which were exacerbated by higher sea temperatures extreme weather events. Professor Terry Hughes of the ARC Research center for Coral Experiments at James Cook College is a coral bleaching specialist who reviews the reef throughout bleaching activities. "All are feeling a little down about the possibility of yet another bleaching occurrence," he said. Litigators for three young Queenslanders authored to the 21-country Intergovernmental Committee on Friday, imploring it to enumerate the reef as in jeopardy when it fulfills again in June in Russia. Researcher Tom Bridge, an environmentalist and coral expert at the Gallery of Tropical Queensland, stated that Noaa prognostications can't make him even somewhat concerned about the possibility of bleaching than they did in previous years. Also read: Warm Weather Expected to Occur in the Northeast Until the End of the Month The two-meter skull of the earliest known species of giant ichthyosaur sheds new light on the marine reptiles' rapid growth into behemoths of the Dinosaurian oceans. It helps us better understand the journey of modern cetaceans (whales and dolphins) to become the largest animals ever to inhabit the Earth. Ichthyosaurs While dinosaurs dominated the land, ichthyosaurs and other aquatic reptiles (not dinosaurs) ruled the seas, growing to enormous proportions and diverse species. Ichthyosaurs roamed the ancient waters for practically the whole Age of Dinosaurs, with their evolving fins and hydrodynamic body forms visible in both fish and whales. "Ichthyosaurs descended from a previously unknown group of land-dwelling reptiles that were air-breathing," explains lead author Dr. Martin Sander, a paleontologist at the University of Bonn and Research Associate at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Dinosaur Institute (NHM). "These 'fish-saurians' were among the first huge fossil reptiles known to science, far before the dinosaurs, and they have caught the popular imagination ever since the first skeletal finds in southern England and Germany over 250 years ago." Related Article: Remains of a Prehistoric Reptile that Resembles Modern Swordfish Discovered Well Preserved Fossil The well-preserved head, together with parts of the backbone, shoulder, and forefin, was discovered in the Augusta Mountains of Nevada and dated back to the Middle Triassic (247.2-237 million years ago), making it the earliest instance of an ichthyosaur of epic proportions. The newly named Cymbospondylus youngorum is the biggest animal yet discovered from that time period, on land or in the sea, measuring more than 17 meters (55.78 ft) long. It was the first known enormous species ever to inhabit the Earth. "The significance of the find was not immediately apparent," Dr. Sander explains, "because only a few vertebrae were exposed on the side of the canyon. However, the anatomy of the vertebrae suggested that the animal's front end might still be hidden in the rocks. Then, on a cold September day in 2011, the crew needed a warm-up and tested this suggestion by excavation, finding the skull, forelimbs, and chest region." The new name reflects a happy coincidence: the fieldwork was sponsored by Great Basin Brewery of Reno, owned and run by Tom and Bonda Young, the creators of the regionally renowned Icky beer, which portrays an ichthyosaur on its title. Since 1902, paleontologists have been recovering fossils from the Fossil Hill Member's limestone, shale, and siltstone in various Nevada mountain ranges, providing a window into the Triassic. Many kinds of ammonites, shelled progenitors of current cephalopods like cuttlefish and octopuses and marine reptiles, have been formed by the mountains, which connect our present to ancient oceans. The Fossil Hill Fauna is a collection of animal species representing many of C. youngorum's prey and rivals. C. youngorum C. youngorum stalked the seas 246 million years ago, just three million years after the earliest ichthyosaurs got their fins wet, a brief period to become this large. The conical teeth and lengthened nose imply that C. youngorum ate squid and fish, but it might have also eaten smaller and younger sea reptiles because of its size. There was most likely some stiff competition for the colossal predator. The authors evaluated the potential energy flowing through the Fossil Hill Fauna's food network using advanced computational modeling, recreating the ancient ecosystem through data, and discovered that marine food webs might support a few more massive meat-eating ichthyosaurs. From little dolphins to gigantic filter-feeding baleen whales and giant squid-hunting sperm whales, ichthyosaurs of all sizes and survival tactics thrived, similar to modern cetaceans. Opening Doors for Modern Giant Studies "One rather unique aspect of this project is the integrative nature of our approach," says senior author Dr. Lars Schmitz, Associate Professor of Biology at Scripps College and Dinosaur Institute Research Associate. "We first had to describe the anatomy of the giant skull in detail and determine how this animal is related to other ichthyosaurs." "We didn't stop there; we wanted to understand the significance of the discovery in the context of the large-scale evolutionary pattern of ichthyosaur and whale body sizes, as well as how the Fossil Hill Fauna's fossil ecosystem might have functioned. Both the evolutionary and ecological analyses required a significant amount of computation, eventually leading to a convergence of modeling and traditional paleontology." Also Read: Prehistoric Evidence Shows Mammals Evolved Rapidly When Dinosaurs Went Extinct For more prehistoric news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Randy Willis, who refused to speak to police, was arrested after his release from the hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg he received at a convenience store. Police are looking for other shooters. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Mark Glennon is the founder of Wirepoints, an independent website delivering original research and commentary about Illinois economy and government. Ray Elliott is an author and former high school teacher who lives in rural Urbana. He can be reached at rayelliott23@att.net. The Alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2-;the first "variant of concern"-;evolved mutations that allowed it to more efficiently suppress the immune system's early response to infection, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco's Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and University College London. The researchers have discovered that the variant has ramped up production of a protein that it uses to stifle infected cells' immune-stimulating signals. The mutations responsible for this change likely help the Alpha variant evade immune detection and accelerates its transmission, and importantly similar mutations exist in Omicron. The findings are reported in the December 23rd issue of Nature. The team, led by senior authors Nevan Krogan, Ph,D, of the University of California, San Francisco and Claire Jolly, PhD, and Greg Towers, PhD, of University College, London, found that Alpha's enhanced infectivity arose from mutations outside of "spike," the proteins that have attracted much of scientists' attention since the start of the pandemic. Spike, which the virus uses to enter the cells of its host, is critical to infection and is the target of all available Covid-19 vaccines. But it is just one of many tools that the virus uses to manipulate its host. While scientists have closely monitored mutations in the spike region of new variants-;Omicron has over 30-;Krogan emphasized that changes in other regions might also have important impact. "The mutations in spike allow the virus to get into cells more effectively. But what about after the virus gets into cells? There may be other mutations that allow it to replicate more," said Krogan, who also leads UCSF's Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and its Coronavirus Research Group (QCRG). After it was first detected in the United Kingdom in late 2020, Alpha spread rapidly around the world, suggesting it was significantly more transmissible than the original virus. But experiments in Towers' lab indicated that the new variant replicated no faster than its predecessor. Seeking an explanation, the QCRG set out to learn if the new variant interacted differently with the cells it infected. The team, which also included researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, compared the variant's impact on host cells to that of virus isolated early in the pandemic. To do so, postdoctoral scholar Mehdi Bouhaddou, PhD, QBI senior scientist Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez, PhD, both co-lead authors on the study, measured the activity of each gene and monitored protein levels in lab-grown cells infected by the virus. They also surveyed the phosphorylation status of the proteins-;an analysis that detects chemical modifications that can temporarily adjust proteins' function. Using this data to compare the response to infection with Alpha and the original virus, the researchers found that many of the significant differences involved the innate immune response, the body's first line of defense against pathogens. Many of the genes involved in rallying this defense were barely activated in the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant. In addition, the team discovered that the Alpha-infected cells contained large amounts of three viral proteins know to help the virus evade the body's immune response. Further experiments showed that one of them, called Orf9b, accomplishes that task by latching on to a protein that switches on immune-stimulating genes. The findings suggest it may be possible to help the immune system fight SARS-CoV-2 by developing drugs that block this interaction and a potential strategy for doing so. Alpha has since been outpaced by newer variants whose mutations spur even more aggressive transmission. The virus will keep evolving and adapting to the host, and every time it will adapt better and better. That's why Omicron has 53 mutations." Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez, PhD, QBI senior scientist Both the Delta and Omicron appear to be cousins of Alpha, each having mutations in two of the three regions the team studied, suggesting they may have similar effects on the innate immune system. The findings demonstrate the value of understanding the full scope of changes shaping the behavior of viral variants. "Studying the variants of concern gives us ideas about how SARS-CoV-2 evolves," said Bouhaddou. "Now we have a sense of the proteins that are mutating most frequently, and the biological consequences of those mutations. I think this helps us prepare for what might come next." Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have uncovered how loss of TET enzymes can lead to B cell lymphoma. Their research, published in Nature Immunology, could potentially open opportunities for designing drug treatment strategies to target malignant cells in many cancers. The new research was led by LJI Professor Anjana Rao, Ph.D., in the LJI Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, and experiments were spearheaded by LJI Instructor Vipul Shukla, Ph.D., (soon to be an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University) and UC San Diego Graduate Student Daniela Samaniego-Castruita. The new research helps scientists finally link two dangerous phenomena in cancer cells. In previous studies, scientists spotted mutations that cause TET enzymes to lose their function in many patients with blood cancers and solid cancers. Researchers have also found that genomic instability, such as double-stranded breaks in the DNA code, are a common feature in cancer cells In this project, scientists explored one potential way in which TET deficiency is connected to genomic instability. This study provides insights about an important question in the field." Vipul Shukla, Ph.D., LJI Instructor By studying a mouse model of lymphoma, the researchers found that deleting TET2 and TET3 enzymes in mature B cells had huge consequences for B-cell homeostasis. "The TET-deficient mice developed lymphoma, and we observed an increase in marks associated with genomic instability, such as double strand breaks," says Samaniego-Castruita. The team then performed genomic analysis for clues to what was happening at the molecular level. They saw that without TET2 and TET3, the DNA became riddled with unusual DNA structures called G-quadruplexes and R-loops. DNA normally has two strands running parallel to each other, like two rails of a ladder. R-loops appear when a third rail, made of RNA, slips in and forces a gap between the two DNA rails. G-quadruplexes act like knots on the DNA rails. Both R-loops and G-quadruplexes make it hard for the original two rails of DNA to "unzip" as the cell tries to read the DNA code and keep the cell working properly. Shulka and Samaniego-Castruita examined these DNA structures in depth thanks to funding from the La Jolla Institute's Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology. "These structures represent sites in the DNA that are much more fragile than other regions," says Shukla. "With this study, we found that TET enzymes are perhaps related to the regulation of these structures, which could in turn explain one mechanism for acquisition of genomic instability in the absence of TET enzymes." When it comes to B cell malignancies, G-quadruplexes and R-loops appear to be a missing link between tell-tale TET mutations and dangerous genomic instability. So if G-quadruplexes and R-loops are causing problems, is there a way to stop them from forming? Shukla and Samaniego-Castruita observed that DNMT1 was upregulated in TET-deficient B cells. DNMT1 is a key enzyme responsible for maintaining marks on DNA called "DNA methylation." DNA methylation is an important regulatory mark in the genome, and is normally removed through the activity of TET enzymes. Without TET enzymes, the normal give-and-take of DNA methylation marks was broken. So in their next experiment, the scientists also deleted the Dnmt1 gene in TET-deficient B cells in mice to test if levels of G quadruplexes and R-loops could be altered upon removal of DNMT1 protein. Indeed, deleting DNMT1 was associated with a striking delay in the development of aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Deleting DNMT1 was also associated with decreased levels of G-quadruplexes and R-loops, says Samaniego-Castruita. The researchers emphasize that regulating G-quadruplexes and R-loops may be just one way TET enzymes control genomic stability. There's also more work to be done to uncover the precise steps that lead TET-deficient cells to accumulate these enigmatic structures in DNA. Someday, the team hopes to devise strategies through which G-quadruplexes and R-loops could be targeted to help cancer patients. As the Rao Lab continues investigating the effects of TET enzymes, Shukla will be joining the faculty of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern University this winter. He plans to launch his own laboratory focused on studying alternative structural conformations in DNA. The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant mutated to evade our 'innate immune system', helping establish it as the world's first 'Variant of Concern', finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San Francisco. Published in Nature, the study shows the Alpha variant, first identified in the UK, evolved to make more of its 'antagonism proteins' that nullify the body's first line of defense, known as the 'innate immune system'. Every cell in the nose, throat and lungs (airways) have a network of sensors that detect incoming viruses. When this happens the cells produce the protein interferon, which acts like a 'burglar alarm' and orchestrates a blanket anti-viral response, across both non-immune and immune cells (T cells and antibodies) to avert infection. But antagonism proteins can help the virus to evade these sensors. This novel discovery is the first to identify evolution of enhanced antagonism protein expression in any virus and the first to implicate mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that increase infectiousness but do not involve the 'spike' protein Scientists say the breakthrough findings provide a powerful insight into how SARS-CoV-2 is evolving, and offer a fresh clue to help identify new and emerging Variants of Concern, which are both highly transmissible and infectious. Co-first author Dr Lucy Thorne (UCL Division of Infection & Immunity) said: "We wanted to know what made the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant special. How had it evolved from the first wave strain identified in Wuhan, China, and what features did it have that allowed it to spread around the world and become the first variant of concern? "We found that that the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant had adapted to avoid triggering our defensive frontline innate immune response much better than the first wave viruses. We discovered it does this by making more of the virus proteins that can disable the innate immune system. These proteins are called N, Orf6 and Orf9b and are known as innate immune antagonists. "By mutating to evade our innate immune system, the Alpha variant can replicate under the radar in the early stages of infection, which we think significantly increases its chances of infecting a person when it lands in their nose, throat or lungs. For a virus this is a resounding success, enabling it to more efficiently spread from person to person." For the study, researchers added samples of Alpha (B.1.1.7 lineage) to lab-grown lung cells to mimic the cells infected by the virus in the body. Scientists then measured how much the virus grew and assessed whether the innate immune system was activated (or to what degree) by measuring the amount of interferon produced. Researchers observed that the levels of interferon produced during Alpha infection were far lower than all earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants, which had principally seen mutations to the 'spike' protein. To pinpoint exactly why Alpha was compromising the innate immune system, collaborators at the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), including co-senior author and director of QBI Nevan Krogan and co-first authors Mehdi Bouhaddou and Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez, looked at how the proteins expressed in Alpha differed from previous variants. By measuring all of the proteins and all of the RNA in infected cells, they found antagonism proteins N, Orf6 and Orf9b, which are present in all coronaviruses and whose function is to dampen down cell responses, were 'dialed up' in the Alpha variant. Researchers believe this increase in antagonism proteins is the result of numerous mutations in the regulatory regions of SARS-CoV-2, which control protein expression levels. Commenting on the findings, co-senior author Professor Greg Towers (UCL Division of Infection & Immunity), said: "We have never seen anything like this before; we know viruses adapt and we expect to see the proteins adapting so they work better in humans. But Alpha is using its antagonism proteins, that help evade detection a little bit, and cranking up how much it makes. That is unique. "The real value of our discovery is showing how this incredible virus evolved from the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain, and it also helps us understand how our protective innate immunity works." In preliminary research, the team has identified that some of the mutations to the regulatory regions of SARS-CoV-2 found in Alpha are present in the subsequent Variants of Concern, Delta and Omicron, but it is believed these variants succeeded primarily due to mutations in the spike protein. It will be fascinating to see how the other variants, such as Delta and Omicron, perform comparatively in our lung epithelial systems. Whether the viruses rely on similar approaches to innate antagonism or have evolved distinct strategies to evade the immune defenses, will teach us not only about the viruses themselves but also about human biology." Dr Ann-Kathrin Reuschl, Co-First Author, UCL Division of Infection & Immunity Co-senior author Professor Clare Jolly (UCL Division of Infection & Immunity) added: "It's fascinating to watch a virus evolve in real time we expect it to continue to evolve and we hope our work will help to understand the next round of variants too." (Newser) In her Christmas address to her subjects, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II had a message for those who, like her, suffered a loss in the past year. "Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, the queen said Saturday. "This year, especially, I understand why." The queen's husband, Prince Philip, died in April. On her desk at Windsor Castle, facing the camera during her televised speech, was a framed photograph of the two on their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007, the New York Times reports. story continues below The queen acknowledged the difficulties in celebrating the holidays in a time of COVID; Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, spent Christmas with her, but the queen was unable again this year to join the rest of the family at Sandringham. Some long COVID patients are recovering enough by now to begin enjoying holiday feasts again, per the BBC. A symptom can be parosmia, which alters taste and smell. One English patient sought counseling and is making progress. Kate McHenry stayed home last Christmas because she couldn't take being around food cooking. She tried pizza but found it intolerable. "This year I can sit down with my family and have a meal with everyone, which is a big change," McHenry said. Many people face increased struggles this season, of course, especially given the pandemic. An Iowa mental health therapist said expectations should be tempered, per KGAN. "First-time holidays following a loss can always be hard, also that anxiety," Brittany Brdicko said. "Everyone wants the holidays to go perfectly. That's not realistic." Elizabeth's remarks included perspective, per the AP: "Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings." She added that for her and her family, "even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas." (Read more Christmas stories.) (Newser) Ghislaine Maxwell reached her 60th birthday behind bars Saturday as she awaited the outcome of her sex trafficking trial. The British socialite is scheduled to return to a Manhattan courthouse Monday to await word from a jury entering its third full day of talks after hearing over two dozen witnesses and viewing dozens of exhibits over three weeks. Messages sent to her lawyer and a website where items expressing support for Maxwell are regularly posted were not returned Saturday. Prosecutors said in closing arguments that the crucial evidence was the testimony of four women who say they were sexually abused as teens by Jeffrey Epstein with help from Maxwell when she was his girlfriend, and later when she morphed into his close confidante and an employee valued highly enough that he gave her over $20 million. story continues below Prosecutors called her the lady of the house from 1994 to 2004, saying she recruited and groomed teenagers as young as 14 to meet Epstein's seemingly insatiable need to be touched by vulnerable girls who came from impoverished and despairing backgrounds or who counted on his claims of wealth and connections to aid their quests for success and fame in the performance arts. Defense lawyers, though, say she was a U.S. government scapegoat after Epstein killed himself in the Manhattan federal jail cell where he was awaiting his own sex trafficking trial in August 2019. They said the memories of her accusers were corrupted by the passage of time and the influence of lawyers steering them toward multimillion-dollar payouts from a fund set up to compensate Epstein victims. The jury already has asked to review the testimony of the four women, along with former Epstein housekeeper Juan Patricio Alessi, but they have given little hint of their overall progress on six charges, including a sex trafficking count that carries a potential penalty of up to 40 years in prison. Alessi testified that when he worked at Epsteins sprawling Florida home from 1990 to 2002, he saw many, many, many female visitors, appearing to be in their late 20s, often lounging topless by the pool. He also testified that two accusers, underage teens at the time, were repeat visitors to the Epstein mansion. Each day of deliberations without a verdict seems to boost the defense team, which is aware that fast verdicts almost always go in the government's favor and that deliberations that stretch out can sometimes indicate dissension or confusion among jurors. (Read more Ghislaine Maxwell stories.) (Newser) For the third time in recent days, a COVID outbreak has been reported on a cruise ship that set sail from Florida, where health officials have reported the highest cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Per CNN, the Carnival Freedom was denied entry to Aruba and Bonaire after the cruise operator said a "small number" of the 2,497 passengers and 1,112 crew members tested positive for the virus following a stop in Curacao on Tuesday. A statement from Carnival said those who tested positive were in isolation. "Our protocols anticipate this possibility and we implement them as necessary to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew," the statement read. Carnival requires all passengers be vaccinated. story continues below Meanwhile, the ship was able to find a friendly port in the Dominican Republic, where Freedom was given the go-ahead to dock at Amber Cove. It's due back in Miami on Monday. When it arrives, omicron will be waiting. Per WFLA, the Sunshine State recently broke its record for most COVID cases in a day, fueled by the highly transmissible, but potentially less deadly, variant's surge. Friday reportedly saw 31,758 new cases, surpassing the previous high of 27,802, set in August as the delta variant tore through the state. Also out of South Florida, the Royal Caribbean ship Odyssey of the Seas was denied entry to Curacao and Aruba this past week after CNN reports 55 passengers and crew members tested positive for the virus. Royal Caribbean ship Symphony of the Seas (the world's largest), saw some four dozen cases prior to that. (Read more cruise ships stories.) (Newser) Christmas came with a shock announcement for British television viewers when an anchor reported that Pope Francis had died. It would have been a major holiday tragedy... had it been true. Luckily for the pontiff and his billion followers worldwide, it wasn't. Per the Mirror, it all unfolded Saturday on Britain's ITV, as anchor Kylie Pentelow was reading a report of the Catholic leader's Christmas address at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City when she ended on a sad note. story continues below "He said that vaccines should be made available to those most in need," she said. "His death was announced..." Per TMZ, Pentelow caught herself, apologized quickly, then moved on with other news. Pope Francis, who recently turned 85, had delivered his Christmas message and blessing prior to the erroneous report. The blessing followed the traditional Christmas Eve midnight mass held Friday before estimated 2,000 people in St. Peters Basilica. (Read more Pope Francis stories.) (Newser) Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19, as the nation's travel woes extended beyond Christmas, with no clear indication when normal schedules would resume. More than 700 flights entering, leaving, or flying within the US were called off, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday. Delta, United, and JetBlue have blamed the omicron variant of the coronavirus for the staffing shortages, the AP reports. story continues below "This was unexpected," United spokesperson Maddie King said of omicron's impact on staffing. Globally, airlines scrapped about 2,200 flights as of Sunday morning, down from more than 2,800 the day before, FlightAware's data showed. The site does not say why flights are canceled. JetBlue scrapped 10% of its flights Sunday. Delta canceled 5%, and United canceled 4%, according to FlightAware. The three airlines canceled more than 10% of their scheduled flights on Saturday. Spokesperson Derek Walls said American Airlines' Christmas cancellations stemmed from virus-related sick calls. Expecting a busy holiday season, airlines had offered extra pay to crew members to cover the peak periods. JetBlue said it increased staffing to the highest point of the pandemic, per CNBC. A union said Spirit Airlines, which scrapped more 40 flights on Saturday and Sunday, was paying double to flight attendants who agreed to add trips over the weekend. Globally, flights also were canceled by China Eastern, Air China, Air India, Shenzhen Airlines, Lion Air, and Wings Air, per CNN. (Read more flight cancellation stories.) UAF Community and Technical Colleges goal is to prepare workforce-ready graduates via community-driven education. CTC is home to a diverse selection of educational programs and specialty departments including the Allied Health Department. The team of faculty, adjuncts, and staff of the Allied Health Department work hard each semester to graduate quality health workers trained with the Fairbanks and Alaska community in mind. Faculty are in contact with Industry Partners throughout the year to ensure their needs are met and to facilitate student practicums. Cathy Winfree, RN BSN, was born and raised in Fairbanks. Cathy has worked and taught in a number of areas throughout Alaska. Working as an RN in healthcare was my first passion and career pathway. Today educating and sharing that passion with healthcare students is her focus. She can be reached at: cmwinfree@alaska.edu Megan Wollitz, DNP, FNP-BC Megan works in CTCs Allied Health Department as a member of the faculty. Additionally, she works as a nurse practitioner in the Fairbanks community. She is passionate about caring for her patients and about helping shape the next generation of healthcare workers. She can be reached at: mawollitz@alaska.edu Sources: 2-8-0 Consolidation Locomotive. Adam Burns. America-Rails.com. 2021 Conversation with Pat Durand, president of the Engine 557 Restoration Company. 2021 Engine 557: A legendary steam locomotive has returned to ride Alaskas rails again. The Alaska Community Foundation. 9-8-2015 History and Status Report sections of the Engine 557 Restoration Company website, 557.alaskarails.org Ray Bonnell is a freelance artist, writer and longtime Fairbanks resident. See more of his artwork at www.pingostudio.us. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Police in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu arrested a 29-year-old man working in Bahrain based on his wifes complaint that her husband was running a flesh trade by wooing women on social media. The Indian man landed in the police net when his wife, a 25-year-old software engineer, also Indian, posed as another woman on Instagram and launched a conversation with her husband conveying her willingness to be part of his business. The wife handed him over to police when the suspect flew into Chennai from Bahrain to meet his new 'associate' at a hotel. Police said the accused claimed to be working as an engineer in Bahrain but this is not yet verified. The complainant and the suspect got married in February, according to a report by PWC Middle East. One day, after the suspect had left for Bahrain, his wife casually checked his home desktop to find nude videos of several women. The wife was shocked to find that her husband had conversed with many women on social media and allegedly invited them to be part of his business, apart from exchanging nude videos with them. She then posed as another woman on Instagram and started conversing with him. She also shared some random womens photos, after which he suggested she could make herself available to VIPs to make huge money. The woman agreed and asked him to meet her at the hotel. However, he was shocked to find his own wife in the room, but it was too late since the woman had already alerted the police. After a preliminary inquiry, an officer said the suspect seems to be addicted to porn as there were a lot of such videos on his device. However, there is no evidence that he indulged in flesh trade. We have sent the phones for forensic analysis to ascertain the veracity of the allegations in his wifes complaint, said an officer. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday condemned in strongest terms the terrorist Houthi militias launch of projectiles towards Najran and Jazan in Saudi Arabia. Bahrain also said it supports all measures Saudi takes to maintain its security, stability and territorial integrity. The attacks resulted in killing two civilians, a Saudi and a Yemeni citizen in Jazan, and injuring several others. In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Bahrain also called on the international community to condemn these heinous attacks, committed deliberately and systematically by the Houthi militia, in flagrant violation of humanitarian law. Six to face trial in Bahrain for hacking ePayment website, clearing dues using fake payments Six to face trial in Bahrain for hacking ePayment website, clearing dues using fake payments TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Six people are in the dock for carrying out fictitious payments by hacking an ePayment system to clear their dues with a government agency. They will face trial before the High Criminal Court starting on the 4th of January 2022. All of the suspects are now in pretrial detention. One of the suspects was on the run, and police arrested him from a Gulf Country by issuing an international arrest warrant. The Gulf country (name not disclosed) handed him over to Bahrain police for facing trial. Police interrogated him with the rest of the suspects in the Kingdom and charged them with electronic fraud and misrepresentation of information technology system data. The suspects used a foreign bank abroad for making fake payments after hacking their electronic payment key. However, all the fictitious payment transactions were detected and stopped. Case files say the police opened an investigation based on a complaint registered by the government agency through Public Prosecution. The head of the Capital Governorate Prosecution said the suspects tampered with the digital link of the electronic payment site to carry out fake payments and clear their dues. Investigators gathered evidence from the specialists of the government e-Payment website and the financial company responsible for validating the transactions received through the e-Payment website. The head of the Capital Governorate Prosecution said the Public Prosecution is determined to confront firmly any violation of information technology systems and called on everyone to maintain the confidentiality of electronic key data and not to disclose it to others. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Gulf Institute for Culinary Arts (GICA) announced launching a national campaign to sponsor 50 Bahraini students for their international culinary program in partnership with the Australian College of Trade. Potential candidates will be enrolled in the Level III Commercial Cookery Programme. The programme is open to all Bahrainis between 18 and 30 years. The candidates will need to complete their course, which lasts for 13 months and work for a minimum of 2 years with the Employer who will employ the candidate during the programme. Fawzia Al Khaja, Chairwoman of GICAs Board of Directors and member of Bahrain Businesswomen Society, said, We launched this campaign to empower aspiring culinary enthusiasts and existing talent to kick-start their career path, within the hospitality industry. Student Registrations opened on 20 December. Between the two countries, there existed a bridge By P. Unnikrishnan A small group of mourners clustered under the boughs of several towering beech trees. Nearby stood an old masjid, under an arched canopy formed by a black mulberry tree. Something was written in carved letters on the stone, placed above the doors of the masjid, but it was unreadable. And all I could see was a group of people, some standing in absolute silence and the rest praying. It is a usual scene over here, my friend, who was, like me, part of the Bahraini delegation, told me in a muffled voice. I was in Gaza for the opening of a preparatory boys school built by the Kingdoms Royal Charity Organization. While walking through the corridors of the school I met an English teacher who spoke to me about their problems in length. I am not able to meet both ends as I have 14 kids. We decided to have more kids because we have no guarantee that how many would survive. I could read the fear, dominating his eyes. All of a sudden, thoughts of the Hello Peace project filled my mind with renewed hope. Its a joint project by Palestinian and Israeli parents, nearly 400 of them, who have lost their children or any close family member in the conflict. This project enabled any peace-loving Israeli or Palestinian to simply pick the phone and ring someone on the other side and talk about peace, and that too at no charge. Hello Peace is based on an automated telephone system using an interactive voice response. After dialing 6364, one would identify himself/herself as an Israeli or Palestinian before expressing their desire to engage in a conversation after revealing their personal profile. A computer-linked network would automatically connect them to someone on the other side who fits the profile and has expressed willingness to talk. More than 210,000 conversations have been placed through this system, which has had an extraordinary response. This gives clear evidence that many Palestinians and Israelis wanted peace and stability in their countries. If anyone cites religious differences as the sole reason behind the conflict, I would abruptly reject that observation. All religions have common grounds, but it is the differences that are being highlighted. All religions are deep-rooted in philosophies that emphasize the mysteries of life and death and the quest for happiness in the face of suffering. Unfortunately, the religious differences created more divisions within communities and societies, perpetuating intolerance and leading to violence. The world would be a better place if there were greater religious tolerance. But the question always remained - who will start the foundation for building such a bridge between these two countries? Many had the fear to touch this sensitive matter ignoring the fact that conflict has claimed more than 14,000 lives since 1987. I have always resorted to a belief that honest communication and empathy could build roads of hope into the darkest of situations, which might seem insurmountable and reconciliation impossible. The story of Patrick Magee and Jo Barry would further cement this belief. Patrick Magee was an Irish Republican Army affiliate, who sought freedom for Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom. In 1984, he planted a bomb in the Grand Hotel in Brighton targeting Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet colleagues. Though Thatcher escaped unhurt, five prominent individuals including parliament member Sir Anthony Berry were killed in the attack. Patrick was arrested and sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison. Upon Sir Anthonys death, one of his daughters, Joanna Cynthia Berry committed her life to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. In 1999, in line with the Good Friday Accords, Patrick was released from prison after serving only 14 years. Upon knowing the news, Jo Barry sought an appointment with Patrick, who was initially reluctant to meet her. But she persisted and the meeting became a reality. It culminated in a physical act of reconciliation as they hugged each other and Patrick expressed his apology. They were at the beginning of a long journey, which continued in the form of countless meetings between them. They made multiple public appearances and in 2009 they started a not-for-profit together called Building Bridges for Peace. Jo Barry is undoubtedly one of the exceptional human beings, who gave importance to the lives of millions affected by the conflict while ignoring her personal emotions. Years later, when I landed in Israel as a part of the first Bahraini delegation, I was very much curious to hear and understand the perceptions and issues from the other end as well. We had chances to interact with the top officials from Israel, surprisingly, some of them were very open and keen to find an immediate solution for the long-lasting problem. It is time to solve the conflict and find peace. We have more than one million Muslims living in Israel and they are our brothers. What we must seek is peace and economic prosperity and not conflict. We shouldnt be wasting money on defence, said one of the senior-most members of the Israeli Government during a private interaction. I could feel honesty in his words. All I could sense was there were many, who were keen on resolving the matter and their intentions were honest. I may be one of the few expatriates who had the rare opportunity to be a part of the Bahraini delegation to Gaza as well as to the State of Israel. I could witness the empathy, care and support given by the Bahrain government to Palestinians. The Kingdom of Bahrain has consistently supported the Palestinian cause since the catastrophe of 1948. The Peace to Prosperity workshop organized by the US government and hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister showcased many new ideas to improve the overall economy of Palestine. It was a clear roadmap to resolve many of their financial issues. I am really proud of the bold steps taken by His Majesty for normalizing the ties with the State of Israel. It is definitely a confident and timely decision that will be recorded in history forever. In fact, the Kingdom managed to create a hidden bridge to connect and correct, between the two countries. Maybe Bahrain is a small country, but certainly, it is a country with a big heart; a heart to understand the problems of those suffering, a heart filled with empathy towards the poor and needy, a heart to care and protect its citizens, and also, a heart to unconditionally love the expatriate community. A traveller to more than 50 countries, I did not see any other place where expatriates get the kind of respect, dignity and religious freedom they receive in the Kingdom. The steps and efforts from the part of the Kingdom to resolve a 54-year-old conflict are beyond any reckoning. This has been the biggest and long-lasting political problem that exists in the present century. If the Nobel Peace Prize Committee is monitoring world happenings, they cant have selective blindness towards the Kingdoms efforts to uphold peace and security in the region. Mr Unnikrishnan (left) with HE Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Derasat chairman and Bahrain's Political Affairs undersecretary. The photograph was taken inside the first Bahrain flight to Israel. Mr Unnikrishnan (right) with Bahrain's Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister HE Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani. Agencies | Dubai The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain has participated in the 22nd Conference of Ministers Responsible for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, which kicked off in Dubai yesterday. The Director-General of Culture and Arts at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Shaikha Hala bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, participated in the two-day conference on behalf of BACA President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa. UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO) Director-General Dr Mohamed Ould Amar and Egypts Minister of Culture and Chairperson of the 21st session of the conference, Dr Enas Abdel-Dayem, were also present. Shaikha Hala also attended the opening of the Arabic Language Summit, organised by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, on the sidelines of the 22nd conference of Arab culture ministers. On the occasion, Shaikha Hala expressed thanks and appreciation to the UAE for hosting the conference, and interest in the Arab heritage and culture, stressing the importance of using culture to develop communities and enhance sustainable development, amid the ongoing exceptional circumstances the world is going through due to the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com There is enough evidence to prove the involvement of Lebanese militia Hezbollah in launching attacks on Saudi Arabia from Sanaa airport, said Coalition forces fighting in Yemen said. We will release today evidence to prove that Hezbollah is using the airport to target Saudi Arabia, the statement said. The statement also claimed to have evidence revealing Hezbollahs terrorist involvement in Yemen. The coalition spokesman said they will release new details during a comprehensive briefing on the Yemeni crisis today at 4 pm Saudi time. 40 attacks in 24 hours The spokesman further announced carrying out 40 attacks against Houthi militia targets in Marib and Al-Jawf in the past 24 hours. The attacks resulted in destroying 17 military vehicles and killing 223 members of the Houthi militia. We carried out two operations on the western coast to support the coastal forces and protect civilians, the spokesman said. He also confirmed defeating an attempt to transfer weapons to Sanaa. The attacks were for neutralising threats, the spokesman said, calling on civilians not to gather or approach Houthi sites in Sanaa. Houthis, he said, managed to transfer weapons to Tashrifat camp during a deadline given. We managed to destroy nine weapon stores in the camp. The Coalition on Thursday has said it destroyed seven drone and weapons stores at a military camp in the capital Sanaa in response to an armed drone launched from north Yemen towards Saudis Red Sea region of Jizan. The coalition said it carried out the operation following international humanitarian law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of Christmas, i.e December 25, to announce the approval of booster doses for frontline workers and people above the age of 60 with co-morbidities on the advice of their doctor. In light of the Omicron scare in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of Christmas, i.e December 25, to announce the approval of booster doses for frontline workers and people above the age of 60 with co-morbidities on the advice of their doctor. An year since undertaking the one of the biggest vaccine programmes in Covid-19, this is going to be a mammoth task and requires questioning who will be undertaking the responsibility to inoculate everyone and roll out boosters for those who have taken their first two doses of the vaccine. Centre: The pros of Centre rolling out booster doses include ease of tracking vaccine dose supply, avoiding vaccine dose wastage, avoiding vaccine supply shortage and avoiding disparities in vaccine coverage. The cons, on the other hand, include difficulty in keeping track of population, challenging supply chain logistics, difficulty in coordination with states and difficulty in reaching grassroot level. State: The pros of state rolling out booster doses include focused vaccination task forces, ability to reach grassroot levels, better understanding of health infrastructure and focus on smaller population. The cons of this include vaccine shortage challenge, vaccine dose wastage, disparities in vaccine coverage and difficulty for centre to keep track of dose supply. Whether it is the Centre or state that undertakes the mammoth responsibility, both would have to work in close coordination and at a fast pace to ensure India wins the fight against Covid-19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that children aged 15 to 18 will be vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning January 3, 2022. This measure, according to the Prime Minister, would relieve the fears of parents of school-aged and college-aged children, as well as offer a boost to education in India, which has suffered considerably since the pandemics inception owing to the prolonged closure of academic institutions. Vaccinations for kids will safeguard them now that schools have reopened in many areas. This comes after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Bharat Biotechs COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for emergency use in children aged 12 to 18, according to official sources. Bharat Biotech had previously submitted data from COVAXIN (BBV152) clinical studies in the 2-18 year old age range to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). The CDSCO and Subject Experts Committee (SEC) have thoroughly analyzed the evidence and made favorable recommendations, according to the vaccine producer. Covaxin is just the second vaccination approved for use on children in India; Zydus Cadilas three-dose DNA vaccine was approved for use on adults and children over the age of 12 in August. The Serum Institutes Novavax vaccine is a third possible vaccination for children, and the DCGI approved studies for youngsters aged seven to eleven years old last month. Another is Biological Es Corbevax, which has been approved for advanced testing on children over the age of five. It had granted approval to the Serum Institute of India (SII) in July to undertake phase 2/3 trials of Covovax on children aged 2 to 17 with certain conditions. Following the release of the Omicron variety, countries throughout the world have expanded their Covid-19 immunisation programmes to include young children, with Ecuador becoming the first country to make vaccinations mandatory for children as young as five years old on Thursday. Pfizers vaccine for children as young as five has been authorised by Israel, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have both given their approval for emergency usage in the same age category. Children aged 12 and up are vaccinated in Jordan, Morocco, Guinea, Namibia, and South Africa. Meanwhile, the Indian government will soon release all the details regarding the administration of the vaccines to the children. Their is uncertainty among parents if the vaccine drives will be conducted in the vaccination centers or in schools. With vaccination being rollout for teenagers, the big question we are asking is should government consider mixing two different vaccines, for complete vaccination? Or stick to two doses of the same vaccine, just like rest of the population. Amidst the Omicron scare, the Centre has given a big boost to the vaccination drive by extending it to teenagers in the 15-18 age group. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of Christmas, i.e December 25, to announce the rollout of vaccination programme to children as well as the approval of booster doses for frontline workers and people above the age of 60 with co-morbidities on the advice of their doctor. With vaccination being rollout for teenagers, the big question we are asking is should government consider mixing two different vaccines, for complete vaccination? Or stick to two doses of the same vaccine, just like rest of the population. The arguments for mixing and matching vaccines include the facts that it makes higher level of virus-blocking antibodies, higher level of antibody responses and minimal side effects. The arguments against it are limited data on efficacy and no safety signals. Meanwhile, the countries that have already gone ahead to approve mixed vaccines include France, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Bahrain, Canada, China and Finland. Meanwhile, the DGCI (Drug Controller General Of India) on Saturday cleared Bharat Biotechs Covaxin for emergency use for children of the age group of 12 to 18 years. The announcement to roll out Covid-19 vaccines to children was made soon after, keeping in mind the Omicron scare that has been looming large over the country and was a big concern among parents. South Africa has been at the lead of the Omicron wave, and the rest of the globe is looking for any hints of how it will play out there to see what will happen. According to medical specialists, South Africas recent drop in new COVID-19 cases might indicate that the countrys significant Omicron-driven spike has peaked. Virus case numbers are notoriously incorrect due to inconsistencies in testing, reporting delays, and other factors. However, they do provide one tempting clue though it is far from clear that Omicron infections may subside fast after a furious increase. South Africa has been at the lead of the Omicron wave, and the rest of the globe is looking for any hints of how it will play out there to see what will happen. After peaking at approximately 27,000 new cases on December 16, the number of new cases fell to around 15,424 on December 21. The decline began early and has continued in Gauteng province, South Africas most populous with 16 million inhabitants, including the main metropolis, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria. Subsequently, quarantine is no longer required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts, according to new instructions released on Thursday by the South African government. Contacts would no longer be subjected to diagnostic testing until they displayed symptoms. Except in congregate settings and cluster epidemic circumstances, the country has likewise stopped tracing contacts. On Friday, though, the country began giving booster dosages to its residents for the first time. On the other hand, on Friday, Britain announced another day of record Covid-19 infections, with new estimates indicating that large swaths of Londons population are infected, highlighting the Omicron variants persistent spread. The quick spread of Omicron has resulted in an increase in cases during the previous seven days, particularly in the capital. Models from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Friday that around 1 in 20 Londoners likely possessed Covid-19 on December 16, and early estimates which might be amended suggest this may have grown to 1 in 10 on Sunday. As ill employees self-isolate, several industries and transportation networks are experiencing workforce shortages, and hospitals in the United Kingdom have warned of the potential of patient safety being jeopardized. According to government data, 122,186 new cases were reported on Friday, up from 119,789 on Thursday and marking the third consecutive day with more than 100,000 instances. The ministry recorded 137 additional deaths within 28 days following a positive Covid-19 test on Friday, down from 147 on Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths during the epidemic to 147,857, the most in Europe. While new study shows that Omicron has a lower likelihood of hospitalization than prior Covid-19 versions, health experts are worried about the prospects. MoCA Westports has announced the finalists for its Heida Hermanns piano competition, which will showcase top young pianists from around the globe in one of Americas most celebrated cultural events. The competition takes place Jan 13 to 15. The four finalists were selected through an extensive international application process that included video submissions of individual performances. Selected candidates include Katharine Benson (U.S.), Nathan Cheung (U.S.), Aaron Kurz (U.S.), and Artem Kuznetsov (Russia). Judges for the competition include pianist Sahun Hong, Zhenni Li, and the 2019 Heida winner, Priscila Navarro. Alexander Platt, MoCA Westports curator of concerts, will serve as the artistic director for the Heida Competition. He is music director of the La Crosse Symphony, the Waukegan Symphony, the Wisconsin Philharmonic and the Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, N.Y. The finalists will use MoCA Westports vintage Hamburg D grand piano that was restored by Ivan Brunner, a skilled technician, who used to take care of the instrument when it was regularly used at Carnegie Hall. The winner receives a cash prize of $10,000, and each of the other finalists will receive a prize of $2,500. In addition to the finalists performances, the three-day event also includes master classes at the Westport Public Library and performances by the jury. Tickets can be purchased for individual events or as a three-day package. Please visit theheida.mocawestport.org to learn more and purchase tickets. Properties sell for combined $19.4M CBRE recently announced the sale of three Westport properties for a total value of $19.35 million. The team of Jeffrey Dunne, Steven Bardsley, Jeremy Neuer, David Gavin, Richard Gatto, Fahri Ozturk and Travis Langer of CBREs Institutional Properties Group represented the seller, Leifer Properties in the disposition of two medical properties and a boutique office building. The medical assets included the Willows Campus at 125-131 Kings Highway North, and 728 Post Road East, which CBRE procured the buyer, HB Nitkin. The boutique office building at 1465 Post Road East was sold to Greenhouse Offices and it was their first office purchase in Fairfield, County. The medical properties are approximately 89 percent leased and provide high-end medical suites to specialized medical practitioners including Yale University. The Post Road East property offers unique small tenant spaces, providing a very diverse mix of tenancy, significantly reducing rollover risk. The strength of the Westport office and medical markets, with only single digit vacancy, provides a ripe environment to continue to increase rents and secure tenancy, CBRE said in a release. Town reminds residents taxes are due Tax Collector Christine Alison is reminding residents that third quarter real estate taxes, personal property taxes, supplemental motor vehicle and sanitary sewer use, and assessment charges are due Jan. 1. Taxpayers have until Feb. 1 to pay taxes without penalty. Accounts will be subject to an 18 percent (1.5 percent/month) penalty charge if paid late. Minimum interest charge is $2. Failure to receive a bill does not abate the charges or interest. Real estate taxes, personal property taxes, supplemental motor vehicle and sanitary use and assessment bills may be paid by credit card, debit card, or direct withdrawal from a checking account on-line at www.westportct.gov. Checks should be made payable to Town of Westport and mailed to: Tax Collector - Westport P.O. Box 350 Westport, CT 06881 In-person payments may be made at the Tax Collectors Office, Room 109 in Town Hall (110 Myrtle Avenue) or after hours in the drop box in the rear of Town Hall. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily Monday thru Friday. Holidays may reveal elderly relatives service needs Assisted Living Services is reminding people that the holidays may reveal physical, and mental deterioration of their elderly loved ones as families get together. Age-related decline can happen quickly, and with fewer in-person visits during the coronavirus pandemic, many senior citizens have been able to conceal new, or worsening problems, according to Assisted Living Services, a senior home care agency with an office in Westport, Assisted Living Services, Inc.. The service offered some signs to keep an eye out for. Clutter in the home becomes dangerous as it increases difficulties with the activities of daily living, and the risk of falls. It can also be a sign of depression, decreased mobility, or cognitive impairment, according to the service. Other warning signs are: Forgetfulness and confusion; neglect of physical appearance, or basic hygiene; neglect of medical needs; trouble performing routine tasks, or chores; personality changes, inability to handle finances, and pay bills; and unsteadiness, clumsiness, or a recent history of falling. Families should be reassured that professional caregivers, and new technological solutions can allow the older loved ones to remain safely at the general home, the service said. The service said another resource for families seeking information about aging-in-place is on the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home website at cthealthcareathome.org. It is called Consumer Tips to Care for a Loved One at Home. If the person needing care qualifies for the Connecticut Department of Social Services Adult Family Living/Foster Care Program under the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, and the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver Program, a family member that lives in the home can be paid to provide care. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Police in Ohio have confirmed that a body found last week inside a van at the wooded lot of a Columbus business was that of a missing imam, and the case has been classified a homicide. Columbus police on Sunday identified the deceased as 48-year-old Mohamed Hassan Adam, a longtime imam at Masjid Abu Hurairah mosque on the city's northeast side. Community members said the imam had been missing since Wednesday. NORWALK Enrollment in the citys public schools dropped for a second consecutive year and a couple dozen more students have exited the district so far due to COVID concerns. We have had 24 students exit thus far this year for homeschooling. While we had all hoped that COVID would not be a factor this school year, it continues to be a concern for families, said Brenda Wilcox Williams, chief of staff and communications for Norwalk Public Schools. The superintendent outlined the actual enrollment numbers in her recent operating budget recommendation. The district was servicing 11,459 students as of Oct. 1, down 120 students from last year. Enrollment dropped by 137 students between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, which Superintendent Alexandra Estrella attributed to COVID-19. About a third of those students switched to homeschooling and another third were children whose parents pulled them from the preschool program due to the lack of a remote option. Wilcox Williams said the district did not have a breakdown of how many of those students who did homeschooling last year returned to the district this year. Norwalk Public Schools pulled in 710 students this year from other Connecticut districts and other states or countries, according to Wilcox Williams. Last year, the district welcomed 474 students from outside Norwalk. Enrollment numbers among the elementary schools may look different next year as the district plans to start incubating a new South Norwalk school inside the current Columbus Magnet School building. No current students would be redistricted but incoming kindergarteners and preschool students living in areas zoned for other schools would attend the South Norwalk neighborhood school. Once at capacity, South Norwalk school is expected to service up to 650 students. This year, Rowayton Elementary School had the largest elementary level enrollment with 467 students, followed by Tracey Magnet School and Silvermine Dual-Language Magnet School, each with 463 students. High school enrollment remained steady compared to last year from 3,946 students to 3,945. Middle school enrollment saw a larger drop from 2,630 students last year to 2,545 this year. emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) More than 160 nonprofits in Rhode Island are sharing $5.4 million in federal coronavirus relief funding for housing, behavioral health services, health care, job training, food pantries and child care for those hardest hit by the pandemic, the Rhode Island Foundation announced last week. Operation Stand Down in Johnston, the Housing Hotline in Newport, the Domestic Resource Center of South County in South Kingstown, Esperanza- Hope in Providence, Roots2Empower in Pawtucket and Smithfield Senior Services are among the nonprofits sharing in the grants that average more than $32,000. STRATFORD The ongoing cleanup project at the former Raymark Industries location just got a boost with the announcement that the state has approved $2.5 million to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater during their Bond Commission meeting on Dec. 21. Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick thanked the state government for prioritizing the cleanup. This funding will help us get significantly closer to realizing the cleanup of this long-standing issue, and our continued collective commitment to this project is essential to seeing it through to completion, Hoydick said. The announcement was praised by state and town officials since it will help facilitate the final step of the site remediation that has occurred on and off for more than 25 years. The site is located on the eastern part of the town next to marsh land that had been filled. And now that the project is getting closer to completion, state representatives are eyeing potential uses for the property. Democratic State Rep. Phil Young of Stratford said progress has been made over the last few years and now he sees potential instead of an eyesore. He said the cleanup should take a year and a half to complete. A hotel like a Marriott or a Hyatt would be a good fit, he said. He acknowledged that would be up to the town government, though. I would suggest we get a good hotel to move in there, because we have the new exit ramp just coming on to I95, he said. Stratford, he said, is a prime location for a hotel since the site is next to the highway and a Metro-North train station. Another state legislator, Republican Sen. Kevin Kelly said the site remediation is reaching its final stages and the site can be re-purposed. He said he would leave the decision on what should go there to the town. That would be best served by the local administration and the town council to see what might be the most appropriate uses for the property, Kelly said. Town officials were not available to comment on potential uses for the site on Thursday. The site was home to an automotive component manufacturer, the A.H Raymark Company, which first made brake pads in 1902. The pads contained asbestos, a naturally occurring material that was historically used for insulation and was admired for its fire resistant qualities. These attributes made asbestos well-suited for friction material in brake pads, but the material was later discovered to be highly toxic. Over the years, the company also faced lawsuits over hazardous waste, workers compensation and injuries, as reported by Hearst Connecticut Media in 2011. The company went bankrupt in 1989 and by 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the former company grounds a Superfund site. The cleanup has gone on ever since. State Rep. Joseph Gresko of Stratford acknowledged the drawn out process, but said in a statement the end result would be a safe and clean environment for residents. This project has been a long and sometimes frustrating journey, but it is the right thing to do to protect our residents and our environment, Gresko said. I want to thank Governor Lamont for his role in allowing this item to be placed on the agenda. Young said eight former Raymark sites are being cleaned up. He, along with other state representatives and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, toured them two months ago. The lengthy cleanup is due not only to the cost but also the complexity, since soil needs to be removed and buried and tests for contamination needed to be done on the site. With cleanup now possibly within two years of being complete, Young said the site could finally be a source of revenue for the town rather than a budget item. Im looking forward to adding this to our tax rolls, Young said. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah has called for a sincere, open and proactive approach to bring an end to banditry... The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah has called for a sincere, open and proactive approach to bring an end to banditry and other security challenges bedevilling the country. In his Christmas message on Saturday, Kukah accused the Federal Government of not taking its responsibility serious in protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. According to him, We have before us a government totally oblivious to the cherished values of the sacredness of life. He noted that after over seven years, over 100 Chibok girls are still marooned in the ocean of uncertainty, lamenting that over three years after, Leah Sharibu is still unaccounted for, while students of the Federal Government College, Yauri, and children from Islamiyya School, Katsina, are still in captivity. He explained that it does not include hundreds of other children whose captures were less dramatic, adding that Nigerians have lost count of hundreds of individuals and families who have been kidnapped and live below the radar of publicity. He expressed dismay that tales and promises about planned rescues have since deteriorated into mere whispers, saying that nothing expresses the powerlessness of the families like the silence of government. Kukah said that the silence of the federal government only feeds the ugly beast of complicity in the deeds of these evil people who have suspended the future of entire generations of the children. He asked, does the President of Nigeria not owe Nigerians an explanation and answers as to when the abductions, kidnappings, brutality, senseless, and endless massacres of the citizens will end? Bishop Kukah thanked the efforts of the nations security men and women in restoring order in the country. The Bishop blamed the government for not doing enough to address the negative effects of climate change that is affecting every part of the country. He noted that air and water pollution, waste management, deforestation, desertification, erosion, and flooding, continue to threaten agriculture, aquaculture and the welfare of citizens despite all the grand plans. He explained that over time, Nigerians have seen long, good promises caught in the web of bureaucratic fraud. Bishop Kukah commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the National Assembly for falling into line with the wishes of the people and injecting technological innovation into the electoral process on the amended electoral act. He enjoined the National Assembly to quickly act on the observations made by the President on the issues of direct or indirect primaries and return the bill to the President for assent. Actor and politician, Desmond Elliott and his wife, Vicky, dropped new photos while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary today, Decemb... Actor and politician, Desmond Elliott and his wife, Vicky, dropped new photos while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary today, December 26,2021. The couple released new photos on social media to mark their day. Desmond Elliot wrote on his handle 18 years and still hitting it like twas yesterday. Luv you Babamai. #stillondamata Desmond wrote while Vicky wrote You + Me = 18 The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, for releasing a female soldier, Hannah Sof... The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, for releasing a female soldier, Hannah Sofiat, detained for accepting the proposal of a corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara State. In a statement signed by Joyce Ogwu, its Executive Director, the centre said its excited by the release of the soldier. It noted that the COAS has proven to be a listening leader with the interest of his troops and nation at heart. Recall that Sofiat was detained for violating military rules and regulations by getting involved in a public display of amorous relationship with a corps member. Having sworn an oath under the Nigerian Armed Forces Act, it was expected that the soldier would be aware of such an act of negligence of duty, indiscipline and others capable of dragging the image of the Army in the mud. But out of his magnanimity, the COAS ordered her release in the spirit of the Christmas celebration following interventions by well spirited individuals. Welcoming the release, Ogwu said Yahaya has again displayed his vision for a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of the country. She said by this action, the Army has proven to be an institution guided by principles which must be followed to the latter. We must agree that the Nigerian Army is peopled by highly disciplined personnel and its hierarchy must do things within the law to maintain discipline and professionalism within its set up, Ogwu said. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low around 20F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.. Tonight Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low around 20F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. The New Orleans City Council unanimously voted Thursday to launch investigations into Entergy New Orleans preparation and response to Hurricane Ida, after much of the city was left without power for more than a week following the storm. The measures were the latest steps from the council, which regulates ENO, aimed at putting pressure on the company and holding it accountable for the aftermath from the storm. All eight of the companys transmission lines failed during the Category 4 hurricane, and as residents were left without air conditioning, some Southeast Louisiana residents died due to the excessive heat. The council voted to begin searching for a consulting group to do a study on potential ownership options for a power utility. City Council President Helena Moreno said the study was not necessarily aimed at having city ownership of the power system but rather to explore the citys options. Still, those options could include breaking Entergy New Orleans current monopoly in the city. As I mentioned yesterday, this is not a push to do any one of these things not to bring in another company, not to municipalize, whatever, she said. We just dont know, but this is really a push for more information. The council also voted to have the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigate Entergys electric transmission failures, since the council only has jurisdiction over ENO. Originally, the council had given ENO an Oct. 1 deadline to deliver a report on its handling of the February winter storms, in which the company cut off power to more than three times as many households than was needed. The council postponed that until Nov. 1 due to the storm, but it was a reminder that the company has been under ongoing scrutiny from the council long before Ida. Additionally, the council unanimously passed Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmers resolution to state it wouldnt support Entergy New Orleans raising customers rates to cover Hurricane Ida costs until a careful evaluation of proposed increases, to ensure such costs are reasonable and prudent, and not a result of any failure of Entergy New Orleans to adequately maintain and strengthen the utility infrastructure. Let us also not forget that many people died, Palmer said. "Most of those who passed were a part of our citys most vulnerable populations and suffered in sweltering heat. Asking for the people of New Orleans to pay more is not going to work for us. New Orleans Council President fires shot across Entergys bow New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno Tuesday announced she is launching an investigation into Entergy New Orleans failed handling In September 1982, when the racist policy of apartheid was still law in South Africa, Bishop Desmond Tutu, one of its best-known and most outspoken opponents, preached and distributed Communion in an Episcopal church in New Orleans Mid-City neighborhood. Tutu, who died Sunday at the age of 90, traveled to New Orleans for the Episcopal Churchs general convention. He came to Grace Episcopal Church to fulfill a long-standing commitment to celebrate the Sunday morning service. Tutu, who wore a white robe and a multicolored stole, described his countrys White rulers as powerful, but scared. The people who are perpetrators of injury in our land arent sprouting horns or tails, the Black bishop said. Theyre just ordinary people like you and me. We are talking about ordinary human beings who are scared. Wouldnt you be if you were outnumbered five to one? Although his message was solemn, Tutu punctuated it with humor, often laughing louder than anyone else. Realizing that that tone might be puzzling his listeners, Tutu said: People have asked me, Why are you able to laugh? If youre on the winning side, why shouldnt you? Despite Tutus status as a global luminary, his presence in New Orleans had been uncertain until the week before the church conference because the South African government had seized his passport in 1981 in response to his attacks on apartheid. Tutus passport was restored because of strong pressure from the church, Bishop John T. Walker of Washington, D.C., 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 I didnt think last Sunday that Id be in New Orleans, Tutu said. Im surprised, but a Christian is one who keeps being an eternal optimist. Describing himself as a revolutionary to the extent that the Bible is revolutionary, Tutu said, There is no neutrality because in being neutral, you have taken sides with the oppressor. Tutu, who became bishop of Johannesburg and then archbishop of Cape Town, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. A longtime champion of nonviolence, Tutu said in New Orleans that he was part of a rapidly diminishing minority who thinks that peaceful change is possible. Change in South Africa started in 1990, when Nelson Mandela, an ally of Tutus, was released from prison after 27 years behind bars. In 1994, when elections in that country were open to people of all races for the first time, Mandela was elected president. Tutu never stopped speaking out against racism. In 1991, he denounced the gubernatorial candidacy of David Duke, a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, saying that it seems to be making racism respectable. The fact that Duke made the runoff was, Tutu said, a sad commentary on how long it has taken a society to normalize relations between ethnic groups. At Grace Church, Tutu said he was doing Gods work. It is His job to look after me, he said. Tutu pronounced the benediction in Xhosa, an African language. When asked for a translation, he pointed heavenward and said, I assure you, He understood." The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress last month contains significant investments in Louisianas electrical grid, which was exposed as frail and outdated by a series of hurricanes over the past year. The state is in a position to get a sizable chunk of the $27 billion earmarked for items like new transmission structures, smart grid technology and storm hardening. Thats because the bill, championed by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, favors states struggling to recover from disasters. But the money Louisiana will only get a fraction of the total is nowhere near enough to build the type of grid that a growing number of regulators, consumer advocates and policy makers say is needed along the Gulf Coast, where hurricanes are becoming more powerful and frequent because of climate change. The Public Service Commission and the New Orleans City Council, Louisiana's two primary utility regulators, are embarking on probes into the weak spots exposed by Hurricane Ida and other storms that hit south Louisiana in 2020 and 2021. And they face a harsh reality: strengthening Louisianas grid will mostly depend on how much more customers can afford to pay on top of what they are already paying simply to repair damage. That is, unless the state can find another way to cover the costs. Craig Greene, chairman of the PSC, said there will soon be three different probes exploring the issue. The first, opened in 2019, will create new rules for what the poles used by power companies are made from and how often they are inspected, among other things. Greene opened two more dockets last month. The PSC will hire engineers to investigate the present state of the grid and what needs to be done to harden it. It will also explore things like microgrids and distributed generation, in which the generation of power is widely dispersed, instead of emanating from a single source. Greene said he wants to start with what Louisiana would do under a Santa Claus scenario, where money is no issue. The idea is to work backward from there. There is a growing consensus in Louisiana that doing nothing is untenable. Storms are expected to wreak increasing havoc on the grid in the coming years, leaving ratepayers to pay for restoration, not to mention the costs of extended power outages: hotel stays, spoiled food and gas-powered generators, to name a few. In 2019 and 2020, Louisiana had one of the least reliable distribution grids in the nation, according to data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2020, the year storms wreaked havoc on southwest Louisiana, the state ranked No. 1 in the country for the number of minutes power was out for each customer on average. Even excluding major events like hurricanes, only four other states had more minutes of outages than Louisiana. When comparing states based on the number of outages, Louisiana was second in the nation. It was ranked sixth and third for those respective metrics in 2019, a year when only Category 1 Hurricane Barry hit Louisiana. Those grim truths have prompted a wide range of experts to call for federal aid. We really need help from the federal government, said Greene, who wrote a letter to President Joe Biden after Ida. "Ive got people that reach out to me every day that are on fixed income and their electricity bills are higher. Entergy faces $4.1 billion in estimated restoration costs for Ida and the 2020 hurricanes. That has forced the utility to take the unusual step of asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to borrow billions of dollars ahead of schedule. Entergy Louisiana could eventually charge customers $15 a month for 15 years to cover that bill, it told the PSC recently. In response, FERC Chairman Richard Glick and Commissioner Allison Clements said the request underscores the deep costs of climate change and extreme weather, which will ultimately be borne by customers. Expensive investments Utility experts say Louisiana needs to invest in several different types of grid hardening to account for the risks presented by hurricanes in different parts of the state. For instance, burying power lines, while expensive, can save money in the long term in places where wind is the major risk, and not flooding or storm surge. New Orleans already has some underground lines in the Central Business District and other areas on relatively high ground. In the mid-2000s, Entergy spent $15 million burying power lines that cross the Mississippi River to settle a long-running dispute with Carnival, whose cruise ships couldnt sail under the utilitys overhead lines. Experts say power companies should also replace aging poles that were not built to withstand high winds, elevate substations so they dont flood and invest in technology that makes it easier to remotely operate electric infrastructure. Ted Kury, who heads a utility research lab at the University of Florida, said theres no single strategy to protect against hurricanes. Investments need to include a combination of all the above. Entergy has acknowledged climate change puts the grid at risk, and has agreed that more storm-hardening is needed. But not everyone is in agreement on how fast that work should be done, and where the money should come from. The New Orleans City Council has exchanged barbs with Entergy New Orleans, which it regulates, over whether the company has made a sufficient effort to harden the grid. The council urged FERC to break the cycle of patchwork system fixes by looking for alternative models for paying for storm costs and upgrades. After Ida, council members wondered aloud whether they could make Entergy pay for storm restoration costs, instead of residents a tricky proposition. Entergy New Orleans parent company has said its transmission system proved to be resilient, and highlighted the strength of Idas winds, some of the most severe to hit the state. In federal regulatory filings, it called the damage to seven of the eight transmission lines powering the city minor. And it boasted of the $2.5 billion Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana spent on transmission from 2016 to 2020. 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 Hurricane Ida demonstrates the resiliency benefits of these investments, Entergy New Orleans wrote, adding it was the distribution system the neighborhood-level network of poles and wires that was devastated and slowed the return of service. Some observers and customers took a less sunny view of the disaster; a class action suit filed against the company cited "shotty maintenance" for the outages. Ida knocked out all eight sources of transmission into New Orleans, including toppling a tower in Avondale. Ben Schott, head of the National Weather Service in New Orleans, said the highest wind speed recorded in the area, a gust of 113 mph, happened on the citys western flank, where that structure is located. A similar debate about how much damage should be expected from a hurricane has gone on for years. Hurricane Gustav in 2008 left only one of 14 transmission lines connecting the city to the states grid intact. (Those 14 transmission lines covered a different area, from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, than the eight transmission lines that went down during Ida, knocking out power to all of New Orleans, an Entergy spokesperson said.) Regulators said then that Entergy needed to invest. Entergy responded that its grid was solid, and pointed to the fact that the transmission tower failures represented less than 1% of all towers, according to a Times-Picayune article at the time. Thats similar to a refrain from Entergy after Ida, which knocked down about 3% of the poles in Louisiana, according to utility officials. I think people need to understand this is a long-term plan, Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana said in an interview last month. Louisiana has 1 million poles. We lost 30,000 poles as a result of Hurricane Ida. Thats a huge number but its a small percentage of our whole system. Since 2014, Entergy has been installing transmission lines on towers that can withstand winds of up to 150 mph. The company has also raised its standards for neighborhood-level distribution poles. But Entergy wouldnt provide a breakdown of how the newer structures fared in Ida. State lawmakers also requested that information in a September meeting. Entergy said it would provide the answers in a follow-up meeting, which hasnt been scheduled. According to Entergy spokesperson David Freese, it generally costs about 50% more to install the new, stronger distribution poles. But in coastal areas, Entergy has to dig deeper holes and put steel caissons into the ground, which makes each pole more expensive. In the areas near where Ida made landfall, Freese said, fewer than 1% of the more than 380 newer, more resilient structures were destroyed. More federal help? May called the federal infrastructure bill a start, but pointed out the amount of money expected to come in doesnt even compare with the amount Entergy has already spent in the past five years. May said the frequency and intensity of storms Louisiana is seeing requires the company to step back and think about resiliency differently. He also called on the feds to offset some of the costs incurred from Ida, even though historically its rare for the federal government to reimburse for-profit companies after disasters. If past is prologue, the billions in costs left by 2020 and 2021 hurricanes will ultimately be paid by customers. Exceptions are rare, though the feds did send $200 million to help rebuild the grid in New Orleans after Katrina, an effort aimed at avoiding huge increases in customer bills. Louisiana does have an important tool for reducing those costs. After Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, the Legislature enacted a process called securitization, where customers pay dollar-for-dollar costs of restoring and rebuilding the damaged parts of the grid. Instead of using the normal rate-making process, where the companies can tack on an agreed-upon profit on top of any costs, the utility issues bonds to pay for the restoration. According to the PSC, this has saved about $700 million since 2008, when it was enacted. But there may be other ways Louisiana can get help. Under the federal Stafford Act, government agencies, electric co-ops and other public entities can get reimbursed by the feds for the lions share of their hurricane-related costs. Investor-owned utilities like Entergy which raked in a record nearly $1.4 billion profit last year arent eligible. Entergy and its regulators are hoping to unlock more federal aid by arguing that Louisianas grid is of national importance. Louisiana is home to about a fifth of the nations oil refining capacity and is the countrys biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas. If the grid crashes after major storms, the rest of the country could feel the pain, they say. Curt Hebert, a former Entergy New Orleans executive who later served as the chair of FERC, said he looked for ways to get federal aid time and again when working for Entergy. Mostly, he was unsuccessful. He said Congress should find a way for all customers to have the ability to benefit from the Stafford Act, especially those in storm-prone areas like the Gulf South. May said some of the eight transmission sources feeding New Orleans that failed during Ida were built to older standards, and that Entergy will need to strategically replace and strengthen them. He said the solution to grid-hardening is all of the above, including burying some lines and building the rest stronger. But it will cost money. We have to keep in mind a very significant part of our customer base is below the poverty line, May said. They should not be put in a position of having to choose to pay their electrical bill or buying food, medicine, that type of thing. Activists say Louisianans deserve a better grid, and that proactive investments, while costly up front, will ultimately save money. Advocacy groups are also calling on utility companies to shift their focus and capital toward renewable energy and better transmission lines, as opposed to natural gas-fired power plants. If the lights stay on during future storms, those investments could pay for themselves in the long run. Several groups have pushed for renewable micro-grids as a way to keep the lights on. Is our current system affordable? said Jesse George, New Orleans policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Is it affordable to continue propping up the system year after year through storm recovery riders that frankly are going to be more frequent as climate change intensifies? Is that affordable for ratepayers? The federal government is going to have to step in and help usher through this transition, he said. A man was shot and killed Christmas Day in Metairie at about 9 p.m., according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Police found the man in the 6300 block of Riverside Drive (map) suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics brought the man to an area hospital where he later died, according to the sheriff's office. No other details were immediately available, including a possible suspect or motive for the killing, police said. Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Homicide Section at (504) 364-5300. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward. New Orleans police reported two stabbings and a downtown bank robbery over a 24-hour period leading up to Christmas morning. The two nonfatal stabbings happened about 12 hours apart, the first on Bourbon Street and the second at an unspecified location. In the Bourbon Street incident, a 52-year-old man was stabbed after a verbal altercation around 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Shortly before 7 a.m. on Christmas morning, a 51-year-old man arrived at a hospital with stab wounds to the arm and hand. The assailant had attempted to rob the victim, who refused demands to hand over property. Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, a man robbed the Capital One Bank in the 300 block of Carondelet Street twice. The man first entered the bank and passed a note demanding money. The teller complied and the man left, according to police. The man then returned with a gun and demanded money from a second teller, who also complied. The man fled. Walter Block stands accused of violating the values, mission and policy that are central to the Jesuit, Catholic identity of Loyola University in New Orleans, where he is an economics professor. That would be more shocking if Block were not an 80-year-old Jewish Libertarian and devout atheist from Brooklyn. It was a humorous fate that brought his academic career to its apogee in a Deep South Papal stronghold and extended it into the era of whiny students and the spineless administrators who always seem to side with them. It hardly ranks as news that some of Block's charges have allegedly been distressed by his racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist statements. It happens so often that university authorities recently subjected him to the exquisite torture of sensitivity training. There was no such thing in the more robust days of his youth. That fresh accusations have now been leveled against Block does not necessarily mean that trying to re-educate geezers is a waste of time, although it probably was in his case. Block is clearly about as sensitive as he is ever going to get. But he may not be in hot water again through any fault of his own, for students commonly misconstrue what their professors say, especially if those professors come with a reputation for bigotry. There is no doubt that Block has frequently been bum-rapped. Students have, for instance, lodged the absurd complaint that he compared Gandhi's successful efforts to free India from the British colonial yoke with Hitler's attempts to exterminate Jewry. Block can sometimes fail to grasp how delicate young sensibilities can be these days, however. He still does not seem to understand why he was sentenced to sensitivity training after explaining to a class that incomes are determined by productivity. The more cotton you can pick, the more you earn was how he chose to make the point, whereupon a Black student whose forebears labored on a plantation took umbrage. Block should have seen that coming. His worst kerfuffle came in 2014, when he was quoted in The New York Times to the effect that slavery wasn't so bad because you could pick cotton, sing songs be fed nice gruel etc. The only real problem, he said was that slaves were denied the right to free association. Block was miffed because the reporters thought he was talking about real slavery when he meant the voluntary kind. Asked where voluntary slaves are to be found, he admitted that they don't exist but explained that, in an attempt to make journalists understand Libertarian principles, he was talking hypothetically. Block is a long-standing advocate of reparations for the descendants of slaves. The latest complaints against Block, Provost Tanuja Singh explains in a letter to him, arose in the course of an ongoing investigation into similar alleged conduct. The charges are that Block averred women are paid less because they are lazy or incapable, and that it's the same with people of color. Singh warns that Block, tenured though he is, may be subject to disciplinary proceedings for creating a hostile and discriminatory environment. Block, who records all his lectures, has asked to be shown where he made those idiotic remarks. He is still waiting to hear back. He may offend delicate sensibilities when he explains all the possible reasons for economic disparities, for instance, but he'd have to be the world's dumbest professor to condemn women and Black people out of hand. Xiaomi has started teasing its Watch S1 device via official social media in China. The Xiaomi smartwatch is something of a mystery, with few details leaked about the wearable so far. The Xiaomi Watch S1 will be launched alongside the Xiaomi 12 smartphones on December 28. 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 December 28 is going to be a very busy day for Xiaomi as not only is there a launch event for the Xiaomi 12 smartphones and a first official appearance for MIUI 13, but it also seems that the Chinese OEM has managed to squeeze in a surprise product release in the form of the Watch S1. A few initial details about the smartwatch were revealed earlier this month, and now it has appeared (partially) in an official marketing image. Unfortunately, the promo picture (see below) doesnt really shed much light on the Xiaomi Watch S1, apart from claiming it will join other big names (Xiaomi 12, MIUI 13) on the stage at 19:30 China time on December 28. The Watch S1 is shown in the image, revealing a round face and two buttons on the case. One thing is for sure though: Xiaomi has dropped the Mi branding for its smartwatches, too. There have been some predictions for what functions the Xiaomi Watch S1 may bring, which include a heart-rate tracker, blood oxygen (SpO2) monitor, Bluetooth, calorie counter, pedometer, and the usual tools you would expect to find in this sort of fitness-geared smartwatch. An estimated guess of a price tag around 4,999 (~US$67) has been suggested, but it will depend on the unique selling points the Watch S1 can bring to the already crowded smartwatch marketplace. Buy the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 on Amazon Also the high-level clearance opens the doors for highly marketable career fields which will not only benefit the state, but also benefit the National Guard as we grow and change. The U.S. Army is providing approximately $44 million to develop the battalion in its first two years, along with an annual investment of $1.5 million for manpower, training and equipment. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said that level of commitment only is possible thanks to "Indianas brave men and women who serve in our armed forces consistently demonstrating their ability to adapt, to remain flexible, and to rise to the occasion as conditions and missions change." "Our ability to attract yet another high-tech unit speaks volumes of the talent pool in the Hoosier State, and aligns with our efforts to help keep Indiana in the top three in the nation in the concentration of the industries of the future, including life sciences, aerospace, health care, defense, ag-bioscience, cyber, orthopedics and advanced manufacturing." Indiana National Guard soldiers and airmen work around the clock to maintain their readiness to serve at home and abroad at a moment's notice as directed by the governor or the president of the United States. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hoosiers resolving to start the new year by getting some exercise or experiencing the outdoors can take advantage of "First Day Hikes" on Jan. 1 at many of Indiana's state parks and lakes. The guided hikes are organized by Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials and aimed at encouraging people to enjoy nature, connect with friends and visit state parks year-round. The First Day Hike at Indiana Dunes State Park along Lake Michigan in Porter County is set to run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Region time. Visitors should meet at the nature center to be led on a three-dune challenge hike covering 1.5 miles. At the end, park volunteers will welcome hikers back with snacks and a campfire provided by the Friends of the Indiana Dunes organization. Further afield, Potato Creek State Park near South Bend is hosting a one-mile hike around Worster Lake starting at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) at the nature center. Bowls of chili will be served following the hike courtesy of Friends of Potato Creek. We are seeing a huge influx of stray animals and owner surrenders in the community, and we are also seeing adoptions slowing down so lots of the area shelters are full and struggling, said Jessica Petalas, director of Humane Indiana. Its actually going on nationwide, and some shelters are in crisis mode trying to make space and help everyone. We desperately need adopters and fosters, but we also wanted to create a new work-from-home volunteer position to engage more people and help get some animals home for the holidays. Knowing that not everyone can adopt of foster, Humane Indiana created a campaign to become an ambassador for animals who have been in the shelter for a while, essentially acting as their social media guru. In the campaign, individuals will be paired with a cat or a dog to spread the word about, including sharing the pets photos and information about them on social media, posting fliers and more. Petalas said staff will send photos and a biography about the pet and their personality, and from there people can have free reign over how they want to market their pet, from TikTok videos to Instagram posts. She said this is also the perfect project for social media-savvy young teens and students. PORTAGE The Indiana Youth Institute has named Donna Golob, executive director of A Positive Approach to Teen Health, recipient of the 2021 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award. Golob, executive director of PATH since 2010, considers the award an honor, more about the organization than herself. It means were making a difference in the lives of youth in a very positive way, Golob said. Founded in 1993, PATH is a nonprofit organization producing healthy lifestyle curriculum for educators in nine states, including nine counties in Indiana. Over the years, PATH has sought to educate and empower 200,000 teens to make healthy choices regarding drugs, sex, alcohol and relationship violence. We help youth recognize their potential, value and purpose, Golob, a Valparaiso resident, said. It helps them to make healthy choices to build a successful future. PATH goes into schools and provides programs for middle and high school students. This past summer, PATH worked with Hammond middle school students in preparation for the closing and consolidation of some schools and the opening of the new Hammond Central High School. Even before those two reports were issued, yet another commission had already been appointed to investigate the activities and finances of the South African Council of Churches. The action suggested that the authorities may be getting ready to choke off the foreign funds that sustain the council, or possibly even ban it. Either action would be interpreted among blacks as proof that there is little or no hope for nonviolent change. But in terms of white politics - the only politics that finally matter to those who wield power - any move to keep the ''cheeky'' black ecclesiastic from amplifying his predictions that black rule is only five or 10 years off would be comforting to Government supporters who wonder now why his impertinence has been tolerated for so long. The Council of Churches exists to present a common Christian stand on major social issues. If that were really possible, of course, the issues might not be so intractable. In South Africa, the 14 member churches include all the major Protestant denominations except the white branches of the segregated Dutch Reformed Church - to which most Afrikaners belong - and the Baptists, whose pietism tends to be used as a shield against politics in a country where political issues are easily translated into ethical terms. The black branch of the Dutch Reformed Church belongs to the council and the branch for persons of mixed race - usually called coloreds - has affiliated itself in the status of observer, as has the Roman Catholic Church. Even in the churches that describe themselves as multiracial, there are traditions of white dominance and acquiescence in the system that black laymen and clergy increasingly resent. So all these churches are under immense institutional strain, trying to retain the loyalties of those who would overthrow the system, if only they could, without alienating those whose consciences demand only a few cosmetic modifications. Typically, it is the whites who dominate the synods and hierarchies of these churches and control their purse strings; it is the blacks who provide the mass of their members. In Bishop Tutu's own church, there are about 1.4 million black and brown Anglicans and fewer than 400,000 whites. Even before Bishop Tutu, in 1978, gave the council what it had conspicuously lacked - a black voice that could speak convincingly to blacks of the opposition of the churches to apartheid -the council had started using funds raised overseas to underwrite the legal defense of black political prisoners and sustain their families. When it came to supporting such efforts financially, the South African churches found various reasons to beg off. White congregations were already underwriting the black churches within each denomination; few of them could afford more, especially for what their members would see as a campaign of political resistance, without facing splits and even schisms. So the bolder the council became politically, the more dependent it inevitably became on foreign funds. Now more than 90 percent of its money comes from overseas, with the European and especially the German churches as major donors. Under Bishop Tutu, the Council of Churches has identified itself increasingly with ''liberation'' as a theological concern and struggle. Council funds have gone to support strikers belonging to black trade unions the security police would like to neutralize and to organize campaigns in opposition to the forced resettlement of blacks in rural ''homelands.'' In the eyes of the security police, the council thus does the work of the banned African National Congress, the main movement of resistance to white rule. Occasionally a Cabinet minister carries the argument a step further and charges that the council has become an agent of the underground. The new judicial commission is a clear expression of such attitudes, empowered as it is to hold public hearings and subpoena the council's financial records. These have been in admitted disarray, partly because of poor management and partly because records were deliberately not kept of the names of some individuals who were assisted or the purposes to which funds were put. The council, it seems, will have difficulty now accounting for several hundred thousand dollars of the more than $10 million it has received in the past five years. The funds in question were dispersed before Bishop Tutu arrived on the scene as its first black general secretary. But press leaks reveal he was one of the recipients, having been given about $15,000 to renovate his Soweto home - as dean of the Anglican cathedral in Johannesburg, he had refused a house in a posh white suburb - so, inevitably, the enquiry will plant doubts about his integrity, too. Bishop Tutu says he was told by his predecessor, a white Methodist layman named John C. Rees, who is now director of the liberal South African Institute of Race Relations, that the money for the house came from a donor in West Germany who wished to remain anonymous. Mr. Rees still maintains that there was nothing underhanded about the arrangement; the gift was extended, he says, in recognition of the special difficulties a black invariably has in finding decent housing. Bishop Tutu had left the Anglican cathedral in Johannesburg to become bishop of the landlocked black nation of Lesotho. When he was invited back to Johannesburg, it was assumed he had no personal wealth and that he would need help to establish himself in Soweto. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador President Nayib Bukeles government has freed three Salvadoran women who were sentenced to 30 years in prison under the nations strict anti-abortion laws after suffering obstetric emergencies, according to abortion rights groups. Morena Herrera of the Citizens Group for the Depenalization of Abortion said late Friday that the group was told one woman would be set free at presidential order, but when they went to the prison to greet her, three were released. We presented ourselves at the prison in Zacatecoluca, and Karen, Kathy and Evelyn left. They are free and in their homes, Ms. Herrera said, referring to the three released women, whose family names were not given. Ms. Herrera said she had no additional information about the decision, though she noted that petitions were pending before the Supreme Court to commute the womens sentences. As a fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus swarms across the country, hospitals in Ohio running low on beds and staff recently took out a full-page newspaper advertisement pleading with unvaccinated Americans to finally get the shot. It read, simply: Help. But in a suburban Ohio cafe, Jackie Rogers, 58, an accountant, offered an equally succinct response on behalf of unvaccinated America: Never. In the year since the first shots began going into arms, opposition to vaccines has hardened from skepticism and wariness into something approaching an article of faith for the approximately 39 million American adults who have yet to get a single dose. Now, health experts say the roughly 15 percent of the adult population that remains stubbornly unvaccinated is at the greatest risk of severe illness and death from the Omicron variant, and could overwhelm hospitals that are already brimming with Covid patients. In Cleveland, where Omicron cases are soaring, a hospital unit at the Cleveland Clinic that provides life support to the sickest patients is already completely full. The pandemic has caused many supply-chain bottlenecks in everyday life, but few are as critical as the United States ever-shrinking blood banks. For the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40 percent of the nations blood, and other nonprofit blood centers, the problem lies mostly at the top of the chain: the diminishing number of healthy donors. This is the biggest challenge that Ive seen in my 30 years in the business, Chris Hrouda, the president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in an interview on Thursday. Donations of blood typically decline at this time of year, when holiday parties, wintry weather, seasonal illnesses, travel, and school and college breaks lead to lower donor turnout. But Mr. Hrouda said this months national supply had dipped to levels that the Red Cross has not seen in 10 years. We simply like to keep three days of inventory, he said. Were struggling to keep one day. Blood takes up to three days to be tested and prepared for patients. African countries attempt to slow fourth Covid wave Across Africa, the worlds least-vaccinated continent, the spread of the Omicron variant has coincided with a rapid spike in reported case counts, prompting health authorities in several countries to reintroduce curfews and quarantines, and impose new vaccine mandates. In Kenya, the percentage of positive coronavirus tests has jumped in the past three weeks to 30 percent from 1 percent; in Uganda, nearly 50 lawmakers tested positive after attending a sporting event; and in Zimbabwe, government officials instituted new restrictions on businesses and travelers. At least 21 African countries are now experiencing a fourth wave of the pandemic, according to the Africa C.D.C. Three Algeria, Kenya and Mauritius are enduring a fifth. Omicron has now been detected in 22 African countries, but limited testing makes it difficult to know if the new variant is responsible for the spike. Early data from South Africa, where the variant was first detected, suggests it may have already peaked there and that it is less severe than earlier variants. However, health experts warned not to extrapolate those results to African countries with older populations and lower vaccination rates. Over 1,000 flights in the United States, and thousands more globally, were canceled Sunday as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus sidelined crews during one of the years busiest weekends for travel. As of Sunday evening, more than 1,300 flights with at least one stop in the United States, and over two times as many around the world, had been canceled, according to FlightAware, which provides aviation data. Sundays bleak track record followed thousands of global flight cancellations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The cancellations threatened to disrupt travel plans at a time when many fly to spend the Christmas holiday with their families. In the United States, the tradition appeared to rebound this year: Roughly two million people passed through screening checkpoints each day last week, according to the Transportation Security Administration, and the numbers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were nearly double the equivalent figures last year. Twelve percent of JetBlue flights, 6 percent of Delta Air Lines flights, five percent of United Airlines flights and 2 percent of American Airlines flights on Sunday had been canceled by midday, according to FlightAware. Flight disruptions in the United States continued on Monday as many people embarked on their first trips in almost two years, and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, again raised the possibility of a vaccination requirement for air travel. At least 2,600 more flights were canceled Monday, including about 1,000 U.S. flights, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus is sending daily caseloads in parts of the United States soaring to levels higher than last winters pandemic peak. While the cancellations were only a small percentage of overall flights, the problem threatened to extend into the holiday week. When you make vaccination a requirement, thats another incentive to get more people vaccinated, Dr. Fauci said on MSNBC on Monday. If you want to do that with domestic flights, I think thats something that seriously should be considered. Small wonder that a quarter of women over 65 consider an unexpected $1,000 expense a major setback, as the AARP survey showed. Anne Turley, 68, a veteran film and video editor, is getting by after some scary years of underemployment. She relies on about $1,200 in monthly Social Security benefits that she claimed early, at 62; a reverse mortgage on her house in Los Angeles; and the rent from a small studio in her backyard. But she recently needed a new hot-water heater and about $4,000 of dental work. Every month is How do I pay this? How can I find money for that? she said. Economists attribute much of the retirement gender gap to the motherhood penalty. Women who raise children have fewer and lower-paid years in the work force than men or childless women, and they never completely make up for the deficits, said Matthew Rutledge, a research fellow at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Social Security calculates benefits based on workers highest-earning years, he pointed out, and mothers are apt to have some zero-earning years that bring the average down, along with years of part-time work. Social Security offsets only part of the penalty. But much of the discrepancy in financial stability at older ages stems from a major demographic shift: Women now spend much less of their adulthoods in marriages. That is partly because women are increasingly marrying later, or not at all. But gray divorces among people over 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010, even as divorces declined in younger cohorts, said I-Fen Lin, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Like prospectors in the American West during the gold rush, companies and self-starters are racing to far-flung places around the globe to mine the natural resources that will drive the technology of the 21st century. The Timess ongoing Race to the Future series is documenting the geopolitical, economic and environmental wrangling that is shaping the shift from fossil fuels to electricity in vehicle technology. Times journalists from four desks are collaborating to shed light on the scramble for metals and the players involved: local residents with pickaxes, celebrity investors eyeing business deals and government-backed corporations elbowing for control. The first articles in the series were published last month and focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo and its huge reserves of cobalt, a component in the batteries of electric cars. In recent weeks, other articles profiled a Chinese company that dominates the electric-car battery market (it has bought two of Congos largest cobalt deposits over the past five years), and the competition in Bolivia, where a quarter of the worlds known lithium another crucial metal is caked within salt flats. We are in a historic moment when the fossil fuel industry isnt just in decline but is actually being replaced, said Dean Murphy, the investigations editor at The Times who is overseeing the series. Theres a lot at stake in that transition. Damian did end up hanging on to those glasses. In fact, he hung on to them for way too long. Normally, Damian would go in for annual vision exams to get an updated prescription. But when the pandemic began, his family didnt feel comfortable traveling from their home in Manhattan to his eye doctor in the Bronx. Also, money was tight all five family members wear glasses, so costs add up fast. Damian ended up going almost three years without an eye exam or a new pair of glasses. That may not sound like a huge deal. But getting a yearly eye exam is really important, says Dr. On Lam, an optometrist with Helen Keller International, an organization focused on vision health. Wearing the wrong glasses or not having glasses at all when you need them can strain your eyes, and that can lead to headaches and, for kids, doing poorly in school. Wayne Thiebaud, the California-based painter whose lush, dreamy landscapes and luminous pictures of hot dogs, deli counters, marching band majorettes and other charmed relics of midcentury Americana were complex meditations on life and painting, and represented one of the most affecting and individual variations on 20th-century Pop Art, died on Saturday at his home in Sacramento. He was 101. His death was confirmed by his gallery, Acquavella. Truth be told, Mr. Thiebaud was not really a Pop painter. Detractors sometimes tried to pigeonhole him as one or as an illustrator. In fact, like many of the historical artists he admired, he was a virtuoso of the everyday and its deep, subtle symbolism. In person he was a classic of the old American West, a slender man of Gary Cooperish charm and dry humor soft-spoken, modest, layered, self-assured. Often bathed in Pacific sunshine, Mr. Thiebauds art looked at first flush radiant and plain as day. But on closer inspection, his pictures of idealized pies, spaghetti entanglements of highways and gumball machines rimmed in blue halos required unpacking. A rustling of unexpected sadness occasionally crept into the paintings after that initial leaping rush of joy an unsentimental nostalgia for a bygone era or some long lost love. We havent proven that the pandemic is over, and that everything is not going to fail. But then, I grew up in California where the ground shook all the time and you never knew if your whole house was going to collapse on you, so I see it differently. THOMAS SCHUMACHER, the president of Disney Theatrical Productions, who likes to transact business at Sardis upstairs bar while shows are running and the room is quiet. The Los Angeles Police Department is expected on Monday to release more details, including audio from 911 calls and body camera video footage, about an encounter between officers and a man reported to be assaulting a woman that resulted in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl in a North Hollywood clothing store on Thursday. Officers responded to multiple radio calls about an assault with a deadly weapon and a potential shooting at a Burlington store on Victory Boulevard, the police said. When officers arrived, they said, they found a man assaulting a woman and fired at him. They identified him as Daniel Elena Lopez. The teenager, Valentina Orellana Peralta, was in a dressing room with her mother directly behind him, and the officers did not see her. Police said a bullet, likely fired by an officer, penetrated the dressing rooms wall. Both the man and the girl died from gunshot wounds to the chest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroners Office. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. In the Fresno lawsuit and others, for example, Dr. Chan repeatedly wrote that Dr. Donald Reay, a former medical examiner in King County, Wash., had concluded that hogtying does not produce any serious or life-threatening respiratory effects omitting the crucial phrase in normal individuals. Other physicians in the network consistently left off that phrase when repeating the quote, although Dr. Reay maintained that such restraints could be fatal in some instances. Dr. Chan did not respond to a question about the quotation. Papers by researchers outside the network were more frequently balanced finding, for example, that some restraint positions are generally safe while others can cause statistically significant changes in breathing. Another recent paper used new computer imaging technology to measure lung function and found that it was affected during restraint. In their own writings and when asked about these papers, some scientists in the network dismissed them. They said papers that found statistically significant effects were inadequate because the changes were not clinically significant enough to be considered health problems in the participants. (Some other scientists said choosing test subjects who would be more likely to face such distress would generally not be ethically permitted in experiments.) They said some experiments with Tasers on animals could not be used to draw conclusions about humans. And several suggested that some of the other papers should be scrutinized because they were written by doctors who testified against police. Dr. Kroll said in a 2019 webinar that the science has completely debunked the claim that pushing someone facedown could contribute to asphyxiation. In the session, conducted by Lexipol and titled Arrest Related Deaths: Managing Your Medical Examiner, he suggested that such deaths were outside the control of officers. Decades ago we used to prosecute mothers for crib deaths and sudden infant death syndrome, and then we figured out it really wasnt their fault, he said at one point in the training session, adding later: Hopefully in the future well have something like sudden infant death syndrome, just arrest related death syndrome so we dont have to automatically blame the police officer. A spokeswoman for Lexipol, which was co-founded by a lawyer who had previously hired Dr. Chan to defend police officers, said an upcoming webinar would discuss recent court rulings that found extended prone restraint to be excessive force in some circumstances. We are not in the business of determining such science-based decisions about whether prone restraint is dangerous, the spokeswoman, Shannon Pieper, said in an email. SAN ANTONIO Every three minutes, a child is born somewhere in Texas. At one hospital in North Texas, 107 babies were delivered over 96 hours this summer, shattering local records. At a hospital in San Antonio, more than 1,200 babies have been born this year, up nearly 30 percent since 2018. Across one of the nations fastest-growing states, an average 1,000 new Texans arrive every day. Half of them are newborns. Our population is going up. So just with that, I would expect our birthrates to increase, said Shad Deering, a department chair with the Childrens Hospital of San Antonio. We will become very busy. Long after he led the nonviolent struggle against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, who died Sunday at 90, continued to serve as South Africas moral compass, even if it meant criticizing two institutions central to his life: his church and the former liberation movement. Though he formally retired from public life in 2010 promising to quietly sip tea with his wife and visit his grandchildren Archbishop Tutu remained a powerful advocate for what he saw as right and fair, including a host of causes like social and climate justice. He also stood against corruption and lack of accountability under the African National Congress, and against discrimination, calling out the Anglican Church for not taking a stronger stance for gay rights. If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldnt worship that God, he told the BBC in 2007 after the election of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop in the United States led the Anglican Church to grapple with the issue. None of the crew on the Navy combat ship Milwaukee who have been infected with the coronavirus have needed hospitalization, the Guantanamo Bay base hospital said on Sunday, two days after the Navy disclosed an outbreak among fully vaccinated sailors aboard the ship. The Milwaukee departed its home port in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 14 with a crew of 105 sailors, including a Navy helicopter combat crew and a Coast Guard law enforcement unit as part of the U.S. Southern Commands efforts to fight drug trafficking in the Caribbean. It reached Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Monday for a refueling and resupply stop and extended its stay there because of the outbreak. Our medical and public health teams are in close contact with medical on board ship, Dawn Grimes, the hospital spokeswoman, said on Sunday. At the request of the ship, she added, the hospital was providing medical staff on board with Covid-19 vaccine booster doses to administer to those who want an extra shot. None of the Milwaukees crew members were permitted to leave the ship and adjoining pier after docking at the base, Cmdr. Kate Meadows said Saturday, sparing the 6,000 residents at Guantanamo Bay the risk of being exposed. The ship held its own open-air, socially distanced Christmas service on the pier, rather than attending services at the base chapel, and chefs on board prepared a holiday meal instead of joining Guantanamo personnel for their meals. SEOUL Three members of the global K-pop phenomenon BTS have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Big Hit Music, the groups management company. The company said that RM, 27, and Jin, 29, tested positive on Saturday after returning to South Korea from the United States this month. The day before, Big Hit Music announced that Suga, 28, who returned from the United States on Thursday, discovered that he was infected while in quarantine and after taking a P.C.R. test. All three received their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine in August, the company said. Suga, the stage name for the artist Min Yoon-gi, had tested negative before traveling to the United States, the company said. RM (Kim Nam-joon) and Jin (Kim Seok-jin) initially tested negative on returning to South Korea. The company previously said that Suga had no contact with the other members of BTS. He was not displaying any symptoms as of Friday, and he was isolating at home, the company said. NIJMEGEN, the Netherlands The email came at 3 a.m., giving Nematullah Khosh Ahmadi and his wife, Masouma Ebrahimi, three hours to decide whether to get on an evacuation flight to the Netherlands and leave Afghanistan, their homeland, perhaps never to return. Living under Taliban rule was not an option for the couple, who are filmmakers who had long documented the violence that the extremist group had inflicted on Afghanistan. But that did not make the decision any less heart-wrenching, they said. They packed up their important documents, a video camera and a pair of gloves for their infant daughter and they fled. Mr. Ahmadi and Ms. Ebrahimi, who were among roughly 2,000 Afghans evacuated to the Netherlands this summer, in the frantic weeks before the United States left Afghanistan, are now living in a temporary camp deep in a forest near the eastern town of Nijmegen. The camp houses about 1,000 evacuees, who live in shared tents that allow little privacy and, although heated, cannot keep out the winter cold. The evacuees recently heard that they would be moving in coming weeks, but for many, their hopes for more solid housing appeared to be dimming given a shortage of more permanent social housing for poor Dutch and refugees alike. KYIV, Ukraine In a pine forest not far from Ukraines capital, a mock battle raged. Commanders barked orders. Figures in camouflage huddled behind trees. A soldier fell to the ground, yelling for help. His cries provided the cue for Anastasia Biloshitska, 25, to run into the line of fire, kneel in the mud and open her medical kit. People who are prepared wont panic, Ms. Biloshitska said. Ms. Biloshitska is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians who have signed up to learn combat skills in training programs created and run by the government and private paramilitary groups. The programs are part of the countrys strategic defense plan in the event of a potential invasion by Russia to foster a civilian resistance that can carry on the fight if the Ukrainian military is overwhelmed. Alan Cowell was the South Africa bureau chief for The New York Times from 1983 to 1987, when the apartheid government expelled him from the country. At Johannesburgs main airport, around 400 people were preparing to board flights for Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Nearly all of them filed past the security scanners without incident to get to the departure lounges. All except one Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu. It was December 1986, and Archbishop Tutu was the leader of his countrys Anglican believers, Black and white, and one of the most respected figures at the helm of the struggle against apartheid, its spiritual center of gravity. He had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his courage and commitment. No one could not have known who he was and what he stood for. Yet of all the passengers in the line he was the only traveler submitted to the indignity of a body search. It seemed intended as much as anything to remind him of his chromatic status in the apartheid nation. THE discovery of tobacco by a sniffer dog at the mails centre in Portlaoise resulted in over 31,000 cigarettes being found in a house in Crinkle. Margarita Kalmikova, Grove Street, Crinkle, pleaded guilty at Tullamore Circuit Court to unlawfully keeping tobacco products for sale or delivery. Kevin White, BL, prosecuting (instructed by Sandra Mahon, Offaly state solicitor), said the prosecution arose from a seizure on May 15, 2019 and the background to the case was set out by Gerard Ryan, an officer with customs and excise. Mr Ryan told the court an authorised officer with Revenue was working at the mails centre in Portlaoise when a sniffer dog's attention was drawn to a parcel addressed to an individual in Grove Street, Crinkle, Co Offaly. There was also another parcel with another person's name on it at the same address and amber leaf tobacco was found in the packages. On another occasion a dog handler found a substance in the Dublin mails centre which was also addressed to the house in Crinkle. When parcels were brought to the address in Grove Street the door was answered by Ms Kalmikova who said one of the packages was addressed to her husband. Officers secured a warrant and searched the premises and tobacco products were found in a kitchen press, under the stairs, in a front office room upstairs and a front bedroom. Loose leaf tobacco weighing 4.1kg was found, along with 14.65kg of fine cut tobacco and 31,480 rolled cigarettes. Mr Ryan said the total value was 28,028 and the loss to the Exchequer was 24,530, resuling in a net value of 3,498. In an interview, Ms Kalmikova said she got the tobacco from a friend in Luxembourg and it was paid for through Western Union. She said the products were for her own personal use but she had sold cigarettes to friends a few times. Mr Ryan said she had no previous convictions. Defence counsel for the accused said she was a Latvian woman who had been living in Ireland since 2001 and she was now divorced from the man mentioned by the previous witness. Judge Keenan Johnson was told that her husband was not living there at the time and another man who had been interviewed in relation to the matter made no admissions. Aged 44, she had been working in Dooly's Hotel in Birr but had to stop because of a back injury and was on medication and awaiting an ultrasound. Judge Johnson said a probation report had been prepared for the accused since she entered her guilty plea and it indicated that she denied selling the tobacco. He said it was stretching credibility a bit to say that quantity of tobacco and cigarettes were for her own use. The judge also noted she had been working in the hotel for 10 years and was a volunteer with Birr Tidy Towns. Mr Ryan was recalled to give further evidence and he said that while the accused would be a cog in the machine she would not be at the top of the food chain. He would not accept that the tobacco was for her own use and that she did not intend to make a financial gain. The defence accepted that Ms Kalmikova had broken the law but the items were not addressed to her and she was very eager to do anything to make amends. Judge Johnson said he was quite satisfied the woman was engaged in the illegal sale and supply of tobacco which was a serious offence which caused a loss to the State and deprived legitimate operators of business. He sentenced her to 240 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison. YOU know something, we indomitable Irishry - as Yeats described us, God bless him are simply hilarious. In truth, we are like St Augustine. He who prayed 'Lord make me holy, but not just yet', to paraphrase. Yes, we want a united Ireland, of course we do. But we dont want to pay more taxes to make it possible, drop the tricolour or the national anthem should such be necessary. What we want, it would appear from The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll last week, is to take over Northern Ireland, impose the tricolour on its citizens and make them sing the Soldiers Song. Which sounds like colonisation, even invasion. Not our thing, surely. Been there. Suffered that. But no tee-shirt. So 62% of us surveyed said they would vote 'Yes' in a referendum on a united Ireland with only 16% saying they would vote `No. The remainder had no opinion or would not vote. The strongest support was from Sinn Fein voters, with 78% in favour. Fine Gael voters were the least enthusiastic with 58% in favour. Still there was strong support in favour of unity right across our political spectrum. Yep, everyone loves Mam and apple pie too. But when it comes to paying for such unity, well folks, it was a horse of a different colour. A remarkable 79% of us would not accept any higher taxes if that was the cost of a united Ireland and the same percentage rejected any cuts in public spending if that too is necessary. In other words we want a united Ireland, if its free. Costs nothing. If it means we dont have to put our hands in our pockets. Hilarious! And that is not all. Any likelihood of a new flag or new national anthem to reflect the identity of unionists was rejected by more than 70%. Loyalists, lie down! Similarly, when it came to a question in the poll as to whether Ireland should rejoin the Commonwealth to reflect a new Ireland which included unionists, - more than 70% said 'No'. Just 44% supported the idea of unionists having a role in the government of a united Ireland while only 47% supported closer ties to the UK to assuage unionist fears. As a people with such a strong sense of our own Irish identity it beggars belief that we have such little insight into the soul of those unionists who have a similar, treasured British identity. Can people imagine that, if as part of the 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement, which conceded a role for the Irish government in the affairs of Northern Ireland, a similar concession was granted the British to have a role in the Republics government to assuage unionist fears? There would be murder, probably literally. Paisley led hundreds of thousands in Belfast in opposition to that Agreement (as well!) in Belfast shouting 'never, never, never.' But it came to pass. Unionists saw it as a dilution of their British identity and sovereignty in Northern Ireland, which it was. A united Ireland will mean similar dilution by government in the Republic. It seems clear that, should a united Ireland ever happen, it will most likely involve this Republic conceding a British role in Irish affairs to allow unionists feel secure. Clearly, we are nowhere near that. Indeed, a united Ireland will most likely mean two parliaments on the island regardless, one in Belfast and one in Dublin. But, dont worry. Despite all the huffing and puffing its not going to happen any day soon. Personally I believe, if it happens at all, it is many decades away and probably not in the lifetimes of the majority of people reading this column, including its author. The truth is that over the past 100 years the two parts of this island have grown separate identities, gone in different directions, with arguably the emergence of three separate Irishnesses: Southern Irish, Northern Irish, and British Irish. The most interesting of the three, perhaps, is the growing Northern Irish cohort who identify more with the geographic entity known as 'the six counties', more than with Britain or the Republic. It is these people who will determine the future of Northern Ireland and whether there will be a majority in Northern Ireland who favour a referendum on unity not unionists and not nationalists there. They are the growing and highly influential middle ground in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, the results of a poll published in Northern Ireland itself last Sunday showed that a 54% majority would vote to remain in Britain if there was a referendum on Irish unity. Quelle surprise! Interestingly, it also found that only 52% in Northern Ireland thought the Republics government would like to see Irish unity. Fine, they also said they thought a referendum in Northern Ireland 10 years from now would see a vote in favour of a united Ireland. They also fear such a referendum on unity could provoke a return to violence. That Lord Ashcroft Polls survey also found that support in Northern Ireland for a united Ireland declined sharply with increasing age, with just 25% of those aged over 65 in favour. Significantly 67% of those polled in Northern Ireland - including 34% of Unionists said they thought Brexit had made Irish unification more likely in the foreseeable future. But to come back to The Irish Times/Ipsos poll, when it came to just how passionately those surveyed felt about a united Ireland the findings are very disappointing for enthusiasts. Just a fifth (20%) agreed Irish unity was very important, it is a priority for me. Almost a quarter (24%) said it was not at all important. By far the most popular response 52% - felt it was not very important but I would like to see it someday. I expect as many would also like to see Santy Claus next week. And, despite Sinn Feins particular enthusiasm for Irish unity, 47% of its voters polled said a united Ireland was not very important but I would like to see it someday, while 36% of its supporters believed a united Ireland was very important. Nothing to see here, folks. Meanwhile, as we face into Christmas and raising Omicron infections, let us not worry about higher taxes or cuts in public spending to pay for Irish unity. Its not going to happen any time soon and, clearly, we now have more pressing matters to address such as saving as many lives as possible in this latest Covid variant wave. Towards that end, let us all be careful out there in public places by wearing masks and respecting the two-metre social distancing recommendation. And, for light relief these coming days, let us stay tuned to the goings on at Westminster and take pleasure in the fall of Boris, who is not our friend in Ireland and 'Le Clown', as President Macron of France described him. Let us also hope that whomsoever the Tories replace him with is not worse. I know, it seems impossible, but that party has a particular genius in such matters. They did, after all, elect Boris while knowing in depth his track record of lies and distortion. A major infrastructure project that will see a new bridge be created across part of the River Shannon has received the green light. Tipperary County Council has announced that approval has been granted by the Department of Transport to Clare County Council to award the contract for the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Crossing and R494 Road Improvement project to John Sisk & Sons (Holdings) Ltd. The contract value is 43.7-million plus VAT and the scheme will include a cycle lane over its entire length. The Project Team for this scheme consisting of Clare County Council, Tipperary County Council, Department of Transport and scheme consultants, RPS Consulting Engineers have been progressing the delivery of this important piece of infrastructure for the Mid-West over the past number of years. Michael OMeara, Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District said: This is fantastic news for Ballina/Killaloe and the wider North Tipperary/East Clare area. It will get rid of the long-standing queues at the old bridge and improve the quality of life in the twin towns and allow them achieve their full potential as a premier destination in Irelands Hidden Heartlands". Marcus OConnor, Director of Services, Tipperary County Council said: We have been working on this scheme with our colleagues in Clare County Council and the Department of Transport for over 15 years. It was a long haul but certainly worth it. Its one of the biggest non-national road schemes in the country and will have a transformative impact on Ballina and its hinterland." The proposed Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme will provide a western bypass of Killaloe, a new bridge crossing of the River Shannon and an upgrade of the existing R494 regional road from Ballina to the N7 at Bridhill. The entire scheme is approximately 6.2km and will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km to the south of the existing Killaloe Bridge and will cross the Kilmastulla River (a tributary of the River Shannon and part of the Lower River Shannon SAC) on the R494. The proposed scheme has been broken down into three sections as follows: Killaloe Bypass: This part of the scheme aims to create a western bypass around the town of Killaloe which will connect the R463 to the north of town with the proposed Shannon Bridge Crossing section and R463 to the south of the town. Shannon Bridge Crossing: This section of the scheme will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km south of the existing Killaloe Bridge and will connect the proposed Killaloe Bypass with the R494. R494 Upgrade: This section will involve widening, regrading and local realignment of the R494 from its junction with the R496 and proposed Shannon Bridge Crossing south of Ballina, as far as the junction with the R445 (previously known as N7) north of Birdhill. THE search is now on for the 2021 Offaly Person of the Year and the 2021 Offaly Unsung Hero. Both awards were launched at an informal event in the Library Bar of the Bridge House Hotel recently. Speaking at the ceremony Jennifer Guinan, Chairperson of the Offaly Association (Dublin) extended a special welcome to the 2019 Person of the Year Brendan Martin and 2019 Unsung Hero of Offaly Pat Minnock who were both present. "It is strange to say that it is two years since we last met to launch the award due to Covid which forced us to cancel the 2020 award. "The Offaly Person of the Year award is a prestigious award awarded to an Offaly person who is nominated by the people of Offaly via nomination forms which appear in the local newspapers. "I am calling on the people of Offaly to nominate who they think has played a a vital role in the county and in their community," said Ms Guinan who thanked Noel Tynan of The Celt Hotel Bar and Lounge, Talbot Street, Dublin for his lsponsorship of the award, the management and staff of the Bridge House Hotel for hosting the awards ceremony and the launch night. Master of Cermonies Ger Scully said there were apologies from Cllr. Sean O'Brien, Offaly County Council CEO Anna Marie Delaney and Offaly Association Dublin stalwart Ann Carey who were unable to attend the launch. He went on to wish Ann and her husband Alan well, explaining that Alan is in ill health at the moment. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr Declan Harvey thanked the committee for inviting him to the launch. "The Offaly Person of the Year award is a very important award as it recognises people in the county who have achieved memorable things and they are nominated for the award by the people of the county. "I want to congratulate Brendan Martin on winning the 2019 award, Pat Minnock on winning the 2019 Unsung Hero award, all the previous winners, the committee who do an excellent job in organising the event and the Bridge House Hotel for hosting the event. The presentation of the 2019 award was a resounding success," said Cllr. Harvey. Prior to launching the search for the 2021 winner. 2019 winner Brendan Martin said "being presented with the award was a wonderful occasion for myself and my family. I was very privileged to be presented with the award. "The Offaly Association has done many wonderful things for the people of Offaly living in Dublin since it was formed and continues to do so. "I want to acknowledge the work of the committee and the work of the selection committee each year. I want to congratulate Pat Minnock on winning the Unsung Hero award. "The presentation was very special and successful and I want to thank Noel McCann and the staff of the Bridge House Hotel for making the night so special. "The award was a wonderful honour which was bestowed on me." The closing date for receipt of nominations for the 2021 Offaly Person of the Year is Friday, 28 January, 2022. Nomination forms should be sent to Ger Scully, Convent View, Tullamore on or before that date. The artist at the centre of the controversy is a prominent critic of Israeli government policies in the occupied territories. Johannesburg: Like falling in love is how Archbishop Desmond Tutu described voting in South Africas first democratic election in 1994, a remark that captured both his puckish humour and his profound emotions after decades fighting apartheid. Villagers from Myanmar fled across the Thai border on Saturday as fighting flared between between their government and ethnic Karen forces. In his first Christmas address as president, Joe Biden heaped praise on military service members stationed around the world. "As your commander in chief, I wanted to say thank you. We're grateful for your sacrifice." Three BTS members Suga, RM and Jin have tested positive for COVID-19. The superstar group had recently returned to South Korea from the United States where they held their first in-person concerts since the pandemic. From prominent South African lawmakers to religious figures, many on social media honored Archbishop Tutu as a patriot of peaceful principles who dedicated his life to combating injustice everywhere. allAfrica.com 22 Dec 2021 [UN News] In Sudan, reports of serious sexual violence and the use of live ammunition against protesters at the weekend must be.. President Vladimir Putin said he would mull proposals by military experts if NATO did not guarantee an end to its eastward expansion, saying the alliance's actions left Russia with "nowhere to retreat." 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Sara Trost was from Southend, and was the mother of a toddler, according to reports. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has again called on ministers to back plans to train more medics for the NHS. Tracy Halligan says she was "running miles for children's smiles" after the 50km run for charity. Irish President Michael D Higgins has hailed the extraordinary legacy left by Archbishop Demond Tutu as he paid tribute to the anti-apartheid campaigner. A British estate agent who was shot dead in a senseless tragedy in the US has been described as kind, vivacious and selfless. Russia said on Saturday it was pulling back about 10,000 troops from near the Ukrainian border in an unexpected major de-escalation as it gears up for talks on NATO concessions with the United States.The troops from the Southern... A suicide bomber killed at least five people at a crowded night spot in the city of Beni in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, local officials reported. St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney has launched an emergency response after informing 400 people they had incorrectly received negative Covid-19 test results."SydPath last night incorrectly messaged more than 400 people, advising them... A Holland America cruise ship was on its way back to port Saturday after it was rejected by Mexican health officials following positive Covid-19 tests on board. #hollandamerica #healthofficials The dean St George's Cathedral in Cape Town has described the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's legacy as one of moral strength. TomoNews US 05 Jan 2022 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA The ashes of South Africas famous Archbishop Tutu are not really ashes. They were created by a water.. Daily Star 25 Dec 2021 Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been ordered to pay substantial damages to a rapper in a strange row over his pet.. MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO's expansion to Ukraine. Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. The Kremlin presented its security demand amid tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine in recent weeks that has fueled Western fears of a possible invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin in a video call earlier this month that Russia will face severe consequences if it attacks Ukraine. Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in its turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim. Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take adequate military-technical measures if the West continues its aggressive course on the threshold of our home. Asked to specify what such Moscow's response could be, he said in comments aired by Russian state TV Sunday that it could be diverse, adding that it will depend on what proposals our military experts submit to me. The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantee on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATOs principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to launch security talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns. Putin said the talks with the U.S. will be held in Geneva. In parallel, negotiations are also set to be held between Russia and NATO and broader discussions are expected under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In remarks broadcast Sunday, Putin said Russia submitted the demands in the hope of a constructive answer from the West. We didn't do it just to see it blocked ... but for the purpose of reaching a negotiated diplomatic result that would be fixed in legally binding documents," Putin said. He reaffirmed that NATO membership for Ukraine or the deployment of alliance weapons there is a red line for Moscow that it wouldn't allow the West to cross. We have nowhere to retreat, he said, adding that NATO could deploy missiles in Ukraine that would take just four or five minutes to reach Moscow. They have pushed us to a line that we can't cross. They have taken it to the point where we simply must tell them; Stop!" He voiced concern that the U.S. and its allies could try to drag out the security talks and use them as a cover to pursue a military buildup near Russia. He noted that Russia published its security demands to make them known to the public and raise the pressure on the U.S. and its allies to negotiate a security deal. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks broadcast Sunday that NATO's expansion to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations is a matter of life or death for us. He noted that Friday's test-firing of Russia's Zircon hypersonic missiles would help make Russia's push for security guarantees more convincing. Friday's launches were the latest in a series of test of Zircon, which Putin said is capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound to a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). They marked the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines. Peskov on Sunday also pointed at Putin's earlier warning that a Ukrainian offensive against the rebel-held territories would entail grave consequences for Ukraine's statehood, adding that they know it well in Kyiv and they know it well in Washington. Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and shortly after threw its support behind a separatist rebellion in the countrys east. Over more than seven years, the fighting has killed over 14,000 people and devastated Ukraines industrial heartland, known as the Donbas. The Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye joined the staff at the ministry for the end of year durbar on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. The Minister who doubles as Member of Parliament for Bantama expressed his gratitude to the entire staff for a successful year. He urged the staff to improve on work performance in 2022 to achieve collective goals and bring about sustainable development to the country. In a post, Hon. Asenso-Boakye said, Yesterday, I delightfully joined the management and staff of my Ministry in our End-of-Year Staff durbar for the year 2021. Since assuming office as Minister for Works and Housing, in March this year, I have had the opportunity to witness at first hand the zeal and enthusiasm with which staff at various levels go about their responsibilities. While I am particularly encouraged by the dedication and sense of duty exhibited by my team over this period, nonetheless, if we improve in our work performance in the coming year, we can achieve our collective goals and bring about sustainable development to our dear country. If we continue to do more, someday, when the success story of the Ministry of Works and Housing is told, we all will be proud to have played our individual and collective parts. It is my expectation, therefore, that, in the year 2022, we will continue to work together with renewed minds, strengths and spirits. 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 Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa's struggle against white minority rule, has died at the age of 90. Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and in recent years was hospitalised on several occasions to treat infections associated with his cancer treatment. In a statement on behalf of the Tutu family, the Office of the Archbishop of South Africa said he, 'died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town this morning.' They did not give details on the cause of death. In 1984 Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent opposition to apartheid. A decade later, he witnessed the ends of that regime and chaired a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to unearth atrocities committed during those dark days. He preached against the tyranny of white minority and even after its end, never wavered in his fight for a fairer South Africa, calling the black political elite to account with as much vigour as he had the white Afrikaners. In his final years, he regretted that his dream of a 'Rainbow Nation' had not yet come true. Read Full Story .... dailymail.co.uk >>> : Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Music Maestro, Kojo Antwi, will, for the 30th time in his glittering career, thrill his fans to melodious tunes of his timeless love songs on the eve of Christmas tomorrow. The legend has since 1991 made 24th December the most iconic music night on the Ghanaian calendar, and the 24th night has grown in stature that, it has become synonymous with the man who weaves words to touch the emotions of lovers. This year will not be different, and as was the case in previous years, Mr. Music Man has announced an impressive list of artistes who will entertain his fans before he mounts the stage and dish out loads of his popular tracks. Among those lined up include melodious songstress, Afia, Fameye and South African Sonti. Globally renowned keyboardist, Kwame Yeboah, has been a regular feature of Kojo's shows, and he is billed on the night. Kojo Antwi himself is looking forward to the night, as he announced it on his Facebook page. "Ready to mark 30 years of melodramatic performances; exciting live shows on 24th night," he wrote. "Celebrating the first performer to make a date on the national calendar with beautiful people and lovers of iconic love songs. Come and let's share beautiful, unforgettable moments like never before," the Maestro added. Indeed a night with multiple award winner is always exciting and unforgettable. Two unique features of Kojo Antwi's 24th Night are his breathtaking entries, and how he makes the entire concert interactive by allowing the audience to select the songs they want. The 30-year old 24th Night Shows has moved from different venues; the National Theatre, the Accra International Conference, Kempinski Hotel, under the moon light at the Accra Mall, Labafi Beach Hotel and even on the Oxford Street in Osu to a free audience This year, the show moves to the newly built De Icon Event Cebtre.at East Legon in Accra. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A surgical face mask hangs from a Christmas tree in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. Quebec's new and tighter COVID-19 restrictions took effect on Sunday as the province struggles to combat a surge in cases due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The Charleston City Council was able to remove the John C. Calhoun statue last year without permission from the Legislature because the vice president died before the Civil War and the monument was on private property. The S.C. Heritage Act still requires legislative approval before cities and counties can change most monuments related to wars. File/Matthew Fortner/Staff U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace had been in Congress for 100 hours when rioters began storming the Capitol building on Jan. 6. The freshman lawmaker from Charleston who had previously worked as the coalitions director and field director for Donald Trumps South Carolina presidential campaign in 2016, felt like she needed to speak out against her former boss. She had been elected, in large part, by the avid Trump base in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District. But, now, she knew she couldn't be silent. Every accomplishment that Republicans have made over the last four years, including President Trump had (made), she said, were wiped out in just a few short hours," Mace told The Post and Courier on Jan. 7. The Post and Courier's reporting on Mace's timeline of events on Jan. 6 were cited by Congressional Democrats in their impeachment documents. Mace was the only Republican from South Carolina who voted to certify the Electoral College results that secured President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Im not going to be voting with any of those folks, Mace said. I am not going to vote to overturn the results of the Electoral College because I do not believe that Congress knows better than voters or better than the states. Mace's stance against Trump after Jan. 6 garnered fierce political backlash. She currently faces three major GOP challengers in her 2022 primary, and all have referenced her comments against the former president as one reason for entering the race. Mace has tried to build back with the Trump base and did later vote against authorizing the Jan. 6 commission. She also voted to oust U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney from GOP leadership after her harsh condemnations of the former president. Trump, who had endorsed her during her 2020 campaign, said in a statement last month he's looking for "good and SMART America First Republican Patriots to challenge Mace in her primary. Mace, using the same language she has any time a challenger has announced their candidacy, simply replied: "Serving in Congress is the honor of my lifetime. I look forward to continuing to serve the 1st District. Bob Caslen arrived at the University of South Carolina in a cloud of controversy over his selection as president and left less than two years later amid the cloud of a plagiarism scandal. But the retired three-star general and West Point superintendent made one thing clear: He hated his time in Columbia. If I had to do it all over again, I would never have gone to the University of South Carolina, Caslen told The Post and Courier five months after he resigned in May. His comments came after the newspaper obtained emails in which Caslen voiced his anger about criticism in the days right after he lifted a passage from another commencement address into his own and called the school the University of California to graduates. This place sucks so bad, Caslen wrote to then-S.C. State University President James Clark on May 9. I dont know how anyone can stand it. At some point you have to ask why do you put up with this stuff. It is insane. I dont know how you can stand living here. Caslens rants in the days after his commencement mishaps and then again months later tarnished some of the goodwill he earned in getting USC through the COVID pandemic and in bolstering diversity in the administration, including hiring the schools first Black provost. Caslen, 67, received dozens of emailed compliments from university staff and alumni after first apologizing for the mistakes and then in the wake of his resignation. But all Caslen took away was bitterness months later, repeating to The Post and Courier what he said in his emails: the USC community was the most hostile he had ever encountered. He never could seem to forgive foes who opposed his 2019 hiring as president of the states largest college with 52,000 students on eight campuses and a $1.8 billion annual budget. Critics fumed about his lack of a traditional academic background and how Gov. Henry McMaster lobbied trustees to hire him. As USC searches for his successor, Caslen shared a warning. Of course, they will say, Well, youre not a Bob Caslen and youre the right fit and he was the wrong fit, he said. My advice is make sure you come with your eyes open because I regret coming to the University of South Carolina. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. 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. Insights If something bad happens, there has to be someone around who can take the blame for the misfortune. To judge from the front page court cases w Read more About a half-million dollars collected from seized assets has been tied up for the Guam Police Department since the U.S. Department of Justice audited the agency before the COVID-19 pandemic. "Nothing wrong is going on," said Police Chief Stephen Ignacio. "What happened, in January 2019, we were informed by the federal asset forfeiture administrative program that they were going to do a compliance review." It's the first time the feds decided to place their involvement in the program under scrutiny, Ignacio said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The funds from the program come from items seized by police involved in federal investigations. "When we are involved in these federal cases most of the time drug investigation cases and assets are seized, whether it's cash, cars or other things that can be liquidated and auctioned off, and the cash proceeds come back to the federal government, because of the level of participation that we have, we are able to get some of the seized assets," he said. "In order for us to participate, we have to agree to certain terms that we use the money to support our officers, to support our efforts and investigations into these drug trafficking organizations." According to the Department of Justice, the program uses asset forfeiture as a tool to deter, disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises by depriving criminals of their instruments of illicit activity. Ignacio said the pandemic led to multiple delays in getting the audit completed. "Unfortunately, all things COVID, we had to gather all the documents. We went through two people on the federal side. Then, more documents were requested. Some of the documents we had, some were in possession of the Department of Administration accounting division. So there was a lot of back-and-forth in making sure we provided all the documents. COVID hit in 2020, so there's a lot of teleworking going on and sporadic emails back and forth," he said. In July, GPD got word that all the required documents had been submitted. "We've been waiting for their review," Ignacio said. "In order to receive federal asset forfeiture proceeds, you have to have what's called a certification in place. Year to year, the certification is just given. Because there is a review in place, we did not receive our certification from the Department of Justice. So all the assets we tagged, ... where we say we want this money or this car, ... it's my understanding that we have a little more than $400,000 and a few vehicles that are on hold." Police chief: 'Nothing is lost' Ignacio said no time frame has been given when the federal government will complete the audit. However, he is confident GPD will get the funds. "We've actually used this money (in the past) to buy additional cars and equipment that supports investigations and training for our officers," he said. "Nothing is lost. I've been assured that if it's tagged to be received by GPD under the asset forfeiture agreement, it's held until we are done with our audit." From the beginning of the covid epidemic, Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya has been a voice of sanity. As a result, he has been smeared and censored. But as the epidemic begins to wind down with the omicron variant, many peopleperhaps mostnow acknowledge that he was right all along. This article is an excellent guide to where we are now, and where we should go from here: My message is this: we cant stop the spread of COVID, but we can end the pandemic. In October 2020, I wrote the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) along with Prof. Sunetra Gupta of Oxford University and Prof. Martin Kulldorff of Harvard University. The centerpiece of the declaration is a call for increased focused protection of the vulnerable older population, who are more than a thousand times more likely to die from COVID infection than the young. That approach seems obviously correct to me, yet many governments did the oppositesacrificing nursing home residents while also devastating the lives of young people by shutting down schools and school-related activities. As I stated above, we do not have any technology that can stop viral spread. This shouldnt be a news flash. Never in human history have people believed that a government can stop the spread of a virus. While excellent vaccines protect the vaccinated versus hospitalization or death if infected, they provide only temporary and marginal protection versus infection and disease transmission after the second dose. The evidence to this effect is overwhelming, and yet many cities and private venues require proof of vaccination, on the assumption that othersthe other vaccinated people, evidentlyare somehow being protected. What about lockdowns? It is now abundantly clear that they have failed to contain the virus while wreaking enormous collateral damage worldwide. The simplistic allure of lockdowns is that we can break the chain of viral transmission by staying apart. Only the laptop class those who can just as easily work from home as in the office can abide by a lockdown in actual practice, and even they have trouble. Essential workers who keep society going cannot afford the luxury, so the disease will keep spreading. Lockdowns dont work, but they do horrific damage. The harms of lockdown on children and the non-elderly are catastrophic, including worse physical and mental health and irretrievably lost life opportunities. Lockdowns imposed in rich countries mean starvation, poverty, and death for the residents of poor countries. Early in the epidemic, the United Nations projected that hundreds of thousands of children in underdeveloped countries would die as a result of first-world shutdowns. Did that happen? I have seen no sign of interest in the question on the part of our news media. There is, however, a good alternative to lockdown. The Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) calls for a return to normal life for low-risk children and non-elderly adults. The principles at the heart of the GBD are as important today as they were a year ago. In fact, they are more important now because we now have technological tools that make focused protection of the vulnerable much more straightforward than it was a year ago. First and most importantly, the vaccine. What is the vaccination rate among the elderly? It must be very high in the U.S. and other developed countries. However, the vast majority of unvaccinated older people live in poor countries. At current rates, the worldwide vaccination campaign will not be complete until the end of 2022, too late to save countless vulnerable people. Prioritizing those who have never previously had COVID will help preserve doses for those who would most benefit since like the vaccine COVID recovery provides excellent protection against future severe disease. One of the strangest aspects of governments responses to covid has been the lack of emphasis on treatment. While vaccination has been promoted with fervor bordering on hysteria, efforts to disseminate information about treatments that some doctors have found helpfulhydroxychloroquine, ivermectinhave been censored, while the conventional approach has been not to treat covid unless it becomes severe enough to require hospitalization. This reverses the common sense assumption that any disease is best treated before it gets out of hand. And for some reason, the Pfizer pills that apparently give good relief have not been fast-tracked in the same way that the vaccines were. Second, we should make available effective early treatment options. During Floridas summer wave, Gov. Ron DeSantis promoted the use of monoclonal antibodies an FDA-approved treatment by patients early in the course of the disease, an action that saved many lives. Safe and inexpensive supplements like Vitamin D have been shown effective. Promising new treatments from Pfizer and a new antibody treatment for the immunocompromised by Astra Zeneca promise to become more widely available. Until that happens, they should be preserved for use by the most vulnerable when sick. There is more at the link, but I will close with this: There are some hopeful signs that the political and ideological winds are shifting, while other developments signal a return to failed strategies. *** The end of the pandemic is primarily a social and political decision. Since we have no technology to eradicate the virus, we must learn to live with it. The fear-based lockdown policies of the past two years are no template for a healthy society. PAUL ADDS: Is it true that many people, perhaps most, agree with the views of Dr. Bhattacharya? Do they really constitute covid common sense? It depends on which views were talking about. The view that we should pay more attention than we have to treating the virus comports with common sense and, Im pretty sure, is very widely held. The view that we shouldnt respond to the new, less deadly variant of covid with lockdowns seems to be the consensus right now and is supported by common sense, I think. The view that the lockdowns of 2020 were, in some cases, too stringent and in those cases did more harm than good is what I believe and it may now have majority support. Its not a matter of common sense, though. The validity of this proposition depends on a cost-benefit analysis and ones value judgments. The view that we do not have any technology that can stop viral spread is true and widely held, but almost meaningless in deciding what policies to implement. The meaningful questions are can we (and could we in 2020) limit the damage to health that covid inflicts and do (did) the costs of doing so outweigh the benefits. (My answers are yes and generally no yes.) The view that lockdowns dont work is one many people may agree with, at least in absolute numbers, but I see no evidence that its the majority view or even close to it. Nor is this view consistent with common sense. Common sense suggests that reducing the amount of human contact will reduce the spread of a communicable disease, and that lives will be saved as a result. The evidence (per capita deaths attributed to the virus) from Sweden and Norway, which nearly everyone agreed was a good test case of the efficacy of lockdowns until the results started to come in, supports this common sense view. Finally, the view that the end of the pandemic is primarily a social and political decision seems flatly wrong. A pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region. We cant wish it away or define it out of existence. I agree, though, that we can learn to live it. The extent to which doing so should mean a complete return to our pre-pandemic social patterns remains a matter for legitimate debate. The New York Times devoted an overlong editorial to a condemnation of the court order requiring it to disgorge privileged attorney-client memos advising Project Veritas on how to conduct its work lawfully. The Times published the memos online in connection with a story it ran on the memos. I posted the court opinion and order here. The Times editorial puts me in mind of the adage that no man is to be a judge in his own case. The court was adversely impressed by the Timess nonexplanation of how it obtained the memos. The Times asserts that it did so in normal newsgathering efforts. At page 7 of the opinion, however, the court quotes from the Timess opposition to Project Veritass motion seeking relief. As the judge put it (emphasis in original, footnote omitted), the Times incredibly admitted that no apparent briberywas used to obtain the memoranda.' I commented that the Times isnt talking on this point. It is resting on its rights under the First Amendment. That is the case that it makes in the editorial A Dangerous Court Order Against The New York Times. The Times cites the Pentagon Papers case New York Times v. United States to argue that the court order is unconstitutional. The judge argues to the contrary in his decision. One cant get much sense of the relevant factual or legal background from the Times itself. Even if the Times is ultimately deemed to have the better of the argument it makes a good one in the editorial the comparison with the Pentagon Papers case is almost laughable. The (lawful) legal advice rendered to Project Veritas is not exactly a matter of public importance, let alone national significance. In its editorial the Times argues the obverse: Project Veritass legal memos are not a matter of national security. Even the Times does not go so far as to argue that their publication is a matter of public interest. The Timess nod in the direction of limitations that may be imposed by considerations of national security is also laughable given its own actions. See my Weekly Standard column Exposure addressing the question whether the Times is a law unto itself. It is a question that lies in the background here. The Daily Mail covers the Times editorial in its accustomed style here. The long Daily Mail story sheds a little more light than the Times editorial with the additional background it provides. My college classmate Owen Hughes writes from Connecticut to comment: I believe in the First Amendment and I think the NYT has badly abused the trust placed in it as an essential actor under the First Amendment. So, forgive me, I hope the NYT takes a real beating. More power to the judge in this case, and more power to OKeefe. My only other comment, as a lawyer with 40-odd years of caring for clients, is that attorney-client privilege is damn near sacrosanct. How can it ever be right to read the advice a client receives under privilege, and not just (unavoidably) learn the contents, but act upon them? To the direct detriment of that client? And then PUBLISH material based on them? Im sorry, the taint is ineradicable and very black indeed. Yet the Times seems to see nothing amiss? To hell with them. That is a perspective that has been not been reflected in the Timess extensive coverage of OKeefe and Project Veritas case so far. The coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world seems to be hitting Nigeria harder during this yuletide than anticipated with the rising number of cases and fatalities. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 21 additional deaths from the pandemic on Christmas day, thereby increasing the countrys death toll to 3,014. Two deaths and 1,356 cases were recorded in the country 24 hours earlier, an indication that the fourth wave of the disease may portend greater danger than the first three waves. This newspaper on Saturday reported how Nigerias State House, otherwise called the Presidential Villa, is currently being ravaged by the pandemic with many top officials and aides to President Muhammadu Buhari down with the virus. The earlier closure of the office of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, last week, is also linked to the surge in cases as confirmed by her media aide, Aliyu Abdullahi. But the NCDC noted that the new deaths are a backlog of cases reported from Imo and Kaduna States with 16 and four cases respectively. The disease centre added that the country recorded 1,305 new cases across 14 states of the federation, increasing the infection toll to 236,014. According to the latest statistics, the number of discharged cases now stands at 212,357, as Kaduna and Enugu State reported a backlog of 20 and 16 discharges respectively for December 24 and 25, 2021. Breakdown The breakdown of the NCDC data revealed that three South-western states, including Lagos State, the epicentre of the disease, topped the infection chart on Saturday. While Lagos State came first with 705 cases, Oyo and Ondo States reported 234 and 88 cases respectively. Also, Kaduna State reported 79 cases, out of which 59 cases are a backlog for December 24, 2021. Rivers State followed on the log with 78 cases, Ogun State, 30; Anambra, 25, while Kano reported 24 cases. Next on the log are Enugu and Ekiti states with 12 and 11 cases reported respectively. While the trio of Jigawa, Osun and Plateau states reported six cases each, Zamfara reported a single case for December 23, 2021. The NCDC further noted that the cases reported in Enugu, Anambra and Jigawa States are a backlog of cases for December 24, 2021. It added that the duo of Bauchi and Sokoto states reported that no cases were recorded on Saturday. Vaccination as only antidote The Nigerian government has appealed to Nigerians to be vaccinated against the infection, saying even if it does not stop a person from being infected, it limits the virulence of the virus. The NCDC director general, Ifedayo Adetifa, during a media parley on Friday, urged Nigerians not only to avoid mass gatherings but to also make themselves available for vaccination. He said the announcement of daily updates on the virus was to ensure transparency towards convincing those he described the Doubting Thomases to take caution and stop reckless lifestyles. He said apart from costing the nation huge resources, the management of the pandemic has been a difficult experience for the world, particularly in Africa where many still doubt its existence. Mr Adetifa has, however, threatened that the country may be forced to introduce more stringent measures to limit the biting consequences of the pandemic. These measures, he said, could involve imposing another round of curfews. The rampaging wave of the dangerous coronavirus pandemic has hit Nigerias State House, otherwise called Presidential Villa, as some administration officials and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari have contracted the virus. But the Nigerian government is keeping a sealed lip on the matter, even as newspapers correspondents are advised against reporting the surge in infections at the villa. Presidency sources named those believed to have been infected by the virus to include the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the Presidents aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu. One source included the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on the list. But the minister told PREMIUM TIMES he was neither infected nor down with the virus. But Mr Shehu, who confirmed that he was afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19, in a text message shared with our reporter on Saturday, said he has no confirmation of other cases mentioned to him. He added that he was already fit, claiming he just completed his physical exercises when our reporter called, but that it would require scientific evidence to claim that he no longer had the virus. His message reads in part; I have no confirmation of the cases you mentioned, but yes I have been afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19. I felt okay from the beginning, maybe because one had received all three jabs, and right now, I feel 100 per cent. I just finished my hour-long running exercise. But the strange thing about this ailment is that it is the scientists, not you, that will say you are okay. Right now, Im taking my prescriptions and isolating, and would go back for a test to ascertain if the virus is still here or it has left me. Thanks for your goodwill. Efforts to get the reaction of Mr Garbas colleague and special adviser on media and publicity to the president, Femi Adesina, on the matter, were unsuccessful as his phone always indicated busy when called many times, and he also did not reply to a short message sent to him, many hours after. On his part, the special assistant to the President on digital and new media, Tolu Ogunlesi, said he could not comment on the matter, as he referred our reporter to those he described as the governments spokespersons. Initial efforts to reach the information minister, Mr Mohammed, were unsuccessful as his phone line was not available for more than 24 hours while his aide, Segun Adeyemi, neither picked his calls nor replied to a short message sent to him. But the minister later reached out after this report was published to say he was not infected by the virus as claimed. He said he was at the presidential villa for different engagements on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I attended FEC meeting at the villa on Wednesday, an extraordinary FEC meeting on Thursday and the swearing-in of the new minister on Friday. Journalists saw me at this engagements. I am a member of the presidential committee on COVID-19 and if I am infected by the virus, I know what to do. Also note that to be infected by the disease is not something to conceal or to be ashamed of. Reason for Mrs Buharis early closure of office This newspaper understands that due to the number of officials affected by the pandemic, governance may have been affected at the centre. Sources, who do not want to be quoted for fear of sanctions, said the decision to shut down the office of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, earlier in the week, was not unconnected to the huge number of officials at the State House that were already confirmed positive for the virus. The special adviser on media to Mrs Buhari, Aliyu Abdullahi, said although the situation was not part of the reason advanced for the early closure in the statement issued, it could also not be unconnected to it. He, however, declined to either confirm or decline, saying the presidents wife may have taken the decision to avoid the spread of the virus. Asked if the virus scare was part of the reasons for the early closure of the presidents wifes office, Mr Abdullahi, after much hesitation, said; Well, I think that is part of the reasons, though it wasnt stated in the release announcing the closure. But that would be part of the reasons. But this is also a holiday time and so the first lady might have felt that the office should close early to avoid a widespread. However, Mr Abdullahi said his statement never meant that he confirmed that anyone had contracted the virus, saying he didnt have such information. But you know it could be just a caution, he said. Nigerias rising COVID-19 cases The Nigerian government on Thursday threatened it might be forced to impose fresh restriction measures to curb the spread of the virus as the nation on Wednesday recorded 4,035 new cases. Wednesdays figure has remained the highest daily number of cases recorded in Nigeria since the outbreak in the country in February 2020. While appearing as a guest on Kaakaki, a morning programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ifedayo Adetifa, said in spite of the efforts by the government to sensitise Nigerians on the virus, many still doubt its existence. He said the disbelief is quite a phenomenon that is making the war against the spread of the pandemic a difficult fight for the government. Advertisements He said; It is quite a difficult phenomenon, because for some people, there is no evidence you can provide to convince them. We report infection records daily as part of the efforts of being transparent. Even the cases that we report are just underestimated because we simply are unable to test as many people as can be done in a well-resourced location. It is everywhere, we all know, there are many people who have tested positive and isolated at home and the evidence we have is our surveillance system which now shows exponential rise in the number of cases. He said the disease that has claimed about 3,000 lives in Nigeria cannot be said to be phantom, saying only the affected families can tell of the consequences of the vacuum created by the departed. Speaking on the curfew threat, Mr Adetifa said; I am sad to report that already, it looks like in addition to the wave of confirmed cases, we may now be seeing an increase in the number of patients that have been admitted to isolation centres because people are not adhering to safety measures as advised and are not taking vaccination. By that, we are allowing transmission to continue in an unmitigated fashion which means that there is a risk that our health system might get overwhelmed, and if it continues, then the government may be forced to put in place, more stringent measures, that includes restrictions of gathering and and even curfews. The NCDC boss has also consistently advised Nigerians against lowering their guards while also urging everyone to take the vaccines as the only antidote available globally at the moment. At a media briefing on Friday, Mr Adetifa said a total of 45 Omicron variants of the virus have been recorded in Nigeria, making Nigeria the third country with a high figure of Omicron cases in Africa. EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated with the comments by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. The minister and his spokesperson could not be reached before the initial publication of this report. President Muhammadu Buhari has denied endorsing any of the two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State. Mr Buhari stated this in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Saturday. Mr Shehu said his statement was to counter a public statement by one of the factions of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State, that they have received the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is blatantly untrue. This cannot happen when matters are awaiting adjudication by the courts. To be clear on this one, President Buhari has not endorsed any faction. His support is for the All Progressives Congress as a Party, united and strong, and not of any faction, Mr Shehu said. The APC in Kano is split into two factions, one loyal to the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the other to a senator, Ibrahim Shekarau. Just like some other state chapters, the crisis within the Kano chapter degenerated into a legal tussle after the October 18 parallel congresses that produced two sets of executives loyal to the two leaders. Mr Shekaraus faction elected Haruna Danzago as chairman while Mr Gandujes faction elected Abdullahi Abbas. It is against this backdrop that a High Court in Abuja on two different sittings ruled on the matter. The court, in November 30 and December 17, ruled in favour of the faction loyal to Mr Shekarau, the senator representing Kano Central, after the APC headquarters had endorsed the congresses that produced Mr Abbas-led executive. While the matter remains in court, Mr Danzago, after meeting with Mr Buhari on Friday, told BBC Hausa that the president congratulated him as the legitimate chairman of the party, a claim Mr Shehu has now denied. He (the President) asked me what did you get? I replied to him that I got the chairmanship of APC in Kano, then he congratulated me, Mr Danzago reportedly said in Hausa. He added that there was no discussion around the Kano APC crisis between him and the president owing to the fact that the matter is still in court. The South African Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, is dead. His death was announced Sunday by the South African presidents office. The minister in the South African presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said in a statement that President Cyril Ramaphosa expresses, on behalf of all South Africans, his profound sadness at the passing today, Sunday December 26, of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Mr Tutu, an Anglican archbishop, died in Cape Town at the age of 90. President Ramaphosa expresses his heartfelt condolences to MAM Leah Tutu, the Tutu family, the board and staff of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the Elders and Nobel Laureate Group, and the friends, comrades and associates nationally and globally of the iconic spiritual leader, anti-apartheid activist and global human rights campaigner, the minister said. Desmond Tutu Mr Tutu was an Anglican cleric and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then the Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. President Ramaphosa expresses his heartfelt condolences to MAM Leah Tutu, the Tutu family, the board and staff of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the Elders and Nobel Laureate Group, and the friends, comrades and associates nationally and globally of the iconic spiritual leader, anti-apartheid activist and global human rights campaigner, the statement from Mr Ramaphosas office said. According to Mr Ramaphosa, the passing of Mr Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in the nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who bequeathed a liberated South Africa. Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead, he said. Mr Ramaphosa said the deceased was a man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid. He said Mr Tutu was tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world. He said as the chairperson of South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Mr Tutu articulated the universal outrage at the ravages of apartheid and touchingly and profoundly demonstrated the depth of meaning of ubuntu, reconciliation and forgiveness. He placed his extensive academic achievements at the service of our struggle and at the service of the cause for social and economic justice the world over, Mr Ramaphosas office said. From the pavements of resistance in SA to the pulpits of the worlds great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a non-sectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights In his richly inspiring yet challenging life, Desmond Tutu overcame tuberculosis, the brutality of the apartheid security forces and the intransigence of successive apartheid regimes. Neither Casspirs, teargas nor security agents could intimidate him or deter him from his steadfast belief in our liberation. He remained true to his convictions during our democratic dispensation and maintained his vigour and vigilance as he held leadership and the burgeoning institutions of our democracy to account in his inimitable, inescapable and always fortifying way. We share this moment of deep loss with MAM Leah Tutu, the Archbishops soul mate and source of strength and insight, who has made a monumental contribution in her own right to our freedom and to the development of our democracy. We pray that Archbishop Tutus soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation. Desmond Tutu lived his life with passion, courage, faith and deep insight, but it was a life lived against the odds. Sickly at birth, as an infant he survived polio, which left him with a permanently weakened right hand. As a teenager he suffered tuberculosis, which left adhesions on his lungs. Later in the 1980s, when he became, in Nelson Mandelas words public enemy number one to the apartheid regime, he survived a number of assassination attempts. And for the last 25 years of his life, he lived with recurrent bouts of prostate cancer. But unlike two other iconic 20th century campaigners against structural injustice, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., he lived to see the first fruits of his radical but peaceful promotion of fundamental change in his own society. Not only that, he lived to bring the political leaders who liberated South Africa under the same piercing at times angry scrutiny to which he subjected the apartheid and other oppressive governments. Tutus advocacy ranged widely, beginning with appeals for sanctions against apartheid and continuing with campaigns against homophobia, for gender equality, against child marriage, against the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, against oppression in nations from China and Burma to Panama, and in support of the second wave of liberation which saw the growth of multi-party democracy across Africa from 1989. The common factor which underlay Tutus activism was his deep-rooted faith and its implications for how people and later the environment should be treated. If there was one thing which enraged him, it was to see the powerful inflict suffering on so-called ordinary people so-called because in my theology nobody is ordinary. He believed that every human being is created in the image of God, to be held in awe and reverence as if he or she is God. Therefore to mistreat a human being is not simply unjust, nor simply painful for the victim: it is blasphemous because it is spitting in the face of God. When I see innocent people suffering, he wrote, pushed around by the rich and powerful, then, as the prophet Jeremiah says, if I try to keep quiet it is as if the word of God burned like a fire in my breast. As he rose rapidly through the ranks of church leadership in the 1970s, he recognised that he was placing his life at risk. But he felt compelled to speak out, no matter the consequences. In the 1970s, he was one of a generation of black church leaders who took office in multiracial South African churches, 80 percent of whose members were black, but which had until then been led by mostly white clergy. Emboldened by a confidence engendered by the philosophy of black consciousness, combined with theological studies undertaken abroad in Western democracies, the black theologians transformed churches into harbingers of what a liberated South Africa could look like. With South Africas most militant black leaders in prison, exile or internal banishment, and with the growing militant labour unions operating mainly on shop floors, the church leaders used their pulpits to become the most prominent anti-apartheid voices within South Africa at the time. There was no difference between Desmond Tutu and most other black church leaders of his generation in their commitment to liberation. What most distinguished Tutu was his extraordinary powers of rhetoric and his willingness to alienate white Christians in declaring what he believed to be the truth. The issue prompting his then-controversial appeals for economic sanctions against South Africa by the international community was the policy of forced removals. The apartheid government removed an estimated 3.5 million people more than 10 percent of South Africans from homes where many had lived for generations and dumped them to eke out an existence in poverty-stricken rural homelands. In sharply-worded, no-holds-barred attacks, Tutu skewered those he held responsible for apartheids suffering, using language which got under the skins of white racists in a way few others could. When Cabinet ministers responded with fury, he would raise the stakes with even more defiant attacks. He told the apartheid government that they would go the way of Nero in Rome, of Hitler in Germany, of Amin in Uganda and Somoza in Nicaragua: they would, he said, bite the dust, and bite it comprehensively. When P. W. Botha, the apartheid president who operated military and police death squads, wagged his finger at him during a confrontation in 1988, Tutu angrily shook his finger back and told him: Dont think youre talking to a small boy! Abandoning restraint, he tore into Botha. I dont know whether that is how Jesus would have handled it, he said ruefully later, but our people have suffered for so long [and] I might never get this chance again. As a consequence, Tutu was vilified and demonised, seen by some of his co-religionists as literally the devil incarnate for his strident denunciations of apartheid and support for sanctions to destroy it. He used to say that he had developed the hide of a rhinoceros in the face of attacks by white South Africans, but he actually found it painful to be the object of such hate. When, in contrast, he was lionised abroad, he became susceptible to the adulation which celebrity brought. But his spiritual confessor used to say that he had an acute self-awareness, and Tutus coded acknowledgement of how he loved the limelight could be heard in his phrase, I love to be loved. Once political apartheid was overthrown, and Tutus friends had come to power, some of them began to disclose to him in confidence the mistakes their movement was making. He became an early critic of the new government, unable to keep to himself the criticisms which once again burned in his heart. Again, he denounced what he saw as misrule, sometimes using language as extravagant as that he had used against the perpetrators of apartheid even against Mandela. When ordinary people suffered, the old anger would return. In 2006, when Jacob Zuma went on trial for rape, his supporters heaped vilification and abuse on Zumas accuser. Tutu pronounced Zuma unfit to rule because he failed to repudiate their behaviour. A month before Zuma became president in 2009, Tutu noted that he was doing so under suspicion of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering: Is this why people died fighting apartheid? Tutu asked. Is this why people went into exile? Is this why people were tortured? Again, those he censured often responded with scorn and derision. Typically, he would respond simply by saying he was sad when he saw allies in the struggle failing to live up to the high standards he set for them. Biographical sketch DESMOND MPILO TUTU was born on October 7, 1931, the third child of Aletta Dorothea Matse Matlhare, a domestic worker, and Zachariah Zelilo Tutu, the principal of a church-run primary school. His older and younger brothers both died in infancy, leaving him with an older sister, Sylvia, and a younger sister, Gloria. The mortality rate in the family 40 percent was average for a black South African family at the time. Desmond contracted polio before there was a vaccine and at a time when the death rate of sufferers in South Africa reached 25 percent. His father prepared for a funeral. Although he recovered, his right hand atrophied, leaving him with a weak grip and a lifelong habit of rubbing it to improve his circulation. Later, the propagandists of the apartheid-era South African Broadcasting Corporation turned the habit against him when he was under attack, their cameras zooming in on his hands as if he was wringing them in guilt. He remained very delicate through childhood, remembered his older sister, Sylvia, who died in 2020. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis at 15, when it was a disease of epidemic proportions in the overcrowded townships of post-World War II Johannesburg. At one stage during treatment, while coughing up blood, he resigned himself to death. He likely owed his life to the monks of the UK-based Community of the Resurrection (CR)among whom the anti-apartheid activist Trevor Huddleston was the best knownwho found him one of the few hospital beds available for black South Africans with TB. Admiring the medical staff at the sanatorium to which he was confined for 21 months, he aspired to study medicine at the University of the Witwatersand. He was admitted to the medical school but his family did not have the resources to pay for his study, and he followed his father into teaching instead. The radical Mrs Tutu In 1955, he married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, also a teacher and a friend of his younger sister, Gloria. Leah of whom he used to say that she was much more radical than he was to become central to his achievements over their 66-year marriage. Soon after they married, Leah willingly joined him in giving up her teaching salary when they both decided to give up the profession in protest against what he called the thin gruel of apartheid education. Although active as a lay Christian, Desmond had not previously aspired to enter the church. It wasnt for very highfalutin ideals that that I became a priest, he said later. The easiest option was going to theological college. Leaving their two toddlers Trevor Tamsanqa and Theresa Thandeka with his parents, Desmond went to college in Johannesburg and Leah to a remote rural hospital to train as a nurse. Reunited afterwards, she struggled against the churchs disregard of priests wives. When Desmond was sent to Britain to study at Kings College, London, in 1962, she successfully forced a showdown with the celibate monks who expected her to leave behind her children yet again. Advertisements After four years and with Honours and Masters degrees in theology, Desmond returned home with Leah and their four children, Trevor and Thandi having been joined by Nontombi Naomi, born in Johannesburg, and Mpho Andrea, born in London. He taught at his alma mater, St. Peters College in Alice in the Eastern Cape, which had been forcibly removed from Johannesburg under apartheid and had become part of the inter-church Federal Theological Seminary (Fedsem) next door to the University of Fort Hare. Tutu was to say later that he returned to South Africa as a theologian who did not question conventional Western thinking. But his first-hand exposure at Fedsem to the thinking of students such as Steve Biko and Barney Pityana, and his first experience of the use of state power to suppress dissent at Fort Hare in 1968, began to change his worldview. Speaking three decades later, Professor Pityana described what happened when the university authorities expelled the whole student body after protests: We had been surrounded by police, with dogs snarling at us. We were petrified, for nearly two hours. Some people were crying The staff of the university, the white peoplesome of them armedthese professors were watching and nobody said a word, nobody. Desmond [came] almost from nowhere, in a cassock broke the police cordon and came to be among us. I recall moving scenes of young women kneeling to pray with Desmond for blessings. Even today when I recall that I get very emotional. After subsequently teaching at the then University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland in Roma, Lesotho, Tutu was offered the job of Africa secretary to a theological education fund of the World Council of Churches. Based in London, he paid 48 visits to 25 African countries over a three-year period, learning of successes achieved and pitfalls encountered by newly-independent nations across the continent. This was to stand him in good stead 30 years later when he began, earlier than most, to see the mistakes being made in newly-liberated South Africa. He also honed his theological thinking, drawing equally on what he saw as the strengths of the black theology being developed in the United States, African theology in newly-independent African nations and the liberation theology of Latin America. When Tutu returned to South Africa as the first black Anglican dean of Johannesburg in 1975, he brought to the post a nuanced view of leadership in a South Africa which was about to be thrown into tumult by the Soweto uprising. I am firmly non-racial and so welcome the participation of all, both black and white, in the struggle, he said. But at this stage the leadership of the struggle must be firmly in black hands. However much [whites] want to identify with blacks it is an existential fact that they have not really been victims of this baneful oppression and exploitation. It is a divide that cant be crossed and that must give blacks a primacy in determining the course and goal of the struggle. Whites must be willing to follow. Promoting sanctions From the pulpit of St Marys Cathedral, Johannesburg, he began to speak out against apartheid, becoming widely known first for a 2,600-word letter to apartheid Prime Minister B.J. Vorster, in which he wrote of a growing nightmarish fear of the inevitability of bloodshed and violence unless a national convention of legitimate leaders was convened to steer the country to democracy. Five weeks later the children of Soweto initiated the uprising of June 16, 1976. He was not to stay at the cathedral for long. Within a year he was elected bishop of Lesotho and then recalled home two years later to become general secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). It was in that capacity that he first saw the extent of the suffering caused by forced removals, and was moved particularly by an exchange with a young girl in one of apartheids rural dumping grounds. It ended with him asking her: What happens if you cant borrow food? She replied: We drink water to fill our stomachs. In the first of a series of letters to P.W. Botha, he angrily denounced the removals as utterly diabolical and unacceptable to the Christian conscience Ignoring church lawyers warnings that he risked being jailed under the governments draconian Terrorism Act of 1967, he began lobbying for sanctions overseas and was instrumental in persuading the Canadian and French prime ministers, and the United States Congress, to impose sanctions in the 1980s. The drive for sanctions, perceived by the apartheid government as a bigger threat to its existence than the liberation movements armed struggle, and the hatred it engendered among white South Africans, likely generated the most serious threats to his life. An order by a South African army officer to security forces to shoot him and his fellow clergyman, SACC President Peter Storey was disobeyed by black soldiers; the sabotage of the front tyre of a hired car at an airport was thwarted by an observant television cameraman and, ironically, a young white military officer; and an unsuccessful attempt by the Civil Co-operation Bureau, which operated military death squads, to recruit an ex-convict to kill him. If the government had been brazen and determined enough, they could have had him killed. They made more serious attempts on the lives of other church leaders, notably Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, secretary-general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, and Frank Chikane, a successor to Tutu as general secretary of the SACC. What probably saved Tutu was the fact that assassinating himeven jailing himwould have precipitated the very sanctions the government sought to avoid, especially after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded him their 1984 Peace Prize. Not a pacifist Desmond Tutus advocacy of sanctions was strongly resisted not only by supporters of apartheid, but by its liberal opponents. He argued with the opposition parliamentarian, Helen Suzman, telling her that when she said sanctions wouldnt work she was saying in effect that the last peaceful option for ending apartheid had been exhausted. For Tutu, accepting that conclusion would have been momentous, for he would have had no option but to subscribe to armed struggle. Never a pacifist in the mould of Gandhi or King, he embraced instead the just war theory. Originally developed by the African saint, Augustine of Hippo, and later the Italian monk, Thomas Aquinas, just war holds that it is legitimate to turn to violence when all peaceful means of bringing about change have been exhausted. When abroad, Tutu vigorously defended the liberation movements decisions to launch armed struggle, but he never reached the point of endorsing them himself. Preaching peace on the streets There was a period during the 1980s when international church campaigners for justice saw Tutu, at least in the West, as the worlds most prominent religious leader after Pope John Paul II. The difference between the two leaders, one observed, was that John Paul II preached freedom and peace from the pulpit, Tutu with fellow church leaders promoted it on the streets. During the final uprising against apartheid which began in 1984 and continued until the elections of 1994, Tutu, Chikane, Storey, Tutus deputy in the church, Michael Nuttall, and countless other clergy were repeatedly called upon to defuse violent confrontations between police and angry young people. Time and again, Tutu moved into the space between young people armed with bricks and stones on one side, and troops and police and soldiers with fingers on their triggers on the other. Time and again he roused the passions of the young with rabble-rousing rhetoric which scared the bejesus out of some of his white bishops, then channelled the anger of the crowd into constructive action with humour and stern admonition. And when black South Africans, penned into ghettoes by troops and police, turned on one another at the height of the internal struggle against apartheid, Tutu joined his fellow clergy in facing down youngsters determined to attack those they saw as collaborators with apartheid. Most memorably, supported by friends such as Simeon Nkoane, a monk who became a bishop on the East Rand, and Leo Rakale, the monk who was the model for one of Alan Patons principal characters in Cry the Beloved Country, he stepped in to rescue impimpisthose accused of being police spiesfrom fiery, agonising deaths at the hands of comrades who sought to force tyres soaked with petrol over their bodies, then to set them alight. The response of a British father who joined an adoring congregation in St. Albans Cathedral, north of London, to celebrate Tutu a few years later, was typical: That, he told his son, is a very brave man. In New York, it was more his post-Nobel prize celebrity which evoked similar reactions. As he processed out of a packed Cathedral of St. John the Divine, young people pressed to get close enough to touch his cassock as he passed. Efforts to avoid political partisanship Desmond Tutu never joined the African National (ANC), which has been the governing party since apartheid fell. But he was publicly associated with the movement from the time he became an early supporter of the domestic campaign to free Nelson Mandela. When abroad, Tutu would insist on meeting the ANCs exiled leader, Oliver Tambo viewed by the apartheid government as a terrorist. Upon his return, he would announce his meetings and expound on Tambos virtues as a committed Christian. However, as a church leader Tutu made efforts to eschew partisanship, agreeing in the 1980s to become a patron both of the United Democratic Front, aligned with the ANC, and the National Forum, a rival, black consciousness-aligned group of organisations. Most controversially in the church, soon after Mandela was released Tutu banned priests in his church from joining any political party on the grounds that it would prevent them from ministering in congregations whose members belonged to competing parties. Although it did not become apparent to most white South Africans until after Mandelas release, Tutu had deep compassion for them. Apartheid dehumanised the oppressor more than it dehumanised the oppressed, he said. He supported conscientious objectors who refused compulsory military service and helped some flee abroad. He was thrilled when hundreds of young white South Africans joined the 1989 Defiance Campaign in Cape Town, which ramped up pressure on the newly-elected president, F. W. de Klerk, and helped to clear the way for Mandelas release. He had a particular respect for repentant Afrikaners, and he longed in vain for De Klerk to follow in the footsteps of the dissenting white church leader, Beyers Naude, who broke with his community and uninhibitedly backed the ANC in its struggle. Mediation and reconciliation After Mandelas release, Tutu announced that he had been an interim leader while political leaders were jailed or in exile. He would still speak out on political issues as a church leader, he said, but he would now take a lower profile. When intra-communal violence broke out in black communities sparked or stoked by forces of reaction seeking to stall the transition to democracy Tutu and his fellow church leaders moved instinctively from anti-apartheid campaigning to trying to mediate among the leaders of rival political parties and defusing violence among their supporters. It was presumably both for Tutus credibility as an outspoken supporter of liberation and his role as a mediator that in 1995 Dullah Omar, President Mandelas justice minister and an admirer of Tutus peacemaking on the streets, recommended him to chair of the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission was the product of a toughly-negotiated compromise between, on the one hand, those in the liberation movements who wanted apartheid leaders put on trial, and on the other, the leaders of the old regime who wanted blanket amnesty for their security forces, as had been granted in other countries transitioning to democracy. The uniquely South African compromise amnesty but only in exchange for the truth was forced upon Parliament by the fact that the liberation movements did not have military power commensurate with their legitimacy, and the old regime did not have enough legitimacy to continue to rule with military power alone. Although the commission was thus born as a consequence of realpolitik, Tutu seized it as an instrument of reconciliation. His approach was in line with a three-step process founded in his faith. In the first step, he said, those who had wronged others needed to confess their crimes as they were required to do to receive amnesty. In the second step, he urged survivors and victims to consider forgiving perpetrators. In the pulpit, Tutu would preach that victims were under a Gospel imperative to forgive. But then, in the third step, those who had committed wrongs had to make restitution: If I have stolen your pen, I cant really be contrite when I say, Please forgive me, if at the same time I still keep your pen. If I am truly repentant, I will demonstrate this genuine repentance by returning your pen. The most trenchant criticism of the truth and reconciliation process is that it failed to deal with mass violations of human rights such as forced removals, the pass laws which restricted the movements of black South Africans and an inferior education system. The consequence was that the beneficiaries of apartheid were able to transfer the principal blame for the suffering it caused on a small coterie of its enforcers. However, dealing with those mass violations was not the mandate given to the commission by Parliament. Its task, initially to be completed in 18 months, was limited to investigating and reporting on gross violations of human rightsdefined as killing, abduction, torture, and severe ill-treatmentin the period between the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 and Mandelas inauguration in 1994. Within those constraints the commission succeeded in identifying and formally declaring as victims or survivors of violations more than 21,000 people. Backed by the threats of prosecutors, it also succeeded in flushing out members of police death squads, although the apartheid military largely boycotted the commission. While this has not yet been adequately researched, the process also reconciled many in black communities who fought on different sides of the struggle. Tutus two greatest disappointments were the failure of most white South Africans to take the hand of reconciliation offered to them by black South Africans, and of the ANC governments failure to prosecute those who refused to apply for, or were denied, amnesty. He was also upset that the government failed to implement in full the commissions recommendations for token monetary grants which were part of its proposals for restitution. Once the commission had completed its work, he was judged by most of his fellow commissioners to have been essential to the process, although he came in for widespread criticism for being overly sympathetic to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and treating her with kid gloves during a hearing into human rights violations committed by her bodyguards during the late 1980s. International campaigns In 1988 Desmond Tutu was elected president of the All Africa Conference of Churches. Armed with his 1970s experiences, he made it a priority to travel to countries governed by oppressive rulers. Trading on his anti-apartheid credentials and celebrity to gain access to heads of state, he secured local church leaders audiences to press their cases for greater freedom for their people. He also campaigned publicly for democracy and human rights. In Mobutus Zaire, Mengistus Ethiopia, Bashirs Sudan and General Manuel Noriegas Panama, he preached to crowds, condemning specific human rights violations experienced in South Africa. His audiences responded with delight as they realised he was listing violations also being perpetrated upon them, although in Addis Ababa he was told an interpreter had been too scared to translate him accurately into Amharic. Later, President Mandela sent him to Nigeria to plead for the release of M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the 1993 election who had been detained after the military annulled the result. In an audience with General Sani Abacha, Tutu insisted on seeing Abiola, then publicly lambasted the general for lying to him about the conditions of Abiolas detention. After the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the subsequent flood of refugees into what was then Zaire, he co-chaired a summit of heads of state from the Great Lakes Region, organised by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. There he challenged Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni over whether the death penalty should be used in trials of the perpetrators of the massacres. It was one of Tutus aphorisms that an African communist is a contradiction in terms, if communism is defined as atheistic and materialistic Africans are naturally spiritual beings, he said. On visits to Angola and Ethiopia, he asked ruling party officials how many true Marxists there were in their ranks then relayed their surprisingly small estimates to delighted local church leaders. Spirituality While Desmond Tutu was an enthusiastic ecumenist and promoter of inter-faith dialogue, he remained first and foremost an Anglican Christian, whose life was sustained by a deep spirituality and a firm faith never lost in the face of injustice, despite sometimes clinging to it by the skin of my teeth. He dismissed the Western convention of distinguishing between religion and politics. Separating the sacred from the secular was, he said, a result of the baneful influence of Hellenistic dualism on Western thought. He instead advocated an African worldview: God is the God of all life, whether religious or political. In this he could impress even sceptical American neoconservatives: the Catholic intellectual, Michael Novak, reviewing a collection of his writings and sermons, concluded: The consistency of the thing is beautiful. Tutu was an articulate exponent of what is described in his fathers home language isiXhosa as ubuntu and in his mothers Setswana as botho, expressed best in the proverb a person is a person through other people. In his formulation, ubuntu or botho is Africas gift to the world: a model for expressing the nature of human community and of all creation as a delicate network of interdependence, one which speaks of a global society in which there are no outsiders but all are insiders, created in Gods image, and in which the welfare of every individual depends on the welfare of the other. Although he supported the secular foundation of the South African state, he opposed too rigid a separation of church and state. He thought it too sharply drawn in the United States and was disappointed when the new, democratic South African Parliament adopted a practice of opening proceedings with a time of silence. He felt that since the vast majority of South Africans were believers, there should be a rotating roster of prayers reflecting different religious traditions. No facade Desmond Tutu had extraordinary personal qualities. The South African writer and Nobel literature laureate Nadine Gordimer said of him: He has no facade. The open interest, the fellow warmth that radiate from him are what he is. Id call his lack of self-consciousness one of inherent gifts, the others have been developed by the exercise of character, the spiritual and intellectual muscle-building he has subjected and continues to subject himself to in service of the human congregation. Humour, deployed to serious effect when trying to defuse violence, and cackles of uproarious laughter were a Tutu trademark. But he observed that laughing and crying were often separated by a thin line, and he cried nearly as easily as he laughed again, particularly when he witnessed the suffering of the innocent. His lively personality was also the flip side of up to six or seven hours of silent prayer or worship spread through the day, usually beginning at around 4 am when he was archbishop. A Canadian journalist who travelled with him on a difficult mission to Liberia wrote: Inside this man whom much of the world knows as an ebullient, laughter-filled extrovert, a Nobel peace laureate who holds audiences and congregations spellbound, lives a meditative, contemplative person Tutu could combine the strict demeanour of an authoritarian bishop with the compassion of a gentle pastor who had an extraordinary capacity to fix in his mind and remember intimate personal details about people he had just met. His rapid ascent from priest to college lecturer to dean to bishop meant that his assignments as a full-time parish priest were short. But he took pride in his pastoral skills and combined his general secretarys duties at the South African Council of Churches with part-time supervision of a parish in Soweto. Tutus causes He fervently supported the ordination of women as priests, the ordination of gay and lesbian priests and the blessing of same-sex unions, on the same grounds that he opposed apartheid he could not accept discrimination against a group of people on the basis of an attribute they could not change, whether it was their race, their gender or their sexual orientation. In this he dissented from the stance of African Anglican churches, having to watch from the sidelines in retirement as his youngest daughter, Mpho, gave up her licence to act as a priest in South Africa when she married her wife. He threw himself unreservedly and passionately into the causes he supported, often experimenting with new initiatives based on his gut feelings and uninterested in conducting post-mortems when they failed. He freely took risks, such as when, at the suggestion of an evangelical Oxford University chaplain, he made an altar call to a largely secular audience in the Oxford Union. Not a single person stood up to give my life to Christ. Apparently unfazed, he moved on with no sign of concern. He could also be quietly and teasingly provocative, once strolling around during a meeting of Anglican archbishops in Northern Ireland wearing a newly-acquired fishermans sweater in rich Republican green. Self-righteous and abrasive? He recognised that during the early years of his public life, he owed much of his influence to journalists who reported what he was saying. As a result he gave priority to speaking to them and was on friendly terms with the vast majority. Tough questioning by critical reporters helped him hone his arguments, and he developed a particular regard for the most sceptical, enjoying sparring with them. He almost never spoke off the record and was known at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his frankness. He would not tolerate his integrity being impugned he twice nearly derailed the commission in clashes with other commissioners when he felt it was being questioned. Damaging stand-offs were averted only when he brow-beat them into backing down. But in public life, after years of denouncing injustice in no-holds-barred, unnuanced terms, once South Africa began to move to democracy, he began to feel that he had been too self-righteous and abrasive. He took to heart criticism from Lucas Mangope, one of the black leaders who took independence under the apartheid system, that the churches had isolated and failed to extend pastoral care to them. Tutu had a rocky relationship with Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who worked within the system but resisted pressure from the apartheid government for the Zulu nation to give up their South African citizenship. But neither man gave up on trying to reach out to the other. Buthelezi, an Anglican, regularly agreed to meet my archbishop when Tutu was trying to mediate peace in the transition to democracy, and Tutu subsequently invited him to family celebrations. Raising money and spending it Tutus attitude to money was utilitarian and he was accused by many of being a spendthrift. His wife, Leah, sometimes teasingly described him as a professional beggar; when he became archbishop of Cape Town, he told his staff that he knew how to raise money, he certainly knew how to spend it but that he left church treasurers to manage it. After retirement he earned substantial sums on the American speakers circuit, where he was popular and highly regarded for his rhetorical skills. This secured him a financial independence which helped enable him to continue to speak his mind. Except for travelling first class on airlines enabling him to sleep properly and reducing the potential for other passengers to disturb him he tried to live simply, retaining his home in Soweto until recently, and spending most of his time after retirement in a modest seaside suburb in Cape Town. His other tastes were also simple, and sweet: a rum and coke until medical treatment ended it, and rum raisin ice-cream if it was available. If it wasnt, Leah would tell hosts, in choosing an alternative just think of a five-year-old. His decision in 1975 to uproot his family from London and return home to become dean of Johannesburg, strained their marriage. Back at home, Leah was whipped by police in a way he never was and harassed by traffic policemen who once arrested her, handcuffed her and dragged her to a police charge office for late payment of her car licence. He reserved a special anger for those he thought were punishing him by attacking his family, and he felt guilt for not being able to protect them. A turning point in their marriage came for him when he was under fire from a police minister who was attacking him for his outspokenness. Should he keep quiet? he asked Leah. No, she said, she would far prefer him happy and imprisoned on Robben Island than unhappy and frustrated outside. She went on to march against apartheid with him. He loved to give money away to his and Leahs favourite causes, such as the nutrition clinics founded by his physician for more than three decades, Dr. Ingrid le Roux, and the work done by the renowned Stellenbosch University expert on tuberculosis, Professor Nulda Beyers. He and Leah were also patrons of the Phelophepa ( good clean health) Trains, bringing attention and support to trains operating as mobile healthcare hospitals in impoverished rural areas. His vocation as a priest recognised no distinction between work and personal life, which meant that his family had to share much of their time with him with others. Challenged by an outside consultant when he first became archbishop to rank the priority of time with family against the priorities of his office, he refused. He is survived by Leah, his children Trevor Tamsanqa Tutu, Theresa Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, the Reverend Naomi Nontombi Tutu and the Reverend Mpho Andrea Tutu van Furth, and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John Allen, managing director of AllAfrica in Cape Town and former managing editor, covered Desmond Tutu as a journalist for 45 years and was his press secretary for 13 of them. He is the author of the definitive Tutu biography, Rabble-Rouser for Peace, and the compiler and editor of three volumes of key Tutu texts. He has worked with the Apartheid Museum on Truth to Power, an exhibition on Desmond Tutu and the churches role in the struggle, scheduled to open in 2022. At least 101 people were killed by non-state across Nigeria last week, the highest figure in over eight weeks. A review of the figure shows an increase of about 200 per cent when compared to the previous week when 32 people were reported killed. Out of the 101 persons, a traditional ruler was killed in Kaduna while 45 farmers were killed and many others injured in Nasarawa State. At least 38 other persons were killed in an attack by bandits in Kaduna State. At least one incident was recorded in each of the three geopolitical zones in the north while none was recorded in the zones in the south. PREMIUM TIMES collated nine incidents that led to the 101 deaths. The incidents were sourced mainly from news reports; thus, unreported cases are not included. Below is the breakdown of cases: North-west At least 38 persons lost their lives on Sunday when bandits attacked Idasu, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the figures in a statement. The Magajin Garin of the same town, Magaji Ibrahim, was shot dead about 24 hours after 38 people were murdered. Also in Kaduna State, gunmen killed a retired military official, Sunday Agbo, on Monday, after he was kidnapped alongside about 20 residents of Unguwan Gwari in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area. In neighbouring Katsina State, armed persons Tuesday night attacked two villages in Faskari Local Government Area. Residents said at least seven people were killed in the attacks while some residents were kidnapped. In the same state, bandits set an unnamed individual on fire in Fasakari Local Government Area. According to the Deputy Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, who is the lawmaker representing Faskari constituency, the victim was burnt alive in his car. In a separate incident in Zamfara State, bandits killed two persons and carted away sheep and goats in Tungar Bai and Tungar Kade villages in Garbadu ward of Talata Mafara Local Government Area. North-central About 45 farmers were killed and 27 injured following renewed hostility in Lafia, Obi and Awe local government areas of Nasarawa State. The report gathered that the first attack, which started on Friday morning, continued up till Sunday night. In Minna, Niger State, a retired civil servant identified as Comfort Jiya was set ablaze by her biological son. North-east Five persons were confirmed dead from bombings by terrorists in Maiduguri ahead of President Muhammadu Buharis visit on Thursday. PREMIUM TIMES reported how explosions occurred close to the Maiduguri airport about one hour before the president landed at the airport for an official visit. Undeterred by the bombings, Mr Buhari continued with his official functions in the state. He visited the Airforce Base in Maiduguri where he addressed troops of Operation Hadin Kai who are leading the war against the terrorists in the North-east. Mr Buhari told the troops to remain steadfast as they go into the final phase of the campaign against insurgency and other forms of criminalities. Surface dressing A security expert, Timothy Avele, while reacting to the rise in casualties maintained his stance that so long as there is no change in strategy, the insecurity across the country will persist. Advertisements There must be a change in strategy (especially from reactive methods to Intelligence-based proactive measures) in combating these spiraling killings otherwise everything been done now is just window dressing. The killings wont stop and if they continue to adopt these reactive methods, then we should be prepared for more killings; so sad, he said. Kwamoti Laori, the PDP lawmaker representing Numan/Demsa/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa, on Saturday, paid the fines of eight inmates to secure their release from the Numan Correctional Centre. Mr Laori, who celebrated Christmas with the inmates at the facility, doled out between the N17,000 and N70,000 fines that were imposed on the inmates. The federal lawmaker took time to engage the inmates constructively, urging them to remain hopeful as they reflect on their lives. He urged them to tow the path of productive life and avoid crime. He stressed that being an ex-convict could attract stigmatisation and implored them to work assiduously to regain the confidence of society by engaging only in legal ventures. Please, I urge you to be responsible and law-abiding citizens and totally avoid idleness because an idle mind is the devils workshop, he said. In his remark, Anthony Sanda, the assistant controller in charge of the Numan Correctional Centre, applauded Mr Laori for his humility and service to humanity. The eight released inmates all expressed their appreciation to the lawmaker whom they termed as a saviour on Christmas Day for offering them another chance in life to be free citizens. (NAN) Representative of Kwara Central in the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) 5th Assembly, Ibraheem Abdullateef, has urged major political parties in Nigeria to slash the fees for their nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections to strengthen democracy and foster inclusion. In the 2019 elections, the gubernatorial expression of interest form of the ruling APC attracted N2.5 million, while the nomination form went for N20 million. Both categories attracted N1 million and N20 million charges, respectively in the PDP. The PDP charged N2 million for expression of interest and N10 million for nomination form for the office of president, N3.5 million for Senate, N2.5 million for House of Representatives and N600, 000 for the House of Assembly. The APC charged N5 million for expression of interest and N40 million for nomination form for the office of president, N7 million for Senate, N3.5million for House of Representatives and N850,000, for the House of Assembly. These political parties retained the fees in the recently held Anambra elections and have adopted the same for the elections in 2022. Hugely expensive The young parliamentarian described Nigerias democracy as hugely expensive, noting that it encourages corruption, inequality, and alienation of the common people. We have seen in the past few months a great deal of debate over the amendment of the Electoral Act. Regardless of ones political leaning, it is the most patriotic thing to support to strengthen our democracy. I urge President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to find a common ground in bringing the bill to life urgently, a statement quoted the young parliamentarian as saying on Friday. However, there is one more thing for young Nigerians to make a priority as we move closer to the 2023 general elections: the crazy fees for nomination forms. It is uneconomical, undemocratic, a stumbling block to the national agenda for inclusion and peace. This must form a strong discussion point for the political parties, media, CSOs, and other stakeholders. There should be reductions of these fees for aspirants under 35 years below from bottom office to the top. It should be reviewed now. No party must retain those crazy tables from 2019. For clarity, both the APC and PDP constitution gives women a 50% cut, but they continue to alienate the youths. Youths, especially, should get at least a 60% reduction. It is time to put real action to the agenda of youths inclusion in politics and leadership. Mr Ibraheem, who is also an alumnus of African Liberty Fellowship, USA, charged young Nigerians to take up the cause with vigour as they did with Age Reduction Bill known as #NotTooYoungToRun in the run-in to 2019 elections. After the historic success of #NotTooYoungToRun which made electoral offices attainable age-wise, the most pressing and patriotic electoral change for the nation, especially young people is making the electoral space affordable. After the general elections in 2019, only 8.6% (68 members) of 991 seats in the 36 State House of Assemblies and 6.8% of 360 members of the House of Representatives were under 35 and below. It needs to go way up. Nigerian youths demand inclusion from political parties in one voice now. Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has kicked against dialogue with armed bandits operating in the state and other North-west states. Mr Masari spoke in a Sunday interview with DW Hausa radio. He was reacting to a controversial letter by a notorious bandit, Bello Turji, seeking dialogue with the government. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Turji wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Bello Matawalle and the emir of Shinkafi seeking dialogue and a ceasefire. Some experts had argued that the letter by Mr Turji was a ploy to stop airstrikes and military operations against his fighters. Mr Turji, alongside Halilu Sububu and other terror leaders, has carried out fatal attacks on Eastern Sokoto and Northern Zamfara states. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/490379-bloodbath-in-sokoto-as-bandits-reportedly-kill-over-30-injure-many-in-weekly-market.html. Who is he to talk of ceasefire? Mr Masari, who had engaged in dialogue with bandits in the past, said the time for a peace accord has passed. Though the letter was not addressed to him, the Katsina governor said Mr Turji was not sincere in his letter. Dialogue? With who? Who is he to talk of dialogue or ceasefire. He is a liar. He cant tell us peace accord and dialogue. To sit and discuss peace accord with who? In what capacity is he speaking and even calling for dialogue, Mr Masari said about Mr Turjis letter. Go and tell those he (Mr Turji) killed their families to do dialogue with him and see. And he is even setting conditions, what conditions is he setting and for what? He wants dialogue and he is even setting conditions, the governor said. Mr Turjis terror group is one of the several operating in the North-west and North-central states. The groups, operating as bandits, attack communities at will, killing and kidnapping residents. Over a thousand people are believed to have been killed by such groups this year. Their activities have continued despite the heavy deployment of security operatives to the area. A fire incident has occurred at the NEXT supermarket in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained at the time of this report as officials struggle to put out the fire. The supermarket, one of the largest in the Nigerian capital, is located in the Kado area of the city. Next is the second major supermarket in the FCT to be gutted by fire in the past six months. Prince Ebeano Supermarket was gutted by fire on July 17, losing goods worth millions of naira. Counting his losses, one of the suppliers at the Kado supermarket, who identified himself as Godwin, said he had just supplied goods worth N4.5million. In this Next Cash and Carry, Im the youngest supplier. Im a supplier of Silver Crest. What is paining me is that I gave them my goods for January and February and they have not been signed. We all know that Next does not have products, MIT is just a warehouse where you bring your product. They sell for you and you give them a percentage. If you sell for them at N30,000, Next will sell at N35,000. They take N5,000, give you your N30,000. My goods that have not been signed worth over N4.5million. Where am I going to start from? he told journalists at the scene. Mr Godwin expressed his disappointment at the supermarkets fire fighting truck which, he said, failed to work despite its routine servicing. Another worker who asked not to be named confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the fire started around 10 a.m. but got worse due to lack of water inside the supermarkets fire firing truck. He said the efforts of the workers to quench the fire before the arrival of professional firefighters were futile as the fire extinguishers in the supermarket were empty In her account, the FCT Emergency Management Agencys Director of Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Florence Wenegieme, said her team got the distress call around 9:45 a.m. and promptly swung into action. She could not confirm the exact time the government-owned firefighting team arrived at the scene. However, witnesses told this newspaper that the firefighter arrived well over one hour after the fire started. They were still trying to quench the fire at the time of this report. We got the distress call at about 9:45 p.m. when the fire incident started. We cant say the exact time. The FCT Emergency Management, being the coordinating agency, we were able to activate all our fire service stakeholders and they all responded. We thank God that there was no life lost, so far we cant ascertain if anyone died or was injured, Ms Wenegieme told journalists. The Abuja Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, arrived at the supermarket at exactly 1:54 p.m. to assess the situation. He applauded the rapid response and efforts of police officers to prevent the looting of items in the supermarket. Before the arrival of the commissioner, PREMIUM TIMES witnessed the arrest of five looters who scaled the fence into the building. The five looters were nabbed inside the building while firefighters were still battling to quench the fire. Some items were salvaged from the fire and have been put aside, while some others are believed to have been looted before the arrival of the police. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has described Desmond Tutu as a patriotic and highly respected teacher, preacher, intercessor, and field commander of the Lords Army. The late anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner died in the early hours of Sunday. He was aged 90. Mr Obasanjo in a condolence letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said the news of Mr Tutus demise got to him with the feeling of a sense of personal loss. It is with this same feeling that I write to commiserate with you, his family members, and the entire good people of South Africa on the passing of this great son of Africa. Mr Obasanjo said the late preacher symbolised one of the finest examples of how a life truly dedicated to Jesus Christ can make a difference. He had been a difference-maker for his family, his friends, his flock, his community, the Church, the Republic of South Africa, and, indeed, the world, said the former president. Over the years, Reverend Tutu had shown focused, credible, bold, sensitive, and purposeful leadership not just to members of the Anglican Church but to all Christians. He had been part of building and strengthening the Anglican Church, and its eminent place in the Church system in South Africa today is not unrelated to his selfless service and leadership. Reverend Tutu was acknowledged as a leader among his peers and contemporaries. The Lord was with him and used him mightily to support and supplement his flock. Mr Obasanjo said the late Mr Tutu was an unparalleled visionary leader within the church with profound knowledge of the Bible and the Word, with an admirable, grasp and appreciation of history. He was also a televangelist and a strong believer in the unity of believers worldwide as a transformational tool for development. He had very impressive pro-democracy credentials, and was always ready to partner with forces of justice, equity, and fairness universally. I had a personal experience of the way God used him through my relationship and association with him as a man of God. He worked very closely with us in the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group. His insights, understanding, and pieces of advice and suggestions on the way forward ending apartheid in South Africa were extremely valuable. He, by himself, was a consummate leader, fearless and quite daring. When most of the political leaders in South Africa were in jail, he was almost a one-man riot using both religion and Holy Bible against apartheid. He was simply like a thorn in the flesh of the white-ruled South Africas Nationalist Party. At the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa, he was made the Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which laid the groundwork for an enduring and sustainable peace and development in the country, founded on the concepts and principles of human rights, equality, justice, and reconciliation. Mr Obasanjo expressed gratitude to the deceased for the role he played in Nigerias debt cancellation while he was president. Again, I must acknowledge his uncommon solidarity and the deep passion with which he had argued Nigerias case for full debt cancellation by the contents of his letter to Mr. Gordon Brown, the then United Kingdoms Chancellor of the Exchequer, during my administration as the President of Nigeria, he said. This heroic advocacy effort of his with respect to Nigerias indebtedness to the Paris Club on behalf of Nigeria was very much in his character. Though we are saddened by the inevitable finality of his passage, as we will miss his fiery sermons, writings, and fatherly counsel, we should be comforted by the fact that he left a good legacy behind and his memory will linger on for very long time in the minds of his admirers, friends, proteges, immediate community, congregants and, indeed, Christendom. He will also be remembered for his forthrightness, doggedness, dynamism, welfarism, anti-corruption, estachological discourses, courage, commitment to ethical values, uprightness, unwavering Christian testimony and purposeful leadership. He died with his head lifted high; his ministry untainted; and his integrity uncompromised. Tributes have begun to pour in for the late Desmond Tutu who passed away Sunday morning in Cape Town. Mr Tutu died at the Oasis Frail Care Center in Cape Town, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Trust said in a statement Sunday. He had been hospitalized several times since 2015, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997. Typically he turned his own misfortune into a teaching opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the suffering of others, the Tutu Trust said in the statement. He wanted the world to know that he had prostate cancer, and that the sooner it is detected the better the chance of managing it. Mr Tutu was known for his intolerance towards bad governance and inhuman treatment. He was very prominent for his role in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and his usage of the pulpit to speak truth to power. After his demise, many world leaders, as well as award-winning journalist Maria Ressa, paid tribute to his memory. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter, I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour, he wrote. Nobel prize laureate Maria Ressa tweeted, If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality, Desmond Tutu #RIP. The President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, noted that influenced by Gandhiji, he brought spiritual values to the anti-apartheid struggle and upheld noblest ideals of humanity. READ ALSO: Extending condolences to Mr Tutus followers in South Africa and around the world, Mr Bhavan said Mr Tutus life will inspire generations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Mr Tutu as a guiding light for countless people globally. His emphasis on human dignity and equality will be forever remembered. I am deeply saddened by his demise and extend my heartfelt condolences to all his admirers. May his soul rest in peace, he said. Also, Amnesty International South Africa said, Arch Bishop #DesmondTutu was a beacon of light for the human rights movement in SA and globally. His commitment to equality and rights for all served as a much-needed moral compass during the turbulent apartheid era and today. We send our condolences to his family. Rest in peace. A couple of years ago, I did warn that if the bandits holding Kaduna hostage were not promptly exterminated, the loser would not be Governor El Rufai but all of us. Now that insecurity has become a pandemic, there is no joy in saying, I told you so. How one wishes the narrative was different! Those advocating amnesty for repentant terrorists now sound like terror enablers themselves. El Rufais warning has become a haunting refrain: The only repentant terrorist is a dead terrorist! Jingle bombs, jingle bombs, jingle all the way, is the song that death terrorists are singing all over Nigeria, particularly in the North. This is one weary Christmas season that wont be considered merry in many homes. The terrorists got so bold they fired missiles around Maiduguri hours before President Buharis plane was due to land. They are no longer festering sores; they are now gangrenous ulcers. Still, some people think that as long as the terrorists havent made any formal radio announcement as coup makers are wont to do, the problem can still be contained. Meanwhile, terrorists are collecting taxes from Nigerian citizens; bandits are charging and enforcing protection fees. They have taken effective control of territories. I wonder what we are afraid of in not calling a war by its name. Three retired generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Saad Abubakar and Mohammed Magoro have been speaking up. The Buhari administration is best advised not to treat their suggestions with disdain. Obasanjo is a former military head of state and a two-term democratically elected president; Abubakar is the incumbent Sultan of Sokoto; and Magoro is the Galadima of Zuru and President Buharis former colleague, who enrolled in the Army and was retired with him on the same day. Obasanjo and Abubakar were participants in the meeting of eminent Nigerians tagged, Inclusive Security Dialogue Retreat. In attendance were elder statesman, Edwin Clark; Muslim cleric, Sheik Gumi; representatives of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Middle Belt Forum (MBF), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and several other groups. Acknowledging the serious security decline in the country, the group suggested that the government should convene a national reconciliatory conference where Nigerians can all address the underlying issues of the countrys challenges and hateful statements/agenda that successive governments have failed to address. This suggestion is not remarkably different from the calls made over the years for the government to implement the reports of earlier conferences or convene a new one, all of which have been ignored. They also want a constitutional review done quickly. That way, the root cause of many of the injustices in the present system can be addressed, so as to fully protect the rights and interests of Nigerias diverse constituencies. We call on the government to begin a process of constitutional review, amend and rework the constitution, drawing on previous constitutions, amongst other things, to synchronise/harmonise the laudable principles they embody. This will ensure, not one-off solutions, but lasting change, they plead. The call by the civil society and many well-meaning Nigerians on the government to engage in dialogue with disgruntled groups, instead of maintaining a scorched earth policy in the form of incarceration, bullets and counter-attacks, received support from the group. Magoro says enough is enough. On the operational guidelines for the fighting forces, he declares: We dont even need any prisoner of war. Lay down your arms, you are free. If you dont, then youre dead. We should use all the means of our national power at our disposal to subdue these terrorists. It is clear that the eminent Nigerians came together to forestall what they saw as a slide to disintegration. The notion that Nigerias unity (on the basis of the iniquitous constitutional arrangement currently being operated) is not negotiable has now been seen to be fraudulent and delusional. Nations which follow such mantra usually glide to disintegration inch by inch, until cohesion becomes a distant dream and disintegration a fait accompli. By far the most detailed intervention thus far was made by General Magoro. Those of us who had been making suggestions on how to tackle the various shades of terror afflicting the land have been derided as armchair generals by those who believe in the divine rights of incumbent governments. I wonder what they will now say when they hear a General worth his weight in gold toeing the path of the same kind of arguments we have been canvassing. Unfortunately, the North should have seen this tragedy coming. According to former U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, You cant keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours. Eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard. Magoro contends that the snakes currently threatening our national security ought to have been wiped out when they were still assembling in our little backyards. But its not too late to destroy them. In fact, he gives a deadline: Six months. Without pussyfooting, Magoro tapped from his experience as a General and a former minister of Internal Affairs to declare matter-of-factly that Nigeria is at war. Boko Haram and bandit gangs have declared war on Nigeria, but it seemed Nigeria is yet to make the same declaration against the criminals. Anyone still in doubt about the seriousness of the problem should remember the blowing off of a section of the railway line between Abuja and Kaduna when a train was in motion. The aim was to create maximum damage and kill as many people as possible, noted the general. If this isnt war, then what is? Magoro says enough is enough. On the operational guidelines for the fighting forces, he declares: We dont even need any prisoner of war. Lay down your arms, you are free. If you dont, then youre dead. We should use all the means of our national power at our disposal to subdue these terrorists. He is convinced that our soldiers are far outnumbered by the criminal gangs. He advocates that the president recall retired military personnel who are adjudged experienced to help with the war effort, just as was done in 1967 at the onset of the civil war. I am asking for the recall of the discharged soldiers of UNIFIL operations, ECOWAS operations (ECOMOG) and the ones that had served in the Sudan. We should raise thousands and hundreds of battalions. Similarly, Mr President should recall all the retired officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier General to be the commanders in the field for this operation. There is the need for massive deployment of soldiers across the nation, he says. Isnt the six-month estimate too ambitious for ending the terror scourge? Magoro thinks not. His plan: Issue an ultimatum to all armed groups to disarm and surrender, after which artillery units move into the forests to exterminate identified camps and havens of the terrorists. It cant be said that this government is short of counsel. Everyone with anything to offer has spoken out at one time or the other. It is now left for the government to distil the suggestions and map out a well considered programme of implementation. That is what governments do when their raison detre is threatened. And that is what Nigerians expect their government to do. As of now, it is the Army operating with the Air Force. Im yet to know if supporting units are involved in the operations of the Army. That is, the artillery. Because the locations of these bandits are known; bring artillery fire there, no matter how far they are. As they are dispersing, the Air Force comes in. Thats why I said, maximum six months, this thing will be over. General Magoro also appeals to President Buhari to ensure that the Boko Haram and bandits war is not one of the problems he hands over to his successors. Alongside the military blitzkrieg suggested by the retired General, he also details what should be done internationally. He advocates a diplomatic offensive intended to draw maximum support from influential European, North American and African countries. Also, he wants the government to reactivate public industries with massive potentials for employment and social cohesion, such as the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the Mambilla Power Project. A couple of years ago, I did warn that if the bandits holding Kaduna hostage were not promptly exterminated, the loser would not be Governor El Rufai but all of us. Now that insecurity has become a pandemic, there is no joy in saying, I told you so. How one wishes the narrative was different! Those advocating amnesty for repentant terrorists now sound like terror enablers themselves. El Rufais warning has become a haunting refrain: The only repentant terrorist is a dead terrorist! It cant be said that this government is short of counsel. Everyone with anything to offer has spoken out at one time or the other. It is now left for the government to distil the suggestions and map out a well considered programme of implementation. That is what governments do when their raison detre is threatened. And that is what Nigerians expect their government to do. Merry Christmas In this season of Christmas, I recommend the Magnificat: Advertisements My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has looked upon the humble state of His servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name May this be Nigerias song from 2022 onwards. Wole Olaoye is a public relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021.. Onyebuchi Nnaji, son of the abducted traditional ruler of Ogwuaniocha Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, has urged Governor Willie Obiano to rescue his father and bring the kidnappers to justice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the 71-year-old traditional ruler, Oliver Nnaji, was said to have been abducted from his palace on November 15. The people of Ogwuaniocha Community on December 14 stormed the Government House, Awka, protesting the alleged abduction of their traditional ruler. Mr Nnaji said, My father has been in captivity for about six weeks now. We have made several efforts, written petitions to the concerned authorities and up till now, no government intervention. Ogwuaniocha Community is the community with the highest oil wells in the state and my father had been up and doing with the state government to ensure Anambra becomes an oil producing state. I cannot understand why the state government has abandoned us and watch while my father will just be humiliated and abandoned to die like a nobody in the hand of hoodlums. My family and the community are appealing to Governor Obiano to mobilise the security agencies to take over the entire community to rescue my father and restore sanity and order to the area. Also, the President, Ogwuaniocha Youths Association, Uchenna Onyedi, expressed unhappiness over the traditional rulers disappearance as well as the crisis rocking the community. It is sad that in spite of the credible information we gave to the government and the police about hideouts of the suspected notorious gang for urgent rescue of the Igwe, all to no avail. Also, this gang has been terrorising people and burning houses. People have fled their homes. While others are celebrating Christmas, my community is in crisis. If this act of negligence continues, we will hold the state government responsible for the ongoing destruction in our community, he said. Confirming the development, the police spokesperson in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that search and rescue operations were still ongoing. We, even got a tip-off that the Igwe might be kept in some areas and we have combed those places, unfortunately, he was not there. ALSO READ: Deposed traditional ruler shot dead in Anambra But, be rest assured that the police are still searching. No stone will be left unturned to rescue the monarch, he said. Reacting, C-Don Adinuba, the state commissioner for information, expressed worry over the incident, assuring the people that efforts were still on to rescue the traditional ruler. It is not right to discuss security measures being taken to trace the royal fathers whereabouts. As an individual, I feel pained by what is going on in the community. I advise the youth to shun every form of violence as that will only be counter-productive, he said. (NAN) TOKYO, Dec. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Electro-Communications publishes the December 2021 issue of UEC e-Bulletin December 2021 issue of UEC e-Bulletin http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/ The December 2021 issue of the UEC e-Bulletin includes a video profile of UEC Associate Professor Toru Nakashika describing his recent research on "Speech Signal Processing Based on Shallow Neural Networks". The Research Highlights are 'Frequency analysis helps to understand sleep disorder', Keiki Takadama; and 'Educational measurement/Modelling performance assessment', Masaki Uto. The Topics column is an interview with Eriko Watanabe, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Science, offering insights into 'Fascination with digital holograms and their applications for imaging through semi-opaque materials'. Research Highlights Sleep science: Frequency analysis helps to understand sleep disorder http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/202112/a.html Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a sleep disorder characterized by the occurrence of pauses in breathing (apnea) during sleep. Such pauses can typically last for more than 10 seconds and are often followed by loud snoring. The brain interprets each breathing pause as danger because of the decrease in oxygen supply and sleep becomes shallow. As a result, a person suffering from SAS builds up a sleep debt, which may in turn lead to mental health issues like depression or dementia. In order to avoid medical complications, early detection of SAS is crucial. So-called non-contact detection methods are based on monitoring chest motion, e.g. by means of a sensor attached to the mattress sensor the person is sleeping on; from the recorded bio-vibration data, breathing frequencies and amplitudes can be derived. This type of method is not always effective. For example, when a person's breathing is 'forced' (breathing accompanied by thoracic and abdomen movement, and in fact also a symptom of SAS), sleep apnea is difficult to detect. The researchers analysed bio-vibration data recorded from 9 SAS patients and 9 healthy individuals, obtained by means of a mattress sensor. Rather than looking only at respiration (between 0.1 Hz and 0.2 Hz) and heartbeat (between 0.6 Hz and 1.5 Hz) frequencies, they considered frequencies up to 8 Hz, and looked at the distribution the spectrum of frequencies. When comparing frequency spectra, Nakari and Takadama noticed a slight increase in frequency density around 3 Hz for the SAS patients. On a logarithmic plot of the frequency spectrum, this increase manifests itself as a convex shape. Based on this observation, the researchers defined a quantity called the degree of convexity of the logarithmic spectrum (DCLS). Remarkably, the average DCLS value for the SAS patients ( 99 10) is completely separate from the average value for the healthy subjects ( 48 7). Therefore, the DCLS value has the potential to be used as an indicator for SAS obtained just by sleeping on a mattress sensor. Further analysis showed that the increased frequency density around 3 Hz corresponds to accumulated density in the so-called WAKE stage (the first of six levels used for characterizing 'sleep deepness'). Therefore, it is likely that the WAKE stage is different for SAS patients and people not suffering from sleep apnea. Even more, the researchers argue that SAS subjects generate 3 Hz waves during WAKE phases, and believe that this may actually be a hitherto unknown symptom of SAS, apart from the apnea itself. However, as Nakari and Takadama point out, future work "should clarify the phenomenon around 3 Hz". Reference Iko Nakari and Keiki Takadama, Sleep Apnea Syndrome Detection Based on Degree of Convexity of Logarithmic Spectrum Calculated from Overnight Bio-vibration Data of Mattress Sensor, pp. 22742277, (2021). The 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC2021) (2021). URL: https://embc.embs.org/2021/ Educational measurement: Modelling performance assessment http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/202112/b.html Performance assessment of a practical task carried out by an examinee is typically done by human raters awarding scores for different parts of the task. Often, a so-called scoring rubric is used for this purpose, listing the various parts and descriptions of the performance scores associated with them. There are some inherent shortcomings to this procedure, however, including the characteristics of the rubric's evaluation items and the raters' behaviour one rater may score differently than another. Now, Masaki Uto from the University of Electro-Communications has developed a new model that takes into account the specifics of a rubric's evaluation items and the raters. The approach followed by Uto relies on models developed in a theoretical framework known as item response theory. It is based on a formula giving the probability Pijkr that examinee j gets score k for evaluation item i by rater r. The formula typically contains parameters such as the difficulty (i) for the evalution item, the latent ability of the examinee (j) and the severity of the rater (r). The idea is then that, by fitting the formula to an existing dataset with known score outcomes, good values of the parameters (like i, j and r) can be obtained. Yet, this description is almost always too simplistic to result in good results, however. One improvement lies in incorporating the notion of ability dimensions an abstract representation of an examinee having different ability 'spheres'. Uto's model combines ability dimensions with rater characteristics, which signifies a step forward in item response theory modelling. Apart from providing a more realistic description of performance assessment with a rubric and raters, the model can also help to check the quality of the rubric's evaluation items, as well as providing insights into what exactly each ability dimension measures. Uto tested the probability formula by first simulating a large number of data sets, with randomly generated parameters. Then, the data sets were fitted to the formula, resulting in estimated parameters. Good agreement between the true and the fitted parameters was obtained, showing that the model works well. Moreover, specific simulations showed that the inclusion of rater characteristics led to improved examinee ability accuracy. The model was also tested in actual data experiments, with 134 Japanese university students performing an essay-writing task requiring no preliminary knowledge. One conclusion was that, for this case, a two-dimensionality assumption worked better than a one-dimensional ability. A further finding was that the inclusion of rater characteristics indeed improved model fitting. Uto plans to further test the model's effectiveness using various and more massive datasets, and to, quoting the researcher, "extend the proposed model to four-way data consisting of examinees raters evaluation items performance tasks because practical tests often include several tasks." Reference Masaki Uto, A multidimensional generalized manyfacet Rasch model for rubric-based performance assessment, Behaviormetrika 48, 425457 (2021). URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41237-021-00144-w DOI: 10.1007/s41237-021-00144-w Researcher Video Profiles http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/researcher-video-profiles/202112/a.html Toru Nakashika, Associate Professor Department of Computer and Network Engineering Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo Speech Signal Processing Based on Shallow Neural Networks In this video feature Toru Nakashika describes his group's research on speech signal processing using shallow neural networks. It is widely known that deep learning (DL) is used in audio signal processing. In this approach, many studies use DL by increasing the number of layers of neural networks and parameters in the "dark cloud" to improve expressiveness and accuracy. However, such models have problems such as high calculation costs and the need for huge amounts of data. Furthermore, DL is often called a black box, and it is difficult to interpret what is being done internally. Therefore, it is difficult to come up with ideas for improvements. "The goal of my research is to produce the same level of accuracy in speech recognition and synthesis as in deep learning but by using interpretable and shallow models based on appropriately expressing the structure of speech data," explains Nakashika. "That is by using wisdom instead of computational resources, we aim to reduce computational costs and achieve more practical speech recognition and speech synthesis." Nakashika and his colleagues use shallow models, including the Boltzmann machine modelan example of a shallow and interpretable model. The use of a Boltzmann machine enables the expression of an arbitrary probability distribution by freely designing so-called called energy functions, and audio data structures can be appropriately expressed using this model. Since this Boltzmann machine is a shallow model, it has the advantage that both calculation costs and the amount of data required for learning reduced can be significantly reduced. Some recent results obtained by Nakashika include voice identity conversiona technology that processes voice and only converts a person's personality without changing the contents of the utterance. "I have proposed a model called the speaker-cluster-adaptive restricted Boltzmann machine," says Nakashika. "This is an extension of the Boltzmann machine, and conversion is possible with only about one second of data." Nakashika has also proposed the so-called complex-valued restricted Boltzmann machine model that directly expresses complex numbers. Sound is often expressed in a complex spectrum, but since it is known that amplitude is better recognized by humans than phase, it is possible to omit the phase and only use the amplitude spectrum. "I think that it would be more expressive if there was a model that could directly express the phase, and the model that can directly express the complex spectrum of the voice is the complex-restricted Boltzmann machine mentioned earlier," says Nakashika. "We showed that this makes it possible to synthesize speech with higher accuracy than the conventional VOice enCODER." Plans include the application of the Boltzmann machine to speech synthesis and voice quality conversion in other fields of speech signal processing, such as speech recognition and sound source separation. "I would like to encourage more promote more research on shallow neural networks." References and further information Toru Nakashika, and Kohei Yatabe, "Gamma Boltzmann Machine for Audio Modeling,"IEEE/ACM Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing, Vol.29, pp.2591-2605, July 2021. DOI:10.1109/TASLP.2021.3095656 More references http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/researcher-video-profiles/202112/a.html Topics http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/topics/202112/a.html Fascination with digital holograms and their applications for imaging through semi-opaque materials Eriko Watanabe, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Science, UEC Tokyo. "My interest in light and optics was triggered when I saw an exhibition on holography at an event on campus during my undergraduate days at university," says Eriko Watanabe, an associate professor at the Department of Engineering Science, UEC Tokyo. "I was intrigued by the amazing three dimensional optical structures that could be produced by the interference of light waves. This fascination with holograms is the basis for my current research." Recent research being conducted by members of the Watanabe Group includes digital holography imaging of objects hidden by media such as scatter plates and biological tissues. "The ultimate goal is to develop technology for the non-invasive imaging of living cells inside biological tissues," explains Watanabe. "We expect our research will play an important role in clarifying biological mechanisms governing human health on the cellular level." Other potential applications of this technology include imaging through fog and air turbulence, where the latter is important for land-based astronomy where movements of the air can adversely affect astrophotography. Specific scientific issues to resolve to achieve these goals are (1) elimination of temporally fluctuating spatial noise due to complex fluctuations and scatterers to capture images behind obtrusive objects, and (2) development of microscopic imaging technology for visualizing below living skin. One solution proposed by the Watanabe Group is using deep neural networks to suppress temporally fluctuating spatial noise and applying optical correlation imaging. "Our imaging method combines deep learning with optical correlation imaging that accelerates ordinary single pixel imaging by the use of optical computing," explains Watanabe. "Furthermore, we are imaging behind scattering media by phase shift digital holography using near-point light sources with planar waveguides. Using a near-point light source eliminates fluctuations with common optical path digital holography and planar waveguides take us closer towards 'needle-type' probe structures." Read more http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/topics/202112/a.html Further information University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.uec.ac.jp/ About the University of Electro-Communications http://www.uec.ac.jp/ The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) in Tokyo is a small, luminous university at the forefront of pure and applied sciences, engineering, and technology research. Its roots go back to the Technical Institute for Wireless Commutations, which was established in 1918 by the Wireless Association to train so-called wireless engineers in maritime communications in response to the Titanic disaster in 1912. In 1949, the UEC was established as a national university by the Japanese Ministry of Education and moved in 1957 from Meguro to its current Chofu campus Tokyo. With approximately 4,000 students and 350 faculty members, UEC is regarded as a small university, but with expertise in wireless communications, laser science, robotics, informatics, and material science, to name just a few areas of research. The UEC was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities as a result of its strengths in three main areas: optics and photonics research, where we are number one for the number of joint publications with foreign researchers; wireless communications, which reflects our roots; and materials-based research, particularly on fuel cells. Website: http://www.uec.ac.jp/ SOURCE University of Electro-Communications Ankara, Dec 26 : The Covid-19 Omicron variant started to spread in Turkey, especially in crowded provinces, and it accounts for over 10 per cent of the new cases in these cities, the Turkish health minister has said. "More than 10 per cent of new cases in our crowded provinces are caused by Omicron," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. "Nothing to worry about. We have the necessary knowledge and pandemic experience," Xinhua news agency quoted the minister as saying. Stating that this variant does not require additional personal precautions and does not cause a significant increase in hospitalisations, Koca noted that the fight against the pandemic will continue with masks, distance rules and vaccines. Turkey on Saturday reported 20,470 new Covid-19 cases, raising its tally of infections to 9,286,986, according to the health ministry. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 145 to 81,403, while 22,109 more people recovered in the last 24 hours. A total of 357,536 tests were conducted over the past day, it said. More than 56.78 million people have received their first doses of the vaccine, while over 51.38 million had their second doses. Turkey has so far administered over 128.34 million doses including third booster jabs. Mathura, Dec 26 : Priests in Vrindavan have demanded a ban on Bollywood actor Sunny Leone's latest video album, alleging that her dance performance hurts their religious sentiments. The video album is titled 'Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache' and was released by Saregama music recently. The priests claimed her dance moves in the video are "obscene" and has maligned the image of Braj bhoomi. A Hindutva organisation also staged a protest and shouted slogans against the actor on Saturday. Members of the organisation also filed a police complaint demanding that an FIR be filed against her. Superintendent of Police (city) M.P. Singh, however, said no FIR has been registered so far. Mahamandleshwar Yogi Naval Giri of Vrindavan, said: "Such videos should be banned and the actor must tender a public apology for her act. We cannot tolerate obscenity in the name of 'Radha Rani'. We are also writing a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the matter." Mohini Bihari Sharan Maharaj from Vrindavan Chatur Sampraday said the dance video had hurt the religious sentiments of the entire community. "This is the cheapest form of gaining publicity in the name of Radha Rani," he said, adding that if the government did not take necessary action, they will move court. Lucknow, Dec 26 : ICAR-FUSICONT, a unique bio-fungicide to control fungal disease causing wilting of banana crops, can also prove effective in managing the cumin wilt disease in Rajasthan, according to a study. ICAR-FUSICONT was originally developed by ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) in Lucknow. While originally it was used to treat banana wilt, in a recent experiment, the CISH team also found that it is effective in curbing the cumin wilt disease in Rajasthan. CISH director Shailendra Rajan said, "Cumin wilt disease is causing losses of several crores of rupees, and in many places, the entire crop is being wiped out due to epidemics of the disease. Thousands of people in Rajasthan depend on cumin, which is a short-season crop that can be grown with low input costs and yields high returns. ICAR-FUSICONT was used to manage this disease and successful results were obtained." T Damodaran, a research scholar from the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, conducted experiments in Rajasthan to test whether ICAR-FUSICONT can also control cumin wilt in Jodhpur district and found that it was effective for cumin as well. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gudamalani from Barmer district, has requested Lucknow ICAR institute to supply the product so that it could be extensively tested in their fields, he added. He said the experiment began in November 2020 in farmers' fields in the hotspot area, using technology as seed treatment at the time of sowing and later with irrigation water. Farmers saw encouraging results, which attracted scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra and other ICAR institutes to see the outcomes of the initiatives. They communicated with the Lucknow scientists to further discuss the possibility of using this technology to manage the problem in Rajasthan. "Farmers who used the technology last year are satisfied, and convinced that the banana technology can also be used with cumin, an important spice crop. The spice crop accounts for a significant portion of Indian spice exports," said Rajan. He added that the problem has been present in various parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan for many years on sandy soil. New York, Dec 26 : In New York City, 1,828 people have been shot so far in 2021, surpassing the figure of 1,821 in the same period in 2020 which was the worst crime surge year in more than a decade. Data from the New York Police Department (NYPD) has revealed that by December 19, the number of shooting incidents in the city's five boroughs reached 1,526, as compared with 1,490 during the same period last year, reports Xinhua news agency. In the past few days following December 19, shootings continued in the city, including five people shot on Christmas Eve in two separate incidents in Brooklyn, and a 27-year-old NYPD school safety agent, who was shot dead on Thursday in Queens, with two others injured in the same case, according to the NYPD. This makes this year's number of shooting victims and incidents even larger. According to statistics on the NYPD website, the city recorded 1,868 shooting victims in 2020, a steep rise of 102 per cent over the number of 923 in 2019, while shooting incidents rose from 777 to 1,531, a rise of 97 per cent. In 2020, shooting victims were mostly minority, with 73.9 per cent of them being black and 22.5 percent Hispanic, according to NYPD statistics. Blacks and Hispanics also accounted for 65.0 per cent and 26.4 per cent of murder victims, respectively, in New York City in 2020. Guwahati/Agartala, Dec 26 : With the degradation of forests and shrinking of habitats, human-elephant conflicts are rising in the northeastern states, mainly in Assam and Tripura, with 971 people being killed by wild elephants and 926 tuskers dying from diverse causes since 2010 in Assam. According to the latest census, India is home to 27,312 elephants and of them, Assam is home to 5,719 Asian elephants, the second largest elephant population in India after Karnataka (6049), a large number of whom often come out of the forests in search of food. According to the officials of Assam's Forest and Environment department 71 elephants including elephant calves were killed this year mainly due to being hit by speeding trains, poisoning, electrocution, 'accidental' deaths including falling into ponds and ditches, lightning strikes while 61 people including women died this year in attacks by the jumbos. In May, 18 jumbos were killed by a lightning strike in Nagaon district of central Assam. Herds of wild tuskers damaged huge quantities of crops, homesteads, residential homes and destroyed various other properties besides eating food stored in the homes of the villagers. After Assam, the depredations of the wild pachyderms also took place in parts of western and and southern Tripura with four people killed by the elephants during this year in Khowai district alone. Most of the animal experts and researchers felt that the increasing number of deaths of both humans and wild elephants is due to growing urbanisation, inadequate steps of the governments and destruction of forests and the environment. According to the 'India State of Forest Report-2019', Assam has only 36.11 per cent forest cover out of the state's total geographical area of 78,438 sq.km. Out of the total of 28,327 sq.km forest area in Assam, only 2,795 sq.km is very dense forest and 10,279 sq.km areas are moderately dense forest. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Programme Secretary and Head, Elephant Research and Conservation Division of Aaranyak, an NGO on conservation, said that degradation of the habitat, lack of quality habitat and gradual shrinking of existing habitats cause man-elephant deaths and frequent conflicts. "Insufficient forest personnel, non-involvement of civil administration and other stakeholders is leading to a situation of great concern. Involvement of the villagers and volunteers to deal with the situation is very crucial," he told IANS. Lahkar said that the wild elephants hugely destroy crops, property and food of the villagers but they do not get sufficient compensation from the government. "If the poor villagers do not get compensation for their damaged crops and properties they will not be involved in the protection of wild animals and the environment," he pointed out. Lahkar said that besides quality habitat, elephants require a huge amount of fodder and water, both of which are drastically reduced in the degraded forest and mountainous areas. Assam's Forest and Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that the government has decided to create nine elephant corridors in the eastern part of the state. He said that a committee had been constituted to make an on-the-spot verification of the areas for delineation of nine animal corridors in the UNESCO world heritage site -- Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve -- and the committee had submitted its report to the government. "The state government would take all possible steps to ensure the protection of wild animals specially the elephants, tigers and rhinos. We are also constantly spreading awareness among the people about the protection of the wild animals and their habitats," the minister said. The state government also took numerous steps to stop illegal activities killing the animals and destroying forests and the environment. "Poaching of rhinos and elephants for their horn and tusks respectively has been drastically reduced following the steps taken by the forest department," the minister said. "Coordination committees were constituted with all stakeholders and forest officials to coordinate to prevent accidental deaths of elephants along the railway lines. "Railway tracks in several vulnerable areas prone to elephant accidents and deaths have been identified. Forest and railway staff and other concerned people are monitoring those accident prone areas while signages are displayed at vulnerable locations alerting the train drivers," Suklabaidya said. Other steps taken to check the deaths of elephants due to speeding trains include cleaning of vegetation along the railway tracks to increase visibility, deployment of anti-depredation squads to prevent elephant fatalities due to train hits, using trained elephants ('kunkis') to monitor the movement of wild elephants. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), set up by the Supreme Court, has recently asked the Assam government to take immediate action to remove illegal constructions in nine identified wildlife corridors of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, which extends across Assam's Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Karbi Anglong districts along the Arunachal Pradesh border. An Assam Forest Department official said that the CEC's Member-Secretary Amarnatha Shetty, in a letter to Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, asked for an action taken report within four weeks. "It is requested that immediate action be taken to remove all constructions made in violation of the Supreme Court order of April 12, 2019 and not to permit any new constructions along the nine identified animal corridors," the letter said. The CEC has also referred to the inspection report submitted on September 10 by the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry's Integrated Regional Office, Guwahati, head Hemen Hazarika, which also enclosed the report of the Deputy Inspector General of Forest (Central) Lactitia J. Syiemiong, on "Violation of the Supreme Court order of April 12, 2019". Besides the study of Syiemiong, Assam-based green activist Rohit Choudhury lodged a complaint with the Union Ministry on May 10 pointing out the illegal new constructions in the animal corridors in contempt of the Supreme Court's direction. The official said that the Supreme Court earlier barred new construction on private land that forms part of the nine identified animal corridors of Kaziranga, which is home to more than 2,400 one-horned Indian rhinos. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Muzaffarnagar : , Dec 26 (IANS) Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Commission for Minorities (NCM), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, demanding strict action against the organisers and attendees of the Dharam Sansad held in Haridwar last week. Speakers at the Dharam Sansad allegedly made hate speeches and called for violence against Muslim minorities. "The government's silence on the issue is extremely harmful for the country. What is going on is a big threat to peace and communal harmony. Therefore, I demand that strict action be taken against the organisers and speakers at the event who made provocative and hate speeches and openly called for genocide of Muslims and urged the entire Hindu community to be armed," Madani wrote. In his letter, Madani also mentioned the provocative speech made by controversial head priest of the Dasna temple in Ghaziabad, Yati Narsinghanand, who had organised the event, which was held from December 16 to 19 at Ved Niketan Dham at Bhopatwala in Haridwar. After getting a complaint regarding the alleged inflammatory speeches at the event, police, late on Thursday registered an FIR against one named and several unnamed persons under section 153-A (offence of promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc) of the IPC. Seoul, Dec 26 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pointed out the need for South Korea to have defence capabilities not only to deter North Korean threats but also to cope with its geopolitical position "stuck between great powers", his aide said on Sunday. Moon made the remarks during a meeting with his secretaries last month while commenting on the country's project to acquire a light aircraft carrier by 2033, Yonhap News Agency quoted Park Soo-hyun, his chief secretary for public communication, as saying in a Facebook post. "Our defence capabilities are needed not only for deterrence against North Korea, but also for the autonomy of our country stuck between great powers," Moon was quoted by Park as saying. "We should be equipped with defence capabilities befitting such a geopolitical location," he added. The President also said that the strengthening of defence capabilities is directly linked to South Korea's economy, as the country continues to expand its footholds in the global defence markets. The Navy's push to secure the light aircraft carrier has reflected South Korea's ambitions to bolster its defence beyond its shores in a region surrounded by major military powers like China, Russia and Japan. After the National Assembly passed a budget for the carrier project earlier this month, the country is expected to begin a process for the vessel's basic design in the latter half of next year, the Defence Ministry has said. Kolkata, Dec 26 : It has been 13 years since a 65-year-old woman was separated from her family who also had no idea about the whereabouts of the woman. However, amateur Ham Radio Operators in the state not only traced her but made all the arrangements so that she could come back to her family. A mentally challenged tribal woman who was in a hospital in Varanasi for nearly 13 years is being reunited with her family at Kotwali in West Midnapore district of Bengal. The formalities at the administrative and police level have been completed and her family members will be leaving the city in one or two days to take her back. The identity of the woman came to the fore when Anima Chakraborty of Ham Radio went to Varanasi for religious purposes last month. During her visit to Pandeypur Mental Hospital for distributing fruits and sweets among the patients she came across a woman who was speaking Bengali fluently. This attracted her attention and she got in touch with her ham radio team who immediately got to work. "After she got in touch with us, we asked the caretaker of the hospital to send a photograph of the woman so that we can establish a connection with her family through our network. After the photograph we could trace that she belonged to a family in Kotwali in East Midnapore. We could establish contact with her brother Joydeb Dolui at Sholkamari village at Kotwali in West Midnapore.," Ambarish Nag Biswas, the secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club - an organisation of ham radio enthusiasts in the state - said. According to one of the ham radio operators the husband of the woman left her when she was four months pregnant following which she developed a mental problem. When her son was around 18 months old, she had gone missing and her family members' efforts to trace her went in vain. Her son Sukumar who is now 14 years old is being looked after by his uncle Joydeb and his aunt. "There were further formalities to be completed before we could complete the process of returning the woman to her home. In most of the cases the families refuse to take back these kind of patients and finally they have to stay back in the mental asylum but in this case the family was cooperative and they want to take her back as soon as possible. The UP and West Bengal governments were also helpful and we will be able to bring back the woman soon. Sukumar along with some of the neighbours will soon travel to Varanasi and take his mother home," the operator said. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Calling opposition unity a myth, BJP national vice president, Dilip Ghosh said that the opposition don't have a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there is a complete vacuum of leadership in the rival camp. In an exclusive interview, Ghosh said that 'Koi nahi hai takkar me' (no one is in contest with BJP). "Country and party is secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Country and party is moving ahead under Modi. BJP is the future and the country's future is secured with the BJP," Ghosh, former West Bengal BJP president, said. Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister's national ambitions, Ghosh said that she is trying to make TMC presence in other states by inducting retired, tired and rejected leaders. Here are some excerpts from the interview: Q. Next year, assembly elections will be held in seven states, what is the importance of these elections for the BJP? A. First of all let's talk about the assembly elections held in five states this year. We formed the government for the second consecutive time in Assam, formed the government for the first time in Puducherry and we have four MLAs in the Tamil Nadu assembly. In Kerala, however, we failed to win a seat but we made our presence felt across the state. And in West Bengal, the BJP is the biggest gainer. Our strength increased from three to 77. Results show that people have immense faith in the BJP and we are the only party which is growing and expanding across India. We make inroads in new areas. We have leaders, policies and a strong force of workers and this is the reason good people from other parties are also joining us. 'Koi nahi hai takkar me' (no one is in the contest). Country and party are secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Country and party is moving ahead under him. BJP is the future and the country's future is secured with the BJP. Q. You talked about assembly polls held this year, but did not mention recent bypolls where BJP had not done so well. A. It is true that we lost a few seats in some states but our overall performance was good and better than rivals. There are lots of factors that play a role in bypolls. In 2017, the BJP had lost bypolls of Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats represented by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Local issues and other factors like candidate selection, coordination plays an important role in bypolls. However, things get changed in assembly and parliament polls. People start talking about policy and vision of a political party instead of local issues in bypolls. I am confident that, like this year, the BJP will form the government in all the states with a huge margin by winning more seats than last time. Q. What would you say about much talked about opposition unity in 2022? A. Opposition unity is a myth and nothing exist like this in reality. There is a complete vacuum of leadership in opposition parties. And everyone is trying to become leader of all the opposition parties and interestingly no one is ready to accept another as face of opposition. There is a complete lack of leadership, organisation and cadre in the opposition camp. They don't have a leader with a vision to lead the country. 'Modi jaisa neta nahi hai unke pass' (they (opposition) don't have a leader like Modi). Q. Mamata Banerjee is all set to make her presence felt in national politics by contesting assembly polls in Goa and Manipur. What is your take? A. As I said that there is a complete vacuum of leadership in opposition parties and there is no leadership. Opposition parties are desperately looking out for a leader who can lead them. The Congress is not only weakened but was also facing a leadership crisis. Many senior Congress leaders left as there is no vision left in the party. In one line I can say those who are not with BJP are desperately looking out for a leader who can lead them. Mamata Di is trying to fill the gap. However, no one is ready to accept her as the undisputed leader of opposition parties. Reason is very simple, as she does not have a single panchayat with her outside West Bengal. Even before coming to power in West Bengal, she worked for over a decade in Tripura and Assam. In recent Tripura local bodies polls, TMC won just one seat. She has no acceptance in Assam. When she is not getting people's support in an area with a Bengali population, what support will she get in Goa and other parts of the country? She is alo trying to form alliances with some regional parties but the question is how they help each other. What help Shiv Sena and DMK could offer to Mamata in West Bengal or what she could help by going to Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra. With a wish to become a big leader she is trying to expand TMC. But the biggest question is 'punji' (assets). She is not a threat to BJP, instead it shows Mamata Di's plight and how she is desperately trying to expand TMC for her acceptance as a big leader. But her entire attempt will fail. Q. You are saying she doesn't have 'punji' but she is inducting big names from other parties. Now she is the main opposition party in Meghalaya and also has an MLA in Goa. A. TMC has no presence outside West Bengal. She (Mamata Di) is enrolling people to expand the TMC but the question is whether it will help the party. Those joining TMC have done politics for 30-40 years but now their future is in the dark and there is no support on the ground. They need a shelter at the end of their political career and they are the ones who joined TMC. Those joining TMC are retired, tired and rejected. How can a party make inroads with these retired, tired and rejected leaders? We are strong, with a presence on the ground and have a strong leader (Modi). When people join us they have confidence that someday BJP will come to power. She is using money power to TMC growth and the money is of taxpayers or collected through cut money. It is injustice to people of West Bengal and Goa. Q. Mamata Banerjee has now started talking about temples along with mosques and churches. What would you say about it? A. Mamata Banerjee changes her colour with elections. In West Bengal, she opposed Hindu festivals, put restrictions on Durga Puja. Hindus are feeling betrayed and now after realising that Hindus are against her politics of appeasement, she announced allowance for priests. In Goa, she is saying TMC means (Temple, Mosque and Church) but in reality she is only concerned about the minority appeasement specially a particular one for her political survival. Kabul, Dec 26 : An additional 200 newly-trained soldiers have been deployed in Kabul to beef up security in the capital city and the surrounding areas, the Taliban-led government's Defence Ministry said in a statement. The troops who recently graduated from military training were "deployed in army's 313 Markazi Corps", Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry statement as saying. "Afghanistan will soon have a disciplined and strong army," it added. After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August and formation of a caretaker government the following month, the 350,000-strong security and defence forces under the former Ashraf Ghani administration had been disbanded. The Taliban administration has promised to hire professional personnel from the former government in establishing new security forces. Seoul, Dec 26 : South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the splinter minor Open Democratic Party announced their merger agreement on Sunday, in a move meant to strengthen unity in the liberal political bloc ahead of the March 9, 2022 presidential election. DP leader Song Young-gil and Choe Kang-wook, the head of the satellite party, signed the agreement, including a decision to use the ruling party's name as that of the merged party, along with a set of political and social reform goals, reports Yonhap News Agency. The agreement came as Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party's standard-bearer, has been stepping up his presidential campaign against Yoon Suk-yeol, the nominee for the main opposition People Power Party. Polls have shown them in a neck-and-neck race in recent weeks. The two parties' merger agreement entailed their political reform agenda, including adopting an open nomination system for proportional representation parliamentary seats and seeking a system to allow citizens to recall lawmakers. Their social reform agenda included installing a real estate market oversight institution. The minor party is considered a "satellite party" of the DP, as it was launched by former DP lawmakers ahead of last year's parliamentary elections. The party went on to win three proportional representation seats in the National Assembly. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 26 : Five policemen, including a Circle Inspector, were injured after two groups of guest workers at Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam district of Kerala fought against each other and also directed their ire at the police, setting police vehicles on fire. The incident occurred on Saturday night following a dispute over the Christmas Carol music team. Around 500 guest workers under the influence of alcohol working for a prominent private industry in Kizhakkambalam fought against each other. Police arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the crowd of clashing guest workers, who attacked the police with stones and rods. Five policemen were injured and have been admitted to the hospital. The guest workers also burnt two police jeeps. A strong police contingent arrived at the scene and lathi-charged the workers bringing the situation under control. Ernakulam rural superintendent of police Karthik told the mediapersons that 150 guest workers were arrested and are in police custody and cases have been registered against them. He said that the situation got out of control after two groups of workers from an industry fought against each other and police arrived at the scene on getting information from the public. However, police were also attacked. Hyderabad, Dec 26 : Ending the 2021 with a mixed bag, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) stares at some big challenges in 2022 as it faces rejuvenated opposition, growing public expectations, pressure to deliver on unfulfilled promises and the strained relations with the Centre. The TRS government headed by K. Chandrasekhar Rao, which this month entered the fourth year of its second term in power, faces a daunting task in the new year, which is likely to set the tone for 2023 elections. The defeat in Huzurabad Assembly bypoll and the row with the Centre over paddy procurement towards the year-end marred what was otherwise a smooth year for the KCR government. Both the developments are likely to cast their shadows in the coming year as well. At the same time, with seven years in power in India's youngest state, TRS eyes a new role. The party chief appears to be keen to revive his national ambitions and play a key role at the Centre. "KCR and TRS have reached a juncture where expectations and promises start to haunt the regime. People have started raising questions on the promises/assurances made over the years, especially the promise to create jobs. Suicides by youth in the recent months over lack of employment opportunities will continue to haunt KCR and TRS in 2022," said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy. The coming year will see an aggressive opposition taking on TRS on the issues of agriculture and unemployment. Reddy pointed out that both Congress and the BJP have upped their game to emerge as a possible alternative to TRS. However, the immediate challenge which the TRS government faces is on the agriculture front. Months after its claim of turning Telangana into a rice bowl of the country by expanding the area under paddy cultivation, the government found itself in a crisis with the Centre refusing to lift parboiled rice from the state citing lack of demand in the country. With the Centre ruling out procurement of parboiled rice during the coming Rabi season, the TRS government faces the immediate challenge of convincing farmers to go for alternate crops. This is a daunting task given the reluctance of farmers to grow crops other than paddy for a variety of reasons. The state government has already declared that it will not approach Centre to procure paddy during Rabi season as the Centre has ruled out lifting the stocks from the state. Even during the current Kharif season, the state is facing a crisis in procurement as the production of paddy has far exceeded the target of 60 lakh tonnes fixed by the state. The TRS government is insisting that the Centre buy the entire stocks. A delegation of state ministers and MPs is camping in Delhi for the last one week to get a written assurance from the Centre. The government has already come under flak for the sluggish pace of procurement from farmers. The opposition parties have claimed that 200 farmers committed suicide due to the government not procuring their paddy. "Considering the large scale paddy production across Telangana, procurement will become a major challenge for the TRS government. And that is the precise reason, KCR is trying hard to shift the blame towards the Modi Government. It remains to be seen how farmers in Telangana will react to developments," said an analyst. The paddy crisis saw TRS leaders and cadres taking to streets with the chief minister himself leading ministers, MPs, state legislators and other leaders on a three-hour sit-in last month. In an indication that he is reviving his plans to play a key role in national politics, KCR declared an open war against the BJP-led Centre over its 'anti-farmer' policies. Broadening the scope of his fight, KCR offered to lead the nation-wide movement of farmers. As part of the efforts, the state cabinet on November 29 sanctioned Rs 22.5 crore to pay Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of 750 farmers killed during the nation-wide agitation against the three controversial farm laws of the Centre. BJP, which is already working on its Mission 2023 to come to power in the state, is gearing up to turn the heat on TRS. This was evident after the recent meeting of state BJP leaders with union home minister Amit Shah. Shah advised the BJP leaders to highlight the corruption of TRS and KCR and be ready for elections whenever they are held. The saffron party leaders do not rule out KCR once again taking them by surprise by going for early polls. Anticipating the Modi wave in simultaneous polls impacting the prospects of TRS, KCR went for early Assembly elections in 2018, six months before they were originally scheduled. This worked to his advantage as TRS retained power by bagging 88 seats in 119-member Assembly, a huge improvement over its 2014 tally of 63 seats. He subsequently decimated the opposition by luring a dozen MLAs from Congress party. However, KCR's hopes of cobbling up a Federal Front were dashed as Narendra Modi-led BJP stormed back to power at the Centre with a huge majority. By winning four Lok Sabha seats in the state, BJP emerged as a challenge for TRS. After wresting Dubbak Assembly seat in 2020 and Huzurabad in 2021 from TRS and by significantly improving its tally in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), BJP positioned itself as the number one opposition party. The recent setback in Huzurabad was huge for TRS and personally for KCR as Eatala Rajender managed to return to Assembly barely five months after he dropped him from the Cabinet on the allegations of land encroachment. Rajender was the first big TRS leader who challenged KCR's leadership and succeeded in retaining the seat even after switching loyalties. He won the bypoll despite KCR going all out to defeat him. Analysts say with the Huzurabad debacle and Rajender emerging as one of key symbols of opposition politics, more voices of dissent might emerge from within the ruling party in 2022. Barring Huzurabad, TRS did well during 2021. It retained Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly seat despite a tough fight given by senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy. The pink party also won all 14 Legislative Council seats including the lone seat held by BJP and made a clean sweep in the elections held to seven urban local bodies. The party crossed a milestone on April 27 as it completed 20 years of its formation. The celebrations, however, were a low-key affair due to the surge in Covid-19 cases across the state. A major development during the year was the launch of 'Dalit Bandhu', aimed at social and economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes (SCs). Under the scheme, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, ever Dalit family will get Rs 10 lakh as grant and the beneficiary will be free to choose their profession, self-employment or businesses for utilising the funds. The ambitious scheme was launched on pilot basis in Huzurabad a few weeks before by-election. The government released Rs 2,000 crore for implementing the scheme in the constituency in saturation mode, drawing criticism from the opposition that it was aimed at luring Dalit voters. After the defeat of TRS, the government faced allegations from the opposition that it had cold shouldered the scheme. Stating that it is committed to implementation of the scheme and to counter the opposition attack, the government last week sanctioned Rs 250 crore for implementation of the scheme in four mandals or blocks, which were picked for pilot project along with Huzurabad constituency. KCR announced that the scheme will be extended to all other Assembly constituencies where at least 100 Dalit families will be covered during the current fiscal by March 31, 2022. He had earlier told the state Assembly that the state has nearly 18 lakh Dalit families and it requires Rs 1.80 lakh crore to implement the scheme for all Dalit families. The chief minister also announced that Rs 20,000 crore will be allocated in the next year's budget for Dalit Bandhu. With this money, 2,000 Dalit families will be covered in each Assembly constituency. However, it's not clear how the government will mobilise additional resources for the scheme when the state's finances were already strained due to drop in revenues under the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. The TRS government claims to be the number one state in the country in implementing welfare schemes with an annual expenditure of Rs 40,000 crore. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a revenue loss of Rs 50,000 crore in the previous fiscal year but the government claims that it did not allow it to affect the implementation of welfare schemes. The launch of 'Dalit Bandhu' also led to demands from other sections of the society like backward classes and minorities for similar schemes. "Promise to deliver Dalit Bandhu to all deserving families is the biggest social welfare challenge before KCR. There is a likely possibility, people will remain unhappy with and without implementation of this scheme. Hence, there is a high chance of this scheme backfiring," said Raghavendra Reddy. Before Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurugram became IT hotspots, Kerala was always at the forefront of the electronics and IT revolution in India. When the pandemic raged on and put a stop to many of Kerala's traditional strongholds like tourism, alcoholic beverages, and export-oriented industries like cashew, spices, handlooms etc., the Kerala IT industry was able to weather the storm admirably. For example, in FY 2020-21, Technopark registered a 7 per cent increase in its export income to touch Rs 8,500 crore and this is expected to cross Rs 9,000 crore this financial year. This growth was a result of not just the proactive actions of the Central and state governments, but is also a proof that the Kerala IT industry is resilient and thriving. In fact, for the last few years, several companies have been operating outside the parks and the total exports are definitely much higher. While we rejoice at this achievement, it is important to realise that the world around is evolving. Change, in every sense, has been the 'The New Normal'. Customer demands, business models, market hotspots, employee expectations, and the way employees work have radically transformed in the last couple of years. And 2022 will not be any different. For Kerala to be competitive and take on a bigger share of the global IT industry, it will have to work with an open mindset and be agile enough to scale up and delight all its stakeholders. First let us look at what we can call as the cornerstone of our IT industry -- the people. Driven by the 'Great Resignation' and the numerous job opportunities available, attrition in many IT companies across the state has more than doubled from the normal 10 to 20 pert cent to 30 to 40 per cent and beyond. As a response, some of the larger companies tried to attract resources with a higher salary, even if it hit their profit margins, offset partially by the Work From Home (WFH) scenario. Some looked at hiring fresh graduates, some went beyond the traditional hiring hotspots to hunt for new talent, while some opted for a gig model. During the last couple of years, the employees also worked harder and continuously upskilled themselves to stay relevant and justify their higher costs. We can expect this trend to continue as organisations, strapped for talent, will enter hitherto unexplored markets to tap new source of employees. Do not be surprised if companies from Kerala also employ people from abroad as the pandemic has shown that for the right people, location is not really a constraint. The way the Kerala IT companies work will also go into a dramatic shift as 2022 unfolds. While most of the companies working out of Kerala were not known to be supporters of a remote-working model, they were forced to adopt, as the nation went into a lockdown in 2020. WFH came home sooner than expected. Now it is the norm as collaboration is over conference calls than through collocation. But in 2022, we can expect these companies to move towards a hybrid model as soon as the situation allows them, because surveys show that more than 50 per cent people feel that they would prefer working out of office for at least 2-3 days a week. The fresh hires, however, want to experience the office environment and they will form the core group as the work shifts back to office. This will ultimately create a domino effect, as the remote hires and gig employees will face a problem, and only the ones who are critical for the organisation and are capable to work by themselves without supervision will stay back home. Another category of employees who might feel the pinch are the ones recruited much above the market rates to fill in urgent vacancies. Most companies in the last one year would have trained other resources on the skills so that the critical resource can be replaced easily. Business models will also go for a significant change as customers will focus on shifting the cost of software from capital to operating expenses. This will create an increase in demand for SaaS based models, and it will be important that the IT companies in Kerala are ready for the subscription economy. The customers will become more demanding as the expectation from the IT vendors will not just be to provide patented products that offer a great functionality, but also offer help in either one or more of the following - expand the customers' business, ensure cost controls, grow profit margins, bring in the necessary regulatory compliances, or enhance the customer experience. The customer industry portfolio distribution will also go for a drastic shift as the focus will shift towards industries such as banking, health, insurance etc. It is also important to understand that there will be tremendous opportunities for the Kerala IT companies if they are cognizant of the changing geo-political relations and are able to seize the opportunity. The workforce will also have to be trained in the new technologies and business scenarios so that we can stay ahead. In 2022, the expectations from customers will also increase. While we have traditionally had a cost advantage, it is no more relevant as the customers are prioritising the strength of the product in terms of functionality, scalability, usability, and presence of the latest technologies such as AI, ML, Blockchain, Web 3.0, Big Data etc. over cost. Moreover, there are other IT hotspots which can compete on cost. This would mean that the IT companies, which were focused on services, will have to start moving up the value chain in 2022 to stay relevant. The changing global scenario will also facilitate the smaller and medium-sized IT companies as they will be more agile and nimble in responding to the changing customer expectations. The government can also do its bit by further promoting SMEs and startups. 2022 will certainly be a year of great opportunities, which, if used diligently, can help lay a strong platform to leap from and become a strong force in not just India, but across the world. (Vijayaraghavan is the first CEO of Technopark besides being a former State Planning Board member. The views expressed are personal) Chennai, Dec 26 : Director Lingusamy has announced a Tamil Haiku poetry contest in honour of the late Tamil poet Abdul Rahman. Taking to social media to announce the contest, Lingusamy said, "I feel this as an important thing in my life. This is for the immense respect I have for Abdul Rahman & my love towards Haiku. Looking forward to having you all in this." The winner of the contest, the director said, would get a sum of Rs 25,000 while the second and the third place winners would get sums of Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively. Fifty other poems would be chosen for publication. These would be granted a prize of Rs 1,000 each. The poems would have to be strictly according to Haiku grammar. Only those poems that did not exceed three lines would be considered for competition. The poems must be original and should not have been published either in print or online publications or on social media. Each contestant can send a maximum of two poems. The poems should reach the organisers on or before February 15, 2022. The winners of the contest would be announced in March, 2022. New Delhi, Dec 26 : A heated debate has erupted in Pakistan over the rumours of PML-N supremo and former Prime minister Nawaz Sharif's possible return to the country ahead of the next general elections, Geo News reported. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the former premier's brother, categorically said that Nawaz Sharif will not return until he has fully recovered. In a statement issued on Saturday, Shehbaz Sharif said that Nawaz Sharif might stay in the UK legally until the immigration tribunal rules on his appeal against the British Home Office's rejection for extending his visa. Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet, said the visa issue had again proved how her father was on the nerves of the members of the incumbent Imran Khan-led government, Geo News reported. "This fake government has accepted its defeat from Nawaz Sharif who is the present and future of Pakistan. By targeting a towering personality, the stature of a pygmy cannot be elevated," she tweeted. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability and Interior Barrister, Shahzad Akbar questioned whether Nawaz Sharif could participate in the country's politics despite the Supreme Court declaring him guilty and disqualifying him for life and an accountability court convicting him in an NAB case. "To make Nawaz Sharif eligible (to run for the highest office of the country) again, it is being rumoured that the Bar Council is filing a petition in court," said Akbar. "It is not appropriate for the Bar Council to file a petition in court. I do not understand how it is legally viable to make him the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the fourth time." He said the President of the Supreme Court Bar Council had recently met Nawaz Sharif. "I believe the Supreme Court Bar Council taking up the issue is a political decision," he said. "The Supreme Court Bar is a professional body, so it should avoid indulging itself into political matters. Submitting an application from the council regarding Nawaz Sharif's case was not appropriate. They have not taken up the step so far. I call upon them to review it and avoid it." Chennai, Dec 26 : The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will be reopening some of its Covid-19 care centres to prevent the spread of infected cases. Urban community centres at Injambakkam in Sholingallur zone and Manjambakkam will be converted into Covid-care centres, sources in the civic body informed IANS. The GCC will be planning 200 beds in these two centres and if necessary the Covid-care centre at Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam that can accommodate 1,000 patients will also be opened. The Chennai civic body has made preliminary arrangements in their own premises as schools and colleges are opened and patients will not be able to be accommodated in such places. A senior civic body official told IANS: "In the past 15 days, areas like Mahalingapuram and Nungambakkam have seen rising Covid-19 clusters and therefore Covid-care centres will be reopened." There were reports that private hospitals were referring all people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in home quarantine. According to GCC, this has led to entire families testing positive which has prompted it to intervene in the matter and communicate it to the private hospitals. A GCC official said: "If people above 50 years are placed under home quarantine, the complications will be more and if treated in a hospital, this can be easily overcome and the patient treated properly." The Chennai civic body has written letters to private hospitals to treat Covid patients in the hospitals during quarantine to prevent Covid from cross-spreading among family members. Gagan Singh Bedi, GCC Commissioner, in a letter to private hospitals said if the hospitals discharge Covid-19 patients before the end of the quarantine period, they must inform the civic body so that effective home quarantine is implemented. The GCC has directed private hospitals to report to the civic body on those people being treated for Covid-like symptoms. Bengaluru, Dec 26 : With the Omicron Covid-19 variant gradually making its presence felt, the Karnataka government is taking pre-emptive steps in the form of a 'night curfew' which will come into effect from Tuesday. The State Health Minister, K. Sudhakar on Sunday said that the 'night curfew' will be in place for 10 days between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The Minister was speaking to the media following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Section 144 will be imposed during these timings and the government is taking a 'watch and take action' approach as the situation unfolds, Sudhakar added. The move effectively brings the curtains down on New Year festivities in the state. The state government has announced a complete ban on outdoor celebrations, large gatherings and DJ parties. On Thursday, 12 new cases of Omicron variant had been confirmed in the state taking the tally to 31. With seven new cases confirmed on Saturday, the tally of Omicron cases stands at 38 on Sunday. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat, who was upset over the delay in the construction of a medical college in his constituency Kotdwar and had announced his resignation after walking out of the Cabinet meeting, has said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is like his younger brother, signalling that the sulking leader is placated now. All issues seem to have been sorted out in the Uttarakhand BJP as after having dinner with Dhami on Saturday, Rawat said: "Dhami is like my younger brother and our relationship dates back many years. "My blessing is with Pushkar Singh Dhami." Dhami also shared a picture on Twitter, saying: "Met cabinet colleague Harak Singh Rawat over dinner and discussed current issues of the state." Main opposition party in the state, the Congress had been claiming that Rawat will come back into its fold as he was not happy with the saffron party and was feeling suffocated. Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP youth wing national secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted: "Hello Congress, Stop dreaming for Uttarakhand. We are one and United." Sources said that Rawat's concern has been addressed and he is not going anywhere. It is learnt that the Dhami government has accepted Rawat's proposal for the medical college in his Assembly constituency Kotdwar and the budget for the medical college would be released in a couple of days. A senior party functionary said that the BJP cannot afford to lose any leader, MLA or minister months before state Assembly polls. "In elections everyone is important and any party cannot afford to lose a senior leader like Harak Singh, when you are in a triangular contest with the Congress and AAP. Everyone is important and we will not let anyone go," he said. Election to the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly will be held in February- March next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. The BJP has set a target of winning over 60 seats in next Assembly polls in Uttarakhand. In the last Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 57 seats. London, Dec 26 : Amid rising Omicron cases, a team of UK researchers have warned that if you have a sore throat, runny nose and a headache, there is a good chance it will be Covid, a media report says. According to the BBC, the Zoe Covid study team has been tracking the pandemic using feedback from the general public and estimates half of the people with cold-like symptoms have Covid. They described an "explosion" of Covid cases over the last week, driven by the new Omicron variant, the report said. About 144,000 people a day are catching it and then feeling unwell, it added. For most, Covid is a mild disease, some get no symptoms at all. But it can still cause very serious illness in some people, including those who have not been vaccinated. If you have cold-like symptoms, take a Covid test, says lead scientist Tim Spector. "The number of new symptomatic cases has exploded over the last week," he said. "For most people, an Omicron positive case will feel much more like common cold, starting with a sore throat, runny nose and a headache. You only need to ask a friend who has recently tested positive to find this out," he added. Khartoum, Dec 26 : Sudanese protesters have managed to reach the presidential palace in Khartoum to demand civilian rule, official SUNA news agency reported. "The protesters reached the vicinity of the Republican Palace amid chants through which they affirmed rejection to the political agreement signed between the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Transitional Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok," Xinhua news agency quoted the SUNA report as syaing. Thousands of Sudanese citizens demonstrated in the capital Khartoum and other cities on Saturday. The Sudanese authorities interrupted internal communications and the internet service before the start of Saturday's demonstrations. According to witnesses, hundreds of Sudanese army soldiers and the Rapid Support Forces have been deployed at the entrances to the bridges linking the three major cities of the capital, including Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri. On Friday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, the body leading the protests, urged citizens to take part in protests set for Saturday to demand full civilian authority. Khartoum State's security committee, meanwhile, announced the closure of the bridges linking Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman cities as of Friday evening, excluding Suba and Halfaya bridges. The committee said deviating from peacefulness, approaching and violating the sovereign and strategic sites in central Khartoum would be regarded as a violation of the laws, noting that "chaos and violations will be dealt with". The country has been suffering a political crisis after General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on October 25 and dissolved the sovereign council and government. However, on November 21, Al-Burhan and the then removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok signed a political declaration, which included reinstating Hamdok as Prime Minister, but the deal has so far failed to calm the protesters. Raigad : , Dec 26 (IANS) In a scare on the eve of his birthday (on December 27), Bollywood megastar and 'Bigg Boss 15' host Salman Khan was bitten by a snake at his farmhouse here, industry sources said. The snake was reported to be non-poisonous. On Saturday, Salman Khan was seen having a pre-birthday bash on 'Bigg Boss 15' with Alia Bhatt and other cast members of the multilingual S.S. Rajamouli film, 'RRR'. The incident happened early on Sunday (December 26) at his sprawling farmhouse in Panvel, which is close to Navi Mumbai in th Raigad district. The farmhouse is located in a green, thickly forested area. The snake bite caused panic in Salman Khan's security detail and family. He was rushed to a hospital in Navi Mumbai for treatment and later discharged. Despite efforts by IANS, his family was not available for comments on the matter. Sources close to the family said that the star's Panvel getaway home, where the Khan clan spends quality time, especially during long weekends or in the festive season, is said to be populated with snakes. A couple of years ago, a cobra was seen slithering around, but there have been no untoward incident. Kabul, Dec 26 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has created a special police unit to protect educational institutes across the country, the media reported. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of higher education said that the new 170-member unit is part of its Special Forces that were trained in 313 central corps for 30 days, reports Khaama Press. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Lutfullah Khairkhaw said that the creation of a special unit to protect educational institutions was required against the backdrop of frequent attacks in the war-torn nation. The creation of the special unit comes as public universities and high schools for girls are yet to be reopened. Jammu, Dec 26 : Year 2021 saw fortunes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir swing between peace and violence. It was a mixed bag that left some good and some bad memories behind. The biggest positive of the year that went by was a modicum of peace in the lives of thousands of people living close to the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in the UT. 'Border dwellers' as these are called, people in villages close to the LoC and the IB have paid the highest price during the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan. Their lives and livelihood have both remained at the mercy of shells fired from across the border. In terms of human lives lost, houses destroyed, cattle killed and agricultural fields destroyed, the border dwellers have lived life at its sharpest edge. Thanks to the decision taken by the armies of the two countries, 2021 has been a remarkably peaceful year for people living in border villages. Ceasefire violations on the LoC and IB virtually ceased as life remained normal for thousands of border villages in 2021. Children went to school, cattle moved about to graze and men and women engaged in agricultural activities in scores of villages in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla and Kupwara districts of J&K where the LoC and the IB are located. Levels of infiltration came down during 2021 as compared to 2020 and 2019 as alert troops kept round the clock vigil at the borders. Separatist violence continued to mar the lives of the people in the Valley as the footfall of the security forces increased due to requirements for higher vigil. What has caused serious worry in 2021 has been the shifting of terror focus from south Kashmir districts to those of central Kashmir, especially Srinagar city. In 2021, Srinagar saw around 20 encounters and shootouts in and around the city. Around 34 people, including seven policemen and 14 militants were killed till December this year in the city. This must be viewed with alarm in light of the fact that Srinagar was declared a "militancy free zone" with no locally recruited militants in October 2020. The main focus of shifting terrorism in Kashmir has been the targeting of civilians and members of the local police. The civilians killed in 2021 have included members of the Kashmiri Pandit community who had chosen to exist alongside their Muslim neighbours despite the mass exodus of the local Pandits. Respected local pharmacist M.L. Bindroo, a Sikh school principal, a non-Muslim Dhaba owner's son, pavement sellers belonging to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, a non-local carpenter and half a dozen labourers were killed by terrorists in 2021 to spread fear. The targeting of local policemen, even those performing traffic duties, has proved that the engagement of the local police force in anti-militancy operations has badly hit the capacity of the militants to continue anti-national and subversive activities. While targeting off guard policemen and unarmed civilians, the militants have not been able to carry out any major attack other than the firing at a police bus carrying police personnel in the Zeewan area of Srinagar outskirts. The policemen in the bus attacked by militants on December 13 belonged to the J&K Armed Police that has not directly been involved in anti-militancy operations. Three policemen were killed and 14 injured in this attack that is seen as the biggest terror strike against the security forces in 2021. Security forces have carried out highly intelligence driven, coordinated operations against militants during 2021 that resulted in killing of 186 militants. Three civilians were killed during an operation against the militants in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar city on November 15. Initially the authorities said the slain persons were militants and on that premise they were buried in Handwara town of Kupwara district without any family participation. Subsequent evidence indicated that they were civilians and had been killed during the encounter because of their presence inside the building where the firing had taken place. The bodies of two civilians belonging to Srinagar were handed over to the families while that of the third belonging to Ramban district of Jammu division has still not been exhumed. After nearly three years, 2021 saw revival of political activity by mainstream parties as the talk of the Assembly elections in early 2022 gained currency. The delimitation commission came up with draft proposals to increase 7 seats in the Assembly out of which 6 would fall in Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Kishtwar, Doda and Rajouri districts of Jammu division while the Valley would get one additional seat in Kupwara district. For the first time, the delimitation commission has proposed to give reservation to Scheduled Tribes who will get 9 seats in the 90-member J&K Assembly while the Scheduled Castes would get 6 reserved seats. The decision to add 6 seats to Jammu division has irked the Valley centric parties like the National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party, People's Conference, Apni Party and the CPI-M. These parties have alleged that the addition of 6 seats to Jammu, which would now have 43 seats, would load the dice heavily in favour of the BJP during the Assembly elections. The BJP has said the decision to add seats to Jammu has undone historic blunders done against the division since 1947. The Congress on the other hand has tried to distance itself from the controversy of seat allocation to the Jammu division asserting that the party sees J&K as one unit. In addition to the proposed 90 seats, the delimitation commission has proposed to keep 24 seats vacant for parts of J&K under the occupation of Pakistan. Tourism saw an appreciable rise in 2021 despite the ongoing pandemic which imposed restrictions on free movement of the visitors. In comparison to 2020, there was a huge increase in tourist influx this year. Official figures say 1.27 lakh tourists came to Kashmir in 2021 against 6,327 in 2020 and 12,086 in 2019. Due to the pandemic, the annual Amarnath Yatra to the Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir Anantnag district was not held for the second consecutive year. The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra in Reasi district of Jammu division was resumed while limiting the number of daily devotees. More than 35 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine in 2021. The Central rule continued in J&K during the year with the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha trying hard to push development and better administrative dispensation on the ground. Despite the best efforts of the LG, the people in J&K have been blaming the administration for remaining non-available for redressal of public grievances. One hallmark of the Lt. Governor's rule has been the pro-active role played by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB). Successful traps have been laid by the ACB in 2021 during which public servants have been caught accepting bribes from people. In its drive against corruption, the ACB has also trapped some policemen while indulging in corruption. Despite the appreciable effort put in by the ACB, corruption remains a fact of daily life in J&K. Latest updates on Wrap-up Moments 2021 Chennai, Dec 26 : S. Ramadoss, founder of PMK, has appealed to the DMK government to conduct an all-party meeting for getting exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). In a statement on Saturday, the senior PMK leader said the only way ahead was to get the NEET exemption bill approved. The students must not be made 'scapegoats' for the NEET exemption issue, he said, adding that the dreams of students from the economically weaker sections must not be destroyed. The NEET Exemption Bill has yet to get assent from the Tamil Nadu Governor, Ramadoss added. He said there was no clarity on when the Bill would be forwarded to President Ram Nath Kovind. He added that no more poor rural students from Tamil Nadu be allowed to lose their life because of the fear of NEET and urged the government to conduct an all-party meet before the next academic year of admission process begins. The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a commission to study the impact of NEET headed by retired judge Justice Rajan. He had given a report that the NEET exam be scrapped in the state and students provided admission based on marks in the plus-two examinations. Scrapping the NEET examination was a major poll plank of the DMK and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in particular. The DMK government is receiving criticism from all quarters for not being able to implement its poll promise on scrapping the NEET exam. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 26 : Even as a week has passed after the brutal killing of advocate Ranjith Sreenivasan, the state BJP's OBC Morcha Secretary, the Kerala Police have not been able to identify and arrest the killers. Ranjith, a leading lawyer in the Alappuzha Bar Council and a prominent face of the BJP in the district, who had contested the Assembly elections in 2016 from Alappuzha Assembly seat, was brutally killed in front of his mother, wife and daughter at his residence on December 19. The murder was suspected to be in retaliation to the killing of K.S. Shan, a Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) state Secretary on December 18 evening. The SDPI had alleged that Shan was killed by the RSS and BJP workers. While all the accused in the SDPI leader's murder were arrested, the Kerala Police are in the dark over the killers of Ranjith and have come under criticism from all quarters. Kerala BJP President K. Surendran told IANS, "The Kerala Police have become dormant and inefficient, and the killers of advocate Ranjith Sreenivasan are still at large and it seems that the SDPI criminals are getting protection from the top. How else can one understand the inefficiency of police. Its been one week now since the prominent advocate was killed in broad daylight in his home. Kerala Police should immediately arrest these criminals to give justice." The Congress has also come out heavily against the 'lethargy' of the state police and state Congress President K. Sudhakaran told IANS, "Why is the Kerala Police lethargic in arresting criminals who have done a heinous murder in broad daylight in the heart of Alappuzha city." The police have, however, claimed that the police team was going to nab the killers and all accused will soon be taken into custody. Additional Director General of Police Vijay Sakhare, who is in-charge of the investigation, while speaking to the media said the state police teams are on the lookout for the criminals who are directly involved in the murder. He said the Kerala Police teams in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are searching for Ranjith's killers. Meanwhile, the Kerala Police have said that one of the SDPI activists who had directly participated in the murder is in their custody, but has not revealed his name and details. Police sources said the person in their custody hails from Alappuzha city and was living close to the slain leader Ranjith Sreenivasan's residence. Hyderabad, Dec 26 : A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) head constable on Sunday allegedly shot dead a sub-inspector (S-I), and later tried to end his life in Venkatapuram in Mulugu district of Telangana, bordering Chhattisgarh. Mulugu District Superintendent of Police said that the incident took place at 8.30 a.m. An inquiry has been instituted into the incident. According to the police, a dispute over duty rostering had allegedly led to head constable Stephen opening fire with his automatic weapon at Sub-Inspector Umesh Chandra, who died on the spot after being wounded in the stomach and head. Stephen then tried to kill himself with the same weapon, and suffered a bullet injury to his head. He has been rushed to the hospital in Warangal, where his condition is stated to be critical, the police added. The deceased Umesh Chandra belonged to Bihar, while Stephen hails from Tamil Nadu. The CRPF team belonging to the 39th Battalion, was camping at the Venkatapuram police station premises, when the incident took place. The Telangana areas bordering Chhattisgarh have been under the CRPF watch due to the Maoist activities in the area. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Sunday said that the Centre should ensure the large-scale availability of Covaxin if a mixed match policy is adopted for booster doses for healthcare workers, as majority of the people have taken Covishield as their first and second doses. "On behalf of the frontline and healthcare workers, we hail the announcement of the Prime Minister for the precautionary booster dose for healthcare and frontline workers. It is the right step as the imminent third wave by the new variant is a matter of concern. "Omicron is at our doorstep and we need to protect our healthcare and frontline workers in all possible ways", the IMA said in a statement. On the ongoing RDA strike which has hit all the medical services in the national capital, the IMA said that the issue of expediting PG counseling is the need of the hour to increase manpower ahead of the looming third wave threat. The infrastructure without manpower is a futile measure, it added. The association has also welcomed the government's decision to inoculate children between 15-18 years of age. J.A. Jayalal, National President of the IMA, said: "The IMA also welcomes the much-awaited decision of vaccination for children from January 3. At this moment of reopening of schools, this will be the welcome step to bring additional safety to children. The vaccination process for children must be handled with much more care and constant monitoring and surveillance must be ensured." Bhopal, Dec 26 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government has proposed to postpone the three-tier panchayat elections in the state. A decision on this regard was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday. During the meeting, state Panchayat Minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia put forth a proposal before the Cabinet to rescind an ordinance which the state government had recently issued to conduct elections. The Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal which has been sent to the Governor. "The Cabinet has decided to postpone the panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh as of now. The government has sent the ordinance to the Governor to rescind it. However, further action is the prerogative of the Raj Bhavan followed by the State Election Commission," said Narottam Mishra, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and government spokesperson, on Sunday. Mishra added that the BJP government had initiated for panchayat elections in the state carrying all sections of people but the Congress did not support the proposal and put hurdles time and again. The Minister alleged that the Congress went to the Supreme Court on December 17 and the latter put a stay on the OBC reservation. "Our government has already announced in the state Assembly that panchayat elections will not be conducted without OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh and an ordinance was also passed. Now it's up to the State Election Commission to decide on the matter," the BJP leader added. On December 17, the Supreme Court while hearing a petition related to OBC reservation in Maharashtra had put a ban and instructed the Madhya Pradesh government to follow the same rules. Vijayawada, Dec 26 : Calling attention to the increasing incidents of attacks on the judiciary, Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Sunday underlined the need for the law enforcement agencies to deal with them effectively. He made the remarks while delivering the fifth Late Sri Lavu Venkateswarlu Endowment Lecture. "In recent times, physical attacks on judicial officers are on the rise. At times, there are also concerted campaigns in print and social media against judges if parties do not get a favourable order. These attacks appear to be sponsored and synchronised. The law enforcing agencies, particularly the specialised agencies, need to deal with such malicious attacks effectively. It is unfortunate that unless the Court interferes and passes orders, the authorities generally do not proceed with the investigation. The governments are expected and duty bound to create a secure environment so that the judges and judicial officers can function fearlessly," he said. Justice Ramana also brought the spotlight on media trials, and said that they cannot be the guiding factors for deciding cases. "Another aspect which affects the fair functioning and independence of judiciary is the rising number of media trials. New media tools have enormous amplifying ability but appear to be incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad and the real and fake. Media trials cannot be a guiding factor in deciding cases," he observed. Explaining the new challenges and persistent challenges facing the judiciary, the CJI said the Constitution creates ample space for change as the country moves ahead as a democracy. Justice Ramana also said that judiciary has to be quick to adapt and be flexible to resolve any challenge that comes its way. Appreciating the government for appointments of several judges, the CJI debunked the claims of judges themselves appointing judges. "It is nowadays fashionable to reiterate phrases such as, 'judges are themselves appointing judges'. I consider this to be one of the widely propagated myths. The fact is the judiciary is merely one of the many players involved in the process. Many authorities are involved including the Union Law Ministry, State Governments, Governor, High Court Collegia, Intelligence Bureau, and lastly, the topmost executive, who all are designated to examine the suitability of a candidate. I am sad to note that the well-informed also propagate the aforesaid notion. After all, this narrative suits certain sections." The CJI also noted that there is no impact assessment or basic scrutiny of constitutionality before passing of legislations. "The minimal that is expected out of the legislature while drafting laws is that they abide by settled Constitutional principles. While making laws, they must also think of providing effective remedies for issues which may arise out of the law. But these principles seemingly are being ignored." Citing the introduction of the Bihar Prohibition Act in 2016 as an example, the CJI said that "it resulted in the High Court being clogged with bail applications. Because of this, a simple bail application takes one year to be disposed of". Chennai, Dec 26 : The makers of the just-released Tamil film 'Anandham Vilayaadum Veedu' have lodged a police complaint against websites, Telegram groups and torrent sites that have been illegally uploading the film online. Producer P. Ranganathan, in his complaint to the police, said that their film, starring Gowtham Karthik, Cheran, Saravanan and others, had released on December 24. The producer said that post the release of the film, several websites, Telegram groups and torrent sites were illegally uploading their content online. "We are the rightful owners of the digital rights and we haven't sold our rights to any company or individual," the producer said. "Our movie is welcomed by family audiences and these illegal activities are hurting our box-office collections," the producer said and pointed out that such activities would not only affect him as a producer and the people who had toiled hard to bring out the film but would also affect millions of people working in the film industry in the longer run. "The cast and crew along with me are presenting a request to stop this piracy menace and save our livelihood," he said. Havana, Dec 26 : Cuba has welcomed the first cruise ship of its current high tourist season, which will run through March 2022. With 84 German tourists on board, the World Voyager ship docked at a port of Santiago de Cuba, the second largest province of the Caribbean nation, on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. Soraida Lozano, a delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in the province, told local media that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic had severely affected the global tourism industry. "We will continue to do our best for tourists to return," Lozano said, adding that all measures had been taken to protect the health of the passengers and crew members of the cruise ship. The cruise ship will continue its journey to the central province of Cienfuegos on Monday. The total number of tourists visiting the island nation in 2021 is expected to be less than half a million, according to Cuba's tourism authorities. Srinagar, Dec 26 : Two policemen were injured on Sunday in a grenade attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama district, police officials said. Police sources said terrorists hurled a grenade at a police party in Pulwama main Chowk. "The grenade exploded resulting in splinter injuries to two policemen. They have been shifted to hospital and the area has been cordoned off," sources added. Chennai, Dec 26 : The Greater Chennai police is constituting National Cadet Corps (NCC) like units in schools across the city called Student in Responsible Police Initiatives (SIRPI). The initiative, which is the brainchild of police commissioner, Shankar Jaiswal, will be initially implemented in 100 schools across the city. The project is aimed at addressing the issue of juvenile delinquency, identifying vulnerable children and guiding them. The idea, according to the Greater Chennai City police commissioner, is to identify 50 students from 100 schools and provide them uniforms and other facilities. Vulnerable students from Class 8 and above will be identified and included in the "SIRPI Wing" of the police. Shankar Jaiswal told IANS: "We will be commencing the operation by the first week of January and provide uniform to around 5,000 students, both boys and girls. The 100 schools have already been identified." He also said that the uniform design is underway and the curriculum for the programme is currently being worked out. The city police will spend time with the cadets of the SIRPI and provide books, uniforms and other study materials to the students. The children who are in the programme will be taken for tours to premier educational institutions and also be shown how the police force works. Shankar Jaiswal said: "The whole idea is to make them responsible citizens and we will conduct physical training, classroom training and instil discipline in students in a one-year curriculum which is being worked out." Resistance to social evils and empathy for vulnerable sections of the society will be cultivated in the cadets through field visits and information through classrooms and study materials. The police will depute the services of a police inspector as the liaison officer between the police and the student cadets and schools. This officer will depute sufficient officers for training of students and will also try and maintain excellent relationships with the concerned schools. Legal literacy programmes in association with the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be conducted for the SIRPI cadets. They would be made to understand the value of traffic laws and good habits. The cadets will be involved in staging programmes like mono act, street plays and also organising campaigns against alcoholism, anti-drug campaign as well against terror activities. The culture and need for conducting national festivals and saluting the national symbols would also be inculcated in the students. Chennai, Dec 26 : The samples of a Covid-19 positive couple, who had returned to Tamil Nadu's Chidambaram from South Africa, and one of their children, have been sent for genome sequencing to check for Omicron. The family had arrived from South Africa on December 15. As their test came out negative, they were under home quarantine. The Covid-19 protocol mandates international passengers from "at risk" countries to undergo a test after eight days of home quarantine and the samples of the couple, and one of their children, were taken for testing on December 23 and this time, they tested positive. They are admitted at Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital and their samples sent for genome sequencing at the public health laboratory, Chennai. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Two days after his statement in Nagpur snowballed into a controversy, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Narendra Tomar on Sunday clarified that the government has no proposal or plan to bring back farm reform laws. "Honourable Prime Minister had declared to repeal the three farm laws to honour the farmers' demand. There is no proposal or plan to bring back the farm laws," Tomar said. Tomar's remark at Nagpur on Friday that farm laws would be brought back -- "We had brought in the farm laws, but a few people were not happy with it...We moved a step back and we will move forward (on farm laws). Farmers are the backbone of India" -- had drawn criticism from opposition. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Saturday, "The Agriculture Minister has insulted the apology sought by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi." Tomar, in a statement, "Congress has been trying to mislead people to hide their own failures. The farmers should be wary of such attempts." Stating that the Swaminathan Committee report was submitted in 2006 but the then Congress government sat on the report instead of implementing the recommendations therein, Tomar said, "Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, we have implemented the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee." He also recounted the various steps taken by the Modi government over the last seven years to bring in farm sector reforms. "Farmers are being empowered through the payment of Rs 6,000. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Bima Yojana has come as a boon for the farmers facing losses due to natural disasters. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund worth Rs one lakh crore and 10,000 farmer producers companies (FPOs) have led to innovations in the farm sector." Lucknow, Dec 26 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Sunday that India was not making BrahMos missiles to attack any country in the world. "We want to make BrahMos so that India has such power that no country in the world dares to look at us with an evil eye," he said, while laying the foundation stone of BrahMos Missiles production unit and DRDO Lab in Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also present at the function, said that the new BrahMos Missile production unit will increase employment in the state. He said that new India is moving ahead fast in the defence sector. Kohima, Dec 26 : A committee has been formed to look into the demand of withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Nagaland and the panel would submit its report to the government within 45 days, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said here on Sunday. The committee was formed after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23 in New Delhi chaired a meeting which was attended by Nagaland Chief Minister, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton and Naga People's Front (NPF) legislature Party leader T.R. Zeliang. The meeting also discussed the present scenario in Nagaland and the decision about formation of the committee was taken in that meeting. The committee, headed by Additional Secretary of the Union Home Ministry, North East, would submit its report within 45 days and withdrawal of Disturbed Area and AFSPA from Nagaland would be based on the recommendations of the committee. The Nagaland Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (Nagaland) and a senior official of the CRPF are other members of the committee. The committee was formed following the vociferous demand to repeal the AFSPA from the entire northeastern region after the killing of 14 civilians by armed forces personnel due to "mistaken identity" at Oting in Mon district of Nagaland on December 4 and 5. According to the Nagaland Chief Minister, a Court of Enquiry would initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and army personnel, who are directly involved in the Oting incident and action would be taken immediately on the basis of fair enquiry. The identified persons who would face the enquiry will be placed under suspension with immediate effect. The December 23 meeting also decided that the state government would provide government jobs to the next of kin of the slain people. "To initiate this process, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Mon district, would carry out necessary procedures in consultation with the concerned village councils and government jobs would be given on compassionate grounds on the basis of eligibility. A Nagaland delegation led by the Chief Minister impressed upon the Union Home Minister to replace the Assam Rifles unit in Mon district with immediate effect," an official statement said. It said that the state government appeals to all sections to remain calm and to continue to maintain peace. The democratic and peaceful nature of the civil society groups, 'tribal hohos' and mass based organisations in our collective quest for justice and truth has been well received and has created a positive image of the Naga people to the rest of the global community, the statement added. Nagaland Chief Minister thanking the Union Home Minister on Sunday tweeted: "Grateful to Amit Shah ji for taking up the matter with utmost seriousness. The state govt appeals to all sections to continue to maintain a peaceful atmosphere." The Nagaland Assembly, in its special session on December 20 unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Centre to repeal the AFSPA from the entire northeast region, and specifically from Nagaland, so as to strengthen the ongoing efforts to find a peaceful political settlement to the Naga political issue. All major political parties including Congress, CPI-M, CPI, Trinamool Congress, Naga People's Front (NPF), influential Naga Students' Federation (NSF), National People's Party (NPP) head by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and almost all local and regional parties have been demanding to repeal the AFSPA. The AFSPA, which allows the Army and other central para-military forces to conduct raids, operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice or arrest warrant, is in force in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur barring the Imphal municipal council area and certain districts of Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Union Minister and BJP election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday met senior Brahmin leaders of the party from the state to discuss plans to woo the community before the next year's assembly elections. For the last few months, speculation has been doing the rounds that the Brahmin community in Uttar Pradesh is unhappy with the ruling BJP in the state. Sources said that in the meeting it was discussed that Brahmin is not unhappy with the government but there may be some resentment at local levels due to some administrative reasons. "It has been discussed that if there is any resentment then party leaders must meet the community which is unhappy and address their grievances at the earliest," sources said. The meeting which lasted for three hours was held at Pradhan's official residence here and was attended by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, ministers in state government Shrikant Sharma, MP Harish Dwivedi and others. It is learnt that UP BJP general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal was also present in the meeting. Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra was also at Pradhan's residence at the time of the meeting but whether he attended or not is not known. Brahmins constitute around 10 per cent of the total electorate of UP and this support is crucial for BJP's victory in 2022 assembly polls. BJP Brahmin leaders have been asked to start a community outreach plan to placate them and explain to them about government welfare schemes which benefited the community. In September, the BJP organised a 'prabuddh varg sammelan' across Uttar Pradesh to reach out to the Brahmin community. A section in the saffron party feels that there is a perception among the community that the Yogi Adityanath government ignored the community. However, another section in the party feels that the community is with the party and resentment is the creation of the opposition. Tauranga, Dec 26 : Bangladesh spin bowling consultant Rangana Herath has completed his 14-day quarantine and has been allowed to join the team ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand. The 43-year old Herath tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in New Zealand. Apart from him, the eight other members of the Test squad comprising players and support staff were asked to undergo extended quarantine as they were in close contact with a Covid-positive patient who was flying with them from Malaysia to New Zealand. "MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) facilities released me today and now I am so happy to be back with the team. At the same time, I had a kind of difficult two weeks with that (quarantine) but I am so glad to be back and looking forward to the tour," Herath was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Sunday. "At the same time I must thank BCB and New Zealand healthcare as they looked after me very well," he added. There were doubts over the series going ahead after players were sent into quarantine. However, the players were allowed to resume practice after all the members of the touring party returned negative tests on December 21. The Bangladesh team is currently in Tauranga for their last phase of preparation and will play a two-day game against the New Zealand XI on December 28-29. The opening Test is scheduled to be played at the Bay Oval in Tauranga starting on January 1 while the second Test will be played from January 9 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Chennai, Dec 26 : The Tamil Nadu health department has started preparations to vaccinate youngsters in the age group of 15-18 years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Saturday. The state will vaccinate people in this age group from January 3 onwards. Health Minister Ma Subramanian after inspecting vaccination camps, said that the vaccination for those in the age group of 15-18 would commence from January 3. The Minister said that the jabs would be administered to children in schools and also in special camps to be held by the health department. Referring to the booster dose for medical professionals to start from January 10, the Health Minister said that there are 1.40 crore such persons in the state who will require a booster dose. The health minister also said that the state health department has vaccinated 8.14 crore people so far. He said that 84.87 per cent of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine and 55.85 per cent are those who have received both the doses. He also said the national average for first dose is 88.59 per cent. Subramanian also requested people to adhere to Covid-19 standard protocols and said that instead of paying fines it was better for the people to follow all Covid rules. He also said that 100 people who had come in contact with the 22 Omicron cases in the state have developed symptoms. However, he said that all of them are in isolation and are recovering well. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin inspected the wards set up to treat patients with Omicron variant at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Bengaluru, Dec 26 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday called upon the youth to join hands with the government in the war against drugs. "Karnataka would be completely freed from the drug menace with cooperation from the youth," he said. The Chief Minister was speaking after launching a state-wide campaign against Narcotics organised by the Home Department in association with Vijaya Karnataka. "Energy is another name of the youth," Bommai said and called upon the youth to harness this energy to build a bright future for themselves and bring laurels for the state. Emphasizing the need to eradicate the drug menace from the state, he said that he had instructed the police to install CCTV cameras around all prominent colleges. "Cameras should be installed within the college campuses and hostels too. Stringent action would be taken against those who sell drugs in and around college campuses and those who use the drugs." "Karnataka has declared a war against drugs. State tops the country in the quantity of drugs seized and destroyed. We will wage a relentless war against drugs. Some foreign nationals staying in Bengaluru have been found to be engaged in drug peddling. Stringent action is being taken against them. The NDPS Act is being used to curb drug menace. Dark Web has been penetrated for the first time. Drug supply from abroad is being prevented," Bommai said. The campaign against drugs needs to be taken to every home. The youth need to take a pledge of not using and neither allowing others to use the drugs, he said. He urged the youth to register themselves to be part of Vijaya Karnataka campaign against drugs. The Chief Minister termed those involved in narcotics business as traitors and assured that they would be dealt with sternly. Chennai, Dec 26 : A woman in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district, and her lover, were arrested for murdering her abusive husband, trying to pass off the death as "alcohol-related", police said on Sunday. The arrested were identified as Reena, 36, and Satheesh, 39, of Ambedkar Nagar in Kavundampalayam. Reena was married to A. Raja, 37, an electrician who was an alcoholic and regularly used to physically assault her. On December 22 the two entered into a fight and Reena informed her relatives that Raja died of over-drinking. However, Thodiyur police found that the body bore bruise marks on his neck, and a post-mortem was conducted. The report revealed that Raja was strangled to death. On further interrogation, Reena confessed to the police that she, along with her lover, Satheesh had done away with Raja unable to bear his torture. Satheesh was related to Reena and the duo was in a relationship that was objected to by Raja. The duo murdered Raja and tried to project it as a death due to excessive consumption of alcohol. Imphal/Agarala, Dec 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Manipur and Tripura on January 4 to inaugurate various projects and to address public rallies, officials said on Sunday. A Manipur government officials said that the PM will launch some projects in the poll-bound state and address a public gathering in Imphal. The Prime Minister's detailed programme is yet to be finalised and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and senior officials are in touch with the Prime Minister's Office. Elections for the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year along polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa. Union Home Minister Amit Shah already addressed two public meetings virtually from Delhi while BJP President J.P. Nadda visited Manipur four times during the past three months and addressed several public meetings. In Tripura, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the reconstructed terminal building of Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram airport and few other projects. Before leaving for New Delhi, he will address a public rally in Agartala. A Tripura government offcial said that Chief Secretary Kumar Alok on Saturday briefed the Prime Minister about the schemes and projects to be launched. An Airport Authority of India official said that under the Rs 438 crore project, a new terminal building and other infrastructure was built to cater around 1,200 passengers at a time. After the inauguration, the MBB airport, the second busiest in the northeastern region after Guwahati, is likely to be declared an international airport, the official said. Mogadishu, Dec 26 : At least four security officers including their commander were killed in a roadside bomb blast on Sunday near a hospital in the west of the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials said. A security official, who declined to be named, told Xinhua news agency on phone that al-Shabab militants were behind the killing. "Al-Shabab terrorists killed four including Daynile (district) security chief commander in a remote-controlled roadside bomb attack near the main hospital in the district, the police forces cordoned the area and started examining the situation," said the officer. Sources said the security commander and his staff were going to give military support to other forces that were fighting al-Shabab militants at Saqira location on the outskirts near Mogadishu's Daynile district when they were hit by the blast. Al-Shabab militants' affiliated media however said that the blast killed six security forces in the bomb attack. The latest attack comes amid enhanced security in the capital, Mogadishu, and its surrounding areas. Mumbai, Dec 26 : A delegation of senior Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ministers called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari seeking his clearance for the upcoming elections to the post of Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, officials said on Sunday. Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena), Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal (Nationalist Congress Party) and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat (Congress) met Koshyari and discussed the election to the crucial post which has been lying vacant for 10 months. The then Speaker Nana Patole resigned after he was appointed as state Congress chief and since then Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, of the NCP, has been officiating. As per current indications, the Speaker's election is likely to be held in the next couple of days by a voice vote, before the Winter Session of the state Legislature ends on December 28. Thorat, who is also Congress Legislature Party Leader said that the delegation handed over a letter from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Governor in this regard. On his part, the Governor sought details of the amendment in legislative rules about conducting the election by voice vote instead of secret ballot. "The Governor has informed us that he would discuss and seek more information from the legal experts and convey his decision by Monday," Thorat told media persons. Taluqan : , Dec 26 (IANS) Police have rounded up 20 people on the charge of involvement in criminal activities from the northern Takhar and neighbouring Kunduz provinces in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday citing local officials. A total of 11 suspects involved in various crimes ranging from robbery, theft and kidnapping have been arrested from Takhar province, said Qari Ansarullah Ansari, head of the information and culture department of the province. The other nine criminals were captured from the neighbouring Kunduz province, said provincial administration official Qari Matihullah Rohani. The Taliban-led administration has vowed to crack down on criminals to ensure law and order. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Congress on Sunday demanded independent probe by a sitting High Court Judge in Nagaland killings and Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of the deceased. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Ajoy Kumar said, "The SIT that has been announced by the government of Nagaland is an eyewash and the Congress party believes that no meaningful resolution is possible as evidenced by the government's false statements in the aftermath of the incident in Mon. The Congress Party demands that a commission of inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Gauhati High Court immediately should be set up as such an independent committee will enable the country to understand the true events that took place on December 4-5 in which 14 (fourteen) people lost their lives." Both the leaders were part of Congress delegation constituted by Sonia Gandhi, which submitted its report on Friday. It said that on December 4, Saturday around 4.00-4.30 p.m., a unit of the '21 Para Special Forces' organised an ambush on suspected NSCN (K) Yung Aung faction cadre near Tiru village, Mon district, and instead of gunning down the suspected militants, killed eight civilian miners belonging to Oting village who were returning home in a pickup truck when the attack took place. Out of the 8 (eight) miners, 6 (six) were immediately killed as a result of the ambush and 2 (two) were severely injured. The villagers on searching for the missing miners and discovering their bodies retaliated in anger on the local armed forces and in the ensuing firefight 7 (seven) more civilians and one jawan were killed. On December 5 (Sunday) agitated crowd burned down the Konyak Students Union Office and in the police firing that ensued one more civilian was killed. In total, as a result of the unfortunate incidents, 14 (fourteen) civilians and 1 (one) jawan were killed. The Congress alleged that instead of rushing to the site of the incident to take stock of the shocking intelligence failure that led to the deaths of 14 (fourteen) civilians and 1 (one) jawan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was at a political rally in Rajasthan. A minister in the UDA government of the state and the BJP chief in Nagaland contradicted the statement made by the Home Minister in Parliament. As per newspaper reports, the minister from Nagaland stated that "the innocent victims were labourers returning from a hard day's work and were not armed with any firearms whatsoever. It is therefore tantamount to war crimes during peace time and amounts to summary execution as well as genocide." The Congress demanded Compensation to the victims of the violence. It said all the victims should be compensated by the central government. The family of the deceased should be given compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job with the government. The injured may be awarded compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Two Chinese chambers of commerce in India urged New Delhi to change its "irregular" tax probe practice and treat foreign investors equally, actively for an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in India, as confidence by a business group that invested $3 billion and created 500,000 local jobs is shaken, Global Times reported. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in India and the India China Mobile Phone Enterprise Association, in a statement sent to the Global Times on Sunday, said that Chinese mobile phone companies in India have now encountered unprecedented difficulties, and as a result of sudden inspection and fines by the Indian authorities, the companies are unable to carry out normal production and operations. The statement came as the Indian tax authorities recently launched a large-scale investigation on Chinese-run companies in India. Leading Chinese mobile companies including Oppo, Xiaomi and OnePlus, with broad exposure in the country, were reportedly involved. "Their confidence in developing in India is shaken. These practices are not conducive to India's initiative on investment promotion and international economic and trade cooperation," the statement said, as per the report. Chinese-funded mobile phone enterprises have been investing significantly in India since 2015, data shows, the report said. There are more than 200 manufacturers and more than 500 trading companies in India as of 2021, with a total investment of more than $3 billion, with these enterprises having created more than 500,000 local jobs, according to the statement. Kolkata, Dec 26 : Not finding a BJP leader who was allegedly having an affair with his wife, an activist of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress killed his father and injured his brother in the state's Cooch Behar district on Sunday afternoon, police said. The Trinamool worker Sushanta Barman has been arrested. According to police on Sunday afternoon, a furious Barman suddenly went to the house of Pradip Chandra Adhikari, the BJP's state SC Morcha Chief house and, not finding him, hit his elder brother Prabhat Chandra Adhikari with a chopper. After he fled, Barman attacked their father, Binod Chandra Adhikari, who was standing in front of him, on his head and neck. The senior Adhikari was rushed to Dinhata sub-divisional hospital where he was declared dead. Prabhat Chandra Adhikari admitted that his brother had an extra-marital relationship with Barman's wife and Barman had lodged a complaint at Sahibganj police station against it before. However, according to him, there was no such provocation which could have triggered such an attack. The elder brother, who was seriously injured, was also rushed to the hospital where he was released after treatment. Trinamool district President Girindranath Barman said: "This is purely an apolitical incident and we have nothing to say from our party. If he has committed any crime, the law will take its own course." Police said that Barman has been arrested and an investigation is going on. "We have arrested him and the body has been sent for post mortem. Once the report comes in, we will be able to know the exact cause of death," an investigation officer said. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The agitating doctors on Sunday threatened mass resignation if government doesn't expedite the matter on NEET PG counselling listed in the Supreme Court. The resident doctors are protesting against the repeated delay in the NEET-PG counselling, 2021 for the last 10 days, boycotting all medical services including emergency services across hospitals in Delhi. The Federation Of Resident Doctors Association of India (FORDA) said that they were forced to consider this step as the Union Health Ministry has not taken any concrete steps to expedite NEET-PG counselling. Earlier on Sunday, the doctors held a candle march to register protest against delay in PG Counseling at Safdarjung Hospital. In a massive show of solidarity, resident doctors also lit 'diyas' to register their protest. Threatening mass resignation, the doctors said that they have been forced to take this decision as no concrete measures are being taken by the health ministry. The doctors will also hold a march before the supreme court on Monday to register their protest against delayed NEET PG counselling. A source said that resident doctors are also planning to surrender their medical apron and lab coat before the apex court to register their protest. The RDAs across the nation have been protesting since November 27 against the multiple postponement of the NEET PG Counselling 2021 and the subsequent admission of the fresh batch of resident doctors in medical colleges. Earlier, the RDAs had boycotted the emergency and the routine services in hospitals from December 6. However, the federation suspended their agitation for one week after getting the positive assurance from health ministry on December 9. Patna, Dec 26 : Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered condolences to the families of deceased in Muzaffarpur's noodles factory blast. The explosion in noodles factory took place on Sunday morning around 10 a.m. which claimed 7 lives and 6 others who sustained serious injuries are critical in the hospital. The hospital administration has discharged 4 others after preliminary treatment. "Deaths due to boiler explosion in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district is extremely sad. I am expressing deep condolences and grief to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am expecting speedy recovery of persons who have been injured in this mishap," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Earlier, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also consoled the family members of the victims. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family members of the deceased. "We have sent a team of experts to investigate the the incident and will take action against the culprits," Kumar said. Shahnawaz Hussain, the industry minister in Nitish Kumar government said: "We have been facilitating every possible medical help to victims who are injured in this explosion. The officials are also taking care of the families who lost their loved ones." Meanwhile, district administration has recovered 7 dead bodies from the debris. They are identified as Sanjiv Kumar, Vishal Kumar, Kundan Kumar, Om Prakash, Vivek Kumar Sada and Satyam Kumar. The explosion was so intense that it was heard 5 km away from the spot. The noodles factory is located at Bela industrial area phase 2 of Muzaffarpur. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Election Commission will convene a meeting with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry on Monday to discuss the current Covid situation in the five poll-bound states, sources said. A source said that the Commission will discuss the current Covid situation for poll-bound states and will seek update on new Covid variant Omicron from Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. The commission is also likely to seek suggestions on improving the Covid protocol for poll campaigning, polling days, and others. Assembly elections are due in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Punjab in 2022, and the schedule is likely be announced in the first week of January, said the source. The Chief Election Commissioner and other officials are scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh - the largest of the five - to take stock of the poll preparedness in the state on Tuesday. An Allahabad High Court bench on Thursday had urged the government to consider postponing the Assembly elections in UP for a month or two and banning all political rallies amid rising Covid cases on daily basis. Meanwhile, India continues to report rise in daily Covid caseload. A total of 6,987 fresh cases were reported in a span of 24 hours across the nation on Sunday. As per the Health Ministry report, with 162 more fatalities reported, the total death toll has climbed to 4,79,682. The Omicron infection tally has also climbed at 422 across the nation. However, out of total Omicron positive, 130 have been discharged. So far total 17 states have reported the new Covid variant, said the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Patna, Dec 26 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is currently holding the "Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan" (social reform campaign) across the state to regain his 2005 image of "Sushasan Babu" (good governance leader), badly hit by the crime spike, especially after 2020 Assembly election. Nitish Kumar, who is ruling the state for last 16 years and is now in his fourth straight term as Chief Minister, is also seeking to undertake reforms in his party, the Janata Dal-United, after it came in third in the recent state Assembly elections. Senior leaders of ruling JD-U believe that there is a challenge to rule the state, especially after it got much lesser seats than its ally BJP in 2020 Assembly polls. Moreover, rising crime cases have hurt the image of Nitish Kumar, as the government's focus on strict implementation of liquor ban, has led to policemen unable to deal with other crimes. The Chief Minister has started the social reform campaign from Motihari town in east Champaran and alerted people about social evils such as consumption of liquor or involvement in crime. At the same time, he has directed administration and police to take stringent action against the accused. The Additional Chief Secretary, Home, has directed police headquarters to prepare a list of wanted criminals, gangsters, bail jumpers, parole jumpers, carry out raids for their arrest and conduct speedy trial against them. All District Magistrates have also been directed to recomend criminal cases for speedy trial as early as possible to ensure conviction of the accused. Such a directive is visible on ground as Araria special court in Bihar has made a national record by pronouncing judgement of a POCSO case in a single day. In the day-long trial on December 15, Justice Shashi Kant Rai, the POCSO Court Special Judge of Araria district, held the accused guilty and also sentenced them to life imprisonment. In 2021, Bihar Police registered 2,29,915 cognisable crime cases till October 2021, including 2,378 murders, 8,707 kidnappings, 5,370 riots, 2,055 robberies, 1,274 rapes and 215 cases of dacoity in the state. The cases of cognisable offences in corresponding period of 2020 were 2,14,968 which was lesser as compared to 2021. When Nitish Kumar took over as Chief Minister from Rabri Devi in 2005, the law and order situation was worse. Kidnappings was part of organised crimes and gangsters were ruling the state in parallel Murders, rape, land grabbing and politicisation of criminals were the biggest challenges faced by Nitish Kumar then. He had started the campaign against criminals in the first and second term of his government to change the image of Bihar. He had taken several initiatives, including speedy trials to crack down on notorious criminals, while gangsters-turned-politicians like Mohammad Shahabuddin, Anant Singh, Suraj Bhan Singh etc were put behind bars. His government had recommended central agencies initiate investigations against them as well. However, some of the recommendations against specific individuals were seen as politically motivated as they are part of the opposition. "Nitish Kumar wants to achieve the same image which he had achieved during first and second term of his government. He has smartly chosen to go on social reforms campaign in the state and at the same time also directed law enforcement agencies to take action against criminals," said a JD-U leader. JD-U chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, meanwhile, said that Nitish Kumar is a silent worker, who always looks after social reforms, followed by empowering people in the society. "He believes that once social reforms are achieved in a state like Bihar, other challenges like crime will automatically reduce," he said. "When Nitish Kumar took over as Chief Minister in 2005, there was complete anarchy in the state. Kidnappings were part of organised crime and massacres were taking place everywhere. Murder and loot were common affairs in the state. Nitish Kumar managed to wipe out organised crimes and massacres from the state and it was possible through social reforms and awareness in the society," he added. "He (Nitish Kumar) managed to connect with common man and make them understand about the consequences of social evils. At that time, anarchy, massacres, youths involved in criminal activities were the social evils. Now liquor consumption is the biggest social evil and people of state should understand about it." Interestingly, in 2004 the cases of cognisable crimes were 1,15,216 and 1,04,778 in 2005. When Nitish Kumar took over as Chief Minister in 2005, the cases of cognisable crimes in 2006 was 1,10,716 which was higher than 2005. The figure further rose to 1,18,176 in 2007. Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said: "Nitish Kumar is in power for last 16 years. What was the need of 'Samaj Sudhar' (social reforms). The system has completely collapsed. There is complete anarchy in bureaucracy. Even ruling ally Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi questioned the liquor ban. I firmly believe that system reforms are required more than social reforms in Bihar." HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said: "The events organised under the social reforms campaign is funded by state government. Hence, we believe that he should also include at least one representative of other NDA parties as well. Every party has good sway in its respective areas. For example, HAM has great sway among Dalit community. If he includes us, it will send a good message among all communities in the state." Under the social reforms campaign, Nitish Kumar will visit majority of the districts in the state and it will end on January 15 in Patna. Patna, Dec 26 : After BJP's Gajendra Jha, another Brahmin leader on Sunday announced a reward for anyone who takes physical action against Bihar's former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is in a storm over his "derogatory" comments against the community. Rahul Lawanya, of the International Brahmin Maha Sanstha, announced a reward of Rs 21 lakh for beheading Manjhi. He announced the reward while interacting with local reporters after an event in Agra where his supporters of Lawanya burnt the effigy of Manjhi. He also slammed BJP for taking action against Jha, who, on December 20, announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to any person who would chop off the tongue of Manjhi. "BJP is an anti-Brahmin party in the country and that's why it is supporting Manjhi in Bihar. Gajendra Jha is the prime example of it. He talked against Manjhi and BJP terminated him couple of days later. BJP talked about Shri Ram and also supporting Manjhi, who has challenged his existence," Lawanya said. Manjhi, while addressing his community in Patna on December 19, had made allegedly derogatory remarks against Brahmins. He said that Brahmins used to do Satya Narayan Puja in our community but they do not eat foods in their houses, and instead, demand money. He, however, apologised for his comments, saying that he is against Brahaminism and not against Brahmins. The Brahaminism ideology advocate untouchability phenomenon in society and they believe that Dalits are untouchables, he said. However, Brahmin groups had taken umbrage. They also organised a Satya Narayan Puja on outside the residence of Manjhi in Patna on December 23, while noting that Manjhi frequently speak ill of Hindu deities. Meanwhile, Manjhi, after strong protest by the Brahmin community, said that he is going to organise a Brahmin-Dalit Bhoj in his official residence on December 27. However, he noted that only those Brahmins should come for the Bhoj who had not eaten non-vegetarian food, drunk liquor and were not involved in any crime in their lives. Seoul, Dec 27 : Korean Air Lines, South Korea's national flag carrier, has been ordered to suspend flights to Hong Kong for two weeks due to coronavirus infections found among its passengers aboard a plane that landed there last week. Five passengers aboard the Korean Air flight tested positive for the coronavirus right after they arrived at Hong Kong on Thursday, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Hong Kong's health ministry. The Hong Kong government has ordered a two-week suspension of Korean Air flights to its territory until January 8, citing its antivirus protocol. The passengers were said to have submitted certificates that they were not infected with the virus before boarding the plane at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. A Korean Air official said that the company has abided by all necessary virus-related procedures and will actively clarify its stance to Hong Kong authorities. Korean Air runs flights to Hong Kong three times a week. Lesobeng Airport, Lesobeng, Lesotho [ LES / FXLS ] If you are planning to travel to Lesobeng or any other city in Lesotho, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Lesobeng Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Lesobeng Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Lesotho. Lesobeng Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Lesobeng Airport Info: Lesobeng Airport IATA Code: LES Lesobeng Airport ICAO Code: FXLS Latitude : -29.7829 Longitude : 28.3167 City : Lesobeng Country : Lesotho World Area Code : 536 Airport Type : Small Timezone : Africa/Maseru Lesobeng Airport Timezone : GMT +02:00 hours Current time and date at Lesobeng Airport is 01:06:37 AM (SAST) on Friday, Jan 7, 2022 Looking for information on Lesobeng Airport, Lesobeng, Lesotho? Know about Lesobeng Airport in detail. Find out the location of Lesobeng Airport on Lesotho map and also find out airports near to Lesobeng. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Lesobeng Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Lesobeng Airport, airlines operating to Lesobeng Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Lesotho. Scroll down to know more about Lesobeng Airport or Lesobeng Airport, Lesotho. Lesobeng Airport Map - Location of Lesobeng Airport Load Map Lesotho - General Information Country Formal Name Kingdom of Lesotho Country Code LS Capital Maseru Currency Loti (LSL) 1 LSL = 0.064 USD 1 USD = 15.727 LSL 1 LSL = 0.056 EUR 1 EUR = 17.765 LSL More LSL convertion rates Tel Code +266 Top Level Domain .ls This page provides all the information you need to know about Lesobeng Airport, Lesotho. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Lesotho or traveling to Lesobeng Airport. Details about Lesobeng Airport given here include Lesobeng Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Lesobeng Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Lesobeng Airport Location of Lesobeng Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Lesobeng Airport Time Zone and Current time at Lesobeng Airport Address and contact details of Lesobeng Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Lesobeng Airport on Google Map. General information about Lesotho where Lesobeng Airport is located in the city of Lesobeng. General information include capital of Lesotho, currency and conversion rate of Lesotho currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... LES - Lesobeng Airport IATA Code and FXLS - Lesobeng Airport ICAO code Published: 17 December 2021 Bust of Scott by Francis Verheyden commissioned by the People's Palace c. 1888. Sir Walter Scott was born in College Wynd in the Old Town of Edinburgh on 15th August 1771. He was a historical novelist, and poet, as well as having a career as an advocate, Sheriff Depute, and Clerk of Session. Early years He was the ninth child of his parents but six of their children died in infancy. The son of a lawyer with a long family tradition in law, Scott had ill health that plagued him throughout his life. He suffered from polio in 1773 which effected his ability to walk. During this year he was sent to stay with his grandparents farm at Sandyknowne in the Scottish borders. While staying here his Aunt Jenny taught him to read and write and his formative education began. His aunt also instilled in him the love of books and literature. He also learned from her the different speech patterns and many tales and legends that later came alive in his books. The family were looking for cures for him and after returning to his parents home for a while he was on the move, this time to the spa town of Bath to take the waters with his Aunt Jenny. After another attempt at a water cure at Prestonpans in Scotland he returned to Edinburgh and was home schooled. In 1779 he began his formal education at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. By this time had gained some strength in his legs and was able to walk, but with a limp. At 15 he started an apprenticeship in his fathers office to become a Writer of Signet. This is a private society of Scottish Solicitors dating back to 1594 as part of the College of Justices and belonging to the Society of Writers to Her Majestys Signet. During his time at school he became friends with Adam Ferguson, whose father Professor Adam Ferguson hosted literary evenings. Scott met the blind poet Thomas Blacklock who introduced him to the Ossian Cycle of poems by James Macpherson. At one of these meeting during the winter of 1786-87 Scott met the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. During the evening Burns eye fell upon a print illustrating the poem The Country Justice, and he asks who wrote it. Only Scott was able to give the answer as John Langhorne and was thanked by Burns. Scott later described this event in his memoirs. A decision was made for Scott to read Law and he returned to university (he previously attended for a spell prior to his apprenticeship). During his second spell at university he played a prominent part in student activities, co-founding the Literary Society in 1789 and was elected to the Speculative Society (a Scottish Enlightenment society dedicated to public speaking and literary composition) becoming the librarian and secretary treasurer the following year. Career In 1797 he married the daughter of a wealthy Frenchman Charlotte Carpenter, and with his wifes money as well as his own, he was able to have the security that helped him greatly in his career as a writer. In 1799 Scott went to live near Ashestiel on the River Tweed, and over the years continued buying land near Melrose. Here he built the family home into an estate called Abbotsford. Scott spent time exploring the border country on foot, to follow up his reading about it when he was a child. His knowledge and interest grew, as he studied old manuscripts about the border history and read the latest Romantic poetry from Europe, Italian and German writers. It was at Ashestiel in 1805 that Scott wrote his first poem, The Lay of the last Minstrel. This poem is about the wild yet chivalrous life of the border folk in the 16 century that made him famous. Not long after this, he wrote Marmion with a description of the Battle of Flodden, and The Lady of the Lake in 1810 which was set to music by Franz Schubert. Lay of the Last Minstrel and Marmion in the rare books collection [Ref. PR5309 SCO & PR5311 SCO] During 1805-1812 Scott continued writing poetry. He wrote long narrative poems, mainly of chivalric or historical action, a collection of ballads that generated greater interest in folk poetry, and some shorter poems. About this time the poet Lord Byron wrote his famous poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, but Scotts work far outshone Byron and was most popular at the time. His own work by now included not only his poems but an increasing amount of miscellaneous and editorial writing: in 1808 his 18 volume edition of Sir John Dryden appeared, followed by an edition of Captain Carltons Memoirs. Scott turned his hand to writing novels. His first was Waverley which he began in 1805 but left it unfinished for some time. In the autumn 1813 he accidently came across the unfinished manuscript of Waverley and completed it. It was published anonymously in July in 1814. The Bride of Lammermoor is a historical novel was published in 1819 which tells of a tragic love affair between young Lucy Ashton and her family's enemy Edgar Ravenswood. Scott indicated the plot was based on an actual incident. The Bride of Lammermoor and A Legend of Montrose were published together anonymously as the third of Scott's Tales of My Landlord series. The story is the basis for Donizetti's 1835 opera Lucia di Lammermoor. Tales of my Landlord is a series of novels by Sir Walter Scott that form a subset of the so called Waverley Novels. There are four in the series and because Scott did not publicly acknowledge authorship until 1827, the series takes its name from Waverley, the first novel of the series released in 1814. The later books bore the words "by the author of Waverley" on their title pages. The Tales of my Landlord sub-series was not advertised as "by the author of Waverley" and thus is not always included as part of the Waverley Novels series. The series was very well received and this encouraged him to write more novels, such as Guy Mannering and the childrens favourite Ivanhoe. During this time he carried on with his official legal work, looked after his estate at Abbottsford and started a publishing firm. This proved to be a complete disaster for him. By 1826 it dawned on Scott that he was responsible for all the debts which were mounting up to the tune of 100,000. Through hard work he managed to recuperate the money within the two years and made 40,000 towards them but not enough. His Death Towards the end of 1826 Scott decided to set sail board HMS Barham to Malta and onto Naples in the hope that this voyage would improve his health after his stroke. He left on 29 October 1831. His health worsened and he died a year later on 21st September 1832 at Abbotsford. He was buried alongside his wife Charlotte at Dryburgh Abbey in the border town of Melrose. After his death his debts were gradually paid off by the success of his novels beginning to sell at home and abroad. This meant the family was able to reclaim the family estate. Post script Do you remember the film Ground Hog Day starring Bill Murray? He plays Phil, who is living the same day over and over again. In one scene, Phils co-worker Rita, played by Andie McDowell, recites a few lines of poetry. Here are the lines she recites: The wretch, concentred all in self, Living, shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubly dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. From Breathes There the Man, an excerpt from The Lay of the Last Minstrel. Scott is saying that no matter how famous or wealthy, narcissists are among the worst of humankind, and they will be remembered as such. Every Friday our Special Collections librarian Anne-Marie will be introducing you to each of the writers featured in the Octagon in this blog series. HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) A former northwestern Indiana mayor is being allowed to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction on bribery and tax evasion charges. A federal judge ruled this past week that former Portage Mayor James Snyder had legitimate issues for appeal and could remain free on bond rather than surrender on Jan. 5 to begin serving a 21-month prison sentence. Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo SOUTHBURY An overturned vehicle has closed a stretch of Interstate 84 west near Southbury, according to state police and the Department of Transportation. The accident took place just before 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the Department of Transportation. TORRINGTON For more than 30 years, Marty Connor has guided local communities through the process of improving their homes and businesses, developing new regulations and helping larger organizations create new housing, find uses for old industrial spaces and encourage responsible growth. A good portion of that 30 years 22.5, to be exact, has been spent in Torrington as the city planner, as well as town planner in Goshen. Before that, he worked in Litchfields Land Use Department for six years. Before that, I worked in Kent, Warren, Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Washington. Ive done consulting for New Hartford and Burlington over the years, Connor said. But with three grandsons in Greenwich, Connors sights are turned toward some well-deserved time off. Hes retiring from Torrington, and will remain in Goshen on a part-time basis, he said. The time off will be spent doing the things he loves primarily, being a grandfather. I have three grandsons, Rami, who is 13, Danyal, whos 4, and Layth, whos 2, Connor said. I just taught Danyal to ski, and he really loves it. The best job Ive ever had is being a grandpa. Its just wonderful. Connors role will be filled by his assistant land use officer, Jeremy Leifert, who has been with the city for more than two years. Jeremys my hand-picked successor, he said. He was hired when (former land use officer Rista Malanca, now economic development director) moved up. We knew Jeremy from his work in Thomaston, and we wanted him here. Hell do a fantastic job. Our enforcement officer, Ashley Clement, has also done a fabulous job. Ill miss that the most, he said. The people here are just a really good team. My administrator, Lona Kirk, has been with me the entire time, and shes just no-nonsense, straightforward and works hard. Ive also had the best commissions over the years to work with, very strong and professional. They read the applications, and they come to the meetings prepared. They do their homework. That has made the job so pleasant. During his years working for the city, Connor believes the land use team, along with the mayors office, City Council and other entities, have made some very positive changes. We want to make it easier for people who are bringing in what we want into Torrington, to make sure they understand whats required, he said. Weve worked well with applicants and other departments, and have always been good team members. Engineer Paul Kundzins, Public Works Director Ray Drew and our new building official, Kevin Gillette, have all been great to work with, too. The city has made a concerted effort to build up the downtown area in the last decade, and in recent years some of those efforts have been accomplished, such as Franklin Plaza and new businesses filling long-vacant spaces. Connor credits much of that work to the mayors leadership. Ive always worked with good mayors, in different ways, he said. From Mary Jane Grenuik to Owen Quinn, to Ryan Bingham, Jerry Zordan and Elinor Carbone. Elinor was very involved in the plan of conservation and development, and very interested in developing downtown, long before she was mayor. Weve made downtown business friendly, and weve encouraged restaurants, small niche retail and other businesses, he said. Hartford just announced that they were removing downtown parking requirements (during the holidays), but weve been doing that for years. The whole idea of affordable housing was already started here in Torrington, before other cities and towns started looking at it, without a lot of screaming and yelling. Connor has served as an emergency management coordinator for more than 40 Connecticut towns, and said he will continue in that role for now. Thats kept me very busy for the last two years, he said. When I joined, I was thinking of the tornado that hit in Cornwall, and I thought as a planner, I could help out somehow. But I didnt realize whats involved; its more about coordinating efforts. Ill continue to help with that. Connor, who also is a photographer, is looking forward to using his camera more, and said his interest in the arts stems from that hobby. The citys efforts to create an environment for artists downtown, joined by efforts by organizations such as the Five Points Center for the Arts and its galleries, the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council and many local groups and artists, is another great accomplishment for Torrington. I got tutoring from Ed Jaffe, who taught me a lot about what artists need to work and live in a city, Connor said. We had to learn what they need to succeed. When Leifert takes over as city planner, Connor encourages him to take advantage of the many courses and seminars available to him. Ive learned a lot from other planners, not just in Connecticut, but all around the country, by attending those educational types of things, he said. Ive stayed connected with a lot of them. Im also a member of the Connecticut Association of Zoning Officers, and the state planning association. He sees some challenges on the horizon for the city, but noted that work already is underway on a marijuana ordinance, regarding public use in public spaces such as parks and streets. The Planning & Zoning Commission is looking at the retail sales end of it, too, Connor said. They are looking at it very seriously. He feels hes leaving Torrington in a good position. I feel the citys in a good spot, Connor said. Seeing industrial and retail buildings, like the Libby building, for example thats whats exciting to see what can be done to have people live downtown. COVID-19 has delayed us, with some of our plans, but were moving ahead. Friends and staff from City Hall will gather at Bad Dog Brewery on Migeon Avenue from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 for a final farewell to Connor. People are welcome to stop by. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently reached out to the BTS members - RM, Jin and Suga after they tested COVID-19 positive earlier this weekend. Dr Tedros took to his Twitter handle and penned a special message hoping that the trio recovers soon. BTS' agency Big Hit Music earlier this weekend confirmed that RM and Suga have exihibited no symptoms, while Jin was showing mild symptoms. WHO Chief wishes BTS' RM, Jin & Suga a speedy recovery Taking to the micro-blogging site, the WHO chief wrote, "Dear @BTS_twt Namjoon, Jin & Yoongi, rest well & feel better soon! (I hope you get well soon). Its so important for everyone to take precautions: Wear a well-fitting mask, keep a safe distance, avoid poorly ventilated, crowded spaces, clean hands and get vaccinated when its your turn." Dear @BTS_twt Namjoon, Jin & Yoongi, rest well & feel better soon! . Its so important for everyone to take precautions: Wear a well-fitting mask, keep a safe distance, avoid poorly ventilated, crowded spaces, clean hands and get vaccinated when its your turn. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 25, 2021 BTS' ARMY expressed gratitude to Dr Tedros for his tweet and further prayed for the BTS members' speedy recovery. Fans also joined him to urge their fellow fans to get vaccinated and take necessary precautions. Well, this isn't the first time, Dr Tedros has tweeted about BTS. Earlier this year, he also congratulated the South Korean boy band when they were appointed as South Korea's Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture. In his tweet, the WHO Chief wrote, "Dear @BTS_twt Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, Hobi, Jimin, Tae & Jungkook, congratulations on your appointment as #SouthKoreas Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations & Culture! A well-deserved title for a group who use music & lyrics to bring hope & healing to the world." Dear @BTS_twt Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, Hobi, Jimin, Tae & Jungkook, congratulations on your appointment as #SouthKoreas Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations & Culture! A well-deserved title for a group who use music & lyrics to bring hope & healing to the world. https://t.co/L2xElXsXWE Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 21, 2021 Last year as well, he praised BTS member Jimin for breaking down the COVID-19 rules during his Vlive session for children to understand. He reposted the video of the same and penned, "What a very thoughtful message from @BTS_twt Jimin - (thank you)! Children are indeed affected by #COVID19 restrictions, we should do our best to help them understand the situations, and support and comfort them. Together, we will end this pandemic. #BeHelpful." What a very thoughtful message from @BTS_twt Jimin - ! Children are indeed affected by #COVID19 restrictions, we should do our best to help them understand the situations, and support and comfort them. Together, we will end this pandemic. #BeHelpful. pic.twitter.com/a5pOc7bJr2 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 22, 2020 Meanwhile, for the unversed, BTS' agency has assured BTS ARMY that they are doing everything to help the members recover soon. Three members of the K-pop superstar group BTS have been infected with the Coronavirus after returning from abroad, their management agency said. Image: AP, Twitter/@BTS_twt Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 26 (PTI) With 19 more people testing positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Kerala, the total number of infections by the new variant in the state reached 57, the Health Department said on Sunday. Of the 19 cases, 11 were detected in Ernakulam, six in Thiruvananthapuram and one each in Thrissur and Kannur. Of the 19, four each had come from the UK and UAE, two each from Qatar and Ireland and one each from Spain, Canada, Netherlands and Ghana, a Health Department release said. The remaining three got infected via contact. The department advised everyone to be extra vigilant in view of the rise in Omicron cases in the State. It also said that everyone should wear masks properly, follow social distancing protocols and those not vaccinated yet, should get the jabs immediately. Besides that, the department also said those coming from abroad should strictly abide by the quarantine norms, people coming from other states should exercise caution and on noticing symptoms of COVID-19, they should immediately inform health workers. PTI HMP ROH ROH (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Karnataka on Sunday joined the list of states that have reimposed night curfew in view of a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, including those due to the new Omicron variant. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the state government decided to restrict the movement of people, from 10 pm to 5 am for a period of 10 days. The night curfew will come into force in Karnataka from Tuesday, December 28. The government will monitor the situation during these 10 days, after which, the decision will be reviewed, said state Health Minister M Sudhakar. Along with the night curfew, the government also announced certain restrictions for New Year related parties and gatherings, i.e. complete prohibition on public celebrations, only 50% occupancy in private spaces such as hotels, pubs, restaurants, and a ban on DJ events. "There will be no functions, parties in the external premises, especially for those celebrating with DJs and large gatherings, they have been completely banned in Karnataka," Sudhakar said. "Eateries like hotels, pubs and restaurants can have 50 per cent of the seating capacity of the premises." "From December 28 onwards, for about ten days, to begin with, we would like to watch by calling a night curfew, invoking Section 144, from night 10 pm to the next morning 5 am," Sudhakar said. Karnataka to start vaccinating children The meeting also discussed implementing decisions announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the vaccination of children between 15 to 18 years from January 3. During a surprise address last night, PM Modi also announced precautionary shots, starting January 10, for health care workers, frontline workers and senior citizens having co-morbidities. Karnataka, meanwhile, has seen 38 out of at least 422 Omicron cases reported across India thus far. The state added seven more infections to its Omicron caseload on Saturday, December 25. Of these seven, two had travelled from Delhi, one had arrived from the US, one each from Zambia, the UK, United Arab Emirates, and another is a primary contact of the UK traveller. On Sunday, the Ministry of Defence in its release said that Indian Naval Ship Kesari reached entered Port of Maputo, Mozambique as part of the ongoing 'Mission SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region). Completing yet another deployment undertaken by Indian Navy INS Kesari reached Mozambique on December 25 to support the country cope with the ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of the pandemic. According to the Navy, this is the eighth such deployment as part of the Mission Sagar. Under Mission SAGAR, INS Kesari has now entered Port of Maputo, Mozambique carrying 500 Tons of food aid. The Ministry of Defence in its release said that the deployment comes as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region which is conducted in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India. INS Kesari delivers 500 tons of food aid to Mozambique Detailing about the countrys latest deployment, the release said, These deployments were conducted in solidarity with Indias extended Maritime Neighbourhood and highlights the importance accorded by India to these special relationships. 500 Tons of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support the efforts of Government of Mozambique to cope with the ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic. Furthermore, the release also noted that India remained committed to supporting the capacity building efforts of the Armed Forces of Mozambique. Image Credit: Indian Navy To this end Kesari is carrying two Fast Interceptor Craft and self defence equipment to be handed over to the Armed Forces of Mozambique, the release further informed. As per the Navy, INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank had undertaken similar mission in May-June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployment of Medical Assistance Teams of the Indian Navy in multiple locations. Indian Navy proactively engaged under 'Mission SAGAR' As per the ongoing programme, the Indian Navy has been carrying out numerous humanitarian missions to help nations in their fights against the pandemic. The Indian Navy's missions span the entire extent of the Indian Ocean, including South East Asia and East Africa. The Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 Friendly Foreign Countries as part of SAGAR missions since May 2020. As per the defence ministry, the deployments done by various Navy ships spanned over 215 days at sea. India have so far delivered a cumulative assistance of more than 3,000 MT of food aid, over 300 MT LMO, 900 Oxygen Concentrators and 20 ISO containers. Image: INDIAN NAVY Jammu, Dec 26 (PTI) Nearly 500 hectares of cultivable land lies unutilised between the border fencing and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, officials said on Sunday. The administration is encouraging border farmers to cultivate the fields in the forward areas, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Anuradha Gupta said, adding the practice was abandoned amid threats of cross-border shelling by Pakistan. But India and Pakistan agreed to a renewed ceasefire in February along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, encouraging border farmers to cultivate their land beyond the border fencing, she said. Gupta said the district administration and Border Security Force (BSF) authorities would extend full cooperation to the farmers, address their concerns and also support them in doing routine farming beyond the border fence. The administration organised a visit to the Suchetgarh border in Jammu on Saturday to encourage Samba farmers to follow their counterparts here, she said. Border area farmers of Samba have resolved to start cultivation on the fields beyond the IB fence after the visit to the Suchetgarh sector, where the BSF has facilitated resumption of agricultural activities on fields across the fence, the officials said. The tour was organised by the district administration of Samba in collaboration with the BSF. Seventy-three farmers, along with panchayat members from Rajpura, Samba and Ramgarh, had a detailed interaction with their counterparts at Suchetgarh and agriculture officers on cultivable crops and practices that can be taken up along the IB, they said. The officials said the uncultivated land across the fence can be sown with the help of the BSF, and the farmers can be encouraged to take up agricultural activities. "We stopped cultivation due to the fear of Pakistani firing. Now with the government's encouragement, farmers here (Suchetgarh) are cultivating their land beyond the fence, and we can also resume cultivation under BSF security cover," a visiting farmer said. PTI TAS IJT (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Four people who returned to Odisha from foreign countries were found to be infected with the omicron variant of COVID-19, a senior health department official said on Sunday. Two of the new patients returned from Nigeria, while the other two came back from UAE, said Director of Health Service (DHS) Bijay Mohapatra. With this, the state's omicron tally rose to eight, he said. Odisha reported the first cases of omicron variant on December 21 as two persons who returned from foreign countries -- Nigeria and Qatar -- were found to be infected. On December 23, two more cases of omicron were found as two people who returned from Nigeria tested positive. One person, who was among the four new cases, has already tested negative, the official said. There is no need to panic as the conditions of all the four are stable, Mohapatra said. As per the state government's directive, all foreign returnees from "at-risk" as well as other countries are being tested, and the samples of those found positive are being sent for genome sequencing, he said. The district administrations have been instructed to intensify surveillance on those returning from foreign countries to their areas, officials said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Amit Shah Chairs Meeting With Nagaland, Assam Govts; Committee Formed Over Repeal Of AFSPA The Nagaland government on Sunday informed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23, chaired a meeting to discuss present scenario in Nagaland. According to a press release released by the Nagaland government, the meeting was attended by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Yanthungo Patton, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland and T. R. Zeliang, leader of the Naga People's Front. It further added that a committee will be formed to look into the withdrawal of AFSPA in Nagaland. Read Full Story Here Ghulam Nabi Azad Snubs Gupkar Alliance Over Talks With Pakistan; 'Centre To Decide' Snubbing the Gupkar Alliance who has been pushing for talks with Pakistan, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is for the Central government to decide on talks with the Imran Khan administration. Gupkar Alliance on several occasions has demanded talks with Pakistan to end terrorism in the valley saying that 'friendship' holds the key to development in the region. Read Full Story Here Karnataka To Reimpose Night Curfew For 10 Days From Dec 28 Amid Omicron Scare Karnataka on Sunday joined the list of states that have reimposed night curfew in view of a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, including those due to the new Omicron variant. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the state government decided to restrict the movement of people, from 10 pm to 5 am for a period of 10 days. The night curfew will come into force in Karnataka from Tuesday, December 28. Read Full Story Here COVID: AIIMS Hyderabad Head Says 'India's Medical-infra Is Well-prepared To Fight Surge' At the outset of the Centre's announcement to roll out the precautionary Coronavirus booster dose of vaccination for healthcare and frontline workers and vaccine for children, AIIMS Hyderabad Director Dr Vikas Bhatia said that the move is 'very heartening'. In an exclusive conversation with Republic TV, Dr Bhatia affirmed PM Modi's decision to administer booster doses to the vulnerable amid the spread of the COVID-19 strain, Omicron, and said, "it's time". Read Full Story Here Ludhiana Court Blast: First Picture Of Alleged Conspirator & Suspect Rinda Sandhu Out In the latest update to the investigation into the Ludhiana Court blast, Republic Media Network has accessed the first picture of Rinda Sandhu, who is said to be the Pakistani-based handler for the prime suspect of the explosion - Gagandeep Singh. It is learnt that Sandhu is an active Babbar Khalsa terrorist, backed by the pro-Khalistani group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). He is suspected by agencies of conspiring the Ludhiana blast. Read Full Story Here Bihar: Major Boiler Blast In Noodle Factory Kills 5, Many Injured; Rescue Ops Underway In a major mishap, five people were killed and six others injured in a boiler blast that took place in a noodle factory located at Muzaffarpur in Bihar, on Sunday, informed District Magistrate Pranav Kumar. While speaking to the media, he further informed that an investigation is currently underway and the reason behind the blast is yet to be ascertained. Read Full Story Here Centre Releases Footage Of RS Ruckus Which Led To Suspension Of 12 Opposition MPs Escalating the fight between Opposition and Centre over the suspension of 12 MPs, Union Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday, released the Rajya Sabha TV footage of the ruckus which led to it. Naming Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, Joshi rued over the Opposition's refusal to apologise for its unruly behaviour. He added, "To err is human but to repeatedly justify it is foolish". Read Full Story Here With BrahMos Unit, CM Yogi Promises Uttar Pradesh To Soon Be Recognised As Defence Hub Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on December 26 claimed that the state is set to be recognised as a Defence production hub and BrahMos missile will be manufactured in Lucknow. CM Yogi further said that along with the generation of new employment opportunities for the youth, the endeavour will push UP in a 'new direction'. Read Full Story Here South Africa: Archbishop Tutu Passes Away Aged 90; President Mourns Anti-apartheid Icon South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on December 26 that South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize-winning crusader for racial justice and LGBT rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has died at the age of 90. Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and has been hospitalised multiple times in subsequent years for infections related to his cancer treatment. Read Full Story Here Taliban Government Scraps Two Ministries, Electoral Bodies In Afghanistan: Report In its latest move, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has decided to dismantle a couple of ministries and electoral bodies, including the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Peace Affairs, the Independent Election Commission, and the Independent Election Complaints Commission. Meanwhile, the Independent Commission of Human Rights will resume operations under a new name, ANI reported citing Khaama Press. The Taliban have also ordered the administration of affairs and all relevant administrations to clarify the status of the staff of the ministries and commissions, as well as the payment of their salaries and the bodies' entities, the report stated. Read Full Story Here Image: RepublicWorld Snubbing the Gupkar Alliance who has been pushing for talks with Pakistan, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is for the Central government to decide on talks with the Imran Khan administration. "We should leave it to the government because I'm nobody I don't have to talk. I don't know what is the gravity of the situation. Even in the past, we had discontinued talks in our government but as and when the situation improved between the two countries and the atmosphere was a little clearer the talks were started. It is the government of India to decide this," Nabi said. Gupkar Alliance on several occasions has demanded talks with Pakistan to end terrorism in the valley saying that 'friendship' holds the key to development in the region. In November too, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah batted for talks with Pakistan amid the targeted killing in J&K. Azad reiterates demand for J&K statehood, then assembly polls On Saturday, Ghulam Nabi Azad reiterated the demand that there should be the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir before the assembly election in the union territory. "From day one, when all-party meeting was held, we have demanded statehood and elections. The government had agreed to both. We had kept a condition that first elections be held and then delimitation be done. That did not happen. We still want that first statehood to be given and then elections be held," the former CM said while speaking to media on the sidelines of an event in Udhampur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir after the delimitation of constituencies and assembly polls. Meanwhile, the J&K Delimitation Commission has proposed increased assembly constituencies from the present 43 seats to 49 and in Kashmir region from 46 to 47. It has also proposed to reserve 16 seats for ST and SC in the Union Territory. Reacting to the commission's recommendation, Azad has stated that seats for Scheduled Caste should be evenly distributed between Jammu and Kashmir regions. In a terrorist attack in the Western African country of Burkina Faso, on Thursday, at least 41 members of a government-backed civilian militia were killed in the northern part of the country, prompting the authorities to announce a two-day period of mourning to remember the deceased members of the militia. On Saturday, authorities announced that a column of civilian fighters from the homeland defence volunteers (VDP), which is an organisation funded and trained by the government to combat Islamist rebels, was attacked on Thursday in the country's northern Loroum province, as per the reports of Xinhua. The authorities also stated that it was one of the most severe single-day casualties suffered by the civilian militia to date. Just last month, in another attack, 53 people were murdered, which is the deadliest attack on Burkinabe security forces in years. Authorities have faced recurrent protests in recent months over their apparent failure to put a stop to the Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and driven more than a million people to flee their homes across Africa's Sahel region. Government's statement Government spokesperson, Alkassoum Maiga issued a statement stating that in this tragic condition, and with respect to the courageous VDP and citizens who fell in defence of the homeland, the president of Burkina Faso has ordered a 48-hour national mourning period beginning Sunday Militants affiliated with al-Qaida and IS have inflicted huge casualties on the region's forces, killing troops virtually every week in dispersed strikes in various Western African countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. According to the Guardian, the Burkinabe army stated earlier this month that approximately 100 terrorists were killed in a coordinated attack involving hundreds of troops from Burkina Faso and Niger, who also captured rifles and improvised explosive devices from the militants. Terrorism in Burkina Faso The increase of terrorist attacks in the region has prompted the people of the country to demand President Roch Marc Christian Kabore's resignation, according to Anadolu Agency. The government has been continuously accused of failing to combat terrorism. Because of the growing criticism, Kabore fired Prime Minister Joseph Marie Dabire on December 8. The UN data suggests that over 17,500 people were forced to flee the country this year due to security concerns. (Image: AP) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on December 26 that South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize-winning crusader for racial justice and LGBT rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has died at the age of 90. Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and has been hospitalised multiple times in subsequent years for infections related to his cancer treatment. President Ramaphosa issued a statement on the official website of the President of South Africa, stating that Archbishop Tutu, at the age of 90, died peacefully this morning at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town and that the departure of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter in their nation's farewell to a generation of remarkable South Africans who have left behind a liberated South Africa. Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his nonviolent struggle against apartheid. Tutu was an iconic spiritual leader President Ramaphosa said in the statement that Tutu was an iconic spiritual leader, anti-apartheid activist, and global human rights champion who was regarded as a patriot without parallel. The President also stated that he was a man of exceptional intelligence, integrity and invincibility against apartheid forces and he was also soft and vulnerable in his compassion for individuals who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence, as well as oppressed and downtrodden people around the world. Ramaphosa continued by stating that Desmond Tutu survived the disease, the brutality of apartheid security forces, and the intransigence of successive apartheid regimes during his richly inspiring yet arduous life. He also said that Tutu remained faithful to his convictions and retained his vigour and vigilance as he held leadership and the burgeoning institutions of the democracy to account in his distinctive, unavoidable and always strengthening manner. Tutu's death comes just a month after the death of South Africa's final apartheid-era president, FW de Clerk, who died at the age of 85. The country mourns alongside Mam Leah Tutu The President concluded the statement by saying that on the death of the Nobel Prize winner, the country mourns alongside Mam Leah Tutu, the Archbishop's wife, who has made a huge contribution to the freedom and the growth of South African democracy in her own right. He said, "We pray that Archbishop Tutus soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation." Image: AP Sudan military forces on Saturday fired tear gas to disperse anti-coup protestors, who once again marched on the streets of the capital city of Khartoum to condemn the coup d'etat carried out in October this year. As per local media reports, thousands rallied from different locations, converging towards the presidential palace were met with water cannons and tear gas as they neared their destination. Fearing a violent turn of events, Sudanese authorities tightened security across Khartoum on Friday, after they were tipped off about a "huge wave" of demonstrators approaching "sovereign and strategic" building in the capital city. The said protests are a trail of the massive pro-democracy movements that began in October after Sudan military head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan formed a Security Council deposing Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok. However, in November the Council and Hamdok cabinet reached a deal to reinstate the PM, which is believed to be a move aimed at sidelining the country's pro-democracy movement, the Associated Press reported. Addressing the media on the current civil crisis, the Sudanese Security Committee on Saturday said that the troops would "deal with chaos and violations," Sudanese state media SUNA had reported. 5 protestors wounded by pellets in Omdurman Sudanese forces also fired live ammunition at protestors marching towards Khartoum, Nazim Sirag, an activist told CP24 News. At least 5 demonstrators were wounded in the gunfire in the Omdurman area and Khartoum's East Nile neighbourhood. "Many others suffered from breathing difficulties due to heavy smoke from tear gas," Sirag added. In a bid to thwart further mass movement, Sudanese authorities have also shut down bridges over the Nile River, which connects Omdurman and the district of Bahri to the capital. Additionally, officials also cut off internet services on phones, a tactic widely used by al-Burhan since the coup rose to power. "The mechanism of a similar or identical to that used during the October post-coup blackout," Alp Toker, advocacy group NetBlocks told the Associated Press. Meanwhile, rallies are also underway in other major cities, including Wad Madani and Atbara. The latest eruption comes after last weekend Sudanese Security forces dispersed a large number of protestors when they attempted to stage a sit-in-protests near the presidential palace. As many as three were killed and another 300 were wounded on Sunday. As per United Nations, there were also reports of sexual harassment, including rape and molestation on female protestors. (With inputs from AP) (Image: AP) Amid the rising cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a major "human error" case has been reported at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. As many as 400 COVID-positive patients were wrongly told that their PCR test results were negative on Christmas night. On Sunday afternoon, SydPath Medical Director Professor Anthony Dodds said in a statement, "Last night we incorrectly messaged 400 patients who had been swabbed at our centers from December 22 to 23, advising them they had tested negative for COVID-19," reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Dodds further explained that these people had actually tested positive, and it was only the next day's morning that the doctors. realised that they had been given COVID negative results due to 'human error'. The hospital immediately contacted the people and revealed that their test reports were actually positive and asked them to stay in isolation. "An emergency response team is now investigating the cause of this mistake, which is believed to be a human error, according to the statement issued by the hospital. "We sincerely apologise to all those impacted," it read. The reports were of the test, which was taken on Wednesday and Thursday. The hospital released the statement hours after the NSW premier and health minister warned about the impact of "tourist testing" that was causing massive backlogs for test clinics. Hospitals and private testing labs across the state are overwhelmed due to excess demand with an average of around 1,45,000 tests a day over the past week. Meanwhile, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Sunday urged citizens to get vaccinated as Omicron cases are rising rapidly and vaccination can protect everyone's health. COVID situation in Australia COVID cases in Australia are on the rise. New South Wales recorded a total of 6,394 new infection cases. Victoria reported 2,108 new infection cases followed by six deaths, whereas Queensland announced 765 COVID cases in the last 24 hours. In South Australia, 634 new COVID cases were recorded, and Tasmania reported a total of 33 new infection cases in the last 24 hours. The number of COVID cases has gone up in the last two weeks, and over 70% of cases in some states of Australia are the Omicron variant, which is rapidly sweeping the world. Image: Shutterstock Chinas Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plane encroached on Taiwans air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during Christmas on Saturday, December 25, prompting the Taiwan Air Force to intercept the fighter jets, issue radio warnings and deploy its air defence missile systems, the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan said in a statement on Saturday. Taiwans military forces have been publishing instances of Chinese incursion and have updated the daily information since September 2020 to outline Chinese belligerence on the self-ruled island. Each time an incursion happens, the Air Force sends its aircraft to tackle the situation, the Taiwan defence ministry informed noting that the highest number of incursions by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) occurred early October this year when a record 56 fighter jets entered Taiwans ADIZ. China's National Day, October 1, 38 Chinese military aircraft breached Taiwan's ADIZ after at least five US lawmakers arrived in Taiwan to meet with government officials, a move that provoked China and prompted its military to send a dire message. Taiwan's MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones purchase from US In fact, just last month, Beijing dispatched eight military planes into Taiwan as it flexed the military muscle. The jets identified were the advanced warplanes that included four Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, two Xi'an H-6 bombers, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, and one Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW & C) aircraft. In an attempt to boost its military capabilities to counter the Chinese threat, Taiwan earlier yesterday announced that it is expecting the letter of offer and acceptance for MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from the United States Department of Defense to arrive by March 2022. The Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan informed at the state news conference that apart from the unmanned aerial vehicles, Taiwan is also looking to purchase M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers from the US. The four drones have been manufactured by the American firm General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and are equipped with advanced reconnaissance systems. The purchase is a part of the US$600 million (NT$16.68 billion) package approved by the Biden administration in November, according to reports. Once the LOA is received from the U.S., the Legislative Yuan will have to review and approve the budget before Taiwans military delegation in Washington could sign the document and move on to the next phase of the process, which includes the payment, Taiwans Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng and senior military officials said at a presser, as per CNA. Widely unaware of the consequences, the Myanmar junta has sought, and probably received, China's support to build an internet firewall in a bid to thwart the spread of information against the incumbent coup d'etat leadership, which rose to power by toppling the Aung San Suu Kyi government in February 2021. As per media reports, the Tatmadaw (the official name of the Myanmar armed forces) is currently unmindful of the fact that developing a digital strategy allows Beijing potential access to all of the junta's sensitive information. According to Asia Times, the request for helps from the Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing comes as Myanmar still lacks in technological and digital advancement, allowing local media and citizens free access to the internet. This hence strips bare to the world its atrocities against civilians. Notably, the junta, since its coup in February, has been highly-equipped with modern state-of-the-art arms and ammunition compared to all oppositions in the country. However, it has majorly regretted being unable to widen it's curbs on digital platforms. Turning to Beijing for help, Myanmar has now asked tech experts to build an "internet firewall" to prevent the spread of condemnation texts, images, footage, or any other form of content that undermines the current leadership. Myanmar to control internet access in country The Asia Times report noted that the cooperative effort of China and Myanmar is aimed at the latter's unfettered access and effective control over what can and cannot be shared and watched online in Myanmar. It is expected to be something similar to the "Great Firewall of China" that Beijing has used for years to repress critics and, in some instances, police online activities of dissidents. While the issue is distributing in itself, experts have raised concerns over Tatmadaw's inability to figure that allowing Beijing to create a digital wall for Myanmar will allow Chinese agencies to tap into the junta's military computers and simultaneously access crucial information related to internal affairs. "China, they say, has plenty of incentive to two into the Tatmadaw information streams after vacillating hot and cold relations and years of mutual suspicion on a range of sensitive security issues," Asia Times reported, citing experts. It is to be noted that on February 1, the Myanmar army led by Military commander Min Aung Hlaing deposed NLD and annulled November 2021 general elections. Hlaing then declared a year-long emergency in the country after President Win Mynt was charged with breaching COVID-19 pandemic restrictions under section 25 of National Disaster Management Law. On August 1, the military commander announced that he would remain in charge until 2021, after which Myanmar might hold an election. China and Myanmar relations According to a report published by the US Institute of Peace in June this year, China has violated its official guidance for investment abroad by making a major deal with Myanmar military leaders. Even after the coup d'etat overthrew the National League of Democracy (NLD) Party, China continued to advance plans for a complex China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) in the country, with the military moving ahead with big joint-venture projects. This indicates that the Chinese policymakers have accepted the hostile forces, stating that the Tatmadaw is the "glue" that holds the country together and can resolve the political crisis, according to the report. (Image: AP/PIXABAY) Hundreds of worshippers gathered in Mar Behnam and Sara Church in Qaraqosh near Mosul on Friday to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass. The packed congregation sang hymns and also celebrated outside in front of a huge bonfire. Following Mass, Father Boutros Sheeto, priest of Mar Behnam and Sara Church in Qaraqosh called for political leaders to focus on the needs of their people rather than working for their own advancement. Only half of the Christian community in the small town have returned to their homes after they were displaced when Islamic State (IS) militants captured Mosul, and later took over Christian areas in the Nineveh Plains in 2014. Qaraqosh, known also as the Christian capital of Iraq, located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Mosul, was retaken by Iraqi security forces in 2016, when the country's government launched an offensive to recapture all IS-occupied areas. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Iranians of Assyrian ethnicity gathered in Tehran's St. Mary's Catholic church on Saturday to mark Christmas Day. Worshippers sang hymns and lit candles outside following the service. Vania Sargis Lelham, the church priest, said he had asked the congregation to pray for "peace and calm", even for their enemies. There is no official figure on the population of Christians in Iran, although it is believed to be around 100,000, based mostly in central and north-western parts of the country. Iranian Christians are represented in the country's parliament alongside other minorities recognised by the law, such as Jews and Zoroastrians. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The State of Israel annexed the Golan Heights during the six days war of 1967 and 14 years later it passed Golan Law extending its sovereignty over the land. Although throughout the years the two states have been engaged in a round of talks that aimed at exchanging the region for peace, none of these efforts has bore fruit. At present, out of its total area of 1,860 square kilometers, roughly 1,500 square kilometers remain under Israeli occupation while the rest is controlled by Syria as Syrian Golan. Even after so many years, many of the Syrian residents continue to oppose what they term as illegal annexation of their land. Taleb Ibrahim, a native of the abandoned city of Al Qunaitra, speaking to Al Jazeera said that the takeover was a disaster. I was in the first year of my studies back then and I remember that when the decision came, we organized mass protests at Damascus University. For us, it was a disaster. It was our land. We drank from its waters and taking it away from us was a matter of dignity, he said as reported by news agency Sputnik. Why are Golan heights important? Golan Heights holds immense tactical importance to the Israeli military, giving them the leverage to oversee the territory. In addendum, it also serves as a critical water source for the residents. Given its strategic importance, both sides have held multiple discussions but all have ended inconclusively- majorly because of Israels determination to not retreat and Syrias reluctance to accept the existence of the Jewish state. The contested region has also triggered multiple skirmishes between both sides. In October, the Bashar al-Assad administration accused the Israeli military of shooting dead Syrian Golan Affairs leader Midhat Saleh al-Saleh. According to Syria's state-run SANA news agency, the Syrian parliamentarian was shot on Saturday by an apparent Israeli sniper in Al Quneitra, near the occupied city of Majdal Shams. The Syrian Cabinet offered its condolences to the friends and family of the martyr. The cabinet offers its deepest and sincerest condolences to the Syrian people and the family and relatives of the martyr, asking God to have upon him, the Syrian Cabinet said in a statement. (File Image: AP) An elderly Palestinian woman has died in a hit and run accident near the west bank town of Sinjil, exhorting a violent warning by Hamas terror group. According to a report by the Times of Israel, the accident took place during the wee hours of Friday when 70-year-old Ghadeer Masalmah was hit by an Israeli driver. The emergency responders who were called to the site said that women had no vital signs. In the aftermath, Hamas has issued a warning stating that all the Israeli troops and Jewish settlers in the region will pay a high price for the incident. Notably, Hamas de facto governs the Gaza Strip and enjoys a considerable influence in West Bank also. Meanwhile, the driver continued driving to the settlement of Shiloh after investigation. Law enforcers said that he has been temporarily released but would be summoned for further investigation. #| (60 ) . pic.twitter.com/LZP7GoM8Ga (@ShehabAgency) December 24, 2021 Hamas in power Since seizing power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas has been engaged in continuous conflicts with Israel. In 2014, Hamas broke into a gruesome war with Israel (Gaza War) triggered by the abduction of three Jewish teenagers. As the war ended, US Foreign Relations Committee released a list of countries that it accused of bankrolling the movement not only during the war but perenially. More recently in May, Israeli troops and Hamas traded rockets and missiles in the 11-day war which led to over 200 deaths. Notably, the group operates a maze of sophisticated tunnels that are now spread across hundreds of kilometers and circumvent the Egyptians from crossing into Gaza, making imports a major source of its income. Meanwhile, British Home Secretary Priti Patel has poised further to outlaw the Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah or Hamas group, triggering a wide range of reactions from across the world. While the move irked Iran, Palestine, and other Islamic states, the West lauded it as another step towards emptying Hamas funds. While the Islamist movement unlike Palestine Liberation Organization- is not eligible to receive financial succor and grants from international aid givers like United Nations and European Union, it receives millions of dollars from Palestinian expatriates and Islamic charity groups from all over the world. Notably, statehoods like Iran and Turkey are major benefactors too. Image: AP, Pixabay Saudi Arabian authorities on Saturday arrested five Pakistani nationals for alleged involvement in transferring illicit money out of the kingdom. The police nabbed the expatriates in Medina for collecting and smuggling unspecified amounts of notes over a considerable period of time. Additionally, the authorities also seized a hefty amount of cash from the suspects, which as per Saudi police were being arranged to be bootlegged out of the country, The Express Tribune reported. "Police found cash amounts in their possession from unknown origin," a Saudi official told the publication. The suspects have now been referred to public prosecution for further investigation. As per the Express Tribune report, Saudi authorities also informed that all 5 accused Pakistani men had blurted contradictory statements, making a detailed probe into the matter mandatory. However, the identities of the five men have not been revealed yet. The arrests come as Saudi Arabia has intensified its crackdown on financial frauds. Several suspects have been arrested in the kingdom since over alleged malpractices and proven monetary fraud. In April this year, at least 24 men were arrested for suspected defrauding innocent people of Saudi Riyal 35 million in several scams, the publication noted. 2 Pakistani nationals held in Saudi for uploading fake videos on social media Earlier in October, two Pakistani nationals were arrested in Saudi Arabia for uploading a video of fake gunfire on their social media accounts. As per Al Arabiya Urdu, Saudi Police nabbed the suspects from the Al-Jawf area. Both 30-year-old Pakistani men were detained and later produced in court with their mobiles confiscated as evidence. Al-Jawf Region police spokesman Colonel Yazid Al-Numas has informed that Pakistani nationals uploaded the misleading video, which was shot in front of a shop. "It was used to create a sensation by adding heavy gunfire," he added. The video had gone viral soon after it was posted on social media, triggering widespread panic and hysteria. (Image: AP/Shutterstock) In yet another heinous act of oppression against women in Pakistan, the dead body of a kidnapped Pakistani-American woman was discovered in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday (Dec. 25). The deceased has been identified as Wajiha Swati, who had come to Pakistan from England on October 16 to settle property disputes with her ex-husband, Rizwan Habib. During the police interrogation, Habib confessed to killing Swati, ANI reported citing Geo News. As per the report, the American woman was murdered the day she landed in Rawalpindi. Based on her son's report, the Morgah Police Station in Rawalpindi opened an investigation into her kidnapping. Meanwhile, Habib claimed that he murdered Swati on October 16 and buried her body in Hangu, reported Pakistani news outlets citing sources. The report further stated that Justice Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi of the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, on December 23, directed the City Police Officer (CPO) to locate Swati as soon as possible, failing which the court would summon the Inspector General of Police. The court had reportedly directed the police to present Swati in court after retrieving her. Addressing a press conference, Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Sajid Kiani stated that the police will not reveal too many details at this point in time as the case is still under investigation. However, he did share some details that surfaced during the investigation, such as Swati's arrival in Pakistan on October 16 and being received by her ex-husband, Rizwan Habib. He went on to claim that three persons had been arrested in connection with the case, including Habib, his father, and another suspect, reported Geo News. Swati's body was discovered in Lakki Marwat's Pizu region and is being transported to Islamabad, according to the CPO. He stated that further investigations are being conducted and that more arrests are expected. Former Pakistani ambassador's daughter killed in July It is pertinent to mention here that the latest crime has an uncanny resemblance to the killing of Noor Mukadam (daughter of former Pakistani ambassador Shaukat Mukadam), who was found dead on July 20 at a mansion in Islamabad. On the complaint of the victim's father, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested from the scene of the murder. He was charged under section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code. In Pakistan, the murder and its brutal nature had sparked widespread criticism and public anger, as well as several calls for the murderer to be brought to justice, reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI) Image: Pixabay/Representative Taliban on Saturday, Dec. 25 warned Pakistan of a similar response after the Islamabad military launched shell mortars on Afghanistan in the Chogam area of Shiltan district in Kunar, the local Afghan media Tolo News reported. At least one civilian was injured and the attack inflicted large-scale financial damage on the Afghan side. In a dire warning to the Imran Khan government, a top military commander of the Taliban earlier yesterday stressed that the Afghan side was ready to give the same response if attacks by the Pakistani military did not cease. He then warned Islamabad to refrain from firing artillery on Kabul citing the consequences. The Taliban seeks good ties with its neighbours and its forces have the military equipment to defend the country, said Abu Dojana, Commander of 201 Khalid Bin Walid Corps warned on Saturday. "This is precious soil. We have paid a large sacrifice for it. We want to be good neighbours but if they keep attacking our soil, we will certainly give them a response," TOLOnews quoted Dojana as saying. Dojana said that mortar shelling by the Pakistani side has injured civilians in Afghanistan's Chogam area of Shiltan district in Kunar. "I was wounded by the mortar, a fragment hit my head," a wounded Afghan civilian Anwar Shah told Tolo News. He added, "I was taken to Asadabad City during the night and remained in the hospital for two days." Notably, the Chogam area lies alongside the Durand Line. Reportedly, Pakistan has been targetting several parts of the western province of Kunar for the past two weeks, the Afghan civilians told the local news media. Witnesses have cited the Pakistani drones also operating over the province. A resident in Shiltan district named Salman told Tolo News, "We are being attacked by Pakistan. Everyone is in trouble, including children and women. He continued, it comes after a video went viral on social media reportedly showing a Taliban commander warning the Pakistani military to refrain from attacking Afghanistan's soil. Pakistan-Taliban clash in Kunar province The Pakistani army and the Taliban have engaged in fresh clashes along the Durand Line, triggering speculation that their ties could severe in near future. According to footage of the skirmish accessed by Republic Media Network, the armed exchanges first began yesterday afternoon in Kunar Province and have continued since then. Notably, Pakistan and the Taliban have been in disagreement regarding the sanctity of the 2,640-kilometer-long border for decades and have clashed multiple times in the past. Conflict has now extended to discreet hamlets of the province. Sushant Sareen from Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said that the tensions even existed during the Talibans previous regime adding that it is unlikely that the Taliban-Pakistan relationship will be affected. Protests have erupted against the Taliban in Afghanistan after a civilian was allegedly killed in a strike by the terrorist group, which was directed at Northern Resistance Front in Panjshir. According to sources, civilians raised anti-Taliban slogans. According to reports, the civilian, identified as Mohammad Agha, had no affiliation with the resistance forces or the previous government. The protestors said that they don't want to live in humiliation and asked to Taliban to stop targeting civilians and innocents. Taliban has increased offensive against civilians and former members of security forces since coming to power. According to a report from the Human Rights Watch, more than 100 members of ex-security forces have been killed or disappeared in the last three months. The report also suggested that the Taliban also attacked families of former security force members, Summary killings and enforced disappearance have occurred even after the group announced an amnesty for ex-government civilians and military officials. Besides this, Afghanistan is also plunging into one of the worst humanitarian crises since the economic crash post-Taliban's takeover. Amrullah Saleh says resistance a national need; alleges Pakistan helping Taliban in Panjshir Last week, Afghanistan's former Vice President Amrullah Saleh stated that "resistance is a national need" at the moment and slammed Pakistan for helping the Taliban in the fight against resistance forces in Panjshir. He claimed that there are around 200 Special Service Group (SSG) members of Pakistan to mentor Taliban terrorists in Panjshir. The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA) had earlier condemned the Taliban's widespread attack on civilians. In September, NRFA claimed that the Taliban deliberated attacked people in the Panjshir Valley. Earlier this month, the Taliban's seat at the UN was denied by the United Nations Accreditation Committee and the decision was applauded by Saleh. "The Afghan seat in the UN stays with the legitimate & constitutionally mandated representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We applaud & welcome this decision of the UN's credentials committee & see it as a step for healing the massive wounds inflicted upon the Afghan people through forceful take over of the country by a violent, extremist & proxy group Taliban," he said. (Image: Twitter-@MiraqaPopal) Taliban interim Foreign Minister (FM) Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday engaged in discussions with Kazakhstan Trade and Integration Minister Bakhyt Sultanov to explore the issues related to trade and economy. The meeting took place after the Kazakh minister reached Afghanistan and brought half a ton of medical products for humanitarian assistance. The ministers also covered a wide range of transit, export and import issues between both the nations, as Afghanistan struggles to bring its economy back on track, Tolo News reported. "If we refer to the trade relations, the export and import of goods between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have dropped by 27%," Sultanov told reporters after the meeting, as quoted by Tolo News. The Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, and since then the country has been battling a deep economic crisis with over 92% of its population feared to sink below the poverty line by the end of the year, according to UNDP. Meanwhile, with the halt of foreign aids and freezing of government assets, the country's humanitarian and economic crisis worsened. However, with the United States issuing three general licenses to facilitate aid for Afghans, the war-torn country is expected to avert a "humanitarian catastrophe." US permits steady flow of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan US Department of Treasury of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on December 22 announced that it has permitted general licences 17,18 and 19 as a move to "underscore US' commitment to supporting the people of Afghanistan." According to Deputy Secretary of Treasury Wally Adeyemo, the licenses will help Afghanistan battle the "serious difficulties" that arose from the nation's lengthy dependence on foreign assistance, aid donors and the private sector, which resulted in major micro and macroeconomics woes once those were withdrawn with the US and NATO's evacuation and lack of recognition of the Taliban government. The authorisations now guarantee non-governmental organisations, foreign institutions and the US government to continue helping individuals in need. On Wednesday, The US-led resolution was proposed to the UNSC and later 15 members of the Council unanimously adopted the same. (Image: @BakhytSultanov/Twitter/AP) Iran on Saturday announced that it was sealing off its borders with the neighbouring countries for at least 15 days after cases of Omicron B.1.1.529 case were detected in the country. In an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 variant of Omicron Ruhollah Latifi, spokesman for Iran's Customs said that Tehran has promptly shut the land borders with countries where the Omicron cases have drastically risenincluding Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Armenia. Effective December 25, Iran will remain shut to the foreign travellers for over half a month, until further notice, Xinhua reported, citing the local news outlets. As of December 26, the Islamic Republic has registered 1,121 new COVID-19 cases, Irans Health Ministry on Saturday reported citing the data. This has pushed the countrys total infections to 6,182,905. In the last 24 hours, the country recorded over 42 fatalities, pushing the death toll to 131,348, the health ministry said, adding that 2,781 COVID-19 cases are now being treated at the intensive care units and have needed hospital intervention. Iran detected its first Omicron case on December 19 in a traveller who returned from the United Arab Emirates [UAE]. Health officials immediately instated the health safety protocols countrywide. A ministry official told state television that the highly contagious and mutated variant of the novel COVID-19 was detected in a middle-aged Iranian man, and that the officials were now monitoring two more suspected cases of Omicron. 60% of the total population in Iran vaccinated against COVID-19 At least 60 percent of the total population in the Islamic Republic has been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Iran also recently started administering booster shots among the vulnerable population, according to reports. As the Delta variant spread worldwide, the country earlier this year reported a record-breaking daily surge in COVID-19 mortality just days after the Iranian government relaxed all coronavirus-related restrictions. A record number of COVID-related deaths were also registered in the country that has triggered fears about the Omicron spread and healthcare facilities overwhelming. During the Delta surge for the first time since the pandemic began in December 2019, officials reported 684 deaths in a matter of 24 hours in Iran. Raisi had then said that controlling the coronavirus, improving the health situation, and mass vaccination are the government's top priorities and the authorities would not hesitate to close the borders as the economy and livelihood condition is the second priority. Iran only recently emerged out of the "fifth wave" of pandemic. Japan on Saturday announced that it will pay hush money' to the companies equivalent to the compensation amounting to roughly 20 years of licensing income in order to keep the sensitive patents a secret. This majorly involves the potential military applications that will be protected under the secrecy legislation for sensitive patents, and personal information will be safeguarded under the Amended Act on the Protection of Personal Information. Under Japan's secrecy legislation, the state officials, companies who leak 'special state secrets', and journalists who seek to obtain them face lengthy jail terms. The legislation was drafted after the wide reporting on the Fukushima nuclear disaster and as tensions soared between Tokyo and Beijing. While Japan protects the "special state secrets under the special state secrets bill that could lead to 10 years in jail, under the new proposed legislation, companies that design the countrys military application are required to keep its patents a secret or risk facing legal repercussions, Japanese news agency Nikkei Asia first reported. Patents are also being considered under the Economic Security Bill which will include any application or technology that may develop nuclear weapons, help do uranium enrichment, and manufacture cutting-edge innovations such as quantum technology, according to Nikkei Asia. Japans economic security 'top priority' for new Premier Japans economic security was on the top of the list of newly-elected premier Fumio Kishidas political agenda, as he vowed to safeguard the countrys secrets. While exact details of the bill remain unclear, the Japanese government has said that it will release a framework for the bill as early as next month for more clarity. The cabinet approval for the new legislation is slated for February 2022, while the law is expected to take effect by the fiscal year 2023. Japan will screen equipment purchases by key infrastructure operators of telecommunication networks and power grids, as well as financial companies, newspaper Nikkei Asia reported. The country is also weighing to boost the supply-chain resilience, as well as diversify risks in the industries across the automobiles to electronics as economic security is on the newly formed governments key agenda for Japans growth strategy. Kishida will appoint a team with members from the Defence Ministry, National Security Secretariat and other agencies to review the patent applications, the newspaper reports. Heavy snowstorms in Japan have affected the country's western and northwestern parts and also disrupted aviation travel as Japanese media reports that more than 100 flights have been cancelled in the country due to the snowstorms. As per the reports of Japanese broadcaster NHK, 69 All Nippon Airways flights, 35 Japan Airlines flights and two Peach Aviation flights were cancelled on Sunday. Meteorological forecasters stated that 35 inches of snow had fallen in many parts of the country by Sunday morning. Airlines have cautioned that those figures could grow as further snow is predicted to fall on Monday and early Tuesday, according to Japan Times. Some locations had avalanche warnings issued. The meteorological agency projected up to 90 centimetres of snow in the Hokuriku region and 80 centimetres in the Chugoku region by 6 am on Monday. Heavy snowfall will continue Meteorological officials also predict that the heavy snowfall will continue as the cold front moves over the country. By Monday, the snowstorm will move toward the Honshu, which is the central part of the country, particularly in the Kansai region, according to ANI. The weather in the southern part of the country, Kyushu and Shikoku is likely to be similar. The snowfall also had a huge impact on road and rail travel. Rail service has been suspended on sections of the Uetsu Mainline, which runs up the Sea of Japan coast through Niigata, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures. According to Japan Times, residents in locations where significant snowfall was expected were warned to avoid non-essential outings at noon on Sunday. The entire world witnessed the cancellation of flights due to Omicron The entire world witnessed the cancellation of flights on the Christmas weekend but for a different reason than Japan. Because of the growing concerns of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, thousands of flights were cancelled around the world during Christmas. Japan's borders have already been tightened to deal with the extremely contagious variant. Japanese Ministry of Health suggests that there were just a dozen cases of infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the community, out of a total of 231 cases of infection with the variant, the majority of which came from outside the country. (Inputs from ANI) Image: AP/ Pixabay Far from home, migrants stranded at Mexico's northern border, Tijuana, spent Christmas Eve amid nostalgia and uncertainty at whether their dream of reaching the United States will be achieved. For several, it is their first Christmas away from their loved ones. Honduran migrant Agusto Martinez, his wife Rosa Aviles and their five children have waited at the Tijuana shelter for more than six months. The Martinez family did not think they would still be waiting for their immigration papers at this time of year, but they had to spend Christmas at the "Juventud 2000" shelter. Martinez wants to reunite with the children he left behind when he was deported from the United States twenty years ago. The revival of the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" policy to make the asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration courts comes as the Biden administration manoeuvres to end it in a way that survives legal scrutiny. President Joe Biden scrapped the policy, but a lawsuit by Texas and Missouri has forced him to put it back into effect, subject to Mexico's acceptance. The Mexican government has stopped caravans of walking migrants. But it has not been able to stop smugglers who pack migrants into trucks in their hundreds, charging them thousands of dollars, to take them to the American borders. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Kathmandu, Dec 26 (PTI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday underlined the need to ratify the proposed grant assistance from the US under the Millennium Challenge Corporation by forging consensus among all political parties, asserting that the USD 500 million programme is not against the national interest. Nepals political parties are sharply divided over the issue of whether to accept the US grant assistance under the MCC agreement, which is under consideration in the House of Representatives. Nepal and the United States signed the MCC agreement in 2017. Under the MCC programme, the US government will provide grant assistance which will be mainly utilised on strengthening Nepal's transmission line that would facilitate the export of hydroelectricity to India in the near future and also improve the country's road networks. The agreement, however, has become a hotly debated political issue in the Himalayan nation, with some parties objecting to it on grounds that the US programme is part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and its parliamentary ratification would be against Nepals national interest. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 8th general convention of the CPN-Maoist Centre, Deuba stressed the need to ratify the USD 500 million MCC agreement by forging consensus among all political parties. He rejected the view expressed by some political leaders that the agreement was against the national interest of Nepal, saying: "it is a grant assistance, so there is no question of MCC going against the national interest". The Deuba government is under pressure to ratify the programme from the House. However, Deuba's coalition partner is the Maoist Centre, which has not been positive about the American programme from the very beginning. The US officials have said that America cannot wait indefinitely for Nepal to endorse the agreement through parliament and expedite implementation of the projects both countries agreed upon in the past. Nepal was the first country in South Asia to qualify for the programme after it met 16 out of the 20 policy indicators. The Millennium Challenge Corporation is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency established by the US Congress in 2004. It is an independent agency separate from the State Department and USAID. Prime Minister Deuba also said no one should doubt the longevity of the five-party ruling coalition. CPN-Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda also spoke at the convention and said no one should be blamed for the present state of weakness of the party, and that he would go for "self-analysis" to arrive at a conclusion. Chairman Prachanda, who is presenting a document at the closed session of the party, said his document also includes the impacts of science and technology on socialism, as well as the issues of climate change and the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our party has concluded that development of science and technology has further widened the gap between the poor and the rich nations," he said. Former senior Maoist leader C P Gajurel said reclaiming the land allegedly encroached by India as a pre-condition for forging unity among various factions of the Maoist party. "The doors for unification between Maoists will open after the encroached land of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpyadhura are reclaimed by the CPN (Maoist Center)," he said. The Lipulekh pass is a far western point near Kalapani, a disputed border area between Nepal and India. Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of their territory - India as part of Uttarakhands Pithoragarh district and Nepal as part of Dharchula district. The bilateral ties came under strain under then Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli after India opened an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8, 2020. India said the road section in Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand lies completely within its territory. Nepal protested the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through its territory. Days later, Nepal came out with a new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories. India reacted sharply to the new political map, calling it a "unilateral act" and cautioning Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, a senior leader of CPN-Maoist Centre, said at the convention that it was the main responsibility of the party to consolidate internal unity so as to prevent foreign interference and to protect the country from any type of external intervention. "Our party will never bow down before any force on the issue of nationalism," he said. PTI SBP MRJ MRJ (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) A Russian organisation that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid to detainees said Saturday that government regulators blocked its website, the latest move in a months-long crackdown on independent media and human rights organisations. OVD-Info reported that Russia's internet and communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, blocked the group's website. The organisation said in a tweet that it wasn't formally notified about the decision and doesn't know the reason for the action beyond that it was ordered by a court outside Moscow earlier in the week. The website was unavailable to Russian internet users on Saturday and was listed on the government's registry of banned web pages. In light of the move, OVD-Info urged supporters to follow its pages on a number of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Russian social network VK and messaging app Telegram. In comments to the Interfax news agency, Roskomnadzor said the website was blocked because, according to the court ruling, it was involved in "propaganda of terrorism and extremism" by publishing content aimed at "justifying actions of extremist and terrorist groups." The agency said social media platforms have been told to remove the group's accounts. OVD-Info co-founder Grigory Okhotin rejected the accusations on Saturday. "Naturally, we are sure that we are not justifying extremism or terrorism," he said. "Of course we write about such cases, this is our job, but it is not justifying." Okhotin said the ruling to block the website came as a surprise, even though the group knew the prosecutor's office in Lukhovitsy, a town 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Moscow, had opened an investigation of some kind. "We see this as a new round of pressure on us and on civil society. This is a very serious development and serious accusations that will make our work much more difficult," Okhotin said. OVD-Info gained prominence for its meticulous tracking and counting of arrests at street protests in Russia. Activists first started the practice during mass protests triggered by a 2011 Russian parliamentary election tainted by numerous reports of voter fraud and then formed a group that has continued the work over the years. The data has been indispensable to news outlets over the years as Russian authorities largely kept quiet or underplayed the scale of mass arrests at protests and demonstrations. OVD-Info operates as a legal aid group as well, dispatching lawyers to help detained protesters at police stations and in courts. In September, a Sweden-based international human rights organisation awarded OVD-Info its Civil Rights Defender of the Year award. That same month Russian authorities designated the group as a "foreign agent" a label that comes with excessive government scrutiny and strong pejorative connotations that can discredit recipients. Okhotin said the group would continue to inform Russians about political repression despite the website being unavailable to viewers. "We will definitely find some form or another to keep the public informed," he said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered thousands of soldiers to return to the defence base after they conducted month-long drills near Ukraine, prompting fears of invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour, and reaction from the West. More than 10,000 Russian troops were spotted returning with their weaponry and equipment after holding military exercises on the border with Kyiv as well as further afield in regions surrounding neighbourhood territories of Stavropol, Astrakhan, North Caucasus republics, and in Russia's Caucasus ally Armenia. "A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorized units has been completed," Russias state-affiliated agency INTERFAX announced on Saturday. The Russian Defence Ministry, meanwhile, was quoted in the report as declaring that the military drills for Southern Military District forces that were conducted in a host of southern regions including Rostov, Krasnodar, and Crimea had concluded. Russian President Putin ramped the military presence from 60,000 to 90,000 on the border as tensions soared with Ukraine over the US militarys joint exercise held with the NATO forces in the neighbouring Black Sea, where Russia has forbidden the foreign warships to enter. A US intelligence report revealed that Moscow, extremely provoked with the US and its allies, planned to ramp up the Russian soldiers to as high as 175,000 on the Ukrainian border, as it flexed the military muscle in a dire warning to the Western nations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a presser had lambasted US and NATOs behaviour as reckless and provocative one that threatened the security of Moscow. Russian leader accuses West of deploying weapons 'at our doorstep' Moscow expects the United States to abandon plans to dominate the Black Sea, the Kremlin asserted, after US Sixth Fleet (SIXTHFLT), a naval striking group entered the Black Sea with the control ship USS Mount Whitney to hold a joint operation alongside NATO allies and partners. Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the US and NATO moves lead to a decrease in predictability and seriously increases the risk of escalation. Recently, amid the fears of Ukrainian incursion by Russia, Putin handed a document seeking NATO guarantees that would preclude any further Western expansion and deployment of its weapons near Russias border. Russia is not threatening anyone, Putin clarified at a state conference, categorically stressing that seeks strong, reliable, and long-term guarantees of its security from the US and allies who have deployed weapons at our doorstep. While engaging in dialogue with the United States and its allies, we will insist on the elaboration of concrete agreements that would rule out any further eastward expansion of NATO, the Russian leader noted. West has failed to deliver on verbal commitments, he reiterated, as he called for the US President Joe Biden to engage in detailed dialogue on the issue, and also to secure the guarantees. The Russian leader has asked NATO to remove the multinational battalions from Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and abort the military alliance with Kyiv or Russia would take "appropriate retaliatory" steps to what he labelled the aggressive moves of the West. The Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban government has formed a new 170-member police unit for the protection of educational institutes. According to a Khaama Press report, the newly formed security personnel are a part of the ministry's Special Forces that were trained in 313 central corps for 30 days, according to an official statement issued by the Taliban. The creation of a special security force to protect educational institutions was a much-needed step, said Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Lutfullah Khairkhaw. While addressing the new graduates, the defense ministry said that the protection of educational institutions is as important as their stronghold. This decision was taken by the Taliban in view of numerous complaints filed by people who reported the behavior of Taliban affiliates now protecting these institutes. Meanwhile, public universities and girls' high schools have not resumed yet. Ever since the hardline Islamist group took control of Afghanistan, co-education has been banned across the country. The senior members of the group have ordered that girls and boys in universities to not be allowed to study in the same classroom. How has the Taliban takeover affected girls' education? The Taliban takeover has greatly affected the education of girls in Afghanistan. Since August, there has been a noticeable drop in the attendance of girls in primary schools, although they've been allowed to return to schools. However, due to extreme poverty and security concerns, parents are reluctant to send younger girls to school. Earlier, the acting Deputy Education Minister, Abdul Hakim Hemat, confirmed that the government is looking forward to creating a new education policy, which is likely to come in the new year. Until then, girls would not be allowed to attend secondary school. As per various media reports, groups of armed Taliban terrorists across various places have reportedly approached school girls on the street, asking them to cover their hands and mouths, due to which a majority of girls have stopped going to school. Since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, the country has been in chaos. With a lack of good governance and massive financial crisis, the country is on the brink of being pushed into a famine. Image: ANI/AP With Inputs from ANI As tensions on the Moscow-Kyiv border continue to simmer, the Pentagon has decided to chalk out a plan to provide battlefield intelligence to Ukraine in order to help the country respond more quickly to the potential Russian invasion, a senior administration official told the New York Times on Saturday. The shared information could include images, videos and other related content to ascertain if Russian troops are strolling towards the Ukraine border from the Donbas region (where the Russian troops are currently deployed), to allow Kyiv stall any possible aggression. This comes after Washington sought to project support for the former Soviet nation's sovereignty from Russia. Nevertheless, the official acknowledged that the US Defence Department's move could irk Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has, through his repetitive hostile assertions, blamed America and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for fuelling tensions between the two former Soviet nations. "The US intelligence agencies are already giving Ukraine access to more information than before the alleged Russian military build-up and this may result in Ukraine striking first," a source close to the matter admitted to New York Times, under conditions of anonymity. The report comes two days after Putin suggested that Russia will not "sit idly against "unfriendly steps rising from aggressive western politics," according to the Associated Press. It is to be noted that the tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated since 2014 when the former seized the Crimean Peninsula. Also, Russia-backed rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces. More than 14,000 have lost their lives in the bitter tension between the nations. Recently, with Moscow amassing over 90,000 troops in Ukraine's Donbas territory, experts like Evelyn Farkas, who was a top official in former US President Barack Obama's administration, believe that Putin has just declared war. Ukraine President discusses Russia with US senators On Friday, 20 US senators sat for a video call with President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, amid a further escalation of tension, with Washington warning Russia of economic sanctions in case of invasion. According to information from Zelensky's office, as quoted by the Associated Press, the senators and congressional representatives spoke about the Russian military build-up and Kyiv's "Euro-Atlantic aspirations" and its prospects for NATO membership, which Russia strongly opposes. Nevertheless, referring to Putin's demand for a "guarantee" against Ukraine joining NATO, Zelensky stressed that "not a single third country can have a say in Ukraine's integration into NATO." (With inputs from AP) (Image: AP) There is no rational justification for a demand for the reunification of Taiwan with the PRC A man (C) wearing a face mask with the image of China's President Xi Jinping (R) joins other human rights activists as they protest in Taipei against the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games to mark Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, 2021. Xi Jinping and other Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders are ramping up rhetoric about the necessity of unifying China by bringing Taiwan under their control as a sacrosanct mission of the entire Chinese people. Since 1949, the uneasy status quo in relations between Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has allowed both to build their societies, and even cooperate, without it leading to overt conflict. But Beijing is now threatening to attempt a military solution that could lead to a devastating global war. In this situation, a sober examination of historical facts is appropriate. A right to territory is generally based on historical precedent, cultural and ethnic affinity, political consensus or military conquest. Chinas claims on Taiwan are unconvincing when measured according to the first three of these criteria. First, lets look back in history as far as possible. Mainland authorities have repeatedly claimed that Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. The Chinese people first developed Taiwan. In fact, Taiwan was first settled by Austronesian peoples 6,500 years ago, members of the same cultural group that moved into a number of South Asian territories; some current citizens of Taiwan retain this identity. The earliest official mainland Chinese government agency in Taiwan was not established until 1281 AD, when the Yuan Dynasty placed a patrol and inspection unit in Penghu, an island located between mainland China and Taiwan. From 1624, Taiwan was occupied by the Dutch. The first Han Chinese regime was established in Taiwan in 1662. China ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895. In 1945, after the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation, Taiwan was returned to the Republic of China (ROC). In 1949, after the government of the ROC was driven from the mainland by victorious Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War, it established itself on Taiwan. Historically, mainland Chinese regimes thus only fully controlled Taiwan for 237 years out of the islands recorded history. Taiwan has never been part of the state established by the Communist Party in 1949. There is no rational justification for a demand for the reunification of Taiwan with the PRC, either on the basis of ancient or recent history. Today, over 95 percent of Taiwans 23.5 million people are Han Chinese, the result of waves of migration from the mainland over centuries, and thus share a root identity with the dominant ethnic group in PRC, in the same manner as many white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant Americans share a cultural identity with most citizens of the United Kingdom, from which their ancestors immigrated centuries ago. In the decades since the Republic of China established itself on Taiwan, however, its people have developed a unique and independent political and national identity. Originally a highly authoritarian state, the ROC has become a model of peaceful democratic transformation. While the mainland regime is totalitarian, Taiwan is one of the most free and democratic countries in the world. Public sentiment in Taiwan is overwhelmingly opposed to becoming assimilated into Communist China, and favors Taiwan as an independent, democratic state. Before Xi began to threaten Taiwan, many Taiwanese supported a policy of One China Two Interpretations, and wanted closer economic ties to the PRC. But with increasingly hostile signals from Beijing, those views have receded. One wonders if most mainland Chinese might support a status quo with Taiwan, while their rulers gin up irredentist aggression through ruthless media manipulation. Taiwan and the PRC have much to gain by peaceful cooperation, just as both the PRC and Hong Kong benefited from their economic cooperation. But Xi Jinping and the CCP, without clear historical or cultural foundations, or political support for merging Taiwan into Communist China, are aiming to justify their territorial claim by conquering Taiwan militarily, creating a fact on the ground by force. The regime is preparing for a war to gain control of Taiwan by pouring resources into a nuclear and conventional military build-up in the face of an almost total lack of support for unification by the people of Taiwan. An attempt to occupy Taiwan by force could lead to war with the United States, Japan, Australia and other countries, a war with devastating social, economic and environmental consequences. Even if an invasion were initially successful, the reunification of China would require long-term brutality that would destroy not only countless lives, but also the reputation and authority China has been attempting to build in the international community. It would halt Chinas economic progress. Irredentism has long served fascist regimes, like those of Nazi Germany and Mussolinis Italy, which have used the dream recovering lost territories to stoke aggressive ethnic nationalism, and bolster their own fragile legitimacy. Xi Jinpings plan to subvert the democracy on Taiwan is not only historically, but also morally indefensible. Aaron Rhodes is Senior Fellow in the Common Sense Society, and President of the Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe. He is the author of The Debasement of Human Rights. Irans judiciary has granted Christian prisoners 10 days' leave to spend the holidays at home with their families, in a rare move toward members of the Islamic republics Christian minority. "The decision is to mark the New Year 2022 and the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said on December 26. The website said that the head of the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi instructed authorities across the country to issue the dispensation. But it wasnt clear when the 10-day period starts, or how many Christian prisoners will benefit from the furlough. According to Mizan Online, the measure doesnt apply to inmates convicted for undermining security, organized crime, abductions, armed robberies, and those sentenced to death. Most Christians in Iran are ethnic Armenians who celebrate Christmas on January 6. Around that time of year, some shops in major cities put up decorations, including Christmas trees while people dressed up as Santa Claus stand outside stores. Christians represent less than one percent of Iran's total population of 83 million, the majority of whom are Shiite Muslims. Based on reporting by AFP and tasnimnews.com President Vladimir Putin has said he would ponder various options if the West fails to meet Moscows demands for security guarantees, amid heightened tensions involving a massive deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine. Moscow earlier this month submitted draft security documents demanding an end to NATOs eastward expansion and military cooperation with countries such as Ukraine and Georgia, among other things. Speaking at his annual news conference last week, Putin urged the West to meet the demands immediately, listing off a litany of grievances about Ukraine and NATO. He warned that Moscow would have to take adequate measures if the West continues its aggressive course on the threshold of our home. Asked to specify what Moscow's response could be, he said in comments aired by Russian state TV on December 26 that it could be diverse, adding: It will depend on what proposals our military experts submit to me. He did not elaborate. U.S. officials have said publicly that they were willing to hold talks on the Russian demands. Privately, however, officials in Washington and elsewhere have said some of the demands are either unworkable, impossible, or fundamentally contrary to Western values. The United States and its allies have agreed, however, to launch security talks with Moscow next month to discuss its concerns. On December 25, a NATO official was quoted as saying Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had decided to convene a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on January 12 and that the alliance was in contact with Russia on the matter. Russias Foreign Ministry said the proposal was still under consideration, with the format and timing needing clarification. It would be the first meeting of the council in 2 1/2 years. Kyiv and its Western backers accuse Russia of having massed around 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in a possible prelude to an invasion. The United States and the European Union have threatened Moscow with harsh consequences in the event of a military escalation. Russia has denied intending to launch an invasion. Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and shortly after threw its support behind separatists battling Ukrainian government forces in the countrys east in a conflict that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since April 2014. Russias Defense Ministry announced on December 25 that more than 10,000 troops had finished monthlong drills near Ukraine, and that the soldiers involved were returning to their permanent bases. The ministry said in a statement that the exercises for Southern Military District forces had taken place in a host of southern Russian regions such as Rostov and Krasnodar, and further afield, including in Stavropol, Astrakhan, and the North Caucasus. Combat training sessions were also held in Russias ally Armenia, occupied Crimea, and the Georgias breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it said. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Current Time Theres a problem with the remote and sprawling network of pipelines and pumping stations that helps Russia move its vast oil resources, making it the worlds second largest exporter of crude. People are stealing the oil. And its not just ordinary citizens: Its sophisticated organized crime groups, operating under the protection of law enforcement officers, including Russias main security agency, the FSB, siphoning off oil using illegal taps and hoses, pumping the liquid loot from pipelines into tanker trucks or river barges. And its just not just a couple of barrels. By one estimate, from state-owned bank VTB Capital, as much as $3.5 billion is lost annually due to oil theft. Losses to the Russian budget? As much as $1.2 billion a year. That extraordinary finding came from the exclusive work of RFE/RLs Russian Service. The Great Russian Oil Heist Its one of more than a dozen major investigations conducted this year throughout Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and South and Central Asia by RFE/RL reporters. What European cities did politically connected insiders in Kazakhstan park their money in? Who was, in fact, behind the grisly unsolved murders of Iranian intellectuals around the world between 1988 and 1998? Here are some of the other highlights of RFE/RLs investigative work over the past year. The Grisly Murder Of An Iconic Iranian Dissident When German police entered a Bonn apartment on August 6, 1992, they found the body of a renowned Iranian entertainer, poet, and dissident who had fled his home country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It was shocking enough to find a switchblade in Fereydoun Farrokhzads shoulder and another knife in his mouth. What was worse: the burners of the stove had been left on for days, heating the kitchen, effectively baking his decaying corpse. A two-year investigation by RFE/RLs Radio Farda revealed that German police thought Farrokhzads murder -- one of a string of killings and disappearances of Iranian dissidents around the world -- bore the hallmarks of Iranian intelligence. It remains unsolved nearly three decades on. A former Iranian intelligence agent also claimed to Radio Farda that Iranian security services deployed another Iranian emigre, who was an acquaintance of Farrokhzad's, to commit the killing. The findings have not only subjected the clandestine work of Iranian intelligence hit squads to new scrutiny. They have also placed renewed attention on the life of Farrokhzad, a figure who broke norms and taboos in Iranian society -- including speaking openly about his sexuality -- and who was a blistering critic of Iran's clerical regime. From Budapest To Zakarpattya For more than a decade, beginning in 2011, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government -- and public funds allied with his political party -- has sent hundreds of millions of euros to Hungarian diaspora communities in countries across Eastern Europe: Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. And Ukraine. Around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians live in the western Zakarpattya region, which borders Hungary. The issue has taken on a political hue there, as some local Hungarians have chafed against government regulations on the use of languages other than Ukrainian, particularly in education. Ukraines security service, meanwhile, has raided Hungarian cultural groups in the past, alleging hints of a separatist movement. Drawing on figures first compiled by a consortium of journalism organizations in Eastern Europe, the investigative unit Schemes run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in cooperation with UA: Pershy television -- discovered that the Hungarian public fund known as Bethlen Gabor sent 115 million euros to ethnic Hungarian communities in western Ukraine. Some of the funding appeared to be benign -- for example, renovating kindergartens where Hungarian Ukrainians can teach their children the Hungarian language and culture. Other funding has more a political tint: for example, funding billboards for an ethnic Hungarian political party that has become more nationalist in recent years. "When such money is invested, it certainly presupposes influence and loyalty," one expert told RFE/RL. The Big Houses, Deep Pockets Of The Kazakh Elite Before his resignation from the presidency in 2017, Nursultan Nazarbaev was Kazakhstans singular leader. As the countrys first post-Soviet president, he was an unrivaled figure who presided over the Central Asian nations remarkable growth in prosperity -- growth fueled in no small part by its massive oil and gas reserves. But the new prosperity came more often to political insiders and relatives of Nazarbaev, who parked their millions -- often accumulated under dubious circumstances -- in mansions and villas abroad. Over the past two decades, relatives of Nazarbaev have purchased hundreds of millions of dollars in posh real estate in Europe and the United States: a constellation of high-end properties on luxurious lakesides, amid Manhattans skyscrapers, Londons tony suburbs, and overlooking the azure waters of Spains Costa Brava. RFE/RL identified at least $785 million in European and U.S. real estate purchases made by Nazarbaevs family members and their in-laws in six countries over a 20-year span. The figure includes a handful of properties that have since been sold, including multimillion-dollar apartments in the United States bought by Nazarbaevs brother, Bolat. It does not include a sprawling Spanish estate owned by Nazarbaevs son-in-law Timur Kulibaev, for which a purchase price could not be found. The findings offer an unprecedented window into the scale of the real estate investments by Nazarbaevs relatives, and how many in close proximity to Kazakhstans ruling family ended up with luxury assets in exclusive locations. It is hard to separate the government from the [Nazarbaev] family, a longtime Kazakh rights expert told RFE/RL. Blackmail, Rape, Suicide In Central Asia The global webcam industry -- where clients from all over the world pay people, women or men, to chat, undress, and often perform sexual acts on camera -- generates billions of dollars annually. In Central Asia, the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, and neighboring Kazakhstans economic capital, Almaty, have emerged as regional hubs for webcam studios. In Kyrgyzstan, as many as 5,000 young women are believed to be working as so-called webcam models, many of whom are trying to make ends meet in a country where nearly a third of the population lives in poverty. An investigation by RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service explored how many of those women are essentially lured into a kind of modern-day slavery and face abuse, blackmail, and, in some cases, rape. Many of the women are afraid to go to the police, fearing they could be exploited or extorted for money. "There are so many young women whose parents are sick, who have disabled children. They really need the money," said one woman who has since stopped working in the webcam industry. Manganese Mayhem In Georgia Its one of Georgias largest industrial operations: a massive manganese mine in a western district that, according to activists and nearby residents, has been causing large-scale pollution and environmental damage for years. The Georgian Manganese LLC ore mine in the town of Chiatura also happens to be controlled by a business group closely linked to the political party Georgian Dream, which has dominated the countrys politics since 2012. With previous ownership tracing back to a shadowy U.S. corporation owned by a Ukrainian billionaire, Georgian Manganese LLC has in recent years been fined hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties by regulators -- fines that have been mysteriously reduced. The company has been the subject of numerous allegations of labor violations. RFE/RLs Georgian Service spent months digging through corporate registries, ownership records, and regulatory filings to show how the Georgian Dream-linked business group schemed to take control of the mine while also flouting environmental regulations to the detriment of nearby villagers. The Uzbek President's Secret Mountain Hideaway A lawyer at the North Caucasus branch of the Russian human rights organization Committee Against Torture says 21 of his relatives have been abducted in Chechnya. Over the past few days, a total of six opposition activists, who have been critical of the Chechen authorities, and human rights defenders have reported the detention or disappearance of dozens of relatives. Abubakar Yangulbaev of the Committee Against Torture told Caucasus.Realities of RFE/RL's Russian Service on December 25 that unidentified men wearing black uniforms took his relatives to police stations, and seized their mobile phones, passports, as well as other documents. The raids took place on December 23-25 in the village of Goity and the regional capital, Grozny, he said. "They have not been charged with any official indictments. According to my information, 21 people have been abducted. At the moment in Chechnya there is a mass abduction of relatives of opposition bloggers, human rights activists, in general people dissatisfied with Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, Yangulbaev said. The lawyer said that he and his brother are accused of moderating and administrating the opposition 1ADAT Telegram channel, which he denied. Since December 22, it has been reported that relatives of opposition bloggers Tumso Abdurakhmanov, Khasan Khalitov, Minkail Malizayev, human rights defenders Mansur Sadulaev and Aslan Artsuev have disappeared or been detained. Federal authorities have not commented on the situation. Kadyrov, who has ruled Chechnya since 2007 with a cult of personality around him, is frequently accused by Russian and international human rights groups of overseeing grave human rights abuses including abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and targeting the LGBT community. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Russian authorities have redoubled their efforts over the past year to repress online freedoms, citing the blocking of tools used to circumvent censorship, expanding oppressive Internet laws, and pressure on tech companies to comply with increasingly stifling regulations. This past years dramatic crackdown on Internet freedoms is the culmination of many years efforts by the authorities to restrict the rights and freedoms of Russians online, Anastasiia Kruope, assistant Europe and Central Asia researcher at HRW, said in a statement on December 24. The government is using its growing technological capacity to engage in nontransparent, unlawful, and extrajudicial restriction of digital rights in Russia, she said. The New York-based human rights watchdog cited the blocking earlier this month of Tor, an encrypted browser commonly used to circumvent local Internet censorship or to browse the Internet anonymously. Since June, Russia has also blocked at least eight virtual private network (VPN) service providers for allegedly violating a 2017 law that prohibits proxy services from facilitating access to websites banned in Russia, it said. HRW said such efforts have been facilitated by Russias deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, which allows the authorities to directly filter, reroute, and block Internet traffic. The sovereign Internet law adopted in 2019 requires all Internet service providers to install DPI technology in their networks. In March, authorities used DPI technology to slow down access to Twitter for its failure to take down content the government deemed unlawful, HRW said, noting that the measure came weeks after social media companies were given large fines for failing to take down posts calling for participation in peaceful mass protests in support of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. According to HRW, the authorities repeatedly threaten to block access to the websites of foreign and Russian tech firms over alleged noncompliance with the countrys Internet legislation. In September, digital rights groups reported the temporary blocking of access to the Google Docs service by Russian Internet service providers, in what they said illustrated the extrajudicial and nontransparent nature of DPI technology. It coincided with the publication by Navalny associates of a list of candidates voters should cast ballots for to topple ruling party incumbents in parliamentary elections. Navalnys voting app also disappeared from the Apple and Google online stores in what Navalny associates slammed as censorship and the tech giants bowing to Kremlin pressure. Over the past year, major social media platforms and other tech companies have also been fined for allegedly violating Russian Internet legislation. Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Google, TikTok, and other Internet companies received fines totaling at least $2.5 million over failures to take down supposedly illegal content or store the personal data of Russian users in the country. According to HRW, the Russian government has also attempted to use its domestic legislation to dictate content moderation practices to Internet companies, even in relation to their business operations in other countries. Earlier this month, Roskomnadzor threatened to block YouTube for taking down the German-language channel of Russia's state-owned media company RT, citing a Russian law adopted a year ago and said to be aimed at safeguarding Russians right of access to information. This law allows the authorities to block websites over censored Russian state media content. HRW said other recent Russian laws raise concerns, including legislation requiring websites designated by the authorities to monitor the number of users and their preferences, and a law allowing for the extrajudicial blocking of alleged defamatory information. Russian authorities claim that theyre working to safeguard the interests of Russian Internet users, Kruope said. Instead, relying on their growing arsenal of internet censorship, they are rapidly turning the Internet in Russia into a zone of repression, she added. Like their coreligionists elsewhere, Roman Catholics in Russia's Tatarstan region also celebrated Christmas midnight Mass on the night of December 24-25. Dozens attended the service at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the region's capital, Kazan. Tatarstan is predominantly Muslim and Orthodox Christian, but some 1,000 Catholics also live there, too, including students from abroad. A Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen has accused Iran and Lebanon's Tehran-backed Shi'ite militant movement Hizballah of helping the insurgents to launch missiles and drones at the kingdom. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki told reporters on December 26 that the Iran-aligned Huthis had been militarizing Sanaa airport and using it as a base to target Saudi Arabia, an allegation the Huthis deny. Malki showed reporters a video clip which he said depicted "the headquarters of Iranian and Hizballah experts at the airport, where the Islamic militant group allegedly "trains the Huthis to booby-trap and use drones. The footage and Malkis claims could not be independently verified. He said that the rebels had fired 430 ballistic missiles and 851 armed drones at Saudi Arabia since 2015, killing 59 Saudi civilians. The most recent casualties were reported on December 24, when the coalition claimed that a Huthi missile hit the Saudi city of Jazan, killing two people. Saudi officials have regularly accused Iran of supplying the Huthis with weapons and Hizballah of training the insurgents. Tehran denies the accusations. Hizballah has previously denied sending fighters or weapons to Yemen to support the Huthis. Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Huthis have been locked in war since 2014, when the insurgents seized Sanaa. The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, supporting forces of the ousted government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fighting the Huthis. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP Typical Jeweller is one of the largest websites on the Russian Internet for the new generation jewellers. The total audience, including social media, is over 100,000 people per month. Every day, the latest news from the jewellery industry, educational articles, and translations are published - a flow of information is created for everyone associated with the world of jewellery art and creativity. Vacancies, announcements of various events are posted, experts opinions are collected on the questions of interest to readers. The Battle of the Jewellers annual competition is regularly held. Dmitry Tataurov, the founder of this project, told Rough&Polished about the competition, the special features of Yekaterinburgs jewellery sector and the Typical Jeweller website. How did you come to the jewellery theme and what is attractive to you? My father had a very small workshop as he was engaged in jewellery and stone cutting. As a child, I always came to my father and watched with my eyes wide open how a fine and beautiful piece of jewellery as appearing from a piece of metal and natural stone. And when my father was not at home, I brought my classmates to his workshop. We had a lot of literature at home related to gemstones and cutting&polishing and manufacturing technologies. I was raised in this environment, watched much and read a lot. As I got older, I began reading jewellery magazines, catalogues, got interested in the jewellery history, read in English about Carl Faberge and his company. So, it all started in my childhood. Why is it, Typical Jeweller? When the rapid development of social networks began, I wanted to create a platform that would bring together the jewellers from different countries. The plans were ambitious and even seemed impossible, but I always believed that everything would work out. So, in 2012, the Typical Jeweller website was launched that brought together many jewellers, gem cutters&polishes and designers. Everyone can find the information they need, including the necessary knowledge, meet like-minded people, get a piece of advice, find a job - and even their own destiny! Once, in the first year of the Typical Jeweller website, I introduced two jewellers from different countries to each other, and now they live together, got married, and have children. The platform makes everyone accessible and open in a common desire to promote the Russian jewellery industry. And this year, we held a charity event and helped a young disabled guy Victor who really wanted to enter the jewellery business, but did not have such an opportunity. We raised funds to buy tools and equipment so that Victor could do jewellery pieces at home. Hundreds of jewellers responded and began to send him rollers, rotary and other tools, and even a workbench. We sent him a large package of tools from the Typical Jeweller store. The idea to give this name to the website came quickly - we used the word jeweller as a basis, and I added the word typical. One of the meanings of this word is real, and this is really a platform for real jewellers who love their work. How did the idea of your Competition come about, how does it differ from other similar ones? There were many ideas and ways of developing the project. Everyone sought thrill and wanted some adrenaline, and I suggested holding an online jewellery competition to see what todays jewellers are making. In 2013, we held the first competition, Battle of the Jewellers, which caused a great resonance from the jewellers, and we decided to develop it in the future. The name Battle of the Jewellers came to our mind at once as it should be something large-scale and bright. Everyone wants to win, which means they have to fight. The main difference and advantage of our Competition are that it is an online one, there are no such projects in Russia, and there are only a few such online jewellery competitions in the world. Second, anyone with any skill level can take part in it. Third, absolutely open and transparent voting at the preliminary stage makes it possible to discover new talents and our Competition turns into a proud moment for a winner. For nine years, we have discovered thousands of new names. Participation in this Competition is a way to be recognized, be promoted, find new fans of their works. Fourth, the award panel of our Competition consisted of 28 members this year, including those from Japan, Miami, and New York, and they chose the prizewinners. This completely excludes any bribery, collusion, and other underhand dealings. This makes our Competition different from all others held in the world. How has the Competition changed over time, what is its agenda? The first Competition was attended by 27 jewellers, mainly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kostroma. For nine years, the Competitions geography has become wider and covered almost all the Russian cities. Later on, the CIS countries joined our Competition such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Georgia. This year, 30 new countries of the world took part in the Competition, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, England, France, South Africa, Nigeria, Cuba, Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland, and many others. This year, the rules of the Competition changed and now, the award panel chooses the winners among the finalists. Previously, the winners were chosen directly by the website participants by voting. The award panel includes famous jeweller Ilgiz Fazulzyanov; as well as Roman Karakurchi, the founder of the International Jewellery School; Akiko Shinzato, the designer from Japan; Mark Terne, the jewellery teacher from Miami; Larisa Zolotova and Tatyana Baboshina, the representatives of the State Hermitage Museum; Elena Denisova, the teacher at the Ural Federal University; Anastasia Yakovleva, the chief artist of the Russkiye Samotsvety (Russian Gems) company, and other recognized art critics and people of the jewellery industry. How did the pandemic and lockdowns affect your project? The pandemic significantly increased the number of participants because this is an online competition. People began to spend much more time on the Internet and social networks than before the lockdowns and became much more active online. The number of participants has grown to 450. There are more interesting works, and some honoured jewellers, the experienced members of the Union of Artists of Russia having a special status in this area, take part in our Competition now, even the jewellers who were the winners in many other well-known competitions in Russia. We keep in touch with the organizers and participants of the jewellery competitions held in Russia and abroad. Our Battle of the Jewellers competition has been recognized by many jewellery exhibitions and museums in the country. To date, the agenda of the Competition is to attract as many participants as possible and be sure that their works are relevant and of high quality. Who participated in the current Competition? Vladimir Maisel, a Union of Artists member; Yulia Gogol, a master of stone-cutting art from St. Petersburg; Dmitry Kuznetsov, a virtuoso jeweller in filigree from Novosibirsk; Stanislav Malov, an engraver from Magnitogorsk, and Alan Revere from San Francisco, well-known all over the world and highly respected in the USA, are among the famous participants in the 9th Battle of the Jewellers. This year, a funny situation was We announced the call for applications six months before the Competition, and Yan Mikhailov from St. Petersburg with his Elephant bead submitted an application in the very first minute, and Alan Revere sent his jewellery item a minute before the deadline for accepting applications. As a result, both became the prizewinners of the Competition in their nominations. Yans jewellery piece won the Audience Award and collected the most likes and the peoples love. It turns out that one participant was almost late but won, and the second jeweller came first and took the main prize. It is impossible to name all the participants, but all of them - even those not mentioned here - made their contribution. What trends can be seen? As in the previous competitions, the trend is jewellery with natural precious and coloured semi-precious stones. Among the Russian jewellers, there is a strong trend towards a decrease in the number of gold items and an increase in silver jewellery. Due to the general economic situation in Russia and the pandemic in the world, many lightweight jewellery pieces with man-made coloured stones have appeared. The Russian jewellers offer lower-end stones in their pieces and more semi-precious and inexpensive studs. Do you have a favourite stone? I like bright stones - opals from Australia or Mexico. As for the popular non-precious stones, I like tourmalines and tanzanites. I also like amethysts that were always popular. In general, the market for gemstones used in jewellery has become very large, and it is interesting to watch its development. At the same time, I believe that the onslaught of man-made stones will make a distinctive mark on the jewellery industry. How does Yekaterinburgs jewellery differ from jewellery made in other cities? There is traditionally a very strong jewellery school in Yekaterinburg. Mainly, the difference is in professional skill and in a large number of natural stones mined in the Urals. All this influences the design of the jewellery pieces by the Ural jewellers. The items are very elegant and expressive based on large precious and semi-precious stones. Can you name your favorite Yekaterinburg jewellers or designers? Of course, I know Elena Opaleva and her famous Gizekh Sphinx necklace, which became a worldwide sensation in 1996. I also like the contemporary art of two Ural jewellers, the Chamovskikh and the Maxim Demidov jewellery houses. I would also like to mention the designer Anna Vaganova as her interesting and creative approach to jewellery is fascinating. What are your plans for the future? We are going to make the 10th Battle of the Jewellers competition in April 2022 the largest ever. We do our best to achieve this and strive to invite over 1,000 jewellers from 100 countries. We are accepting the applications now. We are also launching a Jewellery Showcase on our website where all the Russian jewellers can post their jewellery pieces. And I will end with the phrase that is on our coat of arms - Jewellers of All Countries, Unite! Galina Semyonova for Rough&Polished Michael Mad Dog Ortiz Torres spent at least two decades as an Oceanside gang member and even after he left that life, the label stuck. Back in 2004, he hadnt much cared when his name landed on a court-ordered gang injunction banning him from a number of activities, including hanging out with other documented gangsters in the citys Eastside neighborhood. But those injunctions are permanent. Years later, it was keeping Torres a 42-year-old newlywed, heavy-equipment mechanic and born-again Christian from reaching out to gang members near his longtime home and helping them escape gang life as he had. I wanted to get involved in the community, but there (were) limitations, he said. I could go everywhere, but to the area where I grew up. Advertisement Even though my life had changed, I still had that jacket on me, Torres said. Not anymore. Less than two weeks ago, with the backing of gang prevention advocates and an Oceanside City Council member, Torres name was removed from the injunction a relative rarity, according to county prosecutors. It was life-changing, Torres said. It gives hope to others. Gang injunctions are civil court orders that target a group of individuals by name and bar them from a host of behaviors within a certain area, often including places the gang claims as its turf. Among the usual conditions, people named in an injunction can be arrested for hanging out with other gang members, flashing gang signs or wearing gang clothes. They all meet the criteria of a gang member as defined by the states Department of Justice. The orders are controversial, in part, because they restrict peoples rights before a crime is committed. The first gang injunction issued in San Diego County was in 1997, when Oceanside mired in gang violence worked with prosecutors to obtain one. Over the next 15 or so years, 20 of the court orders were issued against gangs throughout the county. Frank Jackson, the chief of the San Diego District Attorneys Gang Prosecution Unit, said his agency doesnt track how many people have been removed from the injunctions since then, but he estimated that no more than eight have asked to be dropped over the past four years. For a request to be granted, petitioners must show they are crime-free and no longer part of the gang; explain how and why they left the gang; and detail how they communicated that to others. They must also undergo an intensive background check. If a prosecutor agrees with the request, the petition is forwarded to a judge for approval. Terri Perez, the prosecutor who obtained the injunction against Torres and his fellow gang members in 2004, said its fairly unique that people reach out to us and ask to be removed, but it does happen. If they dont meet the gang criteria, I am happy to release them from the injunction, Perez said. I feel it is the right thing to do. Michael Torres, 42, a former Oceanside gang member who was put on a gang injunction in 2004 and has been able to have his name removed from the injunction recently, gestures while talking about his new life and the injunction at Balderrama Park in Oceanside on Wednesday. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune) Torres said he was a gang member early on in life. He started using heroin at 16, he said, and later landed in prison for robberies. He was in lockup when he was served with the gang injunction. When he got out of custody, he repeatedly violated the court order To me, it was just a piece of paper, he said but soon discovered that the violations landed him back in prison, a year at a time. In 2012, Torres, then 38, overdosed on heroin and nearly died. He soon entered a Vista rehab run by Victory Outreach, a front-line ministry that Torres said goes where the gangs are, goes where the drug addicts are. Thats when my whole perspective on life began to change, he said. He immersed himself in the church, where he met his wife Jennifer. He soon wanted to minister to others and, as a liaison for Victory Outreach Vista, joined Save Our Streets, a grassroots group that formed about a decade ago to curb gang violence in Oceanside. A few years ago, while Torres was in Eastside serving the community, he found himself sat on the curb by police who ran his name and discovered he was on the injunction. It was then, he said, that he knew he had to get out from under it. He filled out a petition for removal, available on the gang injunction page of the District Attorneys website, and started the lengthy process. A few months ago, Torres request landed on the desk of Deputy Public Defender Matt Roberts. It was the first such request the veteran defense attorney had ever seen or heard about. It struck a chord with me because I believe in it strongly, Roberts said of removing ex-gang members from injunctions. If you are stuck in a gang, part of the gangs power is to say you can never get out. The injunction just reinforced the gangs power over you. Torres checked the right boxes he had stayed out of trouble for at least five years and Oceanside police had determined he no longer met the states criteria to be documented as a gang member. Police Lt. George Darrah, who oversees the Oceanside Police Departments gang unit, said Torres earned his way off the injunction. I can tell you this about Mr. Torres prior to petitioning the court for removal from the gang injunction, he was actively involved in various civic and community outreach type of activities where he was trying to give back to the community, Darrah said in an email to the Union-Tribune. Torres also had the support of people working ending gang violence, including Wayne Godinet, a longtime community advocate and prominent member of Save Our Streets, who said he noticed that Torres showed up every week,tats and all, to represent the faith-based community. He earned trust. Mike was in the meetings, he was at the park, he was taking to the young ones, Godinet said. Also in his corner: Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, who grew up in the Eastside. In fact, she was the one who called him to give him the news that the injunction was lifted. I think this is fantastic for the community, Sanchez said. He is a really good role model. And we are hoping he is the first of several. He gives them (gang members) hope that they can move on with their life. Nobody not prosecutors, not police contested his removal from the gang injunction. From the time Roberts signed on, it took about two months until Torres was removed from the injunction. The order removing his name from the injunction is a mundane two-page document. But to Torres, it is freedom, another set of prison doors taken off you. It means he can now work closely with gang members in his native Eastside neighborhood. Now I can come back here and be intentional, Torres said. I dont even know half the people (in the gang), I have been good for so long, but I want to be able to build relationships with them and just share that you can change. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT 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. A patient sample that wasnt processed for more than 30 days. A test used without proper validation of its accuracy. Patient results changed without notification. Safety and disinfection procedures called into question. These are just a few of the myriad problems at the Valencia Branch Laboratory, a public-private COVID-19 testing lab operated by PerkinElmer that the California Department of Public Health hired in a no-bid, $1.7 billion annual contract. An inspection report released last month by the health department outlines major problems dating back further than a year ago, raising new questions about how the state is spending taxpayer dollars to combat the pandemic. The report shows the lab has routinely underperformed, failing to meet the contracts goals for turnaround times and numbers of processed tests. But the state auto-renewed the yearlong contract at the end of October. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials say the laboratory has been crucial to expanding the states testing capacity for schools and underserved communities. But Californias two largest school districts Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified arent relying on the lab because it was unavailable when they needed it. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press A CalMatters analysis shows that each test at the PerkinElmer Valencia lab in Los Angeles County costs the state more than three times the amount the Los Angeles Unified School District pays a Bay Area startup, SummerBio. Already, the state has paid more than twice as much to PerkinElmer for 5.5 million tests as LA Unifieds total projected $350 million cost for the entire school year. The school year is less than half complete, but LA Unified already has administered 7.4 million COVID tests while never using the states PerkinElmer lab. In the 10 months following its October 2020 opening, the lab processed 1% to 8% of all COVID-19 tests administered in California each week, according to available data archived by CalMatters. During the first week of December, the lab processed roughly 8.5% of Californias tests, according to the most recently available data. PerkinElmer, a global testing diagnostic company, did not respond to a request for comment about the cost of the testing and the reported problems at the lab. State health department officials, in an unsigned statement in response to questions, said the PerkinElmer contract was renewed because of the potential for a winter surge and continued need for testing. But the health departments report, which was released eight months after officials indicated it would be completed, revealed that inspectors threatened sanctions for major deficiencies just 10 days before the contract was renewed. The state public health department probably should have canceled (the contract) because honestly, theres other vendors out there. Theyre doing it for a lot less money more efficiently, Republican Senate minority leader Scott Wilk, who represents the area surrounding Valencia, told CalMatters. Wilk has been the most outspoken critic of the contract, repeatedly calling on the Newsom administration and the health department to halt the auto-renewal. Wilk said his office is working on a proposal to reform the no-bid contracting powers that the Legislature granted Newsom at the beginning of the pandemic. I think there have been abuses there, Wilk said. Public health experts and advocates say that despite the labs troubles, it provides critical testing for smaller school districts, rural counties and underserved communities. Roughly 62% of tests processed at the lab are from communities of color, with about a third from the states most disadvantaged neighborhoods, based on the California Healthy Place Index. In Madera County, for instance, the lab allowed the county and its partners to ramp up testing in a speedier time frame. Valencia has been a net positive for Madera County. Residents would have been at a significant disadvantage without the combination of the Valencia lab and state contracts like the one with OptumServe, said Sara Bosse, Madera Countys public health director. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press The state currently pays PerkinElmer $37.78 per test, according to a Department of Finance analysis, and charges schools $21 and community organizations $55 per test. That compares to $12 per test that LAUSD pays SummerBio. When the state contract was announced, it was hailed by local governments and health organizations as a cost-savings measure. But as whistleblower reports about lab failings emerged and vendors with more competitive pricing came online, many questioned why the state didnt try to renegotiate a better price, which is allowed under the contract. Compared with SummerBios pricing for LA Unified, the state could have paid approximately $4.6 million less for testing during the first week of December, the most recent week the labs testing numbers are available. LA Unified tests a dizzying half million students and employees weekly and has been held up by proponents of testing and critics of the state government as a model for COVID-19 surveillance. According to district documents, 22 companies were evaluated through an expedited bidding process and SummerBio offered the lowest price by far, $38 to $166 less than other diagnostics companies, including major players like Curative and Fulgent. The state has paid PerkinElmer about $740 million for testing in the past year. Most of the cost is recouped through federal funds and health insurance payments, according to the state health department. In contrast, LAUSD is projected to spend $350 million for the entire school year, and tests far more people per week than the Valencia lab. The district will also recoup the costs through federal school reopening grants and federal emergency funds. Cost comparisons from laboratory to laboratory are difficult because a laboratorys testing arrangements vary due to differences in the scope of their contracts and the set-up of each laboratory, health officials said in an emailed statement. The health department did not answer questions about whether other vendors were considered or whether the department has tried to negotiate a lower rate with PerkinElmer. SummerBio representatives declined to comment about the Valencia lab but said the company has been in contact with state officials. LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said he notified the governors office about the districts plans as a courtesy, months before the PerkinElmer contract was announced. As its the largest district in the state and second-largest in the nation LAUSDs contracts are often piggybacked by other districts and government organizations. The simplest way to put it is, they (state health officials) werent particularly responsive or interested, Beutner said. State officials say the laboratory is needed to reach communities with few resources. San Diego Unified school board President Richard Barrera said that for smaller districts, the state support is likely crucial to keeping kids in classrooms. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Asssociated Press Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. State health department officials said in their statement that control of the supply chain was one of the reasons PerkinElmer was awarded the contract. Like smaller school districts, some rural counties have relied heavily on the PerkinElmer lab. In Tulare County, at least 23 public testing locations both community sites and schools send COVID testing samples to the state lab. In addition, local pharmacies and clinics contract with the state on their own, according to Tulare County Public Health. In the past two decades, 11 public health labs have closed, leaving the state with the same number of laboratory resources that it had in 1950 despite having more than three times the population. They need to keep funding (the Valencia lab), said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California. The issues that came with opening a laboratory in a hurry were avoidable if local public health infrastructure had been funded adequately to begin with, she said. When the lab opened in October 2020, it was built with the promise to process 150,000 tests per day, doubling the states capacity at a time when local public health departments, commercial labs, and health systems were straining to keep up. However, commercial labs and health systems have simultaneously ramped up capacity and have accounted for the bulk of testing throughout California. The lab processes a daily average of 40,000 tests, according to state health officials. But the PerkinElmer Valencia lab has routinely processed far fewer results than its commercial counterparts, at times less than 4% of the states total tests during the summer of 2021, according to available data archived by CalMatters. It wasnt until schools opened in August that the lab began processing more than 10% of the states tests. In contrast, commercial labs have accounted for 60 to 70% of all tests, while medical centers account for roughly 20%. At times, SummerBio alone has processed a greater proportion of tests than all public health labs combined, reaching nearly 20% mid-September. At the states PerkinElmer lab, aside from capacity concerns, the states report from April highlighted four instances between Nov. 14 and Dec. 1, 2020, where groups of test results were corrected or amended, but there was no evidence that patients were promptly notified, meaning they may have inaccurately thought they tested positive or negative. Inspectors also reported that when the lab lost tests, instead of reporting them as lost, it labeled the samples unsatisfactory. State health officials said the problems found in the inspection reports have since been resolved. DeBurgh, the director of the Health Officers Association, said the state has a responsibility to ensure testing is available to everyone regardless of cost or insurance status. Because commercial labs wont be around forever, the state needs the Valencia lab for long-term public health beyond the pandemic, she said. Elaine Howle, who is stepping down this month after leading the state Auditors Office for 21 years, said in a November CalMatters interview that auto-renewal of contracts like the PerkinElmer one may be something thats particularly concerning, particularly if, as you say, there were some reporting requirements and those werent met. Sacramento public contract lawyer Jennifer Dauer said its not uncommon for governments competitive bidding requirements to be suspended or auto-renewal of contracts to occur during emergencies like the pandemic or wildfires. Wilk said that as the pandemic evolved, and once issues at the laboratory became apparent, the state should have, at minimum, renegotiated the contract rather than renew it on the same terms. Renegotiate and get a better deal for the taxpayers, he said. Kristen Hwang and Ana B. Ibarra write for CalMatters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics. Bay Area residents can expect more rain this weekend into next week as another cold front is expected to move through the region, bringing more rainfall, cooler temperatures and even some snow to Bay Area high-elevation ridges and peaks, meteorologists said Saturday. Off-and-on rain showers will persist throughout the Bay Area region on Saturday night into Sunday morning, and will likely continue through a good portion of Sunday before another cold front is expected to move into the region, said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Bay Area office. Gass said the cold front expected to drop on Sunday night into Monday morning will bring much colder temperatures across the Bay Area starting on Monday, with those temperatures settling potentially into the middle of next week. Cities in the North Bay wont see temperatures warmer than the 40s, San Francisco is expected to see temperatures hovering around 50 degrees. Interior valleys in the North Bay, East Bay and South Bay such as the southern portions of Santa Clara County could see freezing temperatures, in the low 30s, Gass said. Overnight temperatures will drop into the 30s starting Monday into Tuesday, even in cities like San Francisco, Gass said. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Sundays weather system is bringing the potential for snow fall in higher elevations of the Bay Area, Gass said, particularly in areas over 2,500 feet. Gass said places such as Mount St. Helena, Mount Diablo and Mount Hamilton could see snow fall, with the latter already seeing a little bit of snow as of Saturday afternoon, Gass said. There is a possibility that the Bay Area residents are likely to be able to look out into the hills and see some snow on those peaks, Gass said. It wont be uncommon to see some snow in those peaks. Gass said its difficult to pinpoint the expected snow fall totals for those high elevation peaks and ridges, saying that All of the moisture and the cold air has to really just align right to see that occur. Mount Tamalpais may see a little bit of snow mixing, Gass said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Another, weaker cold front is expected to drop into the region on Tuesday going into Wednesday, which will bring less rainfall than what residents have experienced in the past few days, Gass said. Across the Bay Area region, Gass said residents may expect to see another .75 to 1.25 inches of rain over the next few days. In the past 24 hours, San Francisco has seen between .3 to .6 inches of rain, portions of the East Bay have seen three quarters of an inch to 1 inch of rain, San Jose has recorded about a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch, and areas in the North Bay have seen between a quarter of an inch to half an inch, Gass said. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez When San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that bringing more aggressive policing to the Tenderloin would be part of her plan to fix the bulls that has destroyed our city, conservative media claimed that the moment marked an ideological shift by a major defund politician. In their told-you-so euphoria, the truth was either swept aside or willfully ignored. Breeds comments werent some kind of course correction. Instead, they were a return to form for the reform-light, police-friendly mayor, and a sign that she is leading the city back down a familiar and potentially flawed path. Breed made her feelings about traditional policing known before her 2012 election to the citys Board of Supervisors, when she said on a candidate questionnaire that year that she supported expanding foot patrols in the city. The San Francisco Police Officers Association returned the love by endorsing her candidacy. When Breed wasnt advocating for more officers, she was often reluctant to criticize them publicly. After the 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old Black man who was shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., protests against police brutality swept the country. Breed helped vote down a Board of Supervisors resolution of support for the movement, saying at the time that the city was not Ferguson. Two years later, Breed, by then president of the Board of Supervisors, largely stayed silent as the national policing debate came home. The San Francisco Police Department was under intense scrutiny over the fatal shootings of Mario Woods in 2015 and Luis Gongora in 2016, as well as public outcry over text messages exchanged among officers where they used racist and homophobic slurs to criticize African Americans, Latinos, Indians and the LGBTQ community. That May, police fatally shot Jessica Williams, 29, an unarmed Black woman whom police accused of trying to flee in a stolen vehicle, culminating in Police Chief Greg Suhrs resignation. Unlike her colleagues on the board, some of whom called for Suhrs resignation and some of whom defended him, Breed declined to take a stance. Because of the citys charter, Breed made the leap from president of the Board of Supervisors to acting mayor in 2017 after the death of Mayor Ed Lee. She was formally elected to the position in the summer of 2018. In her inauguration speech, Breed pledged to add hundreds of officers to the citys police force with the goal of addressing the same kind of crimes shes now decrying in the Tenderloin. Improving police relations in communities of color got only a passing mention. The idea that Breed was a defund mayor first emerged last summer, when she introduced a plan to redistribute $120 million in law enforcement spending over two years to Black neighborhoods. It was a rare moment in her political career where she spoke about cops in a way that resonated more with reformers and police abolitionists than with the police unions. But it didnt take long for Breed to revert to form. Her proposed budget for next year would deliver $689 million to the Police Department if adopted, which is just $3 million shy of the departments all-time high in 2019-20. And this month, Breed called for police to receive even more overtime spending and expanded access to surveillance footage as part of her crackdown on theft and drug use in the Tenderloin. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Breeds critics, including elected officials and local activists, said the mayor should focus on investing in treatment, education and housing rather than policing as a response to deep-rooted social crises. During a recent trip to the area, Breed told media that the city is going to enforce every single law at our disposal to get (drug users) either into treatment, or sadly, the alternative is jail. The mayor described her approach as tough love. But even with the projected spring opening of a supervised drug-use site, there isnt enough treatment to go around. Just two years ago, the citys health department identified nearly 4,000 San Francisco residents who faced homelessness, mental illness and addiction, The Chronicle reported. A city plan to add 400 treatment beds to the existing 2,200 is still under way. Which means police could be saddled with responding to the Tenderloins very public struggles with addiction and mental health issues, and to the citys less visible battle with an abject shortage of social services. Weve seen this movie before. Americas war on drugs resulted in militarized police departments with bloated budgets that drained city finances. It also drove mass incarceration, the effects of which were still living with today. Black people make up 5% of San Franciscos population yet 48% of its jail population, according to a 2020 report from the District Attorneys Office. Eighty percent of people booked into the jail in 2018 reported substance use. Gun-toting foot patrols cant address the root of the Tenderloins problems. But they can appease a base of voters who equate police presence with safety. And they can remind us who London Breed has always been. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips The omicron surge has begun in the Bay Area, but this fifth wave of COVID is unlikely to play out like any of the previous and by now very familiar roller-coaster patterns of the 2-year-old pandemic. Health experts predict a breathtaking climb in cases in the coming days and weeks, probably far surpassing the summer swell of delta and perhaps last winters surge too. Cases will probably spike and crash faster than previous waves, possibly in a matter of weeks rather than months. Though many more people are expected to become ill, including those who are vaccinated and boosted, their symptoms should be mostly mild, and pressure on local hospitals shouldnt be nearly as intense as a year ago. Still, health officials are bracing for a deluge of demand on testing and treatment for COVID. And theyre preparing for a potentially alarming number of people all feeling sick at once a scenario that could cause brief but problematic disruptions in services from health care and education to transportation and grocery shopping. People need to recognize that with omicron we will see a lot more transmission in our community. There will be a lot more infections, said Dr. Matt Willis, the Marin County health officer. Willis recorded what may be the regions first big omicron outbreak a week ago: More than half of the 60 or so people who attended a holiday party later tested positive for the coronavirus, despite everyone being vaccinated and many boosted. None suffered serious illness. But that event, he said, probably foreshadowed the weeks ahead. Were deep into the transition from delta to omicron, Willis said. Less than three weeks after the first case of omicron was identified in the United States in a San Francisco resident on Dec. 1 the highly infectious variant was dominant nationwide. Nationally, coronavirus cases already have spiked past the peak of the delta surge, even before an expected rise because of Christmas and other holiday gatherings. In other countries where omicron has surged ahead of the U.S., cases quickly eclipsed all previous waves of the pandemic. Parts of the U.S. already are inundated. People have reported waiting in lines for two or three hours for coronavirus tests in some East Coast cities where cases are climbing faster than at any other time in the pandemic. In the Bay Area, home testing kits were almost impossible to find in stores ahead of the holidays, and counties were reporting increasing demand for laboratory tests. Cases were quickly doubling in San Francisco in the days before Christmas. Health officials across the region said they expected holiday get-togethers would further accelerate the breakneck spread of omicron. Experts said its encouraging that South Africa, the first country to be inundated by omicron in mid-November, already is seeing a dip in cases, suggesting its latest surge is winding down almost as fast as it began. The key question from a public health perspective is whether an explosion in cases will manifest in hospitalizations and deaths. We always expected cases would rise in the winter, said Dr. Nicholas Moss, the Alameda County health officer. But he and his colleagues were counting on delta this winter, and a scenario similar to the summer surge climbing cases but not necessarily an alarming jump in hospitalizations. Omicron is going to spread so widely that it will do a really good job of reaching the people who are vulnerable, Moss said. Evidence increasingly suggests that omicron causes less serious illness than delta or other coronavirus variants, possibly because of widespread immunity from vaccination or previous infection. Studies from South Africa and the United Kingdom report 40% to 70% fewer hospitalizations with omicron compared with delta. Another potential bulwark against hospitalizations: U.S. authorities have authorized two new pills to treat early COVID and prevent severe illness, though its unclear how widely available those treatments will be during the omicron surge. Communities with high vaccination rates including the Bay Area, where in many counties more than 80% of residents are vaccinated probably will see only a small fraction of those who are infected become severely ill. But health officials repeatedly have warned that even if a much smaller proportion of infected people ends up seriously ill and hospitalized, a massive surge in cases could still result in enough patients with severe COVID to overwhelm health care systems. Because its so infectious, even if omicron is half as severe as delta, we could end up with our hospitals overloaded, said Dr. Maya Petersen, a UC Berkeley epidemiologist who has done disease modeling for California during the pandemic. Boosters will be critical, officials say. Data from around the world show that two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may not provide much protection against severe illness from omicron, and even a booster wont prevent many people from becoming sick with mild symptoms. Studies show that vaccine protection against symptomatic illness from omicron drops to as low as 5% six months out from a second dose, but climbs back to about 50% with a booster. Notably, a third shot appears to boost protection against severe disease and hospitalization from omicron to more than 90%. The problem is that not nearly enough people are boosted, even in the Bay Area. In particular, some health care workers had their initial series of shots nearly a year ago, meaning their protection has probably waned considerably. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that all California health care workers will be required to get boosted by Feb. 1. Some infectious disease experts have called for redefining fully vaccinated as three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two doses of Johnson & Johnson. In California, roughly 40% of people eligible for boosters which includes anyone who got the Johnson & Johnson shot, and those who are at least six months from their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines have gotten them. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Rates are somewhat higher in parts of the Bay Area, including San Francisco, where about 53% of eligible people have gotten boosters. But even thats not nearly enough, health officials say. In San Francisco, if booster uptake does not quicken over the next few weeks, COVID hospitalizations could come close to or even surpass last winters peaks, even if omicron generally causes less serious illness than delta, according to a model that Petersen developed. If booster uptake doubles in the coming weeks, the outlook is much more promising hospitalizations could be less than half of last winters. Just before this Christmas, 37 people were hospitalized with COVID in San Francisco. Hospitalizations reached their highest point in the pandemic in the city last winter, with 259 patients on Jan. 12. Every day that goes by and you get more people boosted, youre in better shape, Petersen said, noting that boosters can start taking effect within days of the shot. Even if hospitalizations climb quite a bit in the coming weeks, the Bay Area is very likely to weather the omicron surge without too much stress on local health care systems. But the rest of California is a bit more concerning, especially parts of the Central Valley that have lower vaccination and booster rates. And if the entire state is slammed by omicron at the same time, overwhelmed health care systems in one region may put pressure on neighboring communities. Hospitals in Stockton, Modesto or Fresno that run out of intensive care beds may need to transfer patients to the Bay Area a situation thats come up in previous surges. Petersens COVID model predicts that hospitals in San Joaquin County will probably reach or surpass last winters peaks, even if booster uptake increases dramatically there. And there are other questions about omicron that could factor into how this surge plays out. The highly mutated variant is still so new that much remains unclear about its effects, especially longer term, infectious disease experts said. Critical variables include how easily omicron spreads among children, especially after they return to classrooms after the holidays. A few major universities have said they will delay returns to in-person lessons after the holidays in light of the omicron spread, but in California, public schools are expected to resume classes as usual in early January. Also unclear is how vulnerable vaccinated and boosted people might be to long COVID if they become infected with omicron. And it remains to be seen how long the boosters provide protection Israel already has started administering fourth shots to some of its vulnerable populations. We have to let the data evolve and get a much better feel for how this is playing out, not only globally and in the United States, but locally where we have high vaccination rates, said Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease expert. Right now, the advice stands: You do not want to get infected with this virus. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday BOSTON (AP) A Boston firefighter was injured while fighting a building fire in Jamaica Plain on Christmas morning, authorities said. Firefighters responded to the fire at the four-story building on Washington Street on Saturday morning. The firefighter was injured in a fall and taken to the hospital, the fire department said. The firefighter's condition was not disclosed. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage, officials said. The building was vacant and no one was displaced by the fire, the fire department said. WYOMING, Mich. (AP) A western Michigan city plans to install a dozen cameras that will record license plate numbers. The effort in Wyoming is aimed at solving and reducing violent crime, MLive.com reported. The 12 automatic license plate recognition cameras will be installed within the next two months at six intersections. Theyll capture video as well as every license plate and the make, model and colors of vehicles that pass by them. The locations of the cameras can be changed. Right now, we have about six or seven police officers on the street, and its difficult for us to be everywhere at every time, Wyoming Police Chief Kim Koster told the newspaper. We need assistance. We need some technology to help us in that regard, and the license plate readers are something that we started to see utilized by other agencies." License plate numbers or descriptions about vehicles involved in crimes can be entered into a system which will notify officers if and when vehicles matching the plates or descriptions are detected passing through intersections equipped with the cameras, Koster said. The system will primarily be used for investigations into major crimes, including crimes against people, as well as aid in the search for stolen vehicles. The system wont be used for traffic enforcement. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. One way of reducing crime is to solve crime, and especially violent crimes or crimes against persons, Koster said. Im looking for this technology to provide us and our investigators with leads and evidence that will help us to bring closure to cases that might not otherwise be solved. Data and images captured by the system are only stored for 30 days, according to MLive.com. BANJUL, Gambia (AP) Gambia's former dictator, Yahya Jammeh, should face prosecution for murder, torture and sexual violence, according to a new report by a truth, reconciliation and reparations commission established after he fled into exile five years ago. The long-awaited report recommends that a special international court be set up to try Jammeh and others in West Africa, but outside of Gambia. The report, which is based on years of witness testimonies, already had been presented to President Adama Barrow, but its posting online late Friday marked the first time that the complete findings were made public. Gambian Justice Minister Dawda A. Jallow said that the government was committed to the implementation of the report," but wouldn't release a paper before May on how it plans to go forward. Reed Brody with the International Commission of Jurists said he expected pressure to now mount on Gambia's leader to deliver justice without further delay for victims who have already waited five years, and in some cases much longer. There is still a lot that needs to be done, but I wouldnt be surprised if we see Yahya Jammeh in a court sooner rather than later, said Brody, who also played an instrumental role in bringing former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre to trial at a special court in Senegal. Jammeh, who ruled Gambia for 22 years, lost the 2016 presidential election, but he refused to concede defeat to Barrow. He ultimately took exile in Equatorial Guinea amid threats of a regional military intervention to force him from power. It remains unclear whether Equatorial Guinean authorities would extradite Jammeh should criminal charges be filed. Barrow, who ultimately prevailed after the 2016 vote, was reelected earlier this month. The truth commission was mandated to establish an impartial historical record of abuses committed from July 1994 to January 2017, when Jammeh fled the country. More than two years of hearings that led to the report documented human rights abuses and horrors that occurred under Jammehs rule. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Human rights groups say arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and summary executions became the hallmark of the regime. Testimonies made by perpetrators before the truth commission confirmed that some killings were done at Jammeh's direction. The truth commission report also said that Jammeh had raped women including Fatou Jallow, who later testified before the truth commission and published a book earlier this year about her ordeal. Jammeh denies any wrongdoing. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the justice ministers name is Dawda A. Jallow, not Amadou Dawda Jallow. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) Russia has doubled the purchases of natural gas from Turkmenistan this year amid rising global demand, the Russian ambassador in Ashgabat said Friday. Ambassador Alexander Blokhin said Russia this year stands to import about 10 billion cubic meters (353 billion cubic feet) of gas from Turkmenistan, nearly twice the amount imported in 2020. Now Playing: A surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack on Christmas Eve off the central coast of California, authorities said. (Dec. 25) Video: Associated Press MORRO BAY, Calif. (AP) A surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack on Christmas Eve off the central coast of California, authorities said. The male surfer was pulled from the water north of the famous Morro Rock around 10:45 a.m., Morro Bay police said on Twitter on Friday. He was not responsive after being brought to land. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A Yemeni rebel attack on Saudi Arabia's southern border town of Jizan killed two people and wounded seven more late Friday, Saudi state-run media reported. Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a projectile that killed a Saudi citizen and Yemeni resident in the southwestern Saudi province of Jizan, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Six of the wounded are Saudis and one is a Bangladeshi national, Saudi media said. Shrapnel also smashed into nearby cars and shops. The fatal cross-border attack marks an escalation in Yemen's long-running civil war. Saudi-led military coalition airstrikes struck Sanaa earlier on Friday, hitting a military camp near the city center, Saudi media reported. Houthi media said the strikes had hit a populated neighborhood, damaging homes. On Saturday, Yemeni Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie, a Houthi spokesman, said the rebels fired three ballistic missiles on Jizan, targeting what he described as vital and sensitive sites there. He provided no further details. Yemen's war erupted in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the country's north. Months later, the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition intervened to oust the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government. The war has settled into a stalemate and spawned the world's worst humanitarian disaster. Throughout the conflict, the Houthis have increasingly staged drone attacks and fired missiles across the border at airports, oil facilities and military installations within the kingdom. Those assaults have rarely caused substantial damage, but over the years have wounded dozens and rattled global oil markets. Within Yemen, the Saudi-led bombing campaign has drawn international criticism for hitting non-military targets such as hospitals and wedding parties in the Arab worlds most impoverished nation. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Yemen's civil war has killed some 130,000 people, including thousands of civilians. Earlier this week the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, reported that attacks by the Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia have more than doubled this year from last year. Based on an analysis of thousands of Houthi attacks between 2016 and 2021, it said Houthi attacks on the kingdom averaged 78 a month this year, compared to 38 a month last year. The cross-border assaults provide a broader view of the regional proxy war between Tehran and Riyadh. Although the regional powerhouses recently have engaged in Bagdad-brokered talks to cool down tensions, a political settlement in Yemen remains elusive. 1 In The Matrix Resurrection, Keanu Reeves reprises his role as: A: Neon/James Anders B: Nitro/William Andre C: Neo/Thomas Anderson 2 Violators of new state water use rules will: A: Face arrest B: Fines of up to $500 a day C: Have their water turned off 3 S.F. District Attorney Chesa Boudin: A: Proposed an anti-crime police strike force B: Sued to stop the recall election against him C: Criticized the mayors anti-crime initiatives 4 What is a new mandate for the states health care workers? A: COVID booster shots or twice-weekly testing B: Special COVID insurance C: All their family members must be vaccinated 5 What Northern California city was the most popular search on Zillow in 2021? A: San Francisco B: South Lake Tahoe C: Monterey More Information Answers: 1-C, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A, 5-B, 6-B 7-A, 8-C, 9-B, 10-C See More Collapse 6 Why are monarch butterflies in the news? A: They became extinct B: Huge number wintering on Californias Central Coast C: Few are showing up on Californias Central Coast 7 A court ruled that the family of a man who died of COVID he caught from his wife: A: Can sue the wifes employer for damages B: Cannot sue the wifes employer for damages C: Is suing Chinas government 8 Writer Joan Didion died this week. Where was she born? A: New York B: San Francisco C: Sacramento 9 What San Francisco cop movie was released 50 years ago? A: Bullitt B: Dirty Harry C: The Streets of San Francisco 10 Former Bay Area sportscaster Kate Scott is now: A: Play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers B: Play-by-play announcer for the Packers C: Play-by-play announcer for the 76ers Harry Mok; hmok@sfchronicle.com Regarding Breeds Tenderloin crackdown assailed (Front Page, Dec. 21): History repeats itself. This story brings to light just how quickly we forget. San Franciscos former mayor, Frank Jordan, tried something very similar to Mayor London Breeds Tenderloin plan. Jordans plan was called Matrix. Jordans plan was very unpopular and the results were short lasting and cosmetic. The housed and unhoused residents of the Tenderloin deserve an extensive and compassionate solution. I hope Mayor Breed learns from prior administrations mistakes and seeks other solutions. Marisol OConnor, San Francisco Boudin needs to go Regarding Breeds Tenderloin crackdown assailed (Front Page, Dec. 21): After reading Chesa Boudin say were blaming the wrong things for San Franciscos retail theft, I am convinced he is the wrong person to represent the city as district attorney. Boudin fails to understand that the role of prosecutor is primarily to uphold the laws of San Francisco and the state of California and ensure that justice is served. He wasnt elected to promote social welfare policies, and frankly asserting that an increase in the social safety net will decrease the underlying motivations attributed to retail theft is a slap in the face to hard-working San Franciscans. We pay some of the highest taxes in the country, and the state plans to spend $10.7 billion to address housing and homelessness in 2021-2022. A lack of social welfare is not the problem; the problem is criminal activity increases when criminals are emboldened by lax law enforcement and non-prosecution. It is time for a new San Francisco district attorney and a correction to this insane political course. Marc Parella, San Francisco Goodness still exists My wife lost her wallet the other day. We figured it was history. Canceling all the cards was a real pain. Looking in the mailbox the next day, we found that a Good Samaritan had found her wallet and left it in our mailbox. I had told my wife that people were basically honest. Guess what? I was right. Our thanks and blessings go out to you, our unknown angel. By a simple and unselfish act, you have enhanced and restored our faith in humanity. Let us all remember the words that run through all the worlds faiths: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Thanks again, my friend. One more point for the good guys William F. Harwell, San Francisco Manchin could aid Dems Sen. Joe Manchin may actually help Democrats in the 2022 elections if his opposition to Build Back Better results in separate votes on pieces of the proposal. Right now, Republican senators can simply say they oppose the whole package because of its high cost while ignoring whats in it. If they all voted against separate pieces, like preschool or the child tax credit, they would give Democrats great campaign issues. Bill Strawbridge, Mill Valley Pay caregivers well Regarding Elder care in U.S. just got harder (Open Forum, Dec. 21): David Iverson details a reality that many boomers fail to recognize. Aside from our fractured policy in Washington, the looming crisis in care for our elders is upon all of us. Those who believe they will never need such care may be surprised when they do. There is care giving and then there is loving care, as the Iverson mentions. The difference can be matter of wages. A low-wage caregiver may not be fully committed to their task and possibly distracted anticipating a second job. Providing feeding, bathing and toileting for beloved parents is visceral, intimate and personal. I want a committed worker. As a caregiver myself, I have met numerous immigrants with loving, caring hearts who struggle to make their life work in the Bay Area. We need living wages for all who do this difficult and vital work. Urban theorist Jane Jacobs wrote in her seminal book Death and Life of Great American Cities that the destructive effect of automobiles are much less a cause than a symptom of our incompetence at city building. It would be difficult to find a better illustration of this point than San Franciscos John F. Kennedy Drive prior to its closure to vehicle traffic in April 2020. Before the pandemic, JFK was one of the most dangerous and deadliest streets in San Francisco. There were 91 crashes on it from 2014 through its 2020 closure. Thats mostly because 75% of people traveling on JFK had no intention of visiting the park; they were simply using it as a cut-through. This would be a policy failure for any city; for a supposedly transit-first city like San Francisco, however, it was an inexcusable display of incompetence. Few would object to a gentle street through Golden Gate Park that enables slow, but convenient vehicle access, especially for the mobility impaired, to the parks amenities. But allowing the main thoroughfare of the citys marquee park to become a high-speed commuter freeway as it once was was a gross and too-often deadly civic failure that can never again be allowed to repeat itself. To ensure JFK remains a safe and enjoyable space, worthy of one of the most stunning urban parks in the world, it should remain closed to cars in 2022 and beyond. Critics of this idea have rightly pointed out some of the challenges associated with its implementation. Parking spaces for the disabled will be lost. As will some free parking spaces that could be used by low-income Bay Area residents. But San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Recreation and Parks Department officials have plans to overcome these obstacles. All disabled spaces removed from JFK have been replaced with new free spaces in a nearby surface lot. Music Concourse Drive remains open to cars for drop offs to the museums, as does the underground parking lot below, which allows 15 minutes of free access. Those without mobility impairments are still free to drive to Golden Gate Park and deposit their vehicles in one of the nearly 4,700 parking spaces remaining. Moreover, keeping JFK Drive closed significantly improves travel times for bus riders entering and exiting the park through Eighth Avenue. Challenges to equitable access remain most urgently the need for greater public transit connectivity to the citys lower-income neighborhoods and improving inter-park shuttle service for the mobility impaired. But making JFK a dangerous cut-through once again wont fix that. Meanwhile, concerns from the de Young Museum about a pandemic-related decline in visitors are valid. But its request to return JFK to the pre-pandemic status quo is shortsighted. The street closure was an urban planning experiment that captured global praise and attention during the pandemic. Embracing the new JFK, and working to activate the street with food and events, is a potentially far bigger draw than a few free parking spaces on an otherwise angry river of commuter rage. Expanding bike share throughout the park, as the transportation agency has proposed, will even further attract visitors and allow for carbon-free access to its institutions. Park goers, meanwhile, need to understand that JFK will never be fully car free. At least some vehicles will need access to all or parts of the street in perpetuity: police, medical and fire vehicles as well as shuttles and buses. Perhaps most pressing, the road offers the only access to the de Youngs loading dock, which means a daily stream of delivery trucks and supply vehicles. Park officials say increased signage will help bikers and pedestrians stay on the lookout for unexpected vehicles. Other steps may be needed. But these challenges are far from insurmountable. Golden Gate Park was built more than 150 years ago for people, not cars, which were were originally banned from the park and were restricted until 1912 because they were a menace to bicyclists and other park users. They still are. San Francisco has been arguing about re-closing Golden Gate Parks main thoroughfare for over 50 years. The success of JFKs reimagining during the pandemic should settle that debate once and for all. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A film shot in Indianapolis in 1902 that captures a menagerie of Ringling Bros. circus animals parading through the city's downtown has landed a spot on the National Film Registry. The 3-minute-long silent film, titled Ringling Bros. Parade Film, is part of a class of 25 films recently added to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Released by the Selig Polyscope Company in July 1902, it is the 11th oldest movie in the registry, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported. It features elephants, camels and caged lions traveling on Capitol Avenue past the Indiana Statehouse before the parade passes along Washington Street past the Indiana Repertory Theatre's future home. When announcing this years class of films on Dec. 14, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said Black residents seen along the parade route factored in the movies selection for the National Film Registry. African Americans were rarely shown in films of that era, and then only in caricature or mocking depictions," Hayden said. An Oakland, California, couple who said they found the film in their basement in the 1970s donated it to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California, in 2011. David Kiehn, the museums historian, identified the film's date and place, and the museum's restored version of the film was posted to YouTube in October 2020, with the tale of Kiehn's detective work. Kiehn said the film is the oldest nitrate print in the museums collection of hundreds of movies. It was in pretty good shape when we got it, he said. Its held up pretty well. PINEVILLE, La. (AP) A 79-year-old wedding ring is back with its rightful family. On Dec. 11, Annette Sharp of St. Helena Parish and her grandson, Austin Worsham, 13, met Ray Jackson Jr. of Grayson in Pineville to return the ring. Jackson is the nephew of the late Charles W. and Lucille Jackson Shultz to whom the ring belongs. Sharp hoped that sharing the story of an engraved 1942 wedding band found in her mothers house would help her find the family who owned it originally and return a piece of their history. The Town Talk published the story in October. There were a few twists and turns before determining and finding who the ring should go to. The Shultzes are deceased. Lucille left all her possessions to Jackson. Lucille was my daddys sister, he said. Jackson said it was very noble for Sharp to go to the trouble of finding family members to return the ring. And to want to return the ring to the family. I think that kind of speaks for itself on what kind of person Mrs. Sharp is. Sharp was clearing out 60 years worth of stuff at her mothers house in Echo when Austin discovered the ring mixed in with a bunch of coins in a plastic bag. The ring is engraved with the initials CWS and LJS and the marriage date is 12-4-42. Before finding out about the Shultzes, Sharp assumed the last letter of the initials was an L. Many families in Echo have last names that start with L, so Sharp thought it could belong to the Lacombes, Lamberts or Lachneys. I looked at the initials on there and I got with all of our family historians, if you will, and nobody could place that with a family member, said Sharp in a previous interview. A niece of Lucilles second husband, Lewell Autrey, who lives in Pineville, saw an article about the ring in The Town Talk and called him. He then connected with Sharp. Maynard Dean of Shreveport helped solve the rings mystery. He found a marriage announcement in The Town Talk archives along with another article from 1985 about a vehicle accident in which Charles was killed and Lucille severely injured. Charles and Lucille were married in a single-ring ceremony on Dec. 4, 1942 in Alexandria. This year would have marked the couples 79th wedding anniversary. COUPLE LOVED FRIENDS, FAMILY, FISHING Sharp talked to Jackson and Lucilles daughter-in-law Vicki Ann Suire to gather some information about the couple. Charles was a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Livingston. He was born on May 15, 1920 in Berwick, Pennsylvania, to John and Thelma Shultz. He was one of five children with the others being Faye, Dale, Helen and James. All have died. Lucille Pauline Jackson was born Jan. 15, 1915 in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Wayne E. Jackson Sr. and Hattie Jackson. Lucille had three brothers: Richard,Wayne Jr., and Ray. The family moved to Alexandria when Lucille was a young girl. Charles met Lucille at a USO dance. It wasnt long after they met that they were married, Suire said. Charles left for World War II soon after. They hurried up to get married before he left, she said. They had one son, John Wayne Shultz, Suires late husband, who died in 1990. John Wayne and Suire had no children. They were totally, totally committed to each other, said Suire. They loved me just as much as they loved John Wayne. They were some good people. You couldnt have found better people. They treated me almost better than they treated their son. After Charles returned from WWII, they moved to the Groves area which is by Port Arthur/Beaumont, Texas; Charles worked for Gulf Oil Refinery as an operator. Jacksons father, Ray Sr., also worked there as a welder. Jackson grew up with his cousin John Wayne in Groves as the families lived a street apart. They would get together regularly for barbecues or have Saturday or Sunday dinners together. The Shultzes, particularly Lucille, loved to fish and did most of her fishing with John Wayne and Vicki at Sabine Lake in Port Arthur, Texas. They would fish for specks, redfish, drum, sheepshead anything that was in the lake. Lucille could have fished from daylight to dark, recalls Suire. And she loved white perch fishing the most. I used to call her Miss Perch. Thats what I called her, she said. Nobody else did but me. The Shultzes liked to go dancing and out for nice dinners, said Suire; or sometimes go to the movies. They also bought and regularly used a travel trailer. Suire said she and John Wayne would join them for weekends in places like Harlingen, Texas; Colorado or Las Vegas. The Shultzes also visited Dam B at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in East Texas or Toledeo Bend to camp and fish. They had a lot of friends, said Suire. Theyd go camping with some of their friends sometimes. They went on jaunts with two other couples who also had travel trailers. Suire said theyd all park together, have weenie roasts by the campfire and eat the fish they caught that day. WRECK KILLED CHARLES, LEFT LUCILLE SEVERELY INJURED On Nov. 19, 1985, Lucille and Charles were driving to Ferriday to attend her fathers funeral. A Town Talk article about the wreck states that Charles died in an accident on Highway 28 East near the turnoff to Esler Regional Airport. Another car crossed the center line and hit them head on. Charles was 65. Lucille, then 70, had a broken femur and was critically injured. She was hospitalized in the ICU of an Alexandria hospital. John Wayne and Suire had friends drive to Alexandria to stay with Lucille while they went to Port Arthur to bury Charles. After they returned to Alexandria, Lucille was transported via helicopter to Saint Marys Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, where she had surgery to repair her femur. She was able to leave after several weeks and continued her recovery at John Wayne and Suires home. She was told by doctors that she would never walk again. After intensive therapy, she proved them wrong. Lucille remarried in 1997 to Lewell Autrey, her high school sweetheart. They became reacquainted after attending a reunion. Lucille and Lew lived in Shreveport and also had a camp at Toledo Bend. Like Lucille, Lew loved to fish. They even drove to Alaska for a fishing trip when they were in their 80s. As they got older, they moved into an assisted living facility in Beaumont. Lew died before Lucille, who lived to be 104. She died in 2019 and is buried next to Charles in Groves. UNSOLVED MYSTERY STILL HAS HAPPY ENDING How the ring ended up in Echo will always remain a mystery. Those who know the reason are gone. Sharp thinks the 14k gold ring was used to barter or borrow from her maternal grandparents. Her oldest daughter, whom she says is clairvoyant, wore the ring and told Sharp that it didnt belong to any of their family members and was used to barter. In a vision, her daughter reportedly saw two women having a conversation and a man in the background telling one of the women, Yes, its okay to do it. Neither Jackson nor Suire knew about the engraved wedding band, which apparently was the first ring. Charles and Lucille both had other wedding bands that they wore. When I was in the family, Charlie had a gold band with four big diamonds in it, said Surie. That was his wedding ring. Lucille wore two rings. The engagement ring had one big stone and two little stones while the wedding band had four or five round stones to match. And that way the typical style wedding ring in the 1940s and 1950s, Suire said. Some people would upgrade their wedding rings later in life when they could afford to do so, and its assumed thats what the Shultzes did. Jackson said he was with Lucille quite a bit in her later years and never spoke about the ring. Thats kind of an interesting story, he said. Theres no telling how that story transpired in regard to the ring, said Jackson. As far as the ring goes, he felt it was Sharps to do with as she wanted since the ring had been left with her family. Sharp and Jackson talked about the ring and speculated how Sharps family ended up with the ring. Now, by returning the legacy to the rightful family, Sharp has the happy ending that she had hoped for. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) A defense manufacturer in north Alabama has won a $1.4 billion contract to produce an advanced wartime control system for the Army. A Pentagon announcement says Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Huntsville was awarded the deal after the military received two bids for the work. At the entrance to the Lowe's in a central Ohio strip mall, a bright blue-and-white sign tells customers that, under local ordinances, they must wear a face covering inside. Next door, at Hale's Ales & Kitchen, a sign asks customers to please be patient with a staff shortage - with no mention of masks. The city line between Columbus and suburban Hilliard crosses right through the strip mall, Mill Run Square. In Columbus, where the Lowe's Home Improvement Store lies, the city council early in the coronavirus pandemic created a mask requirement that remains in place. In Hilliard, where Hales is located, the city council has not imposed a mask rule, despite entreaties from the top county health official as coronavirus cases spiked. Under a new law in Ohio - one of at least 19 states this year that have restricted state or local authorities from safeguarding public health amid the coronavirus pandemic - Franklin County's health commissioner Joe Mazzola can no longer intervene. The county health department was stripped of its power to compel people to wear masks even as the omicron variant fuels a fifth coronavirus surge in the United States. "We've not been able to put in place the policy that would protect our community," Mazzola said. The number of states that have passed laws similar to Ohio's is proliferating fast, from eight identified in one study in May to more than double that many as of last month, according to an analysis by Temple University's Center for Public Health Law Research. And around the country, many more measures are being debated or being prepared for legislative sessions to start early in the new year. These laws - the work of Republican legislators - inhibit health officers' ability to require masks, promote vaccinations or take other steps, such as closing or limiting the number of patrons in restaurants, bars and other indoor public settings. Often, the measures shift those decisions from health experts to elected officials at a time when such coronavirus-fighting strategies have become politically radioactive. A new Indiana law gives city councils and county commissions power to overrule local health officials if their efforts to tame the pandemic are more stringent than rules in effect statewide. Tennessee lawmakers have taken away health officials' ability to decide whether public schools should be closed in an emergency, giving that authority to school boards while also allowing the governor to order all schools to teach students in person. And in Arkansas, a statute forbids any state or local official from compelling masks. As the delta variant was racing around in August, the state's Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, said he regretted the measure and summoned legislators into a special session to rethink it. The law stayed in place. Conservatives frame this wave of legislating as a matter of individual liberties. Ohio Republican state Sen. Terry Johnson, one of the main sponsors of that state's new law, said last spring that its purpose is "restoring reasonable checks and balances" and "giving the people of Ohio a voice in matters of public health." Over the decades, critics have sought to persuade lawmakers to soften or remove safety measures, such as tobacco regulations, or requirements to wear seat belts or motorcycle helmets. "But for them to go after the basis of public health authority is pretty new," said Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. Health officials say the new laws, targeted at coronavirus-fighting strategies, often carry unintended consequences stretching far beyond the pandemic to thwart health departments'' longtime roles, such as maintaining food safety. The Ohio law, Senate Bill 22, slows health department's ability to shut down a restaurant to protect customers from a foodborne disease outbreak, several health commissioners there said. Officials now can issue an order only after a person who ate there gets a documented diagnosis of such an illness - not simply after health inspectors discover unsanitary conditions. Researchers and health officials also predict such laws will get in the way of dealing with future health crises of unforeseen origin. But as the coronavirus pandemic persists, with omicron having arrived as the most transmissible variant so far, the laws' impact already is clear. In May, Montana, which has several new statutes narrowing health officials' powers, became the first state to prohibit discrimination based on vaccination status. It applies to any vaccine, not just shots to protect against the coronavirus. It means that employers may ask staff members whether they have been immunized against the virus, but they cannot punish or lay off employees who refuse to disclose their vaccination status or to get the shots. It makes an exception for nursing homes - but not for hospitals or clinics. When the law took effect May 7, most Montana hospitals were watching the pace of the vaccine rollout and debating whether they needed to make shots essential for their workers. But just east of the Rocky Mountains, Benefis Health System, with two hospitals in Great Falls, had sent a companywide email in April announcing that, unless they had a medical or religious reason, all employees had to receive at least one shot by May 1. Community members staged protests. With the law imminent, Benefis backed off its mandate, according to health-care experts in the state. Benefis declined to comment on its decision. For all 62 hospitals in the state, the law creates a bind, according to Rich Rasmussen, president of the Montana Hospital Association. The state's restrictions collide with what the federal government is ordering hospitals to do. The Department of Health and Human Services created a rule that hospitals and other health facilities with patients insured through Medicare or Medicaid must require their employees to have had at least a first coronavirus shot by Dec. 5. "Hospitals were moving forward with their compliance" with the federal rule, Rasmussen said, because they feared jeopardizing $2.1 billion that flows into the state in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and most hospitals "felt a federal requirement trumped state law." A standoff has been averted for now, because two federal courts in November temporarily blocked the HHS requirement as part of lawsuits objecting to the federal rule. Meanwhile, a health system, a few doctors' practices, several patients and the Montana Medical Association have filed their own lawsuit trying to restore the ability of hospitals and other health providers to compel workers to be vaccinated. Montana's hospitals argue they must be able to provide safe environments for their workers and patients. "If you are providing care to neonates, you want to ensure everyone . . . is vaccinated," Rasmussen said. Many Montana employers hold a different view. Nick Checota, a restaurant owner and music promoter who runs KettleHouse Amphitheater, a 4,500-seat outdoor venue on a river bank near Missoula, said his concert policy is to encourage patrons to wear masks and to get vaccinated or tested before attending an event. It is not required. A few bands have canceled because of the lack of vaccine verification, Checota said. But he said, "If I'd asked my staff [to be vaccinated], half my employees would have quit. . . . Individual rights in Montana are very important to people." The political moves against vaccine requirements are spreading. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee in November signed a law that forbids employers from requiring workers, job applicants or customers to prove they have been vaccinated. Six days later, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills that prohibit employers and educational institutions from requiring workers or students to be vaccinated against the coronavirus and removes the state health officer's ability to order vaccinations in a public health emergency. In Ohio, House Republicans last month passed a bill that would block employers, schools and colleges from requiring workers and students to get vaccinated if they object for "reasons of personal conscience." Some Republicans in the state Senate are reticent, contending that businesses should be allowed to decide on vaccine policies for themselves. Senate Bill 22, the Buckeye State's law in effect since June, splintered the party, pitting lawmakers against Ohio's GOP governor, Mike DeWine. A year ago, DeWine vetoed another bill that would have limited the state's coronavirus-fighting powers by handing lawmakers power to stop a governor's public health order and tightly limiting the state health department's ability to impose quarantines. The bill contains those features and added restrictions on local health departments. In March, DeWine vetoed that bill, too, saying it "strikes at the heart of local health departments' ability to move quickly to protect the public from the most serious emergencies Ohio could face." This time, the legislature overrode the governor's veto on S.B. 22 the following day. Since the law took effect, health commissioners around the state said they often have felt thwarted. In Franklin County, which includes Hilliard, the local board of health dates to 1919, the time of a global flu pandemic that killed millions. In July 2020, as the coronavirus spread, the board ordered people to wear masks indoors, except at home. It lifted the rule the following May, weeks before the state law took effect and shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had said people who were fully vaccinated no longer needed to wear a mask. By late summer, cases were surging again. "We wanted to be able to put a masking requirement in place for our jurisdictions," said Mazzola, the Franklin County health commissioner, who works for the board. Under the new law, only local governments can make that decision. The Franklin health district covers 14 cities, 17 townships and 10 villages. "We called on our city managers, city councils, mayors," Mazzola said. Two of the cities, Bexley and Whitehall, reinstated mask rules. The others did not. The villages and most of the townships do not have authority to create such rules. Four townships do; they did not require masks. "That's really an unfortunate outcome here," Mazzola said. "It creates mixed messaging." The new law also means the Franklin County health department no longer can create uniform rules for all school systems within its area. When the school year opened, after a year of classes mostly online, 5 of the 17 districts required masks for students and teachers in every grade, according to Ayaz Hyder, a researcher in Ohio State University's College of Public Health who has been tracking the pandemic in nearby public schools. The first weeks of the year, the districts with universal masking had on average significantly fewer cases of the coronavirus than the rest, Hyder found. At Hale's Ales & Kitchen, just over the Hilliard line where there is no mask requirement, patrons are asked to wear a face covering voluntarily if they haven't been vaccinated, workers there said. Chris Hale, the owner, did not return phone calls seeking comment. Even when Ohio's elected municipal officials have stepped in to adopt public health strategies of their own, controversies sometimes have swirled. In August, the village of Gambier, home to Kenyon College, approved a temporary mask requirement for public buildings, including schools, with a $25 fine for violators. The county sheriff posted on his Facebook page that he had spoken with the mayor "and informed him that deputies will not be citing anyone for violations." Sheriff David Shaffer's Facebook announcement drew more than 700 replies, mirroring the fevered views that divide the nation over public health during the pandemic. "So . . . you are elected to decide which law to enforce?" one woman wrote. Many praised the sheriff. "The more you protect our God-given freedoms," one man wrote, "the greater my respect for you. . . . Please continue to defy tyrants who are trying to destroy our freedom." Such sentiment - and the Ohio law it yielded - leave the state's health officials feeling impotent as each pandemic wave arrives. In September, Jack Pepper, administrator of the Athens City-County Health Department, worried as his southeastern Ohio jurisdiction, which contains both historical Ohio University and rural poverty, suffered the largest surge in coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths of the pandemic so far. "It would have been nice," Pepper said, if the department could have limited the number of patrons in restaurants, as it had when establishments reopened after a pandemic shutdown early on. "Those powers are all gone." "In a perfect world," Pepper said, "we would be able to do what we think is best, but that's not our reality. So we deal with the hand we've been dealt." TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Workers at state-regulated utilities in Arizona can't be fired for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a policy a state commission adopted this month. The practical effect of the policy is unclear because it conflicts with federal vaccination mandates for corporations that go into effect in January but still face multiple legal challenges, the Arizona Daily Star reported. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved it Dec. 15, prohibiting the state-regulated companies from developing, implementing and enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination polices as a condition of employment. Among others, it could affect Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Public Service Co., TEP and sister rural utility UniSource Energy Services. Approved on a party-line vote by the commissions Republican majority, the policy takes aim at the Biden administrations mandate that private companies with 100 or more employees must assure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. The original Jan. 4 federal deadline recently was extended to Jan. 10. TEP and other state-regulated utilities say they are monitoring the legal status of the mandate closely. But they have no plans of their own to mandate vaccination or testing, beyond the current workplace-safety protocols. The policy was proposed by Republican commissioners Justin Olson and Jim OConnor, and supported by Chairwoman Lea Marquez Peterson. Olson said the federal mandate is 100% unconstitutional and the commission has clear authority to regulate the utilities workplaces. Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Anna Tovar voted against it. Kennedy said it was irresponsible for the commission to adopt it without consulting health-care experts while hospitals are being overwhelmed with resurgent COVID-19 cases and deaths. Erik Bakken, vice president of systems operations for TEP and sister rural utility UniSource Energy Services, told the commission the companies are doing everything they can to maintain flexibility amid the changing legal status of the vaccinate-or-test mandate. Just over half of the employees surveyed recently at both TEP and UES said they were fully vaccinated, Bakken said. The survey allowed workers to opt out of declaring their status, the company said in a later statement. TEP and UES have a combined workforce of about 2,100. CLEVELAND As a fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus swarms across the country, hospitals in Ohio running low on beds and staff recently took out a full-page newspaper advertisement pleading with unvaccinated Americans to finally get the shot. It read, simply, Help. But in a suburban Ohio cafe, Jackie Rogers, 58, an accountant, offered an equally succinct response on behalf of unvaccinated America: Never. In the year since the first shots began going into arms, opposition to vaccines has hardened from skepticism and wariness into something approaching an article of faith for the approximately 39 million American adults who have yet to get a single dose. Now health experts say the roughly 15% of the adult population that remains stubbornly unvaccinated is at the greatest risk of severe illness and death from the omicron variant and could overwhelm hospitals that are already brimming with COVID patients. In Cleveland, where omicron cases are soaring, a hospital unit at the Cleveland Clinic that provides life support to the sickest patients is already completely full. Compounding the problem, the pace of first-time vaccinations appears to be plateauing this month even as omicron takes hold, and the numbers of children getting vaccinated and eligible adults getting booster shots are lower than some health experts hoped. Around 20% of children 5-11 years old have gotten a dose of vaccine. And only around 1 in 3 fully vaccinated Americans has gotten a booster. It is still too early to know whether spiking numbers of omicron infections in New York, the rest of the Northeast and the Midwest will be followed by a surge in hospitalizations and deaths. Early studies suggest the new variant may cause less severe illness than previous variants did. But so far, the threat of omicron is doing little to change peoples minds. Nearly 90% of unvaccinated adults said the variant would not spur them to get shots, according to a recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation. And some of the unvaccinated said that omicrons wily ability to infect vaccinated people only reaffirmed their decision to not get the shot. Others say the virus changing nature has stiffened their resolve not to get it. Its just another variant, said Dianne Putnam, an unvaccinated resident of Dalton, Georgia, and president of her countys Republican Party, who spent six days in the hospital this summer after contracting COVID-19. Next year therell be another one. I mean, theres going to always be different variants. Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Public health campaigns and employee vaccine mandates have made progress since the summer at reducing the ranks of unvaccinated fence-sitters, people without easy access to health care and those who were hesitant but persuadable. The remaining ranks of unvaccinated Americans steadfastly opposed to getting a shot tend to be younger, whiter and more Republican than those who have received the vaccine or are still considering one, surveys have shown. At least 6 million first doses have been given in December since omicron was first detected in the United States. But those numbers come with a caveat: Boosters can sometimes be misclassified as first doses, potentially leading to an overcount of how many Americans are getting their first shots, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned. Booster shots, now the preoccupation of many state and federal health officials, have made up a greater portion of the roughly 1.5 million doses administered each day around the country in recent weeks. The rate of first doses given was similarly sluggish in the late summer, when roughly 300,000 were given each day, dropping even more before regulators authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for young children in October, when the rate of first doses began climbing again. The number of adults vaccinated has steadily grown since six months ago, when roughly 170 million had received a first shot, compared with around 220 million Saturday, an increase driven in part by mandates. Low vaccination rates are still heavily concentrated in rural areas and the South, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama near the bottom. Those states have recorded around half of their population as fully vaccinated, well below the national rate of about 62%. In interviews across the country, unvaccinated people said they had grown inured to public health messages from exhausted doctors and nurses and even pleas from their own families, as vaccinations have become entangled in the countrys politics. Even though mandates have been shown to significantly improve vaccination rates in places and at companies that enact them, they said they were dead-set against President Joe Bidens efforts and had tuned out his appeals for Americans to get vaccinated as a patriotic duty. The nail in the coffin was when they said you had to get the vaccine. It definitely turned me away, said Cyrarra Bricker, 26, a sales representative in Fort Worth, Texas. The United States continues to see a stark partisan divide in vaccination rates, with more than 91% of adult Democrats receiving at least one shot, compared with about 60% of adult Republicans. Over the past week, former President Donald Trump made two full-throated endorsements of vaccines that many of his supporters have rejected, drawing praise from Biden. At an event in Dallas last Sunday, he argued that a shot in the arm was a way to help demonstrate that the three vaccines, which were developed while he was in office, were one of his great successes. Trump also promoted the vaccines in a video interview released this past week by The Daily Wire, a conservative media site, while also rejecting the idea of mandates. Forget about the mandates; people have to have their freedom, Trump said. But at the same time, the vaccine is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Still, many members of right-wing media continue to spout anti-vaccine rhetoric and disinformation, dissuading many from getting the shot. At the same time, Republican governors and attorneys general are fighting to block the administrations vaccine mandates for federal contractors, health care workers and Head Start programs. Anti-vaccine activists have applauded moves by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, both Republicans, to thwart vaccine requirements by schools or private businesses. Dr. Jose R. Romero, the Arkansas health secretary, said his states vaccination rate, which is hardly budging, reflected how deep the opposition to the shot was among those left to convince. Unfortunately, we cant say that weve identified a single thing that has really moved the needle in any great extent, Romero said. Its just a slow chipping away at this. Its sort of a mouse eating the elephant one bit at a time. And you just keep going. In Washington, as the Supreme Court is set to hear challenges to the Biden administrations vaccine mandates, White House officials see few remaining policy levers to pull. Domestic airline passenger vaccination requirements are one of the few tools still at Bidens disposal that could meaningfully increase the ranks of the vaccinated. But the administration does not have plans to enact them for now, senior officials said. Pure persuasion? I think weve sort of run out of options, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bidens chief medical adviser. There were still glimmers of hope, he added. Some people fearful of omicron would take the leap. And unvaccinated Americans, he said, were still not a one-dimensional group. Some might need to just see more safety data, he said. Like some other public health experts, Fauci said that a uniform federal vaccine passport system could be another resource. If more businesses and organizations asked for passports under that kind of program, he said, a lot of people are going to realize that its so inconvenient not to be vaccinated that they might as well go ahead. But unvaccinated people like Eric Dilts, 45, a DoorDash delivery worker in St. Joseph, Missouri, said he felt like the imperfect nature of the vaccines and shifting messages from public officials about boosters and breakthrough infections had validated his skepticism. Now you need a first shot and second shot, and now theyre talking about all these boosters, he said. How many shots do you need? It seems like a joke to me. Unvaccinated Americans this year have made up the vast majority of severe cases and deaths from the virus, and health experts say getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect against severe illness and death. The unvaccinated are much more likely to be in a hospital, and theyre much more likely to be taking up a bed that might be wanted this winter, said Bill Hanage, a public health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Instead, many of the unvaccinated have placed their faith in natural immunity in weathering COVID-19 so far, despite warnings from infectious disease experts that the bodys protections are not sufficient to ward off reinfection. In Los Angeles, Marie Elena Rigo, 51, who contracted COVID in January, said she felt protected after testing for antibodies and was more skeptical of the vaccine after a flurry of recent breakthrough infections among friends and family. Her 11-year-old son tested positive Wednesday. He coughed on me last night when I hugged him, she said. I dont feel scared. I never was scared. Dr. Luciana Borio, a former chief scientist at the Food and Drug Administration who advised Biden during the transition, said reaching the unvaccinated was now arguably the hardest aspect of the U.S. response one that would require a change of course in federal and state priorities, such as reopening community vaccine sites or urging providers to put more focus back on first doses. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services pointed to a wide-ranging vaccine public education campaign still underway at the agency, with special attention now to reaching young children and those in need of a booster. New ads this past week targeting rural, younger Americans featured the language: When youre done with COVID, it doesnt mean its done with you. Other ads targeting rural adults warned of the financial costs of contracting the virus. In Cleveland, the COVID picture is one of the bleakest in the country. Intensive care units are crammed with patients with the delta variant, with a surge of new omicron infections looming. New infections in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, have grown by 234% in the past two weeks. Ohio, where 60% of people have gotten at least one shot, now has the countrys highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalization, and doctors say emergency rooms and ICUs are running out of beds. They are being forced to call people in from holiday vacations as growing breakthrough infections whittle away at their staff levels. There was just a single open bed in a sixth-floor intensive care unit at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday morning, where about 90% of ICU patients were unvaccinated. The demand for intensive care has gotten so great that when a bed opens up, nurses are cleaning rooms and moving patients themselves to make space for the next patient. It feels like it will never end, said Claire Strauser, a nurse manager in the intensive care unit whose adult son still has refused her entreaties to get vaccinated. Strauser said she will probably not see him over Christmas to reduce her own chances of getting infected and sidelined from a job she is devoted to. I dont know what can change, she said. Theyre just dug in. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) One of the many buildings in Mayfield destroyed by the the EF-4 tornado on Dec. 10 was the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Graves County & Southwestern Kentucky office. On Tuesday, a Texas-based charity group dropped off a truckload of supplies to provide clothes and gifts for the children the regional CASA serves. Members of the Cotton Foundation, the charitable arm of the commercial restoration firm Cotton Holdings, dropped off gifts and supplies, like new toys, clothes and shoes, to give to families served by CASA of Graves County & Southwestern Kentucky. Some of the donations will also benefit children and families served by Child Watch Childrens Advocacy Center based in Paducah. Kelly Cox, volunteer coordinator with CASA of Graves County, said the organization serves about 65 children in Graves, Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton counties, many of whom live with foster families. CASA volunteers work with children who have experienced abuse or neglect and advocate for their best interests in the courtroom. None of the children the group serves were injured in the storm, Cox pointed out. Some of the biological families of the children CASA Graves County serves were impacted, and Cox said three CASA volunteers lost their homes and vehicles. Those same volunteers, she said, were the first ones who called their CASA kids to make sure they were safe. With the CASA Graves County office destroyed, Cox is storing a lot of the donations from Cotton Foundation in her garage, where advocates and volunteers will then pick out gifts for the children. She said receiving these donations from the Cotton Foundation are helping to provide these children presents and toys to open up on Christmas. This company, its just such a blessing, Cox said. Theyve donated everything new, of course clothes, shoes, underwear, pajamas, bikes, bike helmets, and every kind of toy you can imagine. Weve definitely been blessed. Paul Kerby, vice president of business development for Cotton Commercial USA, part of Cotton Holdings, was in Paducah helping unload donations at Child Watch and is in Mayfield working with Cotton Holdings, which specializes in disaster relief and infrastructure support. Kerby said the Cotton Foundation has an employee who volunteers with a CASA group in Texas who suggested the foundation help out a CASA group affected by tornadoes in Kentucky. Kerby said the Cotton Foundation normally partners with groups that are local to disaster-affected areas so those groups can distribute the foundations donations to people in need. He added it was nice to help out CASA of Graves County so they can meet year-round needs and assist with donations CASA may not otherwise have received. One of the best parts for him was seeing how well the volunteers know the children they serve, and even being able to pick out specific gifts they know some of the children will like. CASA Graves Countys first goal is to make sure the kids get a good Christmas, Cox said. After that, the organization will evaluate where to go from there and where to build a new office to serve children and families. Cox said CASA advocates would be giving gifts out to the children they serve over the next few days to ensure they get them before Christmas. A PayPal link to donate to CASA of Graves County to help provide services to children in need and to help CASA rebuild an office in Graves County is available at casagravesswky.org. Donations can also be mailed to CASA of Graves County & Southwest KY at P.O. Box 5200 Mayfield, KY 42066. CHICAGO (AP) Officials with Chicago Public Schools have changed the name of only one of 30 schools named for slaveholders, a year after a top district official acknowledged the issue as dehumanizing, according to a newspaper report. The Chicago Sun-Times conducted an analysis last year showing that of 652 public schools, 30 were named for those who owned or traded enslaved Black or Indigenous people. The schools are in different parts of the city and include campuses that have a majority of Black students. So far, on school, Andrew Jackson Language Academy on the city's near West Side has removed the name of the seventh president, who enslaved people. The school was renamed Chicago World Language Academy in May. 3 1 of 3 Manuella Luana Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Manuella Luana Show More Show Less 3 of 3 BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Two dams broke in northeastern Brazil, threatening worse flooding in a rain-drenched region that has already seen thousands forced to flee their homes. The city governments of Jussiape and Itambe posted warnings on social media this past weekend urging people to seek safety. FORT LAUDEDALE, Fla. (AP) Deputies in South Florida exchanged gunfire with a suspect who they witnessed firing a gun. The shooter in Fort Lauderdale escaped in a car Saturday night, but a passenger in the car was dropped off at a hospital with a gunshot wound, the Broward County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. It wasn't known immediately when the passenger was shot and by whom, the sheriff's office said. No deputies were injured during the shooting. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was handling the investigation into the deputies' involvement in the exchange of gunfire, and the sheriff's office was investigating the shooting by the gunman, the sheriff's office said. JOHANNESBURG (AP) Desmond Tutu, South Africas Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday at 90. South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourned the death of the man viewed as the country's moral conscience. Tutu worked passionately, tirelessly and non-violently to tear down apartheid South Africas brutal, decades-long regime of oppression against its Black majority that only ended in 1994. The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman used his pulpit as the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and later as the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, as well as frequent public demonstrations, to galvanize public opinion against racial inequity, both at home and globally. Nicknamed the Arch, the diminutive Tutu became a towering figure in his nations history, comparable to fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule who became South Africas first Black president. Tutu and Mandela shared a commitment to building a better, more equal South Africa. Upon becoming president in 1994, Mandela appointed Tutu to be chairman of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which uncovered the abuses of apartheid. Tutu's death on Sunday is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said. From the pavements of resistance in South Africa to the pulpits of the worlds great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a non-sectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights, he said. Tutu died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Center in Cape Town, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Trust said. He had been hospitalized several times since 2015 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997. He turned his own misfortune into a teaching opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the suffering of others, said the Tutu trust. He wanted the world to know that he had prostate cancer, and that the sooner it is detected, the better the chance of managing it. In recent years he and his wife, Leah, lived in a retirement community outside Cape Town. Former U.S. President Barack Obama hailed Tutu as a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries." Tutu's life was "entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good. He was a true humanitarian said the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled spiritual leader and Tutu's friend. His legacy is moral strength, moral courage and clarity," Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said in a video statement. "He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt peoples pain. And he laughed no, not just laughed, he cackled with delight when he shared their joy. A seven-day mourning period is planned in Cape Town before Tutu's burial, including a two-day lying in state, an ecumenical service and an Anglican requiem mass at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. The southern city's landmark Table Mountain will be lit up in purple, the color of the robes Tutu wore as archbishop. Throughout the 1980s when South Africa was gripped by anti-apartheid violence and a state of emergency gave police and the military sweeping powers Tutu was one of the most prominent Black leaders able to speak out against abuses. A lively wit lightened Tutus hard-hitting messages and warmed otherwise grim protests, funerals and marches. Plucky and tenacious, he was a formidable force with a canny talent for quoting apt scriptures to harness support for change. The Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 highlighted his stature as one of the worlds most effective champions for human rights, a responsibility he took seriously for the rest of his life. With the end of apartheid and South Africas first democratic elections in 1994, Tutu celebrated the countrys multi-racial society, calling it a rainbow nation, a phrase that captured the heady optimism of the moment. In 1990, after 27 years in prison, Mandela spent his first night of freedom at Tutus residence in Cape Town. Later, Mandela called Tutu the peoples archbishop. Tutu also campaigned internationally for human rights, especially LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. I would not worship a God who is homophobic, he said in 2013, launching a campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town. I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say, Sorry, I would much rather go to the other place. Tutu said he was as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level. He was one of the most prominent religious leaders to advocate LGBTQ rights a stance that put him at odds with many in South Africa and across the continent as well as within the Anglican church. South Africa, Tutu said, was a rainbow nation of promise for racial reconciliation and equality, even though he grew disillusioned with the African National Congress, the anti-apartheid movement that became the ruling party after the 1994 election. His outspoken remarks long after apartheid sometimes angered partisans who accused him of being biased or out of touch. Tutu was particularly incensed by the South African governments refusal to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama, preventing the Tibetan spiritual leader from attending Tutus 80th birthday as well as a planned gathering of Nobel laureates in Cape Town. The government rejected Tutus accusations that it was bowing to pressure from China, a major trading partner. Early in 2016, Tutu defended the reconciliation policy that ended white minority rule amid increasing frustrations among some Black South Africans who felt they had not seen the expected economic opportunities since apartheid ended. Tutu had chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that investigated atrocities under apartheid and granted amnesty to some perpetrators, but some people believed that more former white officials should have been prosecuted. Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born Oct. 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, west of Johannesburg, and became a teacher before entering St. Peters Theological College in Rosetenville in 1958. He was ordained in 1961 and six years later became chaplain at the University of Fort Hare. He then moved to the tiny southern African kingdom of Lesotho and to Britain, returning home in 1975. He became bishop of Lesotho, chairman of the South African Council of Churches and, in 1985, the first Black Anglican bishop of Johannesburg. In 1986, Tutu was named the first Black archbishop of Cape Town. He ordained women priests and promoted gay priests. Tutu was arrested in 1980 for joining a protest and later had his passport confiscated for the first time. He got it back for trips to the United States and Europe, where he spoke with the U.N. secretary-general, the pope and other church leaders. Tutu called for international sanctions against South Africa and talks to end apartheid. Tutu often conducted funeral services after the massacres that marked the negotiating period of 1990-1994. He railed against black-on-black political violence, asking crowds, Why are we doing this to ourselves? In one powerful moment, Tutu defused the rage of thousands of mourners in a township soccer stadium after the Boipatong massacre of 42 people in 1992, leading the crowd in chants proclaiming their love of God and themselves. As head of the truth commission, Tutu and his panel listened to harrowing testimony about torture, killings and other atrocities during apartheid. At some hearings, Tutu wept openly. Without forgiveness, there is no future, he said at the time. The commissions 1998 report lay most of the blame on the forces of apartheid, but also found the African National Congress guilty of human rights violations. The ANC sued to block the documents release, earning a rebuke from Tutu. I didnt struggle in order to remove one set of those who thought they were tin gods to replace them with others who are tempted to think they are, Tutu said. In July 2015, Tutu renewed his 1955 wedding vows with wife Leah, surrounded by their four children. You can see that we followed the biblical injunction: We multiplied and were fruitful, Tutu told the congregation. But all of us here want to say thank you ... We knew that without you, we are nothing. Tutu is survived by his wife of 66 years and their children. Asked once how he wanted to be remembered, he told The Associated Press: He loved. He laughed. He cried. He was forgiven. He forgave. Greatly privileged. ___ AP journalist Christopher Torchia contributed to this report. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A Kansas City family is raising money to help pay for the funeral of an 18-year-old boy who was found dead more than two weeks after he was reported missing. Amara Jones was reported missing on Dec. 4, and his body was found on Wednesday, not far from his home. BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year because of declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve after having welcomed generations of families over the course of more than two centuries. Theres just such a love among this congregation. Weve all known each other so long and we know each others foibles, church elder Candace Dannaker told the Centre Daily Times. Ill miss our personality, our laughter and our joy in just being together. And, of course, the faith aspect of sharing that with other like-minded people. The church was established in 1800 by the same men who founded Bellefonte in 1795 at a time when there were only 16 states and counted among its members two former Pennsylvania governors. The church met at the courthouse for almost two decades and then in a stone edifice; the current structure was built shortly after the Civil War. Dannaker estimated the church had about 40 members before the pandemic, a number that is down to about 25, and had no in-person worship from March 2020 until Easter Sunday. When Dannaker joined 34 years ago, she said, there were about 200 people in attendance then. Pam Benson, 77, a member for 73 years, said that when she was born during World War II, many businesses were closed Sunday and few events were scheduled. She also believes that fewer parents have insisted that their children attend services and that churches haven't always been competitive in recruiting new members. It was so different. It was just what you did. Unless you were really sick, it was just what you did, Benson said. Its just change, its progression. Its what happens. Not that I like it, but it is what it is. The 15,000-square-foot church is scheduled to close for the last time Dec. 31. Dannaker said the future of the building hasn't been determined. Video of the final service posted on the church's Facebook site included references to the pain of saying goodbye to one another" but a reminder that challenges arent anything new to humanity" and saying the Christmas message of hope is just as timely and essential today as it was 2,000 years ago. Before the final hymn, members lit and raised candles to these words: And the light has splintered the darkness. And hope is ours once more. And this light does call us forward, remembering the past, and walking confidently into the future. And now go in the peace of Christ. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) An Iowa man who was convicted of stabbing a Cedar Rapids man to death in retaliation for a theft from a drug dealer has been sentenced to 57 years in prison. Drew Blahnik was sentenced earlier this month for killing Chris Bagley, 31, in December 2018 at a mobile home outside Cedar Rapids and then burying his body. Police found Bagley's body in the backyard of a Cedar Rapids home in March 2019. LAS VEGAS (AP) Las Vegas police announced the start of a homicide investigation Sunday after human remains were discovered inside a stolen truck. The Law Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that they found the remains after recovering two previously stolen trucks in the aftermath of a police chase. Agency officers arrested 57-year-old Eric Holland in connection with the chase, pending arrest warrants and subsequent investigation into an apparent homicide. They said in a news release that Holland fled when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop Friday, switching from one stolen vehicle to another before being arrested at an apartment complex in central Las Vegas. Holland was being held Sunday at the Clark County Detention Center on a homicide charge as well charges related to past warrants, according the detention documents and a jail attendant. Holland could not be reached for comment while awaiting a court appearance. It was unclear whether Holland has been assigned an attorney. A wealth of evidence now shows that malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were not effective at treating COVID-19 and carried potential risks. But in the early months of the pandemic, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician with a daytime TV show, positioned himself as one of the chief promoters of the drugs on Fox News. In the same be-the-best-you tone that he used to promote miracle weight-loss cures on The Dr. Oz Show, he elevated limited studies that he said showed wondrous promise. His jaw dropped, he said, while reviewing one tiny study from France, calling it a game changer. In all, Oz promoted chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in more than 25 appearances on Fox in March and April 2020. When a Veterans Affairs study showed that COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine were more likely to die than untreated patients, that advocacy came to an abrupt halt. We are better off waiting for the randomized trials that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, had been asking for, Oz told Fox viewers. As Oz jumped last month into the Republican primary for Senate in Pennsylvania, where his celebrity gives him an important advantage in a crucial race, he tied his candidacy to the politics of the pandemic. He appealed to conservatives anger at mandates and shutdowns, and at the people in charge who, he said, took away our freedom. But the entry into the race of the Cleveland-born heart surgeon, a son of Turkish immigrants who has been the host of The Dr. Oz Show since 2009, also brought renewed scrutiny to the blemishes on his record as one of Americas most famous doctors: his long history of dispensing dubious medical advice. In ebullient language, he has often made sweeping claims based on thin evidence, which in multiple cases, like that of hydroxychloroquine, unraveled when studies he relied on were shown to be flawed. Over the years, Oz, 61, has faced a bipartisan scolding before a Senate committee over claims he made about weight-loss pills, as well as the opposition of some of his physician peers, including a group of 10 doctors who sought his firing from Columbia Universitys medical faculty in 2015, arguing that he had repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine. Oz questioned his critics motives, and Columbia took no action, saying it did not regulate faculty members participation in public discourse. He has warned parents that apple juice contained unsafe levels of arsenic, advice that the Food and Drug Administration called irresponsible and misleading. In 2013, he warned women that carrying cellphones in their bras could cause breast cancer, a claim without scientific merit. In 2014, the British Medical Journal analyzed 80 recommendations on Ozs show and concluded that fewer than half were supported by evidence. Two researchers who worked on The Dr. Oz Show for a year during a break from medical school in the 2010s said in interviews that the shows producers had originated most of its topics, often getting their ideas from the internet. But the researchers, whose job was to vet medical claims on the show, said that they had little power to push back and that they regularly questioned the shows ethics to one another and discussed quitting in protest. Our jobs seemed to be endless fighting with producers and being overruled, said one of the former researchers, both of whom are now physicians and insisted on anonymity because they said they feared that publicly criticizing him could jeopardize their careers. According to the former researchers, the shows producers conjured an imaginary, typical viewer named Shirley, a woman whose children were grown and who had time to focus on herself. The standard advice for many ailments covered on the show obesity, sluggishness, back pain was exercise, the researchers said. But there was a quota on how often exercise could be mentioned. Shirley watched daytime TV and didnt want to exercise, the researchers said they were told. Ozs on-air medical advice on both his show and Fox News has taken on greater significance as he enters the political realm. His promotion of hydroxychloroquine grabbed then-President Donald Trumps attention and contributed to early misinformation about the virus on the right. Information can harm thats the key thing we need to appreciate here, said Harald Schmidt, an assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. His track record is pretty concerning. What weve seen so far does not instill confidence that this will help reasonable politics. Oz declined to be interviewed for this article. His campaign manager, Casey Contres, said in a statement that the doctor had always put patients first and fought the established grain in medicine. Dr. Oz believes it was truly unfortunate that COVID-19 became political and an excuse for the government and many in the corporate media to control the means of communication to suspend debate, Contres added. From the start, therapeutics meant to help with COVID-19 were regularly discounted by the medical establishment, and many great ideas were squashed and discredited. Over the years, when pressed about offering unproven medical advice, Oz said his goal was to empower Americans to take control of their health. Grilled by senators in 2014 about false claims he made for weight-loss products, he said, My job on the show, I feel, is to be a cheerleader for the audience. He also said it was his right to use unscientific language. When I feel as a host of a show that I cant use words that are flowery, he told the senators, I feel like Ive been disenfranchised, like my powers been taken away. In using the politics of the pandemic to shape his campaign for an open seat one pivotal to Senate control in the midterms Oz may be in tune with primary voters in Pennsylvania. The race has drawn candidates echoing Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen, including Jeff Bartos, a developer, and Carla Sands, a former ambassador. David McCormick, a hedge-fund executive married to a former Trump administration official, is expected to join the field soon. The criticism Oz has received over the years for spreading misinformation has done little to tarnish his celebrity, as measured by his long-running TV program, whose distributor announced that the show would end in January when its host departs. Still, misinformation about the coronavirus emanating from the Trump White House and conservative news sites helped politicize the nations response to the pandemic, with deadly consequences in many Republican areas of the country. Although Oz spoke strongly in favor of masks and vaccines on Fox, his championing of unproven treatments early on sharply contradicted infectious-disease experts like Fauci who urged caution. In Pennsylvania, as around the country, counties that voted by large margins for Trump in 2020 have had lower vaccination rates and higher death rates from COVID than counties that voted heavily for President Joe Biden. Yet at one point early in the pandemic, Oz said that reopening schools was an appetizing opportunity that might cause the deaths of only 2% to 3% of the population. He later walked back the statement. I cant believe he took the same oath that I did when we graduated, said Dr. Val Arkoosh, an anesthesiologist and county official in the Philadelphia suburbs who is running in the Democratic primary for Senate. That oath is about first doing no harm and always putting your patients first. I just think hes a quack, to be honest. In reply to Arkoosh, Contres said that Oz had performed thousands of heart surgeries and had helped countless patients live a better life. In Ozs 2014 appearance before the Senate subcommittee on consumer protection, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., quoted a bit of his TV sales patter back to him: You may think magic is make-believe, but this little bean has scientists saying theyve found the magic weight-loss cure for every body type its green coffee extract. Oz admitted to the senators that his claims often dont have the scientific muster to present as fact. A study he had cited about green-coffee bean extract was later retracted and described by federal regulators as hopelessly flawed. The supplier of the extract paid $3.5 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission. Dr. David Gorski, a surgery professor at Wayne State University and longtime critic of alternative medicine, said Ozs emergence as a Fox News authority on the coronavirus was no surprise to him. He could have gone the route of trying to be more reasonable and careful, vetting information, trying to reassure people where the science was still unsettled, Gorski said. But of course, that wouldnt be Dr. Ozs brand. Early in the pandemic, on March 20, 2020, Oz appeared on several Fox News shows trumpeting what he called massive, massive news a small study by a divisive French researcher, Dr. Didier Raoult, who claimed a 100% cure rate after treating coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, or Z-Pak. At the time, with COVID-19 cases and deaths rising rapidly, hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial treatment, was being studied in multiple countries and adopted by hospitals without much evidence. Trump hyped it repeatedly at White House news conferences as part of his effort to minimize the crisis. Oz communicated with Trump advisers about speeding the drugs approval to treat COVID. On March 28, the FDA authorized its emergency use. On Fox, Oz noted that the Raoult study, with just 36 participants, was not a clinical trial, but his enthusiasm overran his caution. The study was the most impressive bit of news on this entire pandemic front, he gushed. On April 1, as Oz called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York to lift restrictions on hydroxychloroquine, a public health expert, Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University in Rhode Island, cautioned Fox viewers that the facts are just not in on the drug. There was much confusion in the early days of the crisis about how the virus spread and how to slow it, with some expert views reversed by new information. The Raoult study quickly fell apart. Only six patients had received the two-drug combination, all with mild or early infections. One who was reported virologically cured on Day 6 was found to have the virus two days later. Six other patients treated only with hydroxychloroquine were omitted from the final results, including one who died and three others who were transferred to intensive care. On April 3, the board of the research journal that initially published the study said it did not meet the expected standard. In June 2020, the FDA revoked emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. That November, the National Institutes of Health concluded that the drug held no benefit in treating COVID-19. By then, Ozs once-daily appearances on Fox had tapered off. He was rarely seen on the network this year. But he returned to Sean Hannitys show Nov. 30 to announce his candidacy, seizing the opportunity to push back at critics of his medical career. Doctors are about solutions, he said. But instead, people with good ideas are shamed, theyre silenced; theyre bullied; theyre canceled. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. CHICAGO (AP) A 29-year-old man has been charged for allegedly firing a handgun in the direction of two Chicago police officers who then shot at him on Christmas Eve, according to authorities. The officers were patrolling the near West Side late Friday when they allegedly saw Nokomis Lee Jefferson remove a gun from his waistband. Authorities said he allegedly shot at the officers and they returned fire. He remained hospitalized Sunday. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Authorities say a man was likely shot and killed while he was driving near the Kansas City suburb of Raytown on Saturday. Kansas City Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said gunshots were reported around 11:45 a.m. Saturday. The officers who responded to that report found a vehicle that appeared to have been damaged by bullets off the road. HUTCHINSON, Minn. (AP) A Minnesota man who attacked a Menards employee after the worker told him to wear a mask and then assaulted a responding police officer with a hammer has been sentenced to a year in prison. Luke Oeltjenbruns, 61, of Hutchinson, pleaded guilty to charges of first- and second-degree assault for the April incident. In addition to the prison time, he was ordered to serve ten years of probation, perform community service, attend therapy and write letters of apology to the victims. LANSING, Mich. (AP) It could cost more to be a Michigan lawyer. The Michigan Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposal to raise dues for most lawyers by $70 a year to $385 or 22%. The State Bar of Michigan has not had a dues increase since 2003. The increase would help continue the valuable services and resources the Bar provides for its members, the court said. Lawyers help pay for the operations of the State Bar and the attorney discipline system. The state's Supreme Court is accepting comments until April 1. It also will hold a public hearing. ISLAMABAD (AP) Militants targeted an army post in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border, killing a soldier in a firefight overnight, Pakistan's military said. The attack took place in the Shewa area of the district of North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the army said in a statement Saturday. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A man wanted in connection with the shooting death of a toddler in suburban Kansas City has been arrested in Omaha. Police have said the child died after a gun the 2-year-old was handling discharged Friday afternoon in Independence, Missouri. CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) A Missouri woman has been charged with killing her boyfriend with a sword on Christmas Eve. Cape Girardeau Police said 32-year-old Brittany Wilson was found outside the home she shared with her boyfriend Friday night with blood on her clothing, and a sword was lying in the front yard. Cape Girardeau is in southeast Missouri about 115 miles (185.07 kilometers) south of St. Louis. LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) As New Mexico draws closer to the start of recreational cannabis establishments being able to operate in the state, counties are working to make sure their rules and regulations are up to date. San Miguel County recently took its next step toward that, as the county commission passed its full cannabis ordinance. Amanda Salas, the countys planning and zoning director, presented the ordinance to the commission. We all believe this could be beneficial to the county, even small, local producers, Salas told the Las Vegas Optic. Recreational cannabis was legalized in New Mexico during last Aprils legislative session. People have been allowed to recreationally consume cannabis in the state since June, and the state is now accepting applications for all licenses, which include for production, extraction and retail establishments. Retail establishments are scheduled to be able to open in April 2022. Salas said there are currently four proposed cannabis producers going through the process to obtain licenses in San Miguel County, in addition to one individual who has been given a temporary, probationary license before finalizing the process. Applicants must complete all requirements with the Cannabis Control Division, which includes an approved water plan from the Office of the State Engineer. Without an approved water plan, the applicant cannot proceed at the state level or with San Miguel County. The county passed its ordinance less than a week after the City of Las Vegas finalized its ordinance. However, the countys ordinance is more lenient toward growers and retail establishments in many ways. Among them, the county only requires a 200-foot separation between cannabis establishments, while the city requires a 500-foot separation. In many areas around town, this could severely limit the number of establishments able to do business. In addition, the city prohibits cannabis consumption sites, similar to a bar for alcohol, while the county will allow them on a conditional use basis, assuming they meet all other requirements. The county will require a security presence at all consumption sites, but not in other areas, which the city will require. We arent prohibiting anything outright since the NM Cannabis Regulation Act limits a local jurisdiction of completely prohibiting the operation of a licensee, Salas said. We will take a look at everything and see what makes sense for San Miguel County. The best thing we can do is be safely prepared for the industry and the community. Most of the applications received by the county so far have been for producing cannabis, rather than retail, which the county welcomes. Because of this, expected revenue from cannabis in the county could be lower than many other places around the state, as most money will be collected through taxes on sales. To counteract that slightly, permitted producer licenses will be required to pay $2 per plant in the county on top of the $10 per plant they have to pay to the state. Smaller licenses such as cannabis producer micro-businesses and integrated cannabis micro-businesses will not have to pay this fee unless they enter into a business arrangement with another licensee, making it beneficial for the small farmer. Salas said most other counties are not requiring growers to pay additional money on their plants, but the county sees it as an opportunity to make a little more revenue, as the state Cannabis Regulation Act does not prohibit them from doing so. She said the county is attempting to embrace the cannabis industry, as local leaders recognize the positive impacts it could have on the entire state. Money collected through cannabis can be invested towards greater economic and infrastructure projects that could greatly benefit San Miguel County, Salas said. It isnt restricted in the way that other funds are so we have to be smart about what we do with the revenue. It is a great opportunity for us. ISLAMABAD (AP) The body of a Pakistani-American woman, who investigators believe was killed by her former husband over a property dispute, was brought to the city of Rawalpindi for further investigation, police said Sunday. Wajiha Swati, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani origin, had been missing since she arrived in Pakistan in mid-October to settle issues with her ex-husband, Rizwan Habib. Habib was arrested on suspicion of murder last week, said Sajid Kiyani, Rawalpindi's police chief. He said Habib confessed Saturday to killing Swati after four days of interrogation, and that he killed her the day she arrived in the city. Swati's body was found in the district of Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. Police have exhumed the body from a house in Lakki Marwat's Peezo area, where the suspect led the police after confessing (to) the murder," Kiyani said. Habib's initial court appearance was set for Monday. He was unable to be reached in custody and it was not immediately clear if he had legal representation. Police said a complaint was initially filed about Swati's disappearance and during the subsequent investigation U.S. Embassy officials contacted police to assist in finding her. It was not immediately clear where Swati resided. Kiyani said Habib managed to convince Swati to return to Pakistan. Police believe he picked her at the airport, abducted her and killed her with the help of his father and another man, both of whom were also arrested. Investigators believe Swati was killed by her former husband in a dispute over property. Kiyani said police retrieved the body from a house owned by an employee of Habib. According to Human Rights Watch, violence against women and girls including rape, so-called honor killings, acid attacks, domestic violence and forced marriage remains a serious problem in Pakistan. CAIRO (AP) The bodies of 27 Europe-bound migrants, including a baby and two women, have washed ashore in western Libya, the countrys Red Crescent said, describing the latest tragedy involving migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of better lives in Europe. The bodies were found late Saturday in two separate locations in the coastal town of Khoms, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the capital of Tripoli, the Red Crescents branch there said. Three other migrants were rescued, and search efforts were underway for others, it said. The Red Crescent, a Muslim organization equivalent to the Red Cross, posted images it said showed bodies floating in the Mediterranean Sea with its workers putting them in black burial bags. The bodies were then taken to the morgue of Khoms hospital, said Dr. Osama al-Saket, the hospitals director. He said their burial was a challenge to local authorities given the large number of bodies. They mostly can deal with one or two bodies, not as today, he said. The dead migrants likely drowned in recent shipwrecks off Libya. There has been a surge in crossings and attempted crossings from Libya as authorities accelerated their deadly crackdown on migrants in the capital of Tripoli. Around 1,500 migrants have drowned in boat mishaps and shipwrecks on the route across the central Mediterranean this year, according to the U.N. migration agency. Earlier this month, more than 160 migrants drowned in two separate shipwrecks off the North African country, the International Organization for Migration said. Libya plunged into turmoil by the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The North African nation has since emerged as a popular, if extremely dangerous, route toward Europe for those fleeing poverty and civil war in Africa and the Middle East. Human traffickers have benefited from the chaos in the oil-rich nation, smuggling migrants through the countrys lengthy border with six nations. They pack desperate migrants into ill-equipped rubber boats, then embark on risky voyages through the perilous Mediterranean Sea. Those returned have been taken to detention centers rife with abuses, including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families before migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers boats. U.N.-commissioned investigators said in October they found that the practice of arbitrary disappearances and violence against migrants inside Libyan prisons could amount to crimes against humanity. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) With much of the nation debating what and how to teach about history, the state of Alabama has delayed a revision to its classroom standards for teaching history for years after they were both praised and criticized by an educational think tank. Officials this fall postponed an update to the state's social studies course of study for five to six years, citing a positive review from the Fordham Institute, an ideologically conservative educational group that has become recognized for its audits of state history and civics standards, al.com reported. A notice about the delay came in November, a month after Alabama officials voted to ban so-called critical race theory in K-12 schools, a move that has left some students and teachers worried about how to discuss race and racism in the classroom. A review published by the Fordham Institute called Alabama's standards for teaching civics and U.S. history exemplary, citing an emphasis on facts and a rigorous and thorough overview" of the nation's past. But the organization also noted some gaps in Alabamas history instruction, saying that coverage of the Fourteenth Amendment is insufficient and that its standard for explaining Alabamas secession from the Union is unbalanced. There is a somewhat ambiguous reference to states rights in the fifth-grade standard on the causes of the Civil War, which should either be removed or more clearly subordinated to the issue of slavery to avoid misinterpretation, the report stated. And the decision to lump together the many changes that have occurred in the seven decades of U.S. History since World War II is unfortunate. A committee met once in February to discuss revisions to Alabamas social studies course of study, which hasnt changed since 2010. But in September, State Superintendent Eric Mackey told members that all future meetings had been postponed until further notice. As you may know, our current standards have been recognized for excellence, including the most recent recognition by the Fordham Institute as one of only five states to be ranked as exemplary in both Civics and U.S. History, Mackey wrote in a September memo. As important as social studies is, with a number of important topics to cover in the next few years, we believe the next steps include updating and aligning our Career and Technical Education (CTE), arts, and sciences. We remain undeterred in our commitment to high-quality social studies in all grades. A lead researcher at the Fordham Institute didn't agree with the delay. A lot could happen in two decades, said David Griffith, a senior research and policy associate who led the institutes recent review of social studies standards. Per the report, Alabamas history standards for the post-1970 era are already a little thin, so its concerning that the problem could get worse before it gets better. The Alabama State Department of Education does not mandate the teaching of any particular curriculum. Rather, the agency adopts standards about things students are expected to know and be able to do by certain grades. Typically, those standards are updated every five to ten years, but the recent delay spells an even longer waiting period for social studies standards, which were up for review this year. Griffith, who led the Fordham review, said the institute generally recommends states revise their standards every 10 years. Many states are behind schedule, he said, but to his knowledge Alabama is the first to cite the strength of its current standards as a reason for delaying revisions. The decision that could dock them points in future reviews, said Griffith. We definitely penalize states that havent addressed important historical developments in their standards, and the post-2010 era has definitely seen its fair share of history, he said. BANGKOK (AP) Photos of the aftermath of a Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Myanmar that reportedly left more than 30 people, including women and children, dead and burned in their vehicles, have spread on social media in the country, fueling outrage against the military that took power in February. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles who were reportedly shot by government troops as they were fleeing combat. The accounts could not be independently verified. The international aid group Save the Children said that two of its staffers were missing in the massacre, which sparked outrage against the military that took power after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Save the Children said it was suspending operations in the region. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar said it was appalled by the barbaric attack in Kayah state that killed at least 35 civilians, including women and children. We will continue to press for accountability for the perpetrators of the ongoing campaign of violence against the people of Burma, it said in a statement. A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmars army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Save the Children said that two of its staff who were traveling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were caught up in the incident and remain missing." We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out, the group added in a statement. The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies. The government has not commented on the allegations, but a report in the state-run Myanma Alinn daily newspaper on Saturday said that the fighting near Mo So broke out on Friday when members of ethnic guerrilla forces, known as the Karenni National Progressive Party, and those opposed to the military drove in suspicious vehicles and attacked security forces after refusing to stop. The newspaper report said they included new members who were going to attend training to fight the army, and that the seven vehicles they were traveling in were destroyed in a fire. It gave no further details about the killings. The witness told the AP the remains were burned beyond recognition, and children's and women's clothes were found together with medical supplies and food. The bodies were tied with ropes before being set on fire, said the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. He did not see the moment they were killed, but said he believed some of them were Mo So villagers who reportedly got arrested by troops on Friday. He denied that those captured were members of locally organized militia groups. Myanmar's independent media reported on Friday that 10 Mo So villagers including children were arrested by the army. The media said that four members of the local paramilitary Border Guard Forces who went to negotiate for their release were reportedly tied up and shot in the head by the military. The witness said the villagers and anti-government militia groups left the bodies as military troops arrived near Mo So while the bodies were being prepared for cremation. Its a heinous crime and the worst incident during Christmas. We strongly condemn that massacre as a crime against humanity, said Banyar Khun Aung, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group. Earlier this month, government troops were also accused of rounding up villagers, some believed to be children, tying them up and slaughtering them. An opposition leader, Dr. Sasa, who uses only one name, said the civilians were burned alive. A video of the aftermath of the Dec. 7 assault apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy showed the charred bodies of 11 people lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut. Fighting resumed over the weekend on the border with Thailand, where thousands of people have fled to seek shelter. Local officials said Myanmars military had unleashed airstrikes and heavy artillery on Lay Kay Kaw, a small town controlled by ethnic Karen guerrillas in neighboring Kayin state, since Friday. The governor of Thailand's Tak province, Somchai Charoenkitroongroj, told reporters that around 4,700 evacuees from Myanmar were in three shelters across the border. Sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard across the river dividing the countries. He ordered five border districts to prepare supplies and secure places to receive more refugees from Myanmar. Myanmar's militarys action prompted multiple Western governments including the United States to issue a joint statement condemning serious human rights violations committed by the military regime across the country." We call on the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen state and throughout the country, and to ensure the safety of all civilians in line with international law, the joint statement said. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Some of Kentucky's poorest counties are using coal severance tax funds that were originally meant to bolster local economies to pay past debts, according to a published report. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports it analyzed how eight eastern Kentucky counties with high poverty levels spent $6.2 million in coal severance tax funds over the last two years, according to reports they submitted to the Kentucky Department for Local Government. For example, Harlan County spent much of its allocation this year to pay down old bonds that financed a 227-bed jail that doesn't house state prisoners as planned and Knott County spent much of its funding on a recreation center plagued by revenue shortfalls and structural problems. Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy in Berea, said some of the projects have been good, but there's not enough long-term strategy. We never sat down and said, OK, what can we do over the next few years with this large sum of money that will let us really invest in smart ways in these communities? The Herald-Leader found that 42 percent of the funding received was spent repaying principal and interest on old loans. The amount going to pay for old debts isn't a concern for Republican state Rep. Chris Fugate of Chavies. If this is how they need to be paid, then thats not a concern of mine. As long as its not going to something wasteful, then Im not going to object," he said. SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Shanon Buari, Sr. is the kind of guy who will find a better way of doing something even if its not apparent that a better way exists. If I could not find something I liked, I made it, Buari said. I make beer, and the reason I home brew is because I could never find anything on the shelves that I wanted. So I said, let me see if I can make one on my own. An attorney with an affinity for wearing watches, Buari brought that same do-it-yourself spirit to the timepieces that adorn his wrist and the wrists of other people in Michiana and around the country. Buari owns BLAK Watches, and he takes a lead role in selecting the materials and designing the watches that reflect his own exacting standards. Buaris entry in the watch business is a part of a trend of African-American-owned watch companies to have entered the retail market in recent years. Those brands include Talley & Twine, Benson Watch Company and Banneker Watches and Clocks, a company named in honor Benjamin Banneker, a free Black man who made a wooden clock and was a part of the team that surveyed the land for what would become Washington, D.C. Buari said he was not aware of those companies when he founded BLAK Watches around a year ago. He knew what he wanted in a watch and decided to design one that met his preferences. There is a certain look I want in a watch, he said. I love a leather band, so for right now, all the watches I produce have leather bands. Buari added that the numbers on his watch faces come in colors that contrast with the face itself. So you will see black numbers, you will see silver or gold numbers, he said. You will see rose gold. I like to play with colors. His watches feature removable bands, allowing the wearer to match the band with the outfits that they wear. Eventually my goal is that you can get straps the same way you do with an Apple Watch so that you may be able to purchase one watch and get seven different straps, he said. So then you will have potentially seven different watches. That versatility really appealed to Buaris friend and collaborator Armarrae Hill, who is the CEO of Ash Media Group Hill said that like Buari, hes a watch enthusiast who and has owned more than 200. He said the watches clean, classic look as well as some contemporary flourishes appealed to him. I was really intrigued by the classic look of the watch, so immediately I bought four of the watches when they were released, he said. I really liked that the band was interchangeable so you could probably create six additional watches or looks because of the diversity of being able to change them out. Buari said he earned a reputation in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio for being a child willing to work to have money in his pocket, whether that meant mowing lawns or washing cars. He said he was a curious child who always wanted to find out how things worked. He would disassemble lamps and other appliances to figure that out. This did not always go over well in the house. But I was able to put it back together, he said, and that reduced the amount of trouble Id be in. Buari graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2009, and then earned a law degree from Valparaiso University in 2014 and a masters degree in law and taxation from Boston University in 2015. He currently works for the law firm of Anderson, Agostino and Keller. Still, Buari said, he maintained his lifelong desire to be an entrepreneur. That desire stemmed from coming from a line of entrepreneurs, Buaris belief that if something needed to be done, he should do it, and a desire to create a legacy for his four children. Buari said he had been saving money to start a business, and the pandemic created the opportunity. He ran the idea past Hill. Hill designed the logo that is on the face of the watches. That logo features the letters BLAK, the A actually being a triangle, or the Greek letter Delta. Buari said that symbol represents change, the constant forward movement of time. The reason I go with delta is because time is the enemy of us both, but it waits for no one, he said. Its constant change, so no matter what you are doing, right now is the oldest you are and the youngest you will be ever be in your life. You can never get that time back. Although, the company is Black-owned, Bauri said, the name BLAK represents a can-do attitude and mindset rather than being racially specific. The motto we live by is that when you put on a BLAK watch we want you to be bold because it was created by a person who took a risk, Buari said. Buari takes the lead role in the watches creation. He designs each watch and then gives his ideas to a team that creates a prototype. Buari sometimes makes suggestions to that team. For example, he asked them if they could make the second hand on one of his watches red because he wanted the watch to have a visual pop. At first it matched the rose gold of the watch, but I wanted something different. A little pop, but not too much. He then asks people their opinions of the prototypes. What works, what does not. Eventually, he contacts the manufacturers, and the watches are produced. He said the watches are made overseas, but the supply chain issues that have plagued companies in recent month have not been an issue for him because he is still selling watches he received before the logjam started. Buari sells his watches online at blakwatches.com, on a website Hill designed. E-commerce is a big reason hes able to balance his new business, his work in the law firm and his family. Watches regularly run $80 to $125, though the site was promoting a sale on Friday. Aja Ellington, head of Free Your Wings Youth Mentoring, Inc., said she likes wearing watches and likes the look of Bauris watches. Still, the significance of supporting a Black-owned and locally-owned brand is important to her. Like many people, Ellington owns a smart watch, which she uses as a part of her fitness regiment. But the watch I bought from his company, she said, I wear it every day. - Source: South Bend Tribune NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) A new study has concluded that licensed child care centers in Connecticut have been missing out on millions of dollars in federal funds for food and nutrition. UConns Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health surveyed more than 230 centers in 2019 about a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that reimburses for food that meets specific nutritional standards. The program supplies qualifying child care programs with nutritious meals and snacks. The researchers found a lack of awareness, lack of knowledge about eligibility and burdensome reporting requirements as factors that weighed against participation. The study estimated more than 20,000 children from low-income homes may have missed out on the programs benefits and that families could have saved an average of $31 per week per child. We want more child care centers to be participating in the program, Tatiana Andreyeva, the study's lead author, told the Connecticut Post. The numbers in our state were pretty low. More than a third of providers said they thought they weren't eligible for the program because they didn't have a sufficient number of low-income children, the study found. But the study also concluded many providers lacked a full understanding of the program and its requirements. Some cited administrative difficulties that posed challenges. Those were likely exacerbated by the stresses brought on by what historically has been a low-paid profession and which have been heightened during the pandemic. A lot of these are small businesses, Andreyeva told the Post. They dont have a manager, an administrator. Theyre doing multiple jobs. Susan Johnson, the director at The Childrens Center of New Milford, which is enrolled in the federal program, said the reimbursements do not always track with the actual price of nutritious food. Theyre unbelievably low," she told the Post. "Theyre totally unrealistic in terms of what the cost of food is. Its been this way forever, and its just gotten worse. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A suspect has been arrested in the shooting of a bear with a bow and arrow near Taos in October. The Albuquerque Journal reported Friday a man was charged in Taos Magistrate Court with unlawful killing of big game by shooting from the road and failing to tag the bear, both misdemeanors. ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) A teenager faces a charge of driving while intoxicated after a crash killed a man walking in front of an apartment building and seriously injured a woman in Islip. According to Suffolk County police, 67-year-old Islip resident Luis Trujillo was killed Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:45 p.m. when a 2004 Honda Pilot left the roadway and struck him and the woman. The car also hit a parked car, pedestrian crossing sign and a tree. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee boy was fatally shot early Christmas morning, officials said. The 12-year-old boy was among three people killed in two separate shootings in Memphis on Saturday, news outlets reported, citing police. Officers responded to a home at 2:26 a.m. Saturday and took the boy who had suffered a gunshot wound to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Memphis police tweeted. No other information was immediately released. In a separate shooting early Christmas morning, two men were killed and a female was wounded, police said. Details weren't released. Memphis police reported last week that the city's number of homicides were at a record level with 333, news outlets reported. LOS ANGELES (AP) Artist Wayne Thiebaud, whose luscious, colorful paintings of cakes and San Francisco cityscapes combined sensuousness, nostalgia and a hint of melancholy, has died. He was 101. His death was confirmed in a statement Sunday by his gallery, Acquavella, which didn't say where or when Thiebaud died. Even at 101 years old, he still spent most days in the studio, driven by, as he described with his characteristic humility, this almost neurotic fixation of trying to learn to paint, the gallery's statement said. The dean of California painters, Thiebaud drew upon his earlier career as a Disney animator, sign painter and commercial artist. While some took his hot dogs, bakery counters, gum ball machines and candy apples to be examples of pop art, Thiebaud never considered himself to be in the mold of Andy Warhol, and he did not treat his subjects with the irony the pop movement championed. Of course, youre thankful when anyone ever calls you anything, he once said. But I never felt much a part of it. I must say I never really liked pop art very much. The real subject, many critics said, was paint and the act of painting itself: the shimmering color and sensuous texture of the thickly applied paint. He laid on the paint so heavily that he often carved his signature into the painting instead of putting it on with the brush. The oil paint is made to look like meringue, said Marla Prather, a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art New York who helped organize a 2001 retrospective of the artists work. And with the cakes, you get this great sense of texture with the frosting. You just want to step close and lick it. Many of his painted images were outlined in neon pinks and blues that made the objects appear to glow. Shadows were often a rich blue. Its joyful, while a lot of modern art is angst-ridden, Prather said in a 2001 Associated Press interview. Thiebaud told PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in 2000 that the subject of food was fun and humorous, and thats dangerous in the art world, I think. Its a world that takes itself very seriously, and of course, it is a serious enterprise, but I think also theres room for wit and humor because humor gives us, I think, a sense of perspective. Gum ball machines were a favorite theme, he said, because a big round globe is so beautiful, and its really a kind of orchestration of circles of all kinds. But its also very sensuous, I think, and it offers wonderful opportunities for painting something like, almost like a bouquet of flowers. In 2004, a New York Times writer praised his wry vision of modern consumerism and said, No one did more to reanimate the tired old genre of still life painting in the last half century than did Mr. Thiebaud with his paintings of industrially regimented food products. Thiebaud told the NewsHour he preferred calling himself a painter, rather than an artist, because its like a priest referring to himself as a saint. Maybe its a little too early or hes not the one to decide that ... Being an artist I think is a very rare thing. Along with the sensuousness, there was sometimes an emptiness and melancholy reminiscent of Edward Hopper. He likened the feeling to the bright pathos of a circus clown. In landscape, his most famous subject was the city of San Francisco, whose steep hills he portrayed in a fantasy-like way, with spectacular angles and stark shadows. Originally, I painted right on the streets, trying to get some of the kind of drama I felt about the city and its vertiginous (dizzying) character, he told the NewsHour. But that didnt seem to work ... The reality was one thing but the fantasy or the exploration of it was another. Thiebaud was born in Mesa, Arizona, in 1920 and grew up in Sacramento, California. He started out as an animator for Walt Disney and later worked as a poster designer and commercial artist in California and New York before becoming a painter. He also was a longtime professor at the University of California, Davis. He officially retired in 1991 but continued teaching one class a year. ___ Former AP writer Polly Anderson contributed biographical information to this report. AP GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Defense attorneys want to dismiss the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they described as egregious overreaching by federal agents and informants, according to a court filing. In the 20-page motion, which was filed Saturday night, defense attorneys allege FBI agents and federal prosecutors invented a conspiracy and entrapped people who could face up to life in prison. They're asking U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to dismiss the conspiracy charge, which would effectively knock down the federal government's case and other connected charges, according to The Detroit News. Mongolian Ambassador Jigjee Sereejav (R) presents his credentials to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 23 (Photo: VNA) Talking to Mongolian Ambassador Jigjee Sereejav, the Vietnamese President asked the two countries to accelerate the signing of a memorandum of understanding on economic and trade cooperation, facilitate their products' access to each others markets, and open a direct air route early so as to enhance economic, trade, and tourism links and raise bilateral trade to US$100 million in the near future. He asked Mongolia to continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnams stance on the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea. He affirmed that ministries and sectors of Vietnam will help the ambassador fulfill his duties during his term in the country. In response, the diplomat pledged utmost efforts to help strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries, particularly in economy and people-to-people exchange. Nigerian Ambassador Hassan Adamu Mamaniu (R) presents his credentials to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) Meeting with Nigerian Ambassador Hassan Adamu Mamaniu, President Phuc expressed his hope that during the diplomats term, the two countries will coordinate closely to develop bilateral relations on par with their political resolve and cooperation potential and increase their annual trade to about US$1 billion. The ambassador said he will exert every effort during his term so as to intensify the countries multifaceted cooperation, noting that Nigeria is ready to send a high-ranking delegation to Vietnam to reinforce ties. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Timor-Leste Ambassador Olandina Isabel Caeiro Alves (Photo: VNA) At the meeting with Ambassador of Timor-Leste Olandina Isabel Caeiro Alves, President Phuc affirmed that Vietnam wishes to work with Timor-Leste in promoting post-pandemic sustainable development and bilateral trade. He held that both sides should carry out the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation early as stated in the framework agreement on economic and technical cooperation signed in April 2010, and coordinate with one another to celebrate the 20th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. The leader also asked the Timor-Leste Government to create favorable conditions for the telecom group Viettel to operate and encourage other Vietnamese firms to invest there. The ambassador of Timor-Leste voiced her hope that she will receive assistance from relevant agencies in Vietnam, committing all-out efforts to contribute to the countries cooperation. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine on December 23 (Photo: VNA) Receiving Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine, President Phuc said Vietnam always views Algeria as a leading partner in Africa, asking the two sides, during the diplomats term, to work more closely with each other to develop their relations in a more substantive and effective manner. He asked Boubazine to help implement existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Governmental Committee and the political consultation between the two foreign ministries. He also called on the two countries to continue coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, and step up trade and investment partnerships. For his part, the Algerian ambassador noted the countries Joint Committee will convene a meeting to consolidate the legal basis for bilateral cooperation, adding that his embassy will organize an Algerian culture week in Vietnam and many other activities so as to help deepen mutual understanding on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Vietnamplus Just over a decade ago, Richard Evans and I co-created the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, a unique and distinctly Sydney offering to the world. Our intention was to create a word-class festival that pushed the edges of acceptable discourse. There was (and remains) a serious purpose behind the festival. We reckoned that if we held the boundaries, then we could help conserve as large a middle space in the public square as possible, a space that even then was being narrowed by an ever more censorious broader culture. Stephen Fry speaking at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas Credit:Yaya Stempler Invariably, the festival has encountered its fair share of controversy outraging conservatives and progressives alike. Along the way, speakers have taken to the stage to denounce The Ethics Centre for its involvement in the festival; as have various members of the audience who have been outraged by the curators choice of topics, speakers, etc. Occasionally, we have been applauded. I mention this by way of background to my comments on the controversy engulfing the 2022 Sydney Festival, namely a boycott by some artists against its decision to take money from the Israeli government. I am no stranger to the pressures and ethical dilemmas of staging a public event in the contemporary era that endeavours to rise above the bland. As a matter of principle, every person has a right to establish the conditions under which they choose to participate in an event whether as a content provider or as a member of the audience. Nobody should be required to contribute to an event that they feel will compromise their principles or seem to involve collusion in acts of wrong-doing. Given this, it is important that those being invited to participate in events undertake their own due diligence prior to accepting a role. In turn, organisers should afford potential participants the opportunity to make an informed decision about whether or not to contribute to the program. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When it rains in the Gayini wetlands, the dirt track is treacherous; driving is like skating on ice. But the land managers of the almost 88,000-hectare property in NSWs south-west are used to this, and skilfully navigate their four-wheel-drives off-road over the sweeping floodplains as they check water channels, conduct pest control and ensure general upkeep of the property. Storms are a regular occurrence in the region, as are floods and droughts. The harsh conditions are not for everyone, but for Nari Nari man Jamie Woods and Ngiyampaa man Mark Schneider, managing the property is the best job there is. Water flows into sections of Gayini that have been largely dry since 2016. Credit:Brook Mitchell Its been just three years since the area was handed back to its traditional custodians, the Nari Nari Tribal Council, for management. But already it is teeming with birds, kangaroos, emus and snakes as its custodians work hard to protect the regions past, present and future. As he stands in his favourite spot on the property a bridge under which yabbies and fish thrive, overlooking a marshy ibis breeding ground council land manager Mr Woods says hes blessed to have the job of looking after his country. The water flowing under the bridge will filter down to the rest of the property, bringing wildlife back to areas damaged by stock grazing over many years. I couldnt see myself doing anything else, Mr Woods says. Land management is about doing the right thing and creating the right environment and everything takes care of itself. Advertisement Eight years ago, the state and federal governments bought 19 properties and their water extraction rights in the Lower Murrumbidgee Valley. In 2017, the government put the amalgamated property to tender, seeking caretakers to ensure its ongoing management. A consortium involving The Nature Conservancy, the Nari Nari Tribal Council and others won the deal in 2018, and a year later, traditional owners were handed the legal ownership of Gayini, which is the Nari Nari word for water. Since then, the private land conservation areas new caretakers have been busy returning the land to its original condition. Gayini offers a unique management approach in that it is a private land conservation area with a signed conservation covenants, which is a signed agreement between the Nari Nari Tribal Council and the NSW government. The agreement outlines how the property will be used and informs the land and water management plans. State and federal governments still provide support for the property, including advice on managing hydrological issues. There are many approaches to conservation, but environmentalists say it depends on the areas history and landscape as to which is the most appropriate. Credit:Brook Mitchell This approach means Gayini does not fall to the care of a public agency, such as NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, as is the case with national parks or nature reserves. Advertisement Director of conservation for The Nature Conservancy Australia, James Fitzsimons, said there were many approaches to conservation used across Australia, and the best approach was dependent on the lands needs, such as its Indigenous heritage or type of landscape. Nari Nari Tribal Council members and land managers Mark Schneider and Jamie Woods stand with Rene Woods as they watch a severe storm roll in over Gayini. Credit:Brook Mitchell Gayini was one of the largest wetland restoration projects in Australia. Dr Fitzsimons said that while there were significant number of Indigenous protected areas in central and northern Australia, there were few in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Land buyback for First Nation people is the only way that land comes back into the system, he said. Its very important to protect natural assets and cultural assets, he said. Gayini is unique in many ways... [This type of agreement] could be replicated in other parts of the Murray Darling. Weve never restored wetland types of this scale. National Parks Association executive office Gary Dunnett said while the public agency approach offered more secure long-term conservation efforts with scientific expertise, those made by other environmental groups also played a vital role. Advertisement We are quite open to any mechanism that sees land being protected, he said. He added that the key to good land management, whatever governance approach was used, was ensuring that threatened species were monitored and that basic infrastructure, including appropriate fire mitigation, was in place. Mr Dunnett said that most national parks were on land that had not been fertile enough for agricultural purposes, so conserved land in fertile areas was unique. Loading There is absolutely a place for state agencies or private organisations to look for places that are within the heart of those high fertility soils and high rainfall areas because they actually punch above their weight, he said. Their value in the landscape is very high and they are not well represented in the reserve system. There is a fantastic opportunity to regenerate those places because they will potentially support higher biodiversity, including breeding sites for more diverse species. Advertisement Gayini also relies on the efforts of scientists who monitor the various ecosystems in and around the property, including monitoring the fluctuating bird populations and recently rediscovered grey snake species. Mr Schneider, who is also on the Nari Nari tribal council and one of the propertys land managers, has grown up in and around the Gayini. He said one of the projects key successes has been the close working relationship with scientists, combining local knowledge with Western science. Some of the water that flows through the 88,000 hectare property is destined for the state-owned Yanga National Park, while part of it will flow into the regenerating wetlands. Credit:Brook Mitchell All the data they get, we get too. There are definitely opportunities to learn from people theres a lot of knowledge out there, he said. We were always determined to make it work, and we will make it work. Loading After working for National Parks for more than a decade, Mr Schneider said its rewarding to return to his country and protect it. While he said its easy to get lost in the beauty of Gayini, theres much more to it than just the wetlands. Weve still got culture and heritage to protect out there, he said. Advertisement Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 would no longer have to isolate under new measures being considered by the NSW government, which is battling a staffing crisis across Sydney hospitals. As NSW recorded more than 6300 new cases on Sunday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard declared that most of the state would probably contract the highly transmissible Omicron, but stressed the new variant was believed to be less severe than Delta. Most COVID-19 patients in NSW intensive care units are suffering from the Delta variant despite Omicron representing about 80 per cent of current cases. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard address the media on Sunday morning. Credit:Lyndal Irons From early indications, NSW Health believe the majority of ICU COVID patients have the Delta variant. Health is seeking to confirm this through additional tests, Mr Hazzard said. NSW has reported its first death linked to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, as case numbers remained steady in the state and some testing clinics closed due to overwhelming demand. The death was of a man in his 80s who died at Westmead Hospital. He was a resident of the Uniting Lilian Wells aged care facility at North Parramatta, in western Sydney, where he acquired his infection. He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions. NSW Healths Dr Christine Selvey said the man was believed to be the first person to die in the state after being infected with the Omicron variant and urged people to come forward for a booster or third dose if they were eligible. A Queensland couple have been blessed with the birth of their first child on Christmas Day. Logan Reserve residents Rosemary and Hyryce welcomed their baby Leighton at Redland Hospital at 3.16am on December 25, weighing 3800 grams. Baby Leighton and parents Rosemary and Hyryce on Christmas Day. The new parents said everyone was happy to welcome Leighton to the family after festivities were quickly put on hold. I just knew when contractions started on the 23rd December that we would be having a Christmas baby, Rosemary said. The factional hit was the political equivalent of a drive-by shooting. The Premier, Dan Andrews, proposed the ALPs national executive take control of the partys Victorian branch after media revelations of industrial scale branch stacking. This involves breaching ALP rules by signing up illegitimate members to influence ballots including candidates for elections. The national executives intervention was never meant to target a sitting MP like me, who had nothing to do with branch stacking, or the Red Shirts controversy. Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire. Credit:Joe Armao The preselection process for next years state elections in Victoria was manipulated. So were the media. The technique used was to falsely link me to the factional group Victorias IBAC is investigating. This was wrong, misled the public and damaged my reputation. The national executive refused to meet me before casting their votes. The factional deals were done. A study by South Africas National Institute For Communicable Diseases, finds suspected Omicron cases were 80 per cent less likely to go to hospital, but the analysis does not account for vaccination status. While this is fairly reassuring, Monash University epidemiologist James Trauer said there were no guarantees Australias outbreak would look the same. Australia is unique in its relatively high vaccination rates and lower natural infections, meaning our background immunity levels are different to South Africa and the UK. Its not yet clear how key natural infections will be to the outcomes in these countries, Dr Trauer said. In the UK, over half the English population had already possibly been infected with COVID-19 when the new variant hit. In South Africa, only about a quarter were vaccinated and the country had high natural immunity. But with South African data now broken down by age in findings backed up by studies in the UK, it was now much clearer that severity for every age group was less for Omicron when compared with other variants, Dr Trauer said. I think were beginning to see that direct comparison able to be made between Delta and Omicron, particularly in places that have really good data like the UK, Dr Trauer said. But why would illness caused by Omicron be less severe? Researchers at Cambridge and Hong Kong universities have found in non-peer-reviewed studies that the variant replicates much faster in the bronchus 24 hours after infection which is why it transmits so fast but is far slower when spreading in the actual human lung tissue, possibly indicating lower disease severity. There is mounting evidence that Omicron causes milder disease, but experts caution against overstating this, with the sheer number of infections set to overwhelm already overstretched healthcare systems. By spreading faster than any other variant, Omicron may ultimately cause more severe disease and death. It will be weeks before these impacts come to bear in Australia. Do masks help? The effectiveness of masks in protection against Omicron is not yet known. Early suggestions are that the virus can pose a higher risk than Delta and it might therefore be safer to wear higher filtration masks. Lidia Morawska, researcher and director of the WHO-collaborating International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health said: The better fitting the mask, the more protection. There havent been enough studies on this, but if Omicron settles in the deeper part of the respiratory tract, this is where the particles are the smallest. Smaller particles follow the airflow, which means if there are gaps between the mask and the face, of course the mask will provide less protection. How much more protection will a booster shot give me? Antibodies in vaccinated people are far less effective at neutralising Omicron than with Delta, work from Columbia University and overseas data shows. However, many studies also show that vaccines still fend off severe disease, and booster shots serve as a crucial defence. Hours after the federal government announced it would fast-track the booster shot program, co-chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group, Allen Cheng, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that having two doses and a booster gets you to the same place with Omicron as two doses did with previous variants. But will three doses be enough? Israel wants to administer a fourth dose to people over 60, amid signs that immunity from a booster shot starts to wane more rapidly than with Delta. The UKs Health Security Agency finds protection against the strain is 15-25 per cent lower from 10 weeks after the third dose. The issue of boosters remains vexed. The World Health Organisations Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has continued to warn that countries cannot boost their way out of the pandemic, with poorer countries not yet meeting minimum vaccination targets. The vast majority of hospitalisations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not unboosted people, he said. Omicron: A shorter wave? South Africa has seen a significant drop in COVID-19 cases in recent days, from more than 26,000 on December 15 to 19,000 on December 24. Some experts suggest this could be a sign that the country has already reached its peak. University of Melbourne infectious diseases epidemiologist and vaccinologist, Fiona Russell, who has been tracking Omicron hospitalisations globally said: I think, based on the data that were seeing from other countries, certainly from South Africa, this thing explodes over six to eight weeks, and then that seems to decline again. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has opened the door to deepening security ties with Australia and the Five Eyes spying network to counter Irans cyber attacks and combat terrorism. Mr Lapid said Australian law enforcement agencies now had the opportunity to hunt Hezbollahs global terror network after the Morrison government last month declared the Lebanese group a terrorist organisation. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid says Israel wants a closer security relationship with Australia. Credit:AP In an exclusive interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Mr Lapid said Israel was very interested in deepening our ties with Australia and with all countries in the Indo-Pacific. Mr Lapid said striking a free trade agreement with Australia was also a priority which would expand trade and help create jobs in both our countries, and floated the prospect of direct flights between the two countries. Multiple Sydney to Hobart skippers were forced to take a gamble on their trip down to Tasmania on Boxing Day after a number of crew members failed to receive COVID-19 test results in time for the start of the race. With COVID-19 cases continuing to soar in NSW, the turnaround for PCR testing results have been heavily delayed creating last-minute havoc for the annual yacht race. Each crew member was supposed to lodge a negative test with the Tasmanian government before travelling to Hobart. But with so many left waiting for their results, the Tasmanian government shifted the rules late on Saturday night to allow sailors who did not yet have a result to start the race. Rome: They were known as lamb killers and bone crunchers and it was even rumoured that they were able to snatch small children. But after centuries of intense persecution, the bearded vulture, one of the worlds most imposing birds of prey with a wingspan of up to almost three metres, is staging a comeback across its former range in Europe. The huge bearded vulture is known sometimes as a bone breaker from its habit of dropping bones from height and then swooping to recover the marrow. Credit:Fox Photos The species was on the verge of extinction in the late 20th century. It has been brought back from the brink with the help of a captive breeding programme, which has just clocked up one of its most successful years ever. The Simplest Way To Recharge During Your Time Off, According To 100+ Studies The results come from 140 studies on 290 million people. Spending time outside in green spaces reduces stress, improves sleep and has a host of health benefits, research finds. On top of the psychological benefits, over one hundred studies have linked being closer to nature to health benefits like lower risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Ms Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett, the studys first author, said: Spending time in nature certainly makes us feel healthier, but until now the impact on our long-term wellbeing hasnt been fully understood. We gathered evidence from over 140 studies involving more than 290 million people to see whether nature really does provide a health boost. Ms Twohig-Bennett explained the studys results: We found that spending time in, or living close to, natural green spaces is associated with diverse and significant health benefits. It reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, and preterm birth, and increases sleep duration. People living closer to nature also had reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and stress. In fact, one of the really interesting things we found is that exposure to greenspace significantly reduces peoples levels of salivary cortisol a physiological marker of stress. The Japanese have long enjoyed Shinrin yoku, or the practice of forest bathing. Ms Twohig-Bennett said: Forest bathing is already really popular as a therapy in Japan with participants spending time in the forest either sitting or lying down, or just walking around. Our study shows that perhaps they have the right idea! Its not clear exactly what causes the benefits, but Ms Twohig-Bennett speculates: People living near greenspace likely have more opportunities for physical activity and socialising. Meanwhile, exposure to a diverse variety of bacteria present in natural areas may also have benefits for the immune system and reduce inflammation. Much of the research from Japan suggests that phytoncides organic compounds with antibacterial properties released by trees could explain the health-boosting properties of forest bathing. The study was published in the journal Environmental Research (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018). There are much easier ways to help people than by working for emergency medical services. Thats something of which John Arnold, Eastons EMS chief, is well aware. Other jobs in medicine such as working as a technician in a doctors office arent nearly as demanding as riding in an ambulance and responding to medical calls at all hours. Its an easier setting, Arnold said of doctors offices. Its warm. Its dry. You dont work odd hours where youre going into somebodys house at 2 a.m. and theyre throwing up on you. Maybe being a tech in doctors office is a little more desirable. He said, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, hes seen people get certified to work in EMS, then go on to work in another setting. He isnt alone. Many EMS services throughout the state are either short-staffed or fear being short-staffed in the near future, due to a variety of factors. These could include retirements, an increased call volume and people leaving EMS behind for more comfortable health fields. Staffing challenges really started to pick up this year, said William Schietinger, regional director for American Medical Response in Southern Connecticut. Weve lost full-time employees whove either left the industry or gone to other EMS services that are not as busy. AMR is a national private ambulance company that, in Connecticut, has operations in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. In addition to losing people to less demanding work, Schietinger said, hes seen people retire, and hes also seen a dearth of qualified candidates, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited the number of certification classes that were available. Robert Ziegler, president of Emergency Resource Management an EMS staffing company based in Portland said the staffing problems of companies like AMR trickle down to other EMS services. Ziegler said he represents 13 EMS clients throughout the state (but wouldnt say where) and said he feels like hes in constant competition to hire staff. Its a challenge when commercial (ambulance companies) start to pay $4, $5 or $6 more an hour because theyre also hurting for people, he said. At least one hospital-based EMS program said it was experiencing issues too. There are several factors that affect EMS recruitment and retention in general, including career transitions and retirements,said Aaron Katz, director of EMS at Norwalk Hospital. The hospital is part of Nuvance Health, which also includes Danbury, New Milford and Sharon Hospitals. Most notably at this time, Nuvance Health EMS, including at Norwalk Hospital, are experiencing some staffing shortages from the toll the pandemic has taken on all healthcare workers, Katz said. Consequently, we are always looking for qualified candidates. He said Norwalk Hospital alone responds to more than 12,000 calls a year on average. Even those who said they arent short-staffed now worried about what the future holds. That includes Easton, where Arnold said the EMS service is in relatively good shape. The department has 38 volunteers and two paid staff members, and the volunteer side has actually grown from five years ago, when there were 24 volunteers. But Arnold said he has seen call volume go up, particularly when it comes to offering assistance to other towns. In 2020, he said, Easton provided mutual aid to other communities 16 times. As of Dec. 17, he said, Easton EMS had provided mutual aid 89 times in 2021. We expect to exceed 100 mutual aid request by the end of the year, Arnold said. Thats an explosive amount of patient care that were doing. Many other local departments tell a similar story, including Trumbull, where EMS Chief Leigh Goodman said staffing levels are fine for now, but shes still anxious. Were very well-staffed, but there are shortages region-wide, which impact us, Goodman said. Like Arnold, she said she sees many people complete EMS training only to move on to other health fields. What were seeing as an industry (are challenges in) getting people to stay in the industry, Goodman said. Theres a lot of fatigue. People are tired. Its not regular hours. Michael Loiz, Stratfords director of EMS, is also in the well-staffed for now category, but he has seen call volumes going up by 3 percent to 8 percent a year for at least the past five years. What that means is that our crews are going to be doing more calls and possibly there will be a need for mutual aid to come in, he said. In Westport, the picture is a bit cloudier, said Marc Hartog, deputy director of Westport EMS. The service lost roughly 30 volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, falling from 90 to 60. Of those that remain, Hartog said, many arent always available. For instance, a good bulk of them are college students who are in classes much of the year. There are some days where were struggling because we dont have volunteers sign up for shifts, he said. So what is everyone doing to try to manage current or potential shortages? Whatever they can, EMS officials said. Schietinger said AMR has increased wages for its staff in Bridgeport and Hartford. The starting salary for staff in those cities went from $18 an hour to $24 an hour. The hourly rate for a paramedic in those cities also went up, from $27 to $33. Schietinger said AMR is negotiating with unions in New Haven and Waterbury to offer higher wages to staff there too. AMR also started its Earn While You Learn program earlier this year, which allows people to take EMT classes while getting paid. Town and city EMS services also have tried to manage any shortages or potential shortages. In Stratford, Loiz said officials manage the schedule very aggressively to make sure whatever staff is available is deployed when and where theyre needed most. If Tuesdays are busier than Fridays, then were going to focus our energies on making sure theres staff on Tuesdays at the busiest time, he said. In Trumbull, Goodman mentioned several steps the service is taking to retain staff, such as expanding their leadership tracks. In Easton, Arnold said, EMS is examining measures such as offering tax incentives for volunteers and better pay for paid staff. Many of the EMS programs are also trying to run as many classes as safety allows to train new staff. I dont have anybody right now that Im going to lose out the door, but you have to always have that in the back of your head, Arnold said. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media STAMFORD A COVID-19 testing site was paused and reopened multiple times Sunday. As of noon, the site was closed for the day. At 9:45 a.m., the city announced on its Facebook page that the Cove Island Park testing site was currently paused due to vehicle capacity and urged residents not to park on Cove Road. As many as 3,218 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered in the last 24 hours, including 408 which received the first dose, 1,592 received the second dose and 1,218 received the third dose, Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informed on Sunday. According to CNCAV, since the beginning of the anti-COVID vaccination campaign, on December 27, 2020, there have been 15,749,303 vaccine doses administered to 7,918,813 people, 7,781,563 receiving the full scheme and 1,930,336 being immunized with the third dose. There have been three adverse reactions registered in the last 24 hours, one local type and two general types. In total, since the start of the vaccination campaign, 19,684 adverse reactions were registered in anti-COVID vaccines, 2,147 local types and 17,537 general types. AGERPRES A commemoration service was officiated on Wednesday in Bucharests Romanian Revolution Square. Prayers were offered for the martyrs who fought for freedom during the last days of the Nicolae Ceausescus communist regime. The religious ceremony was held after the state anthem. We have officiated a commemoration service for the maryrs of the Romanian December 1989 Revolution, explained Father Gheorghe Dilirici, coordinator of Bucharests state cemetery priests. 32 years ago, this place was filled with people, most of them young, who came to shout their legitimate wish that the Romanian people be free. Many of them gave their life here, becoming martyrs, declared the priest for Radio Trinitas. The ceremony concluded with a deposing of memorial wreaths. The event was attended by state authorities, participants in the December 1989 street movements and relatives of the victims of the Revolution. Fr. Ioan Sauca, Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), visited, on December 15, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East at His Beatitudes residence in Balamand, Lebanon. Patriarch John X is one of the WCC presidents. His Beatitude shared the situation of the people and churches from his Patriarchate. Even if the conflicts seem to have calmed down, the situation of the people continues to be tragic, affirmed Patriarch John. The Patriarch conveyed thanks and appreciation to the WCC leadership and staff for the work done in these difficult times of pandemic, and expressed gratitude for the efforts undertaken to accompany and support Christians facing difficult situations and challenges in the world. Patriarch John X expressed the wish to come to the next WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe. The audience lasted much longer than planned and the discussions were both warm and intense, mentions a World Council of Churches press release. Fr. Ioan Sauca also visited the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand, a prestigious Middle Eastern Orthodox Theology school, with students from many countries, especially from the Arab-speaking Christian world. The WCC Acting General Secretary delivered a lecture at the institute. In this years Christmas encyclical, His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand emphasizes that the Nativity of the Saviour represents the fulfilment of all Old Testament prophecies. Through Him, divine revelation is concrete, complete, and perfect. By the birth of Christ, the prophecies which God the Father revealed to His elect in the Old Testament are fulfilled, and at the fullness of time He secretly intervenes to protect the Infant. If before the incarnation, the Word of God was revealed to the people of Israel in the shadow and worked upon the outside world, at His Birth, the Son took in His hypostasis the human nature which He renewed. At the birth of Christ, Gods revelation becomes concrete, complete, and perfect. Moreover, the Romanian Bishop of Australia notes that through each Divine Liturgy, the whole economy of salvation is recapitulated. Starting from the statement that the sole purpose of the incarnation is the salvation of humans, he states: This is how the new life in Christ began in the world. This new state is present in the Church because here, in the Divine Liturgy, Christ the Lord sacrifices Himself for our salvation. By His descent, death and corruption change into life and incorruption, and the Law becomes hypostasis, a Person. At every Divine Liturgy the whole mystery of Gods economy is recapitulated for the salvation of humans, from the Annunciation to the Nativity of Christ, the Baptism, the work in the world and the preaching of the holy doctrine, the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, the Burial, the Resurrection, the Ascension. His Grace Bishop Mihail also stresses the importance of active participation in the Divine Liturgy. We ought to make our hearts a bright and pure cave, that the Lord and Saviour of our souls may dwell in it. Therefore, let us remember and participate from the beginning to the end with great attention in the prayers during the Divine Liturgy, through which Christ the Lord sacrifices Himself and blesses the faithful people. The feast of the Nativity is a blessed occasion to be close to the elderly and the isolated, to the discouraged and helpless families, and to all our brothers and sisters who need a Christian deed and a word of comfort. Let us celebrate the Nativity of the Lord by showing gratitude for the goodness of God poured out upon us; to share in the joy of the feast with the mind elevated to the Baby Jesus who is born to save the human race, the Romanian Bishop of Australia and New Zealand urges. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met on Thursday, December 16, 2021, for a working session at the Patriarch Teoctist Great Hall of the Palace of the Patriarchate under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot His Grace Assistant Bishop Nestor of Hunedoara as new Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, in place of Bishop Gurie Georgiu of blessed memory, who reposed in October 2021. The enthronement of His Grace Bishop Nestor of Deva and Hunedoara will take place on December 26, 2021. At the same meeting, the following decisions were also taken: The year 2023 was declared Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters (psaltes) in the Romanian Patriarchate; The Holy Hierarch Diadochos, Bishop of Photiki, was included in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, with his feast day on March 29. The liturgical texts of the synaxarion, the service and the akathist, as well as his icon, were also approved; The liturgical texts of the service and supplicatory canon of Saint Simeon the New Theologian (March 12) were approved; The text of the akathist to St. Justin the Martyr and the Philosopher (June 1) was approved; The Holy Synod approved the request of the National Agency Against Human Trafficking regarding the publication of a leaflet for the prevention of human trafficking and its distribution throughout the parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church appreciates the social-philanthropic activity of dioceses, parishes, monasteries and social centres. Orthodox faithful throughout the U.S. have a special opportunity now through early February to venerate the relics of one of Romanias most recently glorified saints. With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the relics of St. George the Pilgrim have arrived in America. The relics have already visited a number of parishes in several states and will continue to visit parishes according to the following schedule: December 24 St. Gregory the Theologian Romanian Orthodox Mission, Greenville, SC; December 25 St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Dacula, GA; December 26-31 Protection of the Mother of God Romanian Orthodox Monastery, Allegan, MI; January 1-2 Elevation of the Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, Upland, CA; January 6-7 Holy Archangels Romanian Orthodox Church, Torrance, CA; January 8-9 St. George and St. Dimitrie the New Romanian Orthodox Church, Las Vegas, NV; January 14 St. Marys Romanian Orthodox Church, Houston, TX; January 15 St. John Cassian Parish, San Antonio, TX; January 16 Holy Protection of the Mother of God Romanian Orthodox Church, Austin, TX; January 21/22 Holy Resurrection Romanian Orthodox Church, Antelope, CA; January 23 Ascension of the Lord Romanian Orthodox Mission, Hayward, CA; January 30 St. Stephen Romanian Orthodox Church, South Saint Paul, MN; February 5-6 Sts. Joachim and Anna Romanian Orthodox Church, Seattle, WA. The saint was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in October 2017. St. George the Pilgrim, born with the name of Gheorghe Lazar, was born in the village of Sugag, in Alba county, in 1846. He married at the age of 24 and was blessed by God with five children. He led an honest Christian life of work, prayer, fasting, and alms. He went to worship at the Tomb of the Lord in 1884 and remained at the monasteries of the Jordan and Sinai wilderness for over a year. Then, after a year and a half on Mount Athos, he returned to his country. He lived with his family for a few years, and having put his childrens affairs in order, he retired as a pilgrim to the monasteries of Moldavia in 1890. He established himself permanently in the city of Piatra Neamt, living in asceticism like a true hermit in the bell tower of Stephen the Great in the middle of the city for 26 years, until his death. There he laboured alone in fasting and prayer, summer and winter, without fire, without bed, without a coat, and without shoes on his feet, living in Gods grace. He reposed on August 15, 1916, and was buried in the town cemetery. In the summer of 1934, his remains were placed in Varatec Monastery, in northeastern Romania. He is known as Grandpa George among the pious faithful. His relics, kept beneath the main church in the monastery, are fragrant. Father Ionut Timoce, a Transylvanian parish priest, offered his parish house to family with eight children recently left homeless after the owner ended their tenancy by selling the house. Reghin Deanery got involved in providing a home to the Balazs family. The eight children are aged 4 to 18, their father is a taxi driver and their mother is keeping the house. In particular, Fr. Ionut Timoce and the parish in Beica de Jos in Transylvania offered the parish house, providing the family with two rooms, a kitchen, a pantry, a bathroom, a yard, and outbuildings. The parishioners donated furniture, home appliances, firewood, clothes and shoes for the whole family, as well as food. The Balasz family gives thanks for the almsgiving and wishes all happy holidays, and we, the Lords servants, pray to the Christ Child to pour out His Heavenly blessing on all, granting health, peace, and joy to every family, Father Ionut Timoce announced. Father Valentin Varva, the Dean of Reghin, coordinated the philanthropic action. Six local parishes contributed: Poarta, Gurghiu, Ideciu de Sus, Stanceni, Comori and Frunzeni. I bless people when they come and give us things, I say may God heal you if someone comes and is sick, said Marcelline Tapsoba, the mother of 2-year-old twins. As they sat on the ground in their usual spot in the city's outskirts, Tapsoba and her children were surrounded by other mothers and their twins who also were begging and offering blessings. Tapsoba said those who receive her blessings often return weeks later to thank her for their newfound romantic or financial success. Similar scenes play out in Ghana. If you give birth to the twins in Ghana, you have to follow the twins rules, said Kasim Amadu, a businessman. It is thought that wronged and unhappy twins can lead to personal harm for the parents and others, he said. Most cultures in West Africa cherish twins, and soothsayers believe they can enhance their communication with the spirit world through them, said Philip Peek, a professor emeritus at Drew University in New Jersey whose research includes folklore and African religion. ST. LOUIS Maria Duquebuitrago got more than a free meal on Christmas Day. She got the comfort of knowing she was not alone. Duquebuitrago, 61, hasnt been able to visit her elderly parents and siblings in Colombia for four years. She lives alone and receives care from a home care agency for chronic health conditions. So when Anna Tram Nguyen, a nun and social worker with Bilingual International Assistant Services, knocked on Duquebuitragos door Saturday with a hot meal, it wasnt the gift bag that made Duquebuitragos eyes well with tears. She makes me feel like I am not alone, like I have somebody there to protect me, somebody there for me, somebody to say, Hi, Duquebuitrago said. Duquebuitrago was one of more than 70 homebound seniors across the region who received meals, clothes and toiletries Saturday from volunteers with Bilingual, a nonprofit that helps foreign-born seniors, many of them refugees or immigrants with limited English-speaking skills, access critical financial, health and social assistance. Australia is replacing all its Airbus MRH-90 helicopters with up to 40 more American UH-60M. Two months earlier Australia announced its navy was replacing its six Airbus MRH-90 ASW (anti-submarine warfare) helicopters with six more American MH-60R helicopters for ASW work. The MRH-90s were scheduled to be replaced by 2037 as they reached the end of their service lives. Replacement is coming more than a decade earlier because the American helicopters are cheaper to purchase and operate (per flight hour) and the AirBus helicopters produce more problems than promised performance. The new UH/MH-60s will join 29 AH-64E Aoache gunships also on order to replace AirBus products. This purchase was announced in January and replaces the 22 Airbus Tiger gunships that began arriving in 2004. Australia decided to replace the Tigers in 2016, for many of the same reasons that made the MRH-90s expendable. It took longer to select a new gunship, even though there were only three viable candidates; the AH-64E and smaller and cheaper models like the American AH-1Z and Italian A129. The only other producer of military transport and gunship helicopters is Russia and these are rarely considered by Western buyers because of performance issues. The Tiger costs about as much as the AH-64, a heavier (ten-ton) gunship that has been in service since the 1980s. The six-ton Tiger has a crew of two and a max speed of 280 kilometers an hour. It cruises at 230 kilometers an hour and usually stays in the air about three hours per sortie. It is armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, 70mm rocket pods (19 rockets per pod), and various types of air-to-ground missiles (eight Hellfire types at once). It can also carry four Mistral anti-aircraft missiles. The first twelve AH-64s will arrive in 2026 and the rest by 2028. The AH-64E is the latest iteration of the famous tank buster gunship which has been used by the U.S. Army since 1984 when the AH-64A entered service. So far about 2,400 Apaches have been delivered to customers in various versions. The latest model, the AH-64E, entered service in 2011 and attracted many export customers, including India, Saudi Arabia and Britain. The AH-64 is a heavily armed and armored attack helicopter with a maximum takeoff weight of 11.5 tons and a top speed of 279 kilometers per hour. New AH-64E features included the improved Longbow fire control radar and the capability to cooperate with UAVs. The AH-64E can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles in addition to a 30 mm M230 autocannon. A pair of Stinger air-to-air missiles are often carried as well. The U.S. has been seeking a replacement for the Apache but has had a difficult time coming up with a new gunship that is worth the cost of developing to replace the constantly upgraded Apache. For that reason, production of Apache is expected to continue until at least 2040 and possibly even 2050. The Apache of 2021 is a much different and better helicopter than the original 1986 model. The basic shape of the helicopter gunship has not changed since the AH-1 first appeared in the 1960s. As China has discovered, designing and building helicopters is even more difficult than developing jet fighters and commercial airliners. Usable helicopters did not appear until 1945 but widely useful military and civilian models did not appear until the late 1950s when the UH-1 entered service. Airbus became a serious competitor for American commercial air transport manufacturers but was less successful with their Eurocopter division, which incorporated French, German and Spanish helicopter manufacturers. There are still British and Italian firms competing for military and civilian sales. Eurocopter took on the UH-60/AH-64 dominance of the military helicopter market and largely failed to match the success of the American manufacturers. The MH-60R and MRH90 are similar in capabilities but the MRH90 costs about 20 percent more. MH-60R entered service in 1985 and is considered more reliable than the MRH90, which entered service in 2007 and had a lot of equipment and reliability problems, some of them still unresolved. Despite that 450 have been built so far. The UH-60 model has been produced in large numbers so far, with more than 4,000 in service or on order. In 2010 Australia received eight of the 50 NH90 helicopters it ordered, and was not happy with the aircraft's performance. Called the MRH90 in Australian service, the experience was like what the Germans and other customers encountered with their NH90s. The overall complaint is poor reliability, design, and durability. Many more spare parts must be stocked than was originally planned. There have been long waits to get needed spares from the manufacturer NHIndustries, which is a French division Airbus that develops and produces military helicopters. The German Army conducted an evaluation of their new NH-90 helicopters, and were not pleased. Their conclusion was that, for combat missions, another model helicopter should be used whenever possible. A particular problem was the lack of ground clearance. The NH-90 can't land on a piece of ground with any obstacles higher than 16 cm (6.4 inches). That makes many battlefield landing zones problematic. That assumes you can even get on a NH-90 and find a seat. The passenger seats cannot hold more than 110 kg (242 pounds). Combat equipment for German troops weighs 25 kg (55 pounds), meaning any soldier weighing more than 85 kg (187 pounds) must take stuff off, put it on the floor, then quickly put it back on before exiting. Then there's the floor, it's not very sturdy, and combat troops using the helicopter for a short while cause damage that takes the helicopter out of action for repairs. Worse, there is the rear ramp. It cannot support troops carrying all their equipment, making it useless for rapid exits of combat troops. There is not enough room in the passenger compartment for door gunners. There are no strap downs for larger weapons, like portable rocket launchers or anti-aircraft missiles. The passenger compartment also does not allow for carrying cargo and passengers at the same time. The winch is not sturdy enough for commandos to perform fast roping operations. And so on. The Germans were not pleased with the NH-90. Germany was one of the first customers for the NH-90s and plans to procure 122. It may take until 2030 to complete that purchase. The ten-ton NH-90 can carry 21 troops or twelve casualties on stretchers, plus the crew of two. It first flew in 1995. Europe already has several veteran helicopter manufacturers, as does the United States. Airbus wants to be competitive across a wide range of aircraft and has found that experience is more expensive, time-consuming than expected. Their experience in Australia are an example of how initial victories can be lost. In late 2021 the United States halted its efforts to get Israel two KC-46A aerial tankers as soon as possible. The reason given was the growing backlog of late deliveries to the U.S. Air Force. Israel suspects the Americans are also trying to make it more difficult for the Israelis to carry out a massive air attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. This all began in late 2019 when the Israeli Air Force (IAF) asked the United States to supply them with two new KC-46A tankers as soon as possible. While the KC-46A has had some manufacturing problems, once checked over carefully it is good to go as a modern aerial tanker and transport. Israel is getting somewhat desperate in this area. Although a small country with no imminent threat from a neighboring military, Israel has long maintained a large force of aerial tankers. Nine of those are Boeing 707 airliners purchased second-hand decades ago and converted to tankers like the American KC-135. There are also four KC-130H turboprop tankers like those used by the United States and are better suited to refueling helicopters. Most Israeli combat and transport helicopters are equipped for aerial refueling. In most instances, the refueling enables aircraft to stay in the air longer when that is needed to deal with an uncertain situation that requires prompt attention from aircraft already in the air. The big problem is the age and heavy maintenance requirements for these elderly Israeli B-707 tankers. Making a long-range airstrike against Iran is a lot riskier because tanker availability and reliability is less certain. Boeing, the manufacturer of the 707, KC-135s and the new KC46A was amenable to giving Israel two 46As right away but the U.S. Air Force had to cooperate and allow two of theirs to be diverted to Israel. This would be good for Boeing because Israel would put the KC-46As to work right away and thereby foster more Boeing export sales. The pitch to the U.S. Air Force is that the Israeli experience would be valuable in ongoing efforts to improve the quality of production and implementation of needed or suggested improvements. Israel wants to buy up to eight KC-46As, for about a billion dollars. Growing problems with the elderly Israeli 707 tankers and production problems with the KC-46As, plus the Israeli resistance to buying expensive new support aircraft, further complicated matters. That need for KC-46As became more urgent as the 707 situation got worse faster than expected while the KC-46A finally entered service in 2019 and long-distance strikes against Iran became more likely. Israel is trying to work through all this and solve its escalating aerial refueling crises. By 2021 the KC-46A looked less attractive because additional manufacturing and design problems continued to show up. Earlier in 2019, the U.S. air force resumed, after a two-month delay, accepting new KC-46As. That two-month delay was because of FOD (Foreign Object Debris), including tools and other metal objects, still showing up in various parts of the aircraft. This indicated a serious lapse in the management of assembly and quality control while producing these aircraft. By March 2019, after nearly a month of effort to check out aircraft nearly ready for delivery as well as factory inspection procedures, the air force agreed to begin accepting KC-46s once more. Deliveries continued despite a recently discovered cargo lock (unreliable cargo tie-down latches) problem. The Americans are now concerned about Boeing, the manufacturer, while also needing the KC-46As as soon as possible. This is the same firm that is having worse problems with its new 737 Max commercial airliner. In mid-2019 Boeing planned to deliver 36 KC-46As by the end of 2019 and later expected to meet that goal even though only 19 had been delivered by early September. At the end of the year, the goal of 36 was missed but Boeing did fix the cargo lock problem and this allowed cargo to again be carried. There was one problem left with the accuracy of the remote viewing system used by the 46A boom operator. That does not prevent the operation of the aircraft, it just slows down refueling in some cases. The latest (early 2021) problem is leaky toilets. Most tankers are based on commercial freight transports, with the addition of more onboard fuel and aerial refueling equipment. There is a lot of space left for passengers and cargo. The KC-46 can carry over a hundred passengers and when it does the crew toilet is not sufficient. There was already a cargo pallet based ATGL (Air Transportable Galley-Lavatory) in use with the C-17 and C-130 transports. These aircraft alternate between carrying all cargo, mixed (cargo/passenger) and all-passenger modes. Boeing, the developer of the KC-46 was told to make sure the KC-46 could easily handle the ATGL. It was a simple request for a simple task; just note the ATGL specs and their use on the other transports and the job is done. Like so many other simple design and construction tasks on the KC-46, Boeing got it wrong. They moved the orientation of the ATGL 90 degrees to fit into the KC-46 and did not note that the ATGL anti-spill valve did not work reliably in the new orientation. Boeing did not discover that until the ATGL underwent testing on the KC-46 and the leak problem became obvious. Now a new valve must be developed and tested, and there is no certainty when that will get done. Based on the many past problems with the KC-46, these avoidable problems take longer than anticipated to fix. Some problems discovered several years ago are still unresolved. Boeing was in a hurry to deliver nearly 200 KC-46As to the air force and was telling Israel that once an order is approved it can take two or three years to deliver the KC-46As. Israel apparently no longer has that much time, especially with the Iranian crisis getting worse. On the plus side, the elderly U.S. KC-135 tanker fleet is in much better shape than Israeli B-707 tankers. The main problem Israel has is that the 707 based aircraft are very old. The oldest 707 was built in 1958 and the youngest ones are from the 1970s. Most commercial 707s retired decades ago. Obtaining spare parts has become increasingly difficult. In 2018 the IAF paid Brazil $400,000 for a 707 retired in 2008, plus a stock of 707 spare parts. The Brazilian 707 was then taken apart for spares. All IAF tankers were grounded for more than a month in 2019 because inexperienced civilian maintainers caused an accident that had to be investigated to ensure that there was not a more fundamental problem with the aircraft. Production of civilian 707s ended in 1978 but the production of military versions, which mainly went to the U.S. Air Force, continued into the early 1990s. The United States used to be a primary source of spare parts but now those spares are needed to keep dozens of American military 707s operational. Israel had closely followed the American search for a new tanker to replace the elderly KC-135 because they realized that Israeli tankers were older than the American ones. The Boeing 707 became obsolete at the end of the 20th century, as most countries adopted new jet engine noise regulations that barred the use of 707s at major airports and many minor ones. You could upgrade the 707, with new engines, to comply, but it was cheaper to buy a new aircraft that was cheaper and safer to operate than the elderly 707. Only 1,010 707s were built from 1958 to 1979 and it was a sturdy and reliable carrier of freight, as well as passengers, and continued in use for decades before rising fuel prices and maintenance costs made it too expensive for commercial use. The Boeing 707 commercial transport is a civilian version of the original KC-135 of which 732 were built between 1956 and 1965. The KC-135 evolved from the World War II B-29 heavy bomber. The U.S. Air Force used to be a major player in the second-hand 707 market as the military was, until a decade ago, converting them to military uses (AWACS and J-STARS), but even that has shifted to more modern aircraft designs. By the early 2000s, you would buy an old 707 for less than a million bucks, then spend $25 million turning it into an aerial tanker or several times that to produce an AWACs. These days, the Boeing 737 is preferred for this sort of thing. That led to the new U.S. Air Force KC-46A tanker aircraft. There were a lot of problems converting 767s to the KC-46, but most were caused by sloppiness at Boeing manufacturing plants. Like the 707 tankers, the KC-46 can also carry cargo, a lot of it. The KC-46A can carry 29.5 tons of cargo in up to 18 pallets. The KC-46A can also carry up to 114 passengers or 58 patients (plus medical personnel). The total value of the project, to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 and KC-10 tankers, could be as high as $44 billion. The initial order was for 18 aircraft at about $150 million each. That initial order also came with about a billion dollars for development work plus $4 billion in additional development costs that the manufacturer absorbed. The air force might order over a hundred KC-46As, but the exact number depends on what kind of future aircraft the air force will be using. If there are a lot of unmanned aircraft (UAVs), fewer tankers will be needed because UAVs are smaller, and need less fuel. The competition between the American (Boeing) and European (AirBus) candidates was quite close. The KC-330 carries 20 percent more fuel than the KC-767, plus 37 percent more cargo pallets and passengers. But this apparently worked against the KC-330, as the KC-767 is closer in size to the KC-135, and thus will not require as many new maintenance facilities. The KC-767 is also considered easier and cheaper to maintain. The KC-330/45A was to have cost about $175 million each, 17 percent more than the KC-46A. The KC-46A is based on the Boeing 767-200 airliner, which sells for about $120 million. The 767 has been in service since 1982, and over 1,100 have been manufactured so far. Boeing developed the KC-46A on its own, at a cost of nearly a billion dollars. Boeing also developed the original KC-135 tanker in the 1950s and has since built over 2,000 of these. The two engine KC-330 (KC-45A) was based on the AirBus 330, which costs about $160 million each. Over 1,400 330s have been produced since the aircraft entered service in 1994. Both candidates were selected for their ability to replace the four-engine KC-135. This older aircraft carries 90 tons of fuel and can transfer up to 68 tons. Typically, aerial tankers service B-52s (which carry over 140 tons of jet fuel) and fighters like the F-15 (over five tons). The KC-135 has long made itself useful carrying cargo and passengers, as well as fuel, and both the KC-767 and KC-30 have more capacity for this. The KC-46A can pump 1,200 gallons (4,900 liters) a minute total while each of the underwing pods can deliver a third of that per minute. With the continued KC-46A delays most export sales went to the KC-330s, now called the A330 MRTT or KC-30A. So far, 50 of these have been ordered by or delivered to Australia, France, NATO, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, South Korea, and Britain. The KC-46A has two export customers so far; Israel (8 KC-46As) and Japan (2). Several other nations are considering the KC-46A, but all these problems dont help with turning consideration into orders. EVANSTON, Ill., Dec. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhaeos, Inc., a private, clinical stage medical device company developing a platform wireless and non-invasive wearable sensor initially targeting the neurosurgical suite, today announced the successful closing of its oversubscribed $2.2 million seed financing. The round, which brings a total of over $8 million in dilutive and non-dilutive financing to date, includes participation from Creative Ventures, Portal Innovations, Lateral Capital, Cedars-Sinai Accelerator, Kyto Life Science and Technology, Band of Angels, Northwestern University's NXT Fund, University of Michigan Social Venture Fund, and private investors. The FlowSense platform has the potential to disrupt the wearable medical device space. "This financing milestone is one of many achieved by Rhaeos this year. The elegant design of their sensor and approach to commercialization led by a team of experts in their respective fields are among the reasons why we invested in Rhaeos. The FlowSense platform has the potential to disrupt the wearable medical device space and we are glad to be a part of Rhaeos' journey," said Kulika Weizman, Principal at Creative Ventures. The closing of the financing round adds to recent milestones the company accomplished including receiving $4M in grant funding from the NIH, completing the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program, and initiating their FDA pivotal study. Proceeds will be used to prepare for the 2022 commercial launch of FlowSense, the company's first product. "Anna Lisa Somera and Dr. John Rogers are prolific leaders in the Chicago life science ecosystem. They along with the rest of the Rhaeos team have the capabilities and expertise to commercialize the FlowSense platform to help improve the lives of the millions of patients living with hydrocephalus and other chronic conditions," said John Flavin, Founder and CEO of Portal Innovations. About Rhaeos, Inc.Rhaeos, Inc. is a private, clinical stage, medical device company, formed out of the award-winning John A. Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University, focused on developing wearable sensors to improve care of patients suffering from chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions. The company's novel FlowSense noninvasive wireless sensor addresses a clinical unmet need for patients with hydrocephalus and is funded by the National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation, the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, the Southwest Pediatric Device Consortium, the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation, the UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Accelerator, the West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics, MedTech Innovator, and private and institutional investors. About Creative VenturesCreative Ventures is a method-driven venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage deep-tech companies. With a market-first principle, Creative Ventures leverages their deep technical and management expertise to support companies addressing labor shortages, climate change, and rising healthcare costs. About Portal InnovationsPortal Innovations is a premier venture development engine that bridges scientific ideation in life sciences, medtech and bioinformatics innovation through commercial proof of concept by delivering seed capital, full equipped lab space and management expertise to high-potential early stage companies addressing underserved human health challenges. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rhaeos-inc-raises-2-2-million-in-oversubscribed-seed-round-301450658.html SOURCE Rhaeos, Inc. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Army veteran awaiting a potentially life-saving medical treatment died of COVID-19 on Christmas Eve in Arizona, his family reported. Brian Yazzie, 35, who was unvaccinated, was on a ventilator and had been cleared for a machine to oxygenate his blood externally, KSAZ reported. Doctors tried to secure an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine, but Phoenix-area hospitals had none available amid a fresh wave of COVID-19 cases as the omicron variant spreads across the nation, KPNX reported. Yazzies oxygen levels dropped Friday, Dec. 24, and he died when his heart went into shock, Victoria Arviso, his sister, told the station. His family had been trying to arrange to have him flown to Texas for treatment, but he was too ill. They said it was too dangerous, Arviso told KSAZ. It was too dangerous for him to be transported that far, and they werent sure for that long transport if he would hold up with his oxygen. More than 279 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide with more than 5.3 million deaths as of Dec. 26, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has had more than 52 million confirmed cases with more than 816,000 deaths. The omicron variant was first reported by researchers in South Africa on Nov. 24 after several doctors noticed symptoms among their patients that differed slightly from those caused by the delta variant, the dominant version of the germ spreading globally, McClatchy News reported. Federal health officials confirmed the first omicron case in the U.S. on Dec. 1, in a fully vaccinated California resident who recently returned from South Africa, McClatchy News reported. The variant is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., comprising an estimated 73% of cases as of Dec. 22; the delta variant makes up about 27% of infections. Experts are still researching numerous questions about the omicron variant, including whether it causes more severe disease than other versions of the coronavirus. 2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC . Dr. Anthony Fauci, shown here during a press briefing at the White House on Dec. 1, 2021, says the U.S. is headed for a continued surge of COVID-19 cases this winter. (Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images/TNS) As federal, state and local health officials grapple with the rapid spread of the extraordinary omicron variant, the U.S. is headed for a continued surge of COVID-19 cases this winter, Dr. Anthony Fauci says. Given the sheer volume of cases that you see now, every day it goes up and up, Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, told ABC News This Week on Sunday morning. The last weekly average was about 150,000, and it will likely go much higher. State and federal officials have ramped up efforts to distribute more COVID-19 tests, get more people vaccinated and boosted, and expand capacity at health care facilities and testing sites. Cases have steadily increased in Massachusetts, New England and throughout the U.S. for several weeks, but vaccinations and boosters have kept severe cases, hospitalizations and deaths down compared to last year. Health officials still expect omicron and holiday travel to bring a significant surge this winter; Massachusetts on Friday reported more than 10,000 new cases in a single day for the first time over the two-year pandemic. The Biden administration recently announced plans to deploy 1,000 military medical personnel to support hospital staffing as cases spike. The administration also plans to buy 500 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests that Americans can order for free by January. Fauci said the steps are geared to make sure, given the rapid spread of this extraordinary variant, that we dont get an overrun on hospitals, particularly in regions in which you have a larger portion of unvaccinated individuals. He added that the administration will also bolster nationwide inventory of personal protective equipment and ventilators. Fauci cited studies suggesting omicron cases are less severe than other strains, but he emphasized that the high volume of new infections might override a real diminution in severity if Americans get complacent. If you have many, many, many more people with a less level of severity, that might kind of neutralize the positive effect of having less severity when you have so many more people, Fauci said. And were particularly worried about those who are in that unvaccinated class ... those are the most vulnerable ones when you have a virus that is extraordinarily effective in getting to people. 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com . U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, seen here in a July 15, 2021 photo, on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, highlighted the success of vaccines against COVID-19 and said the country, despite upheaval and tremendous loss, will get to the end of this pandemic. (Saul Loeb, AFP, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Sunday highlighted the success of vaccines against COVID-19 and said the country, despite upheaval and tremendous loss, will get to the end of this pandemic. Murthy told CNNs State of the Union that while its understandable many are frustrated with an ongoing pandemic thats killed more than 800,000 Americans over two years, its still important to note tremendous progress, including saving more than a million lives because of vaccination efforts this past year alone. Weve lost so many people and our lives have been changed fundamentally, Murthy said. But those struggles shouldnt obscure one critical thing, which is that we have made tremendous progress in this last two years as well. I know it may not always feel like the progress is enough, he added. But weve also gotten tools and developed tools to learn to live our lives, to gather with family and friends. And those include not just the vaccines and the boosters, but testing, using masks judiciously, and using better ventilation and gathering in better ventilated spaces. Murthy argued that we will get to the end of this pandemic. Its gone through twists and turns, he said. But we will get there and we will get there together. State and federal officials have ramped up efforts to distribute more COVID-19 tests, get more people vaccinated and boosted, and expand capacity at health care facilities and testing sites. The Biden administration recently announced plans to deploy 1,000 military medical personnel to support hospital staffing as cases spike. The administration also plans to buy 500 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests that Americans can order for free by January. Cases have steadily increased in Massachusetts, New England and throughout the U.S. for several weeks, but vaccinations and boosters have kept severe cases, hospitalizations and deaths down compared to last year. Health officials still expect the new omicron variant and holiday travel to bring a significant surge this winter. Massachusetts on Friday reported more than 10,000 new cases in a single day for the first time over the two-year pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that as federal, state and local health officials grapple with the rapid spread of omicron, the U.S. is headed for a continued surge of cases this winter. Given the sheer volume of cases that you see now, every day it goes up and up, Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, told ABC News This Week on Sunday morning. The last weekly average was about 150,000, and it will likely go much higher. 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com . In this photo provided by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), vehicles smolder in Hpruso township, Kayah state, Myanmar, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be women and children, fatally shot more than 30 and set the bodies on fire, a witness and other reports said Saturday. (KNDF via AP) BANGKOK Photos of the aftermath of a Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Myanmar that reportedly left more than 30 people, including women and children, dead and burned in their vehicles, have spread on social media in the country, fueling outrage against the military that took power in February. The photos showed the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burned-out vehicles who were reportedly shot by government troops as they were fleeing combat. The accounts could not be independently verified. The international aid group Save the Children said that two of its staffers were missing in the massacre, which sparked outrage against the military that took power after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Save the Children said it was suspending operations in the region. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar said it was appalled by the "barbaric attack in Kayah state that killed at least 35 civilians, including women and children." "We will continue to press for accountability for the perpetrators of the ongoing campaign of violence against the people of Burma," it said in a statement. A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmar's army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Save the Children said that two of its staff who were traveling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were "caught up in the incident and remain missing." "We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out," the group added in a statement. "The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies." The government has not commented on the allegations, but a report in the state-run Myanma Alinn daily newspaper on Saturday said that the fighting near Mo So broke out on Friday when members of ethnic guerrilla forces, known as the Karenni National Progressive Party, and those opposed to the military drove in "suspicious" vehicles and attacked security forces after refusing to stop. The newspaper report said they included new members who were going to attend training to fight the army, and that the seven vehicles they were traveling in were destroyed in a fire. It gave no further details about the killings. The witness told the AP the remains were burned beyond recognition, and children's and women's clothes were found together with medical supplies and food. "The bodies were tied with ropes before being set on fire," said the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. He did not see the moment they were killed, but said he believed some of them were Mo So villagers who reportedly got arrested by troops on Friday. He denied that those captured were members of locally organized militia groups. Myanmar's independent media reported on Friday that 10 Mo So villagers including children were arrested by the army. The media said that four members of the local paramilitary Border Guard Forces who went to negotiate for their release were reportedly tied up and shot in the head by the military. The witness said the villagers and anti-government militia groups left the bodies as military troops arrived near Mo So while the bodies were being prepared for cremation. "It's a heinous crime and the worst incident during Christmas. We strongly condemn that massacre as a crime against humanity," said Banyar Khun Aung, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group. Earlier this month, government troops were also accused of rounding up villagers, some believed to be children, tying them up and slaughtering them. An opposition leader, Dr. Sasa, who uses only one name, said the civilians were burned alive. A video of the aftermath of the Dec. 7 assault apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy showed the charred bodies of 11 people lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut. Fighting resumed over the weekend on the border with Thailand, where thousands of people have fled to seek shelter. Local officials said Myanmar's military had unleashed airstrikes and heavy artillery on Lay Kay Kaw, a small town controlled by ethnic Karen guerrillas in neighboring Kayin state, since Friday. The governor of Thailand's Tak province, Somchai Charoenkitroongroj, told reporters that around 4,700 evacuees from Myanmar were in three shelters across the border. Sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard across the river dividing the countries. He ordered five border districts to prepare supplies and secure places to receive more refugees from Myanmar. Myanmar's military's action prompted multiple Western governments including the United States to issue a joint statement condemning "serious human rights violations committed by the military regime across the country." "We call on the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen state and throughout the country, and to ensure the safety of all civilians in line with international law," the joint statement said. Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world ) Christmas day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. (Gregorio Borgia/AP) ROME Pope Francis prayed Saturday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, using his Christmas Day address to urge health care for all, vaccines for the poor and for dialogue to prevail in resolving the world's conflicts. Amid a record-setting rise in COVID-19 cases in Italy this week, only a few thousand people flocked to a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square for Francis' annual "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and the world") Christmas address. Normally, the square would be packed with tens of thousands of holiday well-wishers. At least they could gather this year. Italy's 2020 holiday lockdown forced Francis to deliver a televised address from inside the Apostolic Palace to prevent crowds from forming in the square. Although Italy this week counted more than 50,000 cases in a single day for the first time, the government has not ordered another lockdown. The pope's Christmas Day speech gives him an opportunity to draw a global audience's attention to conflicts big and small. This year was no different. Francis lamented ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, newly flaring tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an "unprecedented crisis" in Lebanon. "We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters," he said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica as Swiss Guards stood at attention in the square below. Francis warned of the pandemic tendency to withdraw and isolate, urging instead dialogue to try to resolve the world conflicts. He prayed in particular for those most affected by the virus, including women and children who have suffered increased abuse during lockdowns. "Son of God, comfort the victims of violence against women, which has increased in this time of pandemic. Offer hope to young children and adolescents suffering from bullying and abuse," he said. He prayed for "consolation and warmth" for older adults who are alone, as well as for health care workers who "generously devote themselves" to caring for the sick. "Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of good will to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects," he said. "Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care and vaccines in particular are provided to those peoples who need them most." Francis delivered his speech hours after celebrating a "Midnight Mass" service for some 2,000 people, a fraction of the basilica's capacity. The service actually began at 7:30 p.m., a nod to the 85-year-old pope's endurance and a hold-over from last year, when the service had to end before Italy's nationwide COVID-19 curfew. For the second day in a row, Italy on Friday set a daily pandemic record with 50,599 new cases. Another 141 people died, bringing Italy's official death toll in the pandemic to 136,386. With the arrival of the omicron variant in Italy, the Vatican secretary of state this week imposed a new vaccine mandate on Vatican staff, extending it to all employees except those who have recovered from COVID-19. Previously, only employees who dealt with the public directly had to be vaccinated, such as the staff of the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guards. Other Vatican employees could access their offices with regular testing. Now, there is no test-out exemption. Life jackets, sleeping bags and damaged inflatable small boat are pictured on the shore in Wimereux, northern France, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Calais, northern France. Children and pregnant women were among at least 27 migrants who died when their small boat sank in an attempted crossing of the English Channel. (Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP) IRBIL, Iraq The bodies of 16 Iraqi Kurdish migrants who drowned last month as they attempted to cross the English Channel were repatriated to northern Iraq on Sunday. The Nov. 24 disaster, in which 27 migrants died, has been described as the worst on record involving migrants trying to cross the perilous passage to Britain from France. The boat capsized off the coast of northern France, sparking a political crisis. Britain and France accused each other of not doing enough to deter people from crossing the English Channel. Dozens of mourners waited at the semi-autonomous Kurdish region's international airport in Irbil Sunday, where the plane carrying the bodies arrived. Relatives grieved as the caskets were transported by ambulance to their hometowns for burial. The repatriations came amid a new tragedy involving migrants from the Middle East searching for new lives in Europe. Libya's Red Crescent said Sunday that at least 27 bodies of Europe-bound migrants, including a baby and two women, have washed ashore in the country's west. A disproportionate number of migrants from the Middle East attempting to reach Europe lately have been people from Iraq's Kurdish region. Although northern Iraq is more prosperous than the rest of the conflict-scarred country, growing unemployment and frustration over corruption is forcing many to consider the risky journey. Among the bodies returned Sunday was that of 24-year-old Maryam Nouri, called Baran by her friends and family. She perished during the ill-fated, illicit voyage across the English Channel with hopes of reuniting with her fiance in Britain. The flimsy boat sank a few miles from the French coast. At least 27 migrants bound for Britain drowned. France's interior minister called it the biggest migration tragedy involving the crossing to date. Other bodies included those of Shakar Ali, Sarkawt Pirot and Avrasiya Ahmad, who came from the Ranya district of the Sulaymaniyah governorate in the Kurdish-run region of Iraq. Hundreds of family members and friends attended a ceremony in the town to pay their last respects. Relatives said the three had tried to make it to a better life in Europe as they had been unable to find employment in Iraq. Shakar Ali "graduated from the oil department in geology college, which is a much needed department for this country. But unfortunately, after many attempts and we even paid money to people to get him a job, but he couldn't get one," said his brother, Haval Ali. "Many of his colleagues, those with connections, got jobs, except my brother... so he decided to migrate abroad." This photo shows a scene after an Israeli army operation that left a few Palestinian men killed, in the West Bank village of Beit Anan, west of Ramallah, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in the West Bank in an area that has seen a recent uptick in friction, the Israeli military and Palestinian medics said. (Nasser Nasser/AP) TEL AVIV, Israel Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in the West Bank in an area that has seen a recent uptick in friction, the Israeli military and Palestinian medics said. The clashes late Saturday were part of days of tension in the area surrounding a West Bank settlement outpost and a spike in violence elsewhere in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. During the clashes, the military said, hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks and burned tires and shots were fired in the area. The military said forces responded with live fire and "riot dispersal means," typically tear gas and stun grenades. The military also said shots were fired from a passing vehicle toward a military post near the West Bank city of Nablus, which is south of Homesh. It was not clear if the shooting was related to the clashes. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 10 people were wounded by live fire. The Palestinian Health Ministry said one of them, a 17-year-old, was seriously wounded. Dozens of others were wounded by rubber bullets. A soldier was lightly wounded, the military said. Homesh, in the northern West Bank, was dismantled as part of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. But in recent years, Israeli settlers have returned to pray and established an unauthorized outpost at the site. Last week, at least one Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car filled with Jewish seminary students next to the outpost. Yehuda Dimentman, 25, was killed and two others were wounded near Homesh, which is considered illegal by the Israeli government. On Thursday, thousands of Jewish nationalists marched to Homesh to mark the end of the mourning period for Dimentman and on Friday, Israeli forces dismantled structures that settlers had erected at the outpost. According to Israeli media reports, Jewish settlers were expected to march again to the outpost on Saturday night, drawing calls on Palestinian social media for nearby villagers to be on alert. The clashes come amid an increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence elsewhere in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem. Earlier this month, an ultra-Orthodox Jew was left seriously injured after being stabbed by a Palestinian attacker outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City. A week before, a Hamas militant opened fire in the Old City, killing an Israeli man. Both attackers were killed by Israeli forces. Settler violence against Palestinians has seen a similar increase during the olive harvest. In mid-November, Jewish settlers attacked a group of Palestinian farmers with pepper spray and clubs in the farmland surrounding Homesh, injuring four people. Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, and the territories are now home to over 700,000 Israel settlers. Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements illegal obstacles to peace. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem and the West Bank as parts of a future independent state. This photo combo shows from top left, Kaleb Franks, Brandon Caserta, Adam Dean Fox, and bottom left, Daniel Harris, Barry Croft, and Ty Garbin. Defense attorneys have sought to dismiss the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they describe as egregious overreaching by federal agents and informants. The Detroit News reports that defense attorneys filed a 20-page motion on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. (Kent County Sheriff via AP File) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Defense attorneys want to dismiss the indictment against five men, including a Marine veteran, accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because of what they described as "egregious overreaching" by federal agents and informants, according to a court filing. In the 20-page motion, which was filed Saturday night, defense attorneys allege FBI agents and federal prosecutors invented a conspiracy and entrapped people who could face up to life in prison. They're asking U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to dismiss the conspiracy charge, which would effectively knock down the federal government's case and other connected charges, according to The Detroit News. The request comes after developments and claims about the government's team, including the conviction of Richard Trask, an FBI special agent who was arrested on a domestic violence charge and later fired and convicted of a misdemeanor. "Essentially, the evidence here demonstrates egregious overreaching by the government's agents, and by the informants those agents handled," defense attorneys wrote. "When the government was faced with evidence showing that the defendants had no interest in a kidnapping plot, it refused to accept failure and continued to push its plan." Five people are charged with kidnapping conspiracy and face a trial March 8 in Grand Rapids. They have pleaded not guilty and claim to be victims of entrapment. One of the five people charged, Daniel Harris military file shows he was a rifleman, serving from 2014 until 2019, the AP reported in October 2020. He attained the rank of corporal E-4 in 2019 and his final duty assignment was at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Federal prosecutors have argued the men were not entrapped. The government alleged the men were upset over coronavirus restrictions when they conspired to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat, even scouting her second home in northern Michigan. Messages left Sunday with the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Justice weren't immediately returned. In January, a sixth man, 26-year-old Ty Garbin, pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year federal prison sentence. Retired Brig. Gen. David W. Hicks is shown during service in Afghanistan in this September 2016 photo. Hicks is CEO of Operation Sacred Promise, an organization that works with Afghan Air Force and Army Special Mission Wing members and their families by supporting their transition from Afghanistan and helping them start new lives in the United States. (Contributed photo) LAS VEGAS (Tribune News Service) David Hicks is on a mission: Help Afghan air force and army troops and their families get out of the Taliban-controlled country and start new lives in the United States. As the chaotic withdrawal of American forces and allies from Afghanistan occurred this summer, Hicks, a Las Vegas resident, felt compelled to help. Hicks is a retired Air Force brigadier general who flew missions in the Middle East and helped train Afghan forces that fought the Taliban. He was determined to make sure his former Afghan colleagues were not left behind. In mid-August, Hicks helped launch the Las Vegas-based Operation Sacred Promise, which helped some 1,000 refugees leave the country before Kabul fell to Taliban control. And the groups mission does not stop once people are out of Afghanistan. It aids refugees in securing a pathway to legal residence in the United States, as well as coordinating housing, job and education opportunities. It was complete chaos at that time, Hicks said of the withdrawal. We rapidly realized there was no plan to try to get any of the air force members out of Afghanistan, so we went to work. Operation Sacred Promise has a particular focus on Afghan air force members, who received U.S. training, speak English and fought the Taliban. They and their families should be a priority for evacuation from Afghanistan or for U.S. visas if they are awaiting entry in places like Germany, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Hicks said. Were the advocates, Hicks said. It becomes a challenge because were working with the families, and were working with these individuals, trying to keep them alive in ( Afghanistan), a lot of times moving them around or trying to buy food for them and trying to give them hope. The Department of Homeland Security last month said more than 25,000 Afghan refugees in the U.S. have left relocation camps to settle permanently, many with the help of relocation groups like Operation Sacred Promise. In September, 50 refugees resettled in Southern Nevada with the aid of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization that acts as the state office for resettlement efforts. Another 100 refugees settled in Northern Nevada. Another 45,000 evacuees are at temporary sites in Virginia, New Mexico, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Others are overseas and awaiting entry into the United States, including an Afghan air force pilot working with Operation Sacred Promise. The pilot is among some 9,000 refugees waiting in Abu Dhabi. The pilot, who for safety reasons is not being identified, said they graduated in 2016 from the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala. While anticipating a U.S. visa, the pilot stays in touch with their mother, sisters and brothers in Afghanistan through the messaging apps WhatsApp or Signal. The pilot said they want to be able to support their family economically and help other Afghan families escape the Taliban. All day long were thinking about them, the pilot said. Were trying our best to (stay in touch) because thats the only way we can relieve our pains and we can relieve our stress. A Las Vegas taxi driver who came to the U.S. from Kabul in 2019 with their immediate family is also worried about relatives in Afghanistan. Their parents and their siblings, as well as their siblings partners and children, are stuck in the country. An estimated 22.8 million Afghan people face extreme famine, including the taxi drivers family members, they said. The driver, who also is not being named for safety reasons, wires their family $200 to $300 a month, a lifeline they hope will sustain them while they await U.S. visas. Life is difficult because I have to support my family here too, said the driver, who works 12-hour shifts seven days a week. Im happy that I am alive, and happy that I am here so I can help my family and my brother. Immigration lawyer Dee Sull, who is overseeing efforts to resettle Afghan refugees in Northern Nevada, said Congress should make it easier for Afghans to become permanent U.S. residents. They will lose family, and they will lose friends, she said of the refugees. Thats uncontrollable now, and I have to wonder how much of that could have been avoided if we had done this another way. Benny, a 26-year-old Afghan refugee, was at resettlement camps in New Jersey and Texas before moving to Las Vegas in October. He lives with Ellen and Scott Hoffman, the parents of Air Force Capt. Christopher Hoffman, who was part of the flight crew on his plane out of Afghanistan. A former interpreter for the U.S. military, Benny utilized the African Community Center in Las Vegas, a branch of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, to apply for work authorization and complete the process to reside with the Hoffmans. Since 2003, the center has assisted refugees by helping them get housing and jobs, Director Milan Devetak said. Bennys family remains in hiding in Afghanistan, he said. Benny said he hopes people help other refugees by donating to local groups like the African Community Center, Catholic Charities or Operation Sacred Promise that support refugee resettlement. If they can donate even $1, its going to be a lot of the money to help those families to build their new life in the United States, he said. That is one of my requests because now Im experiencing a very good life. (c)2021 the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.) Visit the Las Vegas Sun at www.lasvegassun.com An food preparation robot, dubbed Alfred, prepares a salad Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at the Monarch Dining Facility on Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where officials are using and testing the system to see if it can increase productivity, reduce food waste and lower the risk of germ transmission. (Chustine Minoda/U.S. Air Force) One chow hall worker doling out bacon bits and cherry tomatoes at an Air Force chow hall doesnt need a hair net or face mask. Northern Californias Travis Air Force Base is the first in the military to get a hygienic robot arm named Alfred at its Monarch dining facility, the 60th Air Mobility Wing said Thursday. Alfred was developed by Boston-based startup Dexai Robotics to cut food waste, reduce risk of germ transmission and free up human hands for other activities, the wing said in a statement. The base northeast of San Francisco is part of a Defense Logistics Agency proof-of-concept for the system, the statement said, quoting Maj. Hewko Tyler, 60th Force Support Squadron operations officer. Will Alfred be able to provide the reduction in food waste, improvements in sanitation and manning benefits as projected? Hewko said. We are excited to find out. Photos show the robot filling bowls with ingredients from a salad bar in the facilitys kitchen as various base leaders look on and record the event on their smart phones Dec. 9. The robots helping hand could let kitchen staff focus on other tasks, such as running grills or focusing on flight kitchen orders, dining facility manager Tech Sgt. Eddie Hurtado said. We get pulled in so many different directions that anywhere where we can free up some time is a benefit to us, Hurtado said. Using a robot arm adapted to kitchen cleanliness standards, the system has specialized machine vision and other programming to recognize ingredients, pick and scoop items using separate utensils, and put portions into a container, says a contract award description on SBIR.gov, a site for government small business innovation research funding. It takes eight seconds for each ingredient and minutes for a full order, Dexais website says. Teams of robots could collaborate for faster preparation. The system tracks each order so it can provide a heads-up when inventory is running low or show what ingredients are most popular, the company says. The Defense Logistics Agency awarded more than $99,000 to the 16-person Massachusetts firm for a first phase of work that would adapt it into a touchless system using voice and gesture input so service members could order from an automated salad bar or hot food line without using a touch screen, the description says. Phase one also included testing the system at an actual military cafeteria, says the description, which lists an initial contract end date of April 26. Phase two was expected to involve more research and testing in a real-world setting, says an earlier solicitation on SBIR.gov, while a third phase would focus on commercialization of the system. In September, DLA awarded Dexai a two-year research contract worth about $1.6 million, according to data on the website USAspending.gov, which appears to be funding for the second phase. Alfreds designers were also expected to develop plans for the robot to take on other kitchen duties, such as operating grills, fryers and other equipment, or preparing raw ingredients, the initial SBIR.gov contract announcement said. The robot can fry, saute, stir, stew, bake, grill, chop, slice, dice, blend, mix and more, it said. Videos on Dexais website say Alfred takes 15 minutes to set up and show it dishing out ice cream, grilling a steak and preparing a Greek salad. Whatever the DLA and the Air Force find to be the most appealing feature maybe its the speed, the safety or the sanitation the Dexai team can focus on that as part of their product development, Travis Air Force Base said. If the trial is successful there, Alfred may be installed elsewhere under a proposal to put systems at up to 10 different dining facilities, the base said. The sanctuary of the Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church is shown on Dec. 22. 2021, in Bellefonte, Pa. The church, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve after having welcomed generations of families over the course of more than two centuries. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) BELLEFONTE, Pa. A Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year because of declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve after having welcomed generations of families over the course of more than two centuries. "There's just such a love among this congregation. We've all known each other so long and we know each other's foibles," church elder Candace Dannaker told the Centre Daily Times. "I'll miss our personality, our laughter and our joy in just being together. And, of course, the faith aspect of sharing that with other like-minded people." The church was established in 1800 by the same men who founded Bellefonte in 1795 at a time when there were only 16 states and counted among its members two former Pennsylvania governors. The church met at the courthouse for almost two decades and then in a stone edifice; the current structure was built shortly after the Civil War. Dannaker estimated the church had about 40 members before the pandemic, a number that is down to about 25, and had no in-person worship from March 2020 until Easter Sunday. When Dannaker joined 34 years ago, she said, there were about 200 people in attendance then. Pam Benson, 77, a member for 73 years, said that when she was born during World War II, many businesses were closed Sunday and few events were scheduled. She also believes that fewer parents have insisted that their children attend services and that churches haven't always been competitive in recruiting new members. "It was so different. It was just what you did. Unless you were really sick, it was just what you did," Benson said. "It's just change, it's progression. It's what happens. Not that I like it, but it is what it is." The 15,000-square-foot church is scheduled to close for the last time Dec. 31. Dannaker said the future of the building hasn't been determined. Video of the final service posted on the church's Facebook site included references to "the pain of saying goodbye to one another" but a reminder that "challenges aren't anything new to humanity" and saying the Christmas message of hope "is just as timely and essential today as it was 2,000 years ago." Before the final hymn, members lit and raised candles to these words: "And the light has splintered the darkness. And hope is ours once more. And this light does call us forward, remembering the past, and walking confidently into the future. And now go in the peace of Christ." The children at an early childhood centre are proud to show off their pearly whites after coming first in an annual oral health challenge. ECCs across the Western Bay were invited to take part in the annual World Oral Health Day Challenge with Start Palm Springs in Papamoa winning this years event. The event was organised by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board Oral Health Promotion team. The top three placings were: 1st Best Start Palm Springs 2nd Best Start Montessori Bethlehem 3rd New Shoots Pyes Pa Best Start Palm Springs assistant manager Katee Thomas was instrumental in the activities run during the challenge. She says the children at the centre really enjoyed taking part and learning about the importance of brushing their teeth. We went all in and found some really fun activities to engage the children and involve their parents and whanau, she says. The kids had such a blast. The activities included learning songs about brushing your teeth and washing your hands, colouring in teeth on a laminated poster and brushing the colour off with a toothbrush, and tooth decay experiments. Parents were encouraged to take photos of their children when they visited the dentist, and the children shared their photos and talked about their experience at mat time. There are approximately 70 children at the centre, and they range in age from six months to five years, so we tailored the activities to suit each age group. Katee explains. We have lunchbox Friday at the centre where the older children learn about healthy food to have in their lunchboxes, and we provide them with healthy baking. BOPDHB oral health promoter Nicole Dcruz thanks all those who were involved. I want to say a big thank you to all the early childhood centres that participated in this years Oral Health Challenge, says Nicole. Huge congratulations to Best Start Palm Springs for winning. They did a great job with the activities promoting good oral health, long term sustainable policies and they had great parent involvement. Congratulations to Best Start Montessori Bethlehem for coming in second place and New Shoots Pyes Pa for coming in third. Its been another challenging year due to Covid-19 so I appreciate the time and effort all the centres have put towards this years challenge. Ka pai te mahi. The theme for World Oral Health Day 2021 was: Be Proud of Your Mouth. It is a three-year campaign encouraging people to value and take care of their oral health and to make the right decisions to protect it. In year one, 2021, the focus is on how oral health affects our overall health. Prizes for the winners included a big box of fruit and vegetables, toothbrushes and toothpaste and a large tooth model. Police are again urging motorists to drive with a focus on safety after a deadly start to the Christmas/New Years holiday period. Five people have died on New Zealands roads since the period began on Friday evening. While it is too early to determine exactly why these crashes happened, previous experience suggests speed, poor decision making, distractions and no restraints are likely to feature, says assistant commissioner Bruce OBrien. This has been an incredibly tragic start to the holiday period on our roads and a number of families will never be the same. Police expect the roads to continue to be busy with people leaving their Christmas Day bases and heading off to holiday destinations. Please keep calm and be patient on the road, and accept there will be some delays on your journey, says OBrien. Plan ahead, watch your speed and following distances, pay attention to the conditions, stop and take a break if youre feeling tired, and allow plenty of time to get where you are going- especially if you are travelling on roads you dont know. Police say they will continue to have a visible presence on our roads this summer, taking enforcement action where necessary. But we cannot be everywhere and ultimately drivers have the responsibility to keep their passengers, other road users, and themselves safe this holiday period. The official Christmas/New Years holiday period ends at 6am on January 5 2022. MPs from Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty have a Christmas and New Year message for residents with the overarching theme being to enjoy time with the people you love at this time of year. Labour list MP for the Bay of Plenty Angie Warren-Clark has something of a Christmas hack to make the holidays go smoother this year. She says that at a recent birthday party she attended they banned the C-word, in this case meaning Covid, and it proved to be a valuable decision. Enjoy time with your family and friends, she says. Have some fun. Talk about things you have loved about your family and your time with your family and relax and enjoy a safe and happy Christmas. Hear what Tauranga MP Simon Bridges had to say in his hoilday message by clicking here. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has had quite the year, having announced he was set to retire before rescinding that decision after Chris Luxon replaced Judith Collins as National Party leader. He says that while it has been a tough year for many in the region it is great to get time to spend with family in the most beautiful part of New Zealand. Lets hope 2022 is just that much bit better than 2021, says Todd. Tauranga List MP Jan Tinetti thanks the people of Tauranga for their hard work this year and has a special message for essential workers, many of whom will be working over the festive season. We really appreciate everything you are doing, she says. Amazon Web Services (AWS) underwent another series of outages in the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 22. Shortly after this downtime, the company said that it is now slowly restoring its service in several platforms such as Epic Games, Slack, Asana, and more. AWS Suffers From Third Outage in December According to Gizmodo, as of 7:00 A.M. ET, DownDetector has detected that Amazon was experiencing some problems with AWS. The reports showed that various companies were unable to use the e-commerce giant's web hosting platform. The issues have emerged from West Virginia data centers during daylight, per the AWS page. Moreover, the centers within the "single Availability Zone" started to lose power at 7:01 AM. After more than 30 minutes, the tech titan claimed that the issue was already solved. However, Amazon said that the services were still not at 100% capacity at the time. As the downtime eases, the company reminds the companies to expect varying impacts of the outage. Some services remain stopped amid the restoration process. This is the third instance that Amazon encountered a sudden downtime with the web-hosting service. Previously, Tech Times reported that the first AWS outage affected Alexa, Disney Plus, Netflix, and even games such as "Valorant, League of Legends," and "PUBG." Related Article: Amazon to Hire 2,000 Workers | 330,000 Sqft North Austin Expansion to Open in Early 2024 AWS Incident Update In another report from The Verge, Slack noted that its services have been dealing with issues related to file uploads, message editing, and the like. On the other hand, Asana highlighted the problems involved in users not being able to access the platform. Meanwhile, game publisher Epic Games Store pointed out the outage connected to internet service downtime where users could not complete in-game purchases, logins, and more. The latest outage might be considered less serious than the previous downtimes. DownDetector saw that many reports stemmed from intermittent faults in logging in. Flipboard and Grindr, Hulu, Udemy, Life360, SmartThings, and HoneyWell have been hit by the AWS outage. In the next few hours, Amazon will continue to update the public regarding this downtime. Most likely, the users could expect a gradual recovery on the services, but still, it would depend on their location. Previous Amazon Web Services Issue A few weeks ago, Tech Times wrote in its report that the second AWS downtime was linked to the automated scaling feature of the service. To add, the internal networks have been dealing with the issues at the time which companies find out to be the root of the problem. Indeed, AWS has become one of the internet norms when it comes to web-based platforms. When it suffers from a surprise downtime, all services on the source and provider within the internet will be greatly affected as a result. Read Also: Amazon Taps Neil Lindsay to Oversee Company's Health Care Efforts in the Field of Telehealth, Online Pharmacy, and More This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In addition to other regulators already looking at Apple, the Netherlands Authority for Consumer and Markets has just given an order to Apple, making them allow dating apps to use alternative forms of payment. With that, the company now has just two months to comply with their order. Apple Ordered to Allow Third-Party Solutions for Dating Apps ACM, or the Netherlands Authority for Consumer Markets, has ordered Apple to change the policies of its App Store in order to allow dating apps to give their users in-app purchase options through third-party payment solutions. To expand, as per the ACM announcement, Apple should adjust the conditions for access to the Dutch App Store when it comes to dating-app providers. According to the story by PCMag, the announcement continued saying dating-app providers should be able to use different payment systems aside from just Apple's payment system within the App Store. To add, within that context, dating-app providers should have the ability to refer to their apps payment options that are outside the app. Apple Given Two Months to Change Their Policy Apple was given two months to make changes to its policy by the regulators. Should the company fail to meet the deadline, the regulators will be fining Apple an approximate $5.6 million a week, going up to $56 million in total. Apple, however, has expressed in a statement to The Verge that the company disagrees with the order that was issued by the ACM and has already filed an appeal. To expand, AMC is joining a growing list of groups that have been expressing their concerns regarding Apple's way of managing its App Store. South Korea and US District Judge on Third-Party Payments South Korea has officially passed a bill that will require both Apple and Google to allow users to use third-party payment solutions on their respective app stores back in August. Another incident is when US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to allow developers to use alternative payments back in September. On the other hand, Apple also won a stay on the injunction that would have required the company to change its App Store policies back on Dec. 9, allowing them to delay the effect until the appeal court rules on the current Epic vs. Apple issue. Read Also: Who Quit Facebook in 2021? Here are the Top 14 Executives that Left | Head of FB Marketplace, Chief Revenue Officer, and More Apple's Response to the Issues The company has also stated that its existing App Store policies are already meeting the current rules that the amended Telecommunications Business Act established in South Korea despite the regulators' complaints. This particular issue has started to become an area of interest for many different regulators from all around the world. With that, however, PCMag notes that it still seems very unlikely that AMC will be the last to order Apple to update its App Store policies ultimately. Related Article: Tesla Under Investigation by Federal Safety Regulators for Feature Allowing Drivers to Play Video Games While Driving This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple rumors are popping out saying the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro could come without one of the most used hardware features ever, a SIM slot. Could this be a move to push users into using eSIM cards? Apple Rumors Suggest Removal of SIM Card Slot The rumor regarding Apple's massive move removing SIM cards came from a Brazilian website known as Blog Do iPhone. Also, the website is not yet listed on Apple's leak reliability site known as AppleTrack, so it is important to take this information with a huge pinch of salt. The site says that it has an internal source working at an unspecified British company. As per the site, their source says that the tech giant is now experimenting with ways to drop the physical SIM card slot for its upcoming 2023 Pro-tier iPhones. Physical SIM Cards to be Replaced by eSIMs? This means that the shift will most likely happen to the iPhone 15 Pro should Apple not change its naming scheme. To add, the website, however, doesn't say that Apple is "definitely" dropping its SIM port but rather that the company is looking to find a switch. According to the story by TechRadar, the fact that the source is an actual external company to Apple makes the rumor hard to confirm. With two years before that happens, however, it is still very likely that the company has not yet reached a decision themselves as to whether or not they will really be dropping the physical SIM cards in favor of eSIM cards. What are eSIM Cards? eSIM cards, as opposed to physical SIM cards, are just digital versions that are equivalent to the latter. With that, eSIM cards could make SIM ports redundant. There are already a number of products like tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches that are already using this type of technology, including Apple Watches. As per TechRadar, despite a number of products from Apple already using eSIM, the gadget world is still pretty much dominated by physical SIMs. To expand, in the following years, even if eSIMs become more popular, the publication doesn't believe that Apple would be leading the charge. Read Also: Apple Watch Series 7 Price Slashed by $60 for Christmas | Is It Worth It at $339? This Change Could be Unlikely for Apple With high screen refresh rates, 5G, and fast charging, Apple has already proven itself following trends and not trying out new things. The publication noted that they don't imagine the average consumer embracing eSIM cards that much in the next two years, which could make the estimates for 2023 still very soon. TechRadar states that it is most likely that Samsung and Xiaomi will be making the first move when it comes to this upcoming futuristic trend since iPhones aren't actually designed for the tech-literate but rather the average tech users. Related Article: Google Promised Pixel Owners Netflix HD but Complaints Pile Up of Feature Still Being Unavailable This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Liberals from Maine and conservatives from Louisiana who participated in an eight-week program on both sides can better understand each other are, top row from left, Peter Curry, instructor Mike Berkowitz and Bob Ashton, all of Maine; middle row, Bud Snowden, of Baton Rouge; Dorry French, of Maine; and John Kovich, of Baton Rouge; bottom row, Pat Bartke and Dana Hutchins, both of Maine. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. CLINTON Billy Burkette received international attention for his campaign earlier this summer when he was led away in handcuffs after officially signing up to run for a seat in the U.S. Congress. Embarrassed at seeing their leader, Burkette, or Chief 2 Eagles, yelling to reporters that he was being targeted because he is a Native American, the leadership of the Louisiana Band of Choctaw Indians on Saturday ousted Burkette from the tribe on charges of treason. Burkette told The Advocate after the meeting that he doesnt recognize the Tribal Councils authority to expel him but stopped short of threatening legal action. The meeting was called by the secretary, who isnt allowed to call meetings in the bylaws, he said. Also, because he and the vice chairman didnt attend, the council didnt have a quorum. Burkette said his arrest and the subsequent publicity the story was carried in London was aimed at neutralizing him as an opponent against U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Alto. They did this strictly as a political move to destroy me so that I wouldnt be a legitimate candidate for Congress, he said. Louisiana congressional candidate arrested, accused of falsely impersonating an officer BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A candidate who had just registered to run for one of Louisiana's congressional seats was arrested after signing up fo The council disagreed: Not only does his arrest constitute bad behavior reflecting on the dignity and integrity of the Louisiana Band of Choctaw Tribal Council and the tribe itself, it also shows his negligence in his position as chief. A chief should be held more accountable, said Rebecca Britt, of Ferriday and the councils secretary. The tribe, recognized by the state in the 1970s, has about 600 members. After ejecting Burkette and his chief lieutenant, Vice Chairman Jeff Harrison, the council approved certified letters informing them of the decision. They are sending a delegation to the secretary of state to change the names on the charter. We also went to Congressman Abraham to let him know that we are not going along with Billy Burkette, said Larry Rainwater, of Baton Rouge and a tribal elder. We are moving to disassociate ourselves with him. The council also approved an apology to the town of Clinton, to law enforcement, to state officials and to other Native Americans for Burkettes actions. Burkette and Harrison have been at odds with Britt and some members of the council for some time. They have traded charges and countercharges. Among the list of claims, for instance, the council noted Burkette had not properly filed 501(c)3 papers with the Internal Revenue Service, leaving the group with a number but no official tax-exempt status. But the arrest was the last straw, Britt and Rainwater said. Burkette, a 49-year-old tow truck driver, was recognized by staff at the Secretary of States Office when he arrived July 20 to pay the $900 in fees and file the paperwork putting his name on the ballot as an opponent without party affiliation to Abrahams re-election. The secretary of states staff knew Burkette had an outstanding arrest warrant for impersonating a law enforcement officer. The Secretary of States Office had issued the law enforcement commission card at the root of the Choctaw chiefs legal problems. He was detained in the break room about 100 feet from where he signed up to run, then was arrested and taken to the East Baton Rouge Parish jail. He sat in jail through the weekend until East Feliciana Parish sheriffs deputies fetched him and took him to Clinton. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Burkette said he was unaware of the warrant. The incident stems from a problem he had with a clerk at the Office of Motor Vehicles in Clinton. He had gone three times to help his handicapped daughter, a minor, get a drivers license, Burkette said. On July 2, he arrived wearing his tribal police chief cap and carrying his weapon, Burkette said. The clerk refused to process the transaction until ordered to do so by a supervisor because the paperwork had two different addresses listed. The clerk also pointed out that guns are not allowed in state buildings. Burkette responded that he was a peace officer and entitled to carry the weapon. The clerk, according to the complaint, felt he was argumentative. Burkette said he was forceful but respectful. Burkette carried a card identifying him as a commissioned chief of police for the Louisiana Choctaws, which is a recognized tribe by the state but not federal authorities. One requisite for a tribe to be recognized by the federal government, which amounts to being considered a sovereign nation, is having law enforcement to protect tribal lands and property. But the Louisiana Band has no property or assets. Its incorporation papers list the headquarters for the tribe as Burkettes house in Slaughter. Burkette said the tribe in November 2014 started efforts to gain federal recognition. He was appointed police chief, filed the paperwork with the secretary of state and received his card in March 2015. He became chief of the tribe in early 2016. During the August 2016 flood, Burkette said he worked with law enforcement to gather water, meals and other supplies. During that time, he repeatedly showed his commission card and wasnt ever questioned about its authenticity. The council criticized Burkette for not discussing the matter after his arrest. He refused to answer their questions, saying he was under an FBI gag order, according to the council. The uncomfortably shaped 5th Congressional District is based in northeast Louisiana, stretches south down the Mississippi River, then pivots east into the Felicianas, along the top of the Florida Parishes, including Hammond and Bogalusa, to the toe of the boot. Burkette unsuccessfully challenged Abraham in 2016 and polled 18 percent of the vote. Jessee Carlton Fleenor, D-Loranger, and Kyle Randol, a Monroe Libertarian, also are on the ballot opposing Abraham in the Nov. 6 election. Burkette said he would continue campaigning. Hes meeting with an American Legion group on Sunday and heading up Monroe later this week, he said. When you make every headline around the world, what chance do I have? Burkette said. More than 400 COVID-19 positive people were incorrectly notified that their PCR test results were negative on Saturday night. In a statement on Sunday afternoon, SydPath Medical Director Professor Anthony Dodds said that last night we incorrectly messaged 400 patients who had been swabbed at our centres from December 22 to 23, advising them they had tested negative to COVID-19. These people in fact had tested positive, said Dr Dodds. As soon as we became aware of this issue this morning, SydPath immediately commenced the process to contact these impacted individuals. Dr Dodds said that the incorrect test results were believed to be the result of human error. An emergency warning remains in place for Perths hills residents near a bushfire burning in the Shire of Mundaring and City of Swan. The warning was current at 11.12 am on Monday for people in Wooroloo, Chidlow and Gidgegannup. A community meeting is being held at the Wooroloo Hall on Government Road, Wooroloo at 1pm today. The bushfire is contained and under control but fire authorities said homes in Warringal Estate, Forge Drive and Anvil Way remain under threat from ember attack and should leave if safe to do so. Stay up to date, the latest information from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services can be found here. As Seen Here 11 Years Ago: Bloom Box - Greetings Earthlings, We Give You the Bloom Energy Box as a Token of Our Friendship - EXCLUSIVE COMPLETE VIDEO SEE ALSO: Bloom Solid Oxide Fuel Cell 60 Minutes Interview And Exclusive TACH Video SEE ALSO: Bloom Box Web Site Bloom Energy Server Bursts onto the Scene with Out-Of-This-World Promises By Marc J. Rauch Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher Watch the complete Bloom Energy Press Conference Exclusively Right Here Originally published February 26, 2010 Last Sunday, CBS Televisions 60 Minutes presented a story that couldnt have been more astonishing and unexpected than if Lesley Stahl announced that a UFO landed in her backyard and that the emerging alien-being presented her with a little black box that would end all of Earths electrical energy problems. It was with that amount of surprise that Ms. Stahl first introduced to the general public a Silicon Valley company named Bloom Energy along with its principal founder and CEO, KR Sridhar. The little black box, which Mr. Sridhar prefers to call a Bloom Energy Server is a stand-alone electric generator that requires no connection to any centralized power generating plant and no coal-based or oil-based fuel to operate it. It also produces no offending noises or harmful emissions. The first device shown easily fit onto Mr. Sridhars hands and was said to be able to power a typical American home (or two to four homes in a less electric-centric society), costing roughly $3,000. For industrial and commercial uses, a larger size box is needed. A unit the size of a parking space sitting outside of a supermarket would provide all the electric that that store needs, 24-hours a day, seven days per week. It sounded way too good to be true. POWDER TO POWER The Bloom Energy Server functions in a fuel-cell process that the company refers to as Powder to Power, meaning that a powder-ish substance gets baked into square ceramic plates that are then painted black on one side and green on the other. While the company has shied away from identifying the chemical properties of the two paints, the real secret-sauce, the powder-ish substance is one of Earths most abundant, easily accessible, and renewable materials: beach sand. Yes, thats what KR said, Beach sand. The ceramic sand-plates are stacked and separated by an inexpensive metal alloy layer. Typically, fuel-cell stacks have required expensive platinum or other rare metals to separate the layers. This is another of Bloom Energys innovations. In the 60 Minutes interview, Lesley Stahl asked if it could even use solar energy to fuel the box and KR responded We can use solar; but gave no further details. At this point in the story I expected to hear about a wish-list of prospective commercial customers, when and if Bloom can only solve one or two more issues, and when and if they could actually coax said potential commercial customers into hearing a sales pitch. But this is where the Bloom Energy story took another surprising turn, for as we learned several very large well respected companies have already been using Bloom Energy Servers, in one instance for the past eighteen months. The customer list revealed by Mr. Sridhar includes Google, FedEX, Walmart, and eBay. SEE ALSO: Bloom Energy Debuts Advanced Solid Oxide Fuel Cell to Provide Clean, Reliable, and Affordable Power 24/7 A WELL KEPT SECRET It was hard to believe that a device with such breakthrough potential could really have been kept secret from Wall Street, the greater industrial marketplace and the public. Seeking additional information and insight, my business partner and I contacted about fifty different companies and individuals who we would have expected to be in-the-know. The corporate and organizational affiliations ranged from the major automakers to relevant lobbyists to electric power providers to alternative energy producers. Not one responded with any knowledge of Bloom Energy and only one response indicated that they had watched the 60 Minutes interview. How could something so good, if true, have been kept from so many who could benefit from such devices? In fact, in the couple of days between the 60 Minutes broadcast and the planned formal press announcement, several high level commentators expressed great skepticism over Bloom Energys claims because the information had been kept so secret for so long. THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING This past Wednesday, Bloom Energy staged their coming out party and introductory press conference. The event took place at the San Jose campus of eBay, one of Blooms customers. The printed invitation set forth an aggressive schedule that would last two hours; which in itself was a surprise (product introductions usually get completed in less than half an hour). The invitation also promised that several impressive luminaries would be present. At the designated time KR Sridhar took the stage. There was no introduction of KR, but everyone in the room knew who he was. Obviously the 60 Minutes story, even if not heavily watched on Sunday night, had since found wide distribution. Very quickly, the first speaker was announced; and while the identity of the first speaker had not been made public, it was the person most of the press expected because of his interest in alternative fuels and technologies, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Always charming, the Governor had some humorous things to say before introducing former U.S. Secretaries of State George Schultz and General Colin Powell, along with two State Assemblymen and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. The Governor then talked about his first visit to Bloom Energy in 2006 with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He marvelled over Bloom Energys growth from a handful of workers to the present 200 manufacturing employees. After discussing his understanding of the benefits and potential of the Bloom Energy Servers, the Governor focused on the Bloom technology and products as a key ingredient to restoring economic health to California (and the nation). Schwarzenegger then welcomed KR Sridhar back on stage, this time by name. KR Sridhar has a soft, slow, calming style of speech (later described by venture capital moneyman John Doerr as a combination of Martha Stewart and Steve Jobs). KR spent about 30-minutes methodically describing how the technology behind the Bloom Energy Servers was first conceived, as a terra-forming device to make the planet Mars habitable for humans, and then the process of how they are building the Bloom Boxes. At the appropriate point he walked over to a cloth-covered display, pulled the cover from a clear acrylic box and unveiled its contents as the secret ingredient. It was beach sand. A second unveiling displayed a row of three or four foot high boxes that are presumably typical commercial sized units. Mr. Sridhar carefully pointed out that he and Bloom Energy are not the inventors of fuel-cells (they were originally designed in the 1830s), they are the creators of a unique process that makes fuel-cell electric generation affordable and accessible. Click PLAY to watch Part 1 of the press conference John Doerr, the representative from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers who KR first approached about seed funding, was brought to the stage to conduct a panel interview with top executives from Google, eBay, FedEX, Walmart, Coca-Cola and a cable-television company. They all talked about their personal and corporate desires for environmentally-friendly energy solutions, and their successful experiences to-date using Bloom Energy Servers. At the conclusion of the panel discussion a video featuring Mayor Bloomberg, California Senator Diane Feinstein and three additional corporate execs was played prior to introducing General Colin Powell for the press conferences closing remarks. The General, who is a limited-partner at Kleiner Perkins, sits on the Board of Directors of Bloom Energy, Inc. Bloom Energy clearly brought out some heavy hitters to dispel any notions that this was too good to be true. Click PLAY to watch Part 2 of the press conference A frank, genial and very open thirty-minute question and answers session then ensued with KR Sridhar and John Doerr as the primary respondents. Although classified formulas were not disclosed, Bloom Energy Servers are no longer a secret. Two key points were addressed during this session. The first is cost. KR revealed that present customers are now paying between nine and ten cents per kilowatt hour and that they would pay thirteen to fourteen cents per kilowatt hour to Pacific Gas & Electric, the Northern California utility company. The second issue was related to the use of solar with the Bloom Box. This question referred back to the Lesley Stahl interview where KR was asked about Solar fuel. Solar would not power the units directly. The vision is that a home would use solar panels during bright daylight hours to provide needed electricity. That electricity would also power an on-board unit that converts water into hydrogen. That hydrogen is then used by the Bloom Energy Server to generate electricity during dark hours. KR projected that this system would not be available for perhaps ten years. Click PLAY to watch Part 3, the Q&A session NOT REALLY THAT BIG OF A DEAL Concurrent with my attending and videotaping the press conference, my partner at The Auto Channel, Bob Gordon, spoke by telephone with a lead hydrogen scientist at the National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) in Colorado. Our contact had known of the Bloom technology and revealed that the government had actually provided a $5 million grant to the company during its development stage. But the important comment that he made was that what Bloom has developed is Not really a big deal. He then explained, Fuel-cell technology has been around for a long time, and there are other similar electric generating devices that have been coming down in price. Developers have already learned that exponentially less platinum than originally thought can be used. Bloom has created a unique process, but it still utilizes widely known, proven and accepted techniques. So, "too good to be true" turns out to be a much more understandable and palatable Its good and its true. And this is actually a good thing because it means that there is no man-behind-the-curtain it's impossible to believe because it's impossible scenario; this is merely good science put into play with some ingenuity, dedicated hard work, and a whole lot of venture capital. We can look forward to the Bloom Energy Server and similar devices helping advance our economy and lifestyle. WHY BLOOM ENERGY SERVERS ARE A BIG DEAL Even if the Bloom Boxes are not magical gifts from a sympathetic extraterrestrial civilization, they do offer at least five dramatic benefits, six if you count lower electricity costs. They are: No coal or petroleum oil fuel is needed to generate electricity. Reliance on foreign oil and price manipulation by foreign provocateurs is reduced or entirely mitigated. The extravagantly expensive need to protect and defend our oil rights in far off nations where we have no other interests becomes greatly diminished. The need for expensive nuclear generating plants is eliminated. Safety concerns and waste storage issues, even if only very slight, disappear. The units replace the need for costly, unsightly transmission wires and towers. If there is any truth to the theory that high-transmission wires can cause cancer or other illnesses, this issue is eliminated. Concerns about overloading the present electric gird system in the coming electric-vehicle age are taken off the table. The onerous need to build a new multi-trillion dollar smart grid becomes redundant. Reliance upon domestically abundant, affordable and sustainable fuel sources to power the Bloom units will also make use of these fuels for other purposes common place. Vehicle owner reluctance to use CNG, ethanol and other bio-fuels will turn to acceptance, which will in turn make these engine fuels more available and less expensive. The price of electricity becomes cheaper. Virtually every home owner and business can generate their own electric right there on their own propertyWOW! For much more information, including animations that explain how the Bloom fuel-cells work CLICK HERE. SEE ALSO: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell News Archive (We Do Have One Unlike Dealer Competing Lead Gen Auto Sites) SEE ALSO: Bloom Box - Greetings Earthlings, We Give You the Bloom Energy Box (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) as a Token of Our Friendship - EXCLUSIVE COMPLETE VIDEO DUBLIN, Dec. 24, 2021 -- The "Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Stationary, Portable, Transportation), By Region (Europe, North America, Asia Pacific), And Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global solid oxide fuel cell market size is expected to reach USD 4.0 billion by 2028. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 42.2% from 2021 to 2028. Growing expenditure in infrastructure and industry development is anticipated to have a positive impact on the global solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) market over the projected period. Installers and system providers usually hold stock of significant equipment in the inventory. However, manufacturers face bottlenecks and shortages due to limited production in countries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, upcoming SOFC-based large-scale projects are expected to witness delays in commissioning due to disruptions in the supply chain and halting of on-site construction activities. The rising awareness about alternative sources of energy is one of the major factors encouraging market growth. Increasing carbon emission levels is a global issue, and government authorities worldwide are supporting technological advancements to tackle the issue by providing research funding and drafting supportive policies and plans. The global SOFC market is highly competitive owing to the ongoing technological advancements developed by the existing vendors and new entrants. Market players are concentrating on strengthening their relations with system installers due to their strong local presence and close ties with clients, which, in turn, is likely to help enhance geographical presence. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Report Highlights In terms of revenue, the stationary segment accounted for a prominent share in the market in 2020 It is projected to expand further at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. Transportation is predicted to be the second-largest application segment by 2028 In 2020, North America accounted for over 45% of the global revenue share and will expand further at a significant CAGR from 2021 to 2028 accounted for over 45% of the global revenue share and will expand further at a significant CAGR from 2021 to 2028 Germany led the Europe regional market with a revenue share of more than 67% in 2020 led the regional market with a revenue share of more than 67% in 2020 Government funding and aggressive mergers and acquisitions between companies for alternative energy technologies contribute to heavy investments in Europe Key Topics Covered: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Variables, Trends & Scope Market Lineage Outlook Global Fuel Cell Market Outlook Penetration and Growth Prospect Mapping Industry Value Chain Analysis Technology Overview Regulatory Framework Market Dynamics Market Driver Analysis Market Restraint Analysis Market Opportunities Analysis Business Environment Analysis: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Industry Analysis - Porter's Supplier Power Buyer power Threat of substitutes Threat of new entrants Competitive rivalry PESTEL Analysis Political Landscape Economic Landscape Social Landscape Technological Landscape Environmental Landscape Legal Landscape Impact of COVID on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis Competitive Analysis Companies Mentioned Bloom Energy Mitsubishi Power Ltd. Cummins Inc. Ceres General Electric FuelCell Energy Inc. Ningbo SOFCMAN Energy KYOCERA Corporation AVL Watt Fuel Cell Corporation NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z0yyic 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 MIAMI, Dec. 25, 2021 -- Maritime Management LLC, based here, has reported that a ship under the company's management, the M/T Tropic Breeze, was struck last night at 22:03 p.m. by the super yacht M/Y Utopia IV approximately 15 miles NNW of New Providence Island, The Bahamas. The 160-foot tanker was traveling on its proper watch en route to Great Stirrup Cay when it was rear-ended by the 207-foot super yacht. The catastrophic force of the collision pierced the stern of the tanker causing the tanker to sink to the ocean floor at an estimated depth of 2000 feet. Fortunately, the crew of the Tropic Breeze were uninjured, have been rescued and safely returned to a company-owned facility on shore. The tanker's cargo included all non-persistent materials LPG, Marine Gas and automotive gas all of which are lighter than water and will evaporate if exposed to surface air. The Tropic Breeze, sailing under the flag of Belize was recently inspected in December of this year and was found by the authorities to be fully compliant with all national and international safety and vessel integrity standards. Due to the depth of the ocean at the location of the sinking, it has been determined that the tanker cannot be safely salvaged. Relevant Bahamian authorities have been notified and Maritime Management continues to work with local and international maritime authorities and marine experts to ensure best outcomes with minimal environmental impact. Maritime Management has expressed its sincere gratitude to Bahamian authorities for their support and assistance throughout this incident and are particularly grateful to the crew of the M/Y Mara who responded to the Tropic Breeze's distress call and rescued all seven crew members on board the sinking tanker. WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2021 -- NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched at 7:20 a.m. EST Saturday on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. A joint effort with ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency, the Webb observatory is NASA's revolutionary flagship mission to seek the light from the first galaxies in the early universe and to explore our own solar system, as well as planets orbiting other stars, called exoplanets. "The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us forward into the future," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The promise of Webb is not what we know we will discover; it's what we don't yet understand or can't yet fathom about our universe. I can't wait to see what it uncovers!" Ground teams began receiving telemetry data from Webb about five minutes after launch. The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket performed as expected, separating from the observatory 27 minutes into the flight. The observatory was released at an altitude of approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers). Approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb unfolded its solar array, and mission managers confirmed that the solar array was providing power to the observatory. After solar array deployment, mission operators will establish a communications link with the observatory via the Malindi ground station in Kenya, and ground control at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore will send the first commands to the spacecraft. Engineers and ground controllers will conduct the first of three mid-course correction burns about 12 hours and 30 minutes after launch, firing Webb's thrusters to maneuver the spacecraft on an optimal trajectory toward its destination in orbit about 1 million miles from Earth. "I want to congratulate the team on this incredible achievement Webb's launch marks a significant moment not only for NASA, but for thousands of people worldwide who dedicated their time and talent to this mission over the years," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Webb's scientific promise is now closer than it ever has been. We are poised on the edge of a truly exciting time of discovery, of things we've never before seen or imagined." The world's largest and most complex space science observatory will now begin six months of commissioning in space. At the end of commissioning, Webb will deliver its first images. Webb carries four state-of-the-art science instruments with highly sensitive infrared detectors of unprecedented resolution. Webb will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity than ever before. The premier mission is the scientific successor to NASA's iconic Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, built to complement and further the scientific discoveries of these and other missions. "The launch of the Webb Space Telescope is a pivotal moment this is just the beginning for the Webb mission," said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA Headquarters. "Now we will watch Webb's highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge. When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space. Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination." The telescope's revolutionary technology will explore every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, to everything in between. Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries and help humanity understand the origins of the universe and our place in it. NASA Headquarters oversees the mission for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages Webb for the agency and oversees work on the mission performed by the Space Telescope Science Institute, Northrop Grumman, and other mission partners. In addition to Goddard, several NASA centers contributed to the project, including the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, and others. For more information about the Webb mission, visit: https://webb.nasa.gov Additional Webb Resources: Digital media kit Image and video galleries Media interview request form James Webb Space Telescope blog SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov 13 Million People Under Lockdown in City in Northwest China Due to COVID-19 People in the northwest Chinese city of Xian have been struggling to get food and supplies since authorities ordered a lockdown of the city of 13 million people on Dec. 23 due to a spike in cases of COVID-19. All residents in the city have been put through another round of COVID-19 testing, while 90 residential communities have been closed off. Some local residents, forced to stay at home, told the Chinese language Epoch Times that they hadnt even had time to stock up on food before the lockdown. Xian has seen stealthy transmission and community spread during the current surge of COVID-19, and the illness has spread to other parts of the province, according to Liu Feng, director of the Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty-six local officials have been held accountable and have been punished for failing to stem the outbreak. Local officials ordered that, as of midnight of Dec. 23, each family can only send one member out every two days to buy basic daily necessities. Residents must not leave the city unless necessary, and those who wish to travel need to apply for a permit. All nonessential businesses are closed. Since Dec. 23, the official website of Xian Xianyang International Airport has shown the status of all domestic flights in and out of the city as canceled. Railway and highway transportation in and out of Xian has also been suspended. The Epoch Times has obtained a video showing residents on top of buildings in Xian shouting for help after running out of food and other supplies amid the lockdown. Because they didnt give any notice in advance, there was no food at all at home, Wang Gang (a pseudonym), a tenant in Xians Changfengyuan Community, told the Chinese language Epoch Times. I bought some instant noodles from the store next to the building in the afternoon, which lasted for two days. On the third day, the store owner said the shelves were empty and all the goods were gone. The owner was taken away for quarantine last night. Later, I posted a message about it on Weibo. This matter was only resolved a little bit, and now things can be sent in the community. But the price of vegetables has doubled or tripled. Wang was worried that if someone were seriously ill during the lockdown, then what would happen? And because the buildings door was locked from the outside with an iron chain, in the event of a fire, the people locked inside wouldnt be able to escape. Yu Jia (a pseudonym), another tenant in the Changfengyuan Community, told the Chinese language Epoch Times that residents were caught off guard because they werent notified about the lockdown in advance, and she didnt have anything to eat all morning. When she became really hungry, she went downstairs to ask the security guard how the tenants were supposed to get food, and the guard told her the residents needed to solve that problem themselves. No one in the property management cares about what happens to us. They just posted a QR code and the phone number of the convenience store at the gate of the community. I called the convenience store and bought some instant noodles and bread. Vegetables were only available at the gate of the community in the morning after the third day, but the prices of the vegetables are extremely expensive, she said. Gu Xiaohua and Gao Miao contributed to the report. An Amazon delivery worker pulls a delivery cart full of packages during its annual Prime Day promotion in New York on June 21, 2021. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Amazon Workers Walk Off Job, Say the Company Cut Break Times Because the Pandemic Is Supposedly Over Dozens of employees at two Chicago-area facilities ditched work during the final stretch of holiday deliveries Dozens of Amazon employees at two Chicago-area facilities walked off the job during the final stretch of holiday deliveries on Wednesday, citing the companys shortened break times and unwillingness to increase wages, Business Insider reports. The walkouts took place at Amazons delivery centers in Gage Park and Cicero, according to the Chicago Tribune. A video from Amazonians United Chicagoland, a group representing local Amazon workers, was posted to Facebook, explaining the demands. Were here demanding a $5 increase for our wages, and as well, a return to the 20-minute breaks that we had during the pandemic, said a worker. According to the same employee, Amazon had cut five minutes from their break time because the pandemic was supposedly over despite confirmation of three new cases the day before. Related: Amazon Workers in New York City Target a Union Vote Amazon has said it will not retaliate against workers who took part in the protest. We respect the rights of employees to protest and recognize their legal right to do so, Amazon spokesman Richard Rocha told Insider. We are proud to offer employees leading pay, competitive benefits, and the opportunity to grow with our company. According to the company, starting wages at the two Chicago-area facilities are approximately $16 an hour. Amazon has been accused of permitting dangerous working conditions during the pandemic and underreporting the number of positive COVID-19 cases among its employees. The company also made headlines recently when a tornado struck its Edwardsville, Illinois, facility, leaving six Amazon workers dead. Just before the tornado hit, an Amazon driver was told by a supervisor to continue delivering packages during the life-threatening storm or risk losing her job. Related: An Amazon Driver Was Told She Would Be Fired If She Didnt Continue Delivering Packages Despite Tornado Warnings: Report Canadas Trudeau Urges Capitalist Democracies to Align So China Cant Play the Angles and Divide Us Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said like-minded countries should mount a united front against the Chinese regime to prevent it from using commercial interests to play friends against each other. In an interview aired on Christmas Day, Trudeau said that Chinas communist regime has been playing friendly capitalist democracies against one another to see them compete for access to economic opportunities in China because of its rising middle class. Weve been competing, and China has been, from time to time, very cleverly playing us off each other in an open market, competitive way, he told Global News, a division of the Canadian Global Television Network. We need to do a better job of working together and standing strong so China cant play the angles and divide us one against the other. We compete with each other, the Canadian prime minister observed, giving an example: Were trying to see how could we get better access for Canadian beef than Australian beef to this country or that market. He said that issues Canada will continue to challenge China about include human rights, democracy in Hong Kong, supports for journalists, non-interference in the goings-on of independent countries in Asia. Canada and China havent been on good terms since Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Chinese telecom giant Huaweis chief financial officer and daughter of the companys founder, on a U.S. extradition warrant. That was followed shortly by China arresting two Canadians, in what many critics have called tit-for-tat hostage diplomacy. The extradition case was dropped after Meng reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department in September. China released the two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, within hours of the agreement. Amid the conflict, Chinas ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also blocked Canadian agricultural imports to China, causing billions of dollars in lost revenue for Canadian producers, including at least $4 billion in 2019. Trudeau said these arbitrary detentions saw capitalist democracies pull together to declare, No, coercive diplomacy is not all right, which made a difference for standing up to the CCPs threats. Canada has joined allies in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics to be hosted by Beijing in February 2022, in order to signify its concerns over the CCPs ongoing acts of genocide and crimes against humanity against many of Chinas own scholars, lawyers, and activists, as well as minority ethnic and religious groups. Australia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Japan have also joined in the U.S.-led boycott. New Zealand has signaled that ministers of the Ardern government wont be attending, but fell short of declaring a complete diplomatic boycott. Trudeau told Global News that there are certain areas where Canada will want to work with China, such as for climate change. There are ways were going to want to work with China and think about climate change, for example, where they are going to be a significant player if were going to be able to decarbonize our global economy. So all these different nuances are going to continue. David Mulroney, Canadas former ambassador to China who has been critical of the Trudeau governments approach to China, said the prime ministers latest comments on China are a start, but they cover about 5 percent of the problem. Now lets hope he reflects this in policies, appointments, and partnerships that advance the national interest rather than imperil it. His target for 2022? he said in a tweet. Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos suggested in a tweet that if Trudeau means what he says, he should ban Huawei from Canadas 5G network and support Housakoss proposed legislation banning products made by slave labor from Chinas Xinjiang region: Bill S-204. Canada is currently the only country in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance that hasnt banned or planned to phase out Beijing-linked Huaweis products from its 5G network. Carnival Cruise Ship Denied Entry to 2 Ports After COVID-19 Cases Reported Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Freedom said it has been forced to alter its stops in the south Caribbean after several individuals onboard tested positive for COVID-19, the firm said. This is a vaccinated cruise, and all guests were also tested before embarkation, Carnival Cruise Lines said in its statement to news outlets on Dec. 24. Unfortunately, Bonaire and Aruba authorities did not permit the ship to call in those ports, but we have confirmed a visit to Amber Cove, [Dominican Republic] today. Carnival requires its customers and staff to have been fully vaccinated 14 days prior to sailing and provide proof of vaccination, according to its website. A number of other cruise operators have similar requirements, and other cruise lines have seen spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent days. The Carnival Freedom departed on Dec. 18 and docked in Curacao on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Carnival Freedom is following all protocols and has a small number on board who are in isolation due to a positive Covid test, the Carnival statement also said. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant may shape how some destination authorities view even a small number of cases, even when they are being managed with our vigorous protocols, the company added, referring to the COVID-19 strain that federal health officials say is the most prevalent in the United States. Some destinations have limited medical resources and are focused on managing their own local response to the variant. The company continued: Should it be necessary to cancel a port, we will do our best to find an alternative destination. Last week, Royal Caribbean said that its Odyssea of the Seas, which had a 95 percent vaccination rate for crew and customers, saw an outbreak that prompted the ship to make a detour. Royal Caribbean Internationals Odyssey of the Seas will not visit Curacao or Aruba as planned, the cruise line told The Epoch Times last week. The decision was made together with the islands out of an abundance of caution due to the current trend of COVID-19 cases in the destinations communities as well as crew and guests testing positive on board55 crew members and guests, representing 1.1 percent of the onboard community. Another operator, Holland America Lines, said one of its ships was denied entry into a Mexican port after positive COVID-19 cases were found on board. Through onboard testing, we have confirmed that a small number of fully-vaccinated crew on Koningsdam tested positive for COVID-19, Holland America said in a statement on Saturday to news outlets. All are showing mild or no symptoms and are in isolation. Close contacts have been quarantined out of an abundance of caution. Health care workers administer free COVID-19 tests to people in their cars in the parking lot of the Columbus West Family Health and Wellness Center in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 19, 2020. (Stephen Zenner/AFP via Getty Images) CDC Issues Contingency Plan to Prevent Health Care Worker Shortage Over Possible COVID-19 Surge The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert to health care workers across the United States to prepare for a potential surge of COVID-19 infections due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. The alert is designed as an update to recommendations to enhance protection for healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors, and ensure adequate staffing in healthcare facilities, the alert said, which added that the CDCs contingency options include shortening the amount of time health care workers need to quarantine following a COVID-19 infection. Under conventional conditions, healthcare facilities can allow asymptomatic healthcare personnel with SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of vaccination status, to return to work after seven days and a negative test in accordance with CDC guidance, said the alert, referring to another name for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. But under crisis conditions, health care workers can return to work after five days as a last resort without any testing as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those health care workers should wear a respirator or well-fitting face mask while on the job, the agency said. Certain circumstances need to be factored into any decision on whether to allow a COVID-19-positive health care employee back to work, the CDC said. This includes healthcare personnel who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, the CDC said. Also, in the event of ongoing transmission within a facility that is not controlled with initial interventions, strong consideration should be given to using more stringent work restriction for healthcare personnel with higher-risk exposures. Several recent studies have suggested the Omicron variant, which was first reported last month, appears to produce milder symptoms and far fewer hospitalizations. Meanwhile, few Omicron-related deaths have been reported anywhere in the world. A recent study released by the Imperial College London found that Omicron patients were 20- to 25-percent less likely to need hospital care and 40- to 45-percent less likely to be hospitalized for at least one night, as compared to Delta variant cases. They estimated that natural immunity, or protection from a prior infection, reduces the risk of hospitalization by upwards of 50 percent and the risk of staying at the hospital for a night or more by about 61 percent. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that while the findings are good news, he warned, If a much smaller percentage of people are at risk of hospitalization, if that is a smaller percentage of a much larger number, there could still be significant hospitalization. A similar sentiment was made by White House COVID-19 advisor Anthony Fauci, who has courted controversy with statements hes made about the U.S.s involvement in funding research at a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, on Sunday morning during an ABC News interview. If you have many, many, many more people with a less level of severity, that might kind of neutralize the positive effect of having less severity when you have so many more people, Fauci told ABC News. Chen Quanguo, a member of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) powerful Politburo and Party Secretary of Xinjiang, in Beijing, on March 5, 2021. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) Chinese Regime Replaces Xinjiang Communist Party Chief The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Dec. 25 replaced the far-western Xinjiang regions Party chief, according to state news agency Xinhua. Chen Quanguo, who last year was slapped with U.S. sanctions for overseeing the mass detention and surveillance against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, will assume another role, Xinhua reported, without offering further details. Ma Xingrui, the governor of southern Guangdong Province, has been appointed as the new Party chief of Xinjiang, according to the report. The appointment comes days after U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill banning all imports from Xinjiang unless companies can prove products arent made with forced labor. Chinese commentator Tian Yun noted the replacement of the Party boss in Xinjiang didnt signal the CCP would change its approach in the region. The CCPs naturepersecuting peopleis inherent, said Tian. More than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in internment camps in Xinjiang, where they have been subjected to forced sterilization, torture, political indoctrination, and forced labor. A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Dabancheng in Xinjiang, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) The communist regime denies all accusations and claims the vocational training centers in Xinjiang are for combating extremism. The United States and other Western democracies have labeled Beijings actions a genocide. Washington has taken a series of steps aimed at holding the regime accountable over its suppression in Xinjiang, including imposing trade and investment restrictions on Chinese entities and leveling sanctions on Chinese officials. The latest targets, which were announced on Dec. 10, involved a Chinese artificial intelligence company and four current and former officials of Xinjiang. Among those to be hit with U.S. sanctions for persecuting Uyghurs, Chen is the most senior Chinese official, who was promoted to the Partys Politburo Standing Committee in 2017. The 25-member Politburo is the most powerful decision-making body in China. Chen served as the Party Secretary in Xinjiang from 2016. Before that, Chen was the Party chief in Tibet, another region the CCP was accused of stripping local traditions and unique cultures of the Tibetan ethnic group. Chen also has a record of persecuting adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong since 2000. Some observers suggested that the regime may reward Chen for his carrying out of the CCPs harsh policies during the 20th Party congress next autumn, during which a new group of top leaders will be unveiled. Chinese military delegates arrive at the Great Hall of the People before the third plenary session of China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, in Beijing on March 12, 2015. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Corruption Wears Down Chinese Militarys Combat Effectiveness News Analysis Corruption is a widespread phenomenon in Chinas military, where officers, including generals, have relied not on their duration of service or military prowess to rise in the ranks, but rather bribery and connections, according to analysts. Experts have commented that a lack of competent leadership now threatens to be severely detrimental to Chinas warfighting capabilities. In the Chinese military, all positions and ranks have been sold with quoted prices, state-run media outlet Xinhua quoted three major generals from the Academy of Military Sciences saying on March 10, 2015. A commander from a military district bribed Xu Caihou [then vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)] 20 million yuan [$3.14 million] for a senior position. Xu then promoted this one, rather than another commander who just bribed him 10 million yuan [$1.57 million], Maj. Gen. Yang Chunchang said. Xu Caihou (R), former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks to Bo Xilai, former Politburo member, during the opening session of the National Peoples Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2012. (Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images) In the Chinese military, theres only one general who has real combat experience. Gen. Li Zuocheng, 68, served in the Vietnam War in 1979 as the director of a company consisting of about 100 soldiers. Li is the chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the CMC. They bought their positions. They wont spend their lives fighting, Zhou Meisen, screenwriter of anti-corruption propaganda TV series In the Name of People, told regime mouthpiece Peoples Daily on April 6, 2017. Once theres a war, who can fight? Who will sacrifice his life to defend the country? A general may still lead the military when he doesnt have any combat experience. He can learn from books and military exercises, U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan told The Epoch Times on Dec. 17. But if the generals and officers received their positions and ranks by bribes, they dont have the knowledge and capability to command the military to fight in a war. Chinese military delegates arrive at the Great Hall of the People before the third plenary session of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), in Beijing on March 12, 2015. (Feng Li/Getty Images) Tang went on to say that as a result, Chinese officers and soldiers wont focus on improving their skills, knowing that they need to buy the position and ranks they hope to achieve. Fighting isnt a game, Tang said. Once theres a war, these officers and soldiers cant fight. Weakened Warfighting Instances of generals being fired have become common under the Xi regime. On April 29, the Chinese regime announced that Maj. Gen. Song Xue, former deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Navy, was suspected of a serious violation of discipline and law. He had been dismissed from his position on April 8. Song was Chinas key leader for rebuilding and training personnel for its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. Overseas Chinese commentators say that Song was involved in bribery in the Liaoning project and that he was punished because the aircraft carrier doesnt have the combat effectiveness that a carrier is expected to have. On April 26, the Liaoning carrier strike groupwhich has three Chinese destroyers, one frigate, and one supply ship which sail with the Liaoningcouldnt prevent an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with the U.S. Navy from entering into the middle of their formation as they sailed through the Philippine Sea. Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (C) is participating in a military drill in the South China Sea on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese military has become a puddle of mud, without combat effectiveness, Luo Yu, son of former revolutionary Chinese Gen. Lou Ruiqing, told The Epoch Times on Nov. 14, 2017. No Chinese official or officer isnt involved in bribery, its a systematic problem. Theres no way to stop the corruption in the Chinese military. In his remarks, Zhou cited an example of officers actively embezzling military funds. In one military exercise, they [officers] sold the vehicles and gasoline, he said. They then reported that the vehicles were destroyed during the drill and the gas was used. The extra funds then go into the officers pockets. In another example, Zhou noted that during a military exercise, the soldiers only shot 10 cannons in the exercise, but they reported that 100 cannons were used. The corruption is too serious to describe, he said. To use their [the officers] words, [the military] is all dark from surface to inside. On Aug. 18, Beijing-headquartered dwnews.com reported from Beijing that Gen. Zhang Yang, who reportedly committed suicide, went by the nickname Gunny Sack Zhang because he used to put cash inside gunny sacks and use them to bribe senior officers or receive bribes from junior officers. Zhang had given each of then-CMC vice chairmen Gen. Guo Boxiong and Caihou 25 million yuan ($3.9 million) in cash at one time. Only several generals died on the battlefields when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched its first war, the Nanchang uprising, on Aug. 1, 1927, until the Korean War [which ended in a truce on July 27, 1953], Zhou told Peoples Daily in 2017. Now, an anti-corruption campaign has sacked over 140 generals. Corruption and Replacement Anti-corruption has been Chinese leader Xi Jinpings main task after taking the position of CMC chairman in 2012. Xi, the supreme commander of the Chinese military, used an anti-corruption campaign to fire the generals who lacked loyalty and to promote new generals who support him. On June 16, 2018, dwnews.com reported that Xis attempts to reform the Chinese military were facing resistance. At present, the anti-corruption situation in the military is still severe and complex, state-run media outlet Peoples Liberation Army Daily published on April 13, 2020. The issue of violating the rules and violating the disciplines happen frequently. On Aug. 28, 2017, Gen. Zhang Yang, former director of the political work department of the CMC, and Gen. Fang Fenghui, former joint chief of staff, were investigated for bribery and violations of discipline. Three months later on Nov. 25, Zhang committed suicide. In October 2018, the CCP posthumously removed Zhang from the CMC and the communist party, stripped him of his rank, and confiscated his properties. Xinhua reported that Zhang owned a very large and unexplained amount of wealth and that his level of corruption was very high. Fang was sentenced to life in prison by a Chinese military court on Feb. 20, 2019, with the crimes of bribery and owning huge amounts of property from unknown sources. Former military logistics Gen. Gu Junshans Henan residence in Puyang, Henan Province, China, on Jan. 17, 2014. (AFP/Getty Images) The Chinese army has five theater commands, with each covering one region. Parallel to this, there are ground forces, an air force, a navy, a rocket force, a strategic support force, a joint service support force, and an armed police force. Troops are led by both the theater commands and the forces at the same time. Additionally, the Peoples Liberation Army has 25 provincial military districts and three garrisons that report to the CMC directly. On Sept. 6, Xi promoted five lieutenant generals to the position of general, as well as higher commanding positions. The five included Commander of Western Theater Command Wang Haijiang, Commander of Central Theater Command Lin Xiangyang, Commander of the Navy Dong Jun, Commander of the Air Force Chang Dingqiu, and Director of the PLA National Defence University Xu Xueqiang. Two months earlier on July 5, Xi promoted another four lieutenant generals to the rank of general. They were Commander of Western Theater Command Xu Lingqi, Commander of Southern Theater Command Wang Xiubin, Commander of Ground Force Liu Zhenli, and Commander of Strategic Support Force Ju Qiansheng. Xi has changed the commander of Western Theater Command four times in nine months. In December 2020, then Commander Zhao Zongqi retired. Xi promoted Zhang Xudong, then deputy commander of central theater command, to take over. In June, Zhang was dismissed because of sickness. Xu took over the position and was replaced in September by Wang. Its unknown why Xi dismissed Xu and where Xu is. Xi Jinping hasnt built a military which is loyal to him, Wang Youqun, a columnist for the Chinese-language Epoch Times, wrote on Sept. 8. Xi has promoted over 60 generals since taking over as CMC chairman. These generals control the CMC, five theater commands, seven forces, and military universities. However, not all these newly appointed commanders are loyal to him, and this is the reason why he has kept on appointing new commanders. Wang also wrote that Xi has named corruption as the reason for the removal of the generals who arent loyal to him because the majority of the generals are involved in bribery, abuse of power, extortion, fraud, collusion, and embezzlement. Dem Senators Tell Virginia Supreme Court Redrawn Electoral Map Doesnt Protect Democrats Enough Virginias two Democratic U.S. senators urged the states Supreme Court to reject proposed changes to the states congressional map, claiming that the changes would make it more difficult for three incumbent Democratic lawmakers to be reelected. The Dec. 20 letter from the two male senators emphasizes that all three of their electorally endangered colleagues are female, and it comes after the Virginia Supreme Court appointed two special masters. The court appointed RealClearPolitics senior elections analyst Sean Trende and University of CaliforniaIrvine political science professor Bernard Grofman to redraw Virginias electoral maps after an independent state commission deadlocked over a redistricting plan, as The Epoch Times previously reported. Trende, who was nominated by Republican lawmakers, and Grofman, who was nominated by Democratic lawmakers, unveiled their proposed maps on Dec. 7 in a memorandum to the court. Theres a new map for the Virginia House of Delegates, one for the Senate of Virginia, and one for Virginias representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives. These maps reflect a true joint effort on our part, the two men said in the memo. We agreed on almost all issues initially, and the few issues on which we initially disagreed were resolved by amicable discussion. When drawing these maps, we have worked diligently to craft maps that comply with the statutory and constitutional provisions enumerated by this Court. The proposed congressional map still gives Democrats an edge, according to a Washington Post analysis. The redrawn federal map of Virginia makes some changes to each of Virginias eleven Congressional Districts, but the most impactful geographic changes occur in the three districts currently represented by women, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote in their letter to the court. Those female U.S. House members are Elaine Luria in the 2nd Congressional District (Norfolk, Virginia Beach), Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District (Culpeper, Richmond suburbs), and Jennifer Wexton in the 10th District (Dulles, Purcellville). While the intention of the proposed map was to balance a number of competing considerations to create fairer maps, the result instead places the heavy weight of change on the three women in the delegation, the senators wrote. Although the map makes some changes to each of the states congressional districts, the most impactful geographic changes occur in the three districts currently represented by women, the letter states. The women representing Virginias second and seventh districts would no longer live in the districts that they have now been elected twice to represent under these proposed maps. Additionally, Virginias tenth districtalso represented by a womanwas significantly redrawn. The Washington Post article noted that the proposed federal map would move Spanbergers 7th District, which includes all of the counties of Prince William and Stafford, almost 50 miles away, and make it much safer for Democrats. Its unclear when the Virginia Supreme Court will make a decision on the various proposed electoral maps. In the U.S. Congress, Virginia is currently represented in the Senate by two Democrats and in the House by seven Democrats and four Republicans. In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden nabbed the states 13 electoral votes, beating incumbent Republican Donald Trump 54.1 percent to 44 percent, according to official results. In the Nov. 2, 2021, election, Republicans wrested control of the offices of Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general from Democrats. While the GOP also regained control of the Virginia House of Delegates, the Senate, which wasnt up for election in 2021, remains under the control of Democrats. Fully Vaccinated Holland America Cruise Ship Turned Away After COVID-19 Positive Tests Reported A Holland America Line cruise ship was denied entry to a Mexican port over the weekend after health officials discovered positive COVID-19 cases on board. The Mexican state of Jaliscos health department confirmed in a statement to media outlets that 21 crew members on the Koningsdam cruise line tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19 when it arrived in the tourist resort city of Puerto Vallarta. Through onboard testing, we have confirmed that a small number of fully-vaccinated crew on Koningsdam tested positive for COVID-19, Holland America wrote in a statement on Saturday to news outlets. All are showing mild or no symptoms and are in isolation. Close contacts have been quarantined out of an abundance of caution. According to the Jalisco health department, the entire crew was tested for COVID-19 before departure on Dec. 19. Only one positive case was discovered. Due to a last-minute notification from authorities that guests would not be permitted ashore, the ship departed and will return to San Diego to arrive in two days as scheduled, Holland America also said in a statement provided to KNSD-TV. Guests were notified and continue to enjoy activities aboard the vessel. Holland Americas website says that patrons and staff have to be fully vaccinated, as well as provide a negative COVID-19 test in order to board its ships. The cruise line also mandates that guests and staff have to wear masks inside. The Epoch Times has contacted Holland America for comment. Several days before that, Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas did not disembark at two Caribbean locations, according to the cruise operator in a statement to The Epoch Times. Royal Caribbean Internationals Odyssey of the Seas will not visit Curacao or Aruba as planned, the cruise line told The Epoch Times. The decision was made together with the islands out of an abundance of caution due to the current trend of COVID-19 cases in the destinations communities as well as crew and guests testing positive on board55 crew members and guests, representing 1.1 percent of the onboard community. The cruise sailed with 95 percent of the onboard community fully vaccinated. Its not clear if the Omicron variant triggered the outbreak on either of the two ships. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that as of last week, Omicron made up 73 percent of all COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, recent studies have signaled that the new CCP virus strain causes milder symptoms and has resulted in far fewer hospitalizations worldwide. Only one death has been associated with the new strain in the United Statesin Houston, Texas. People pose for photos before the 2022 numerals to be used at a new year countdown event in Times Square in New York, on Dec. 20, 2021. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images) Growing Number of New Years Celebrations Canceled Across the World Amid Omicron Spread With less than a week before New Years Day, a growing number of cities and municipalities have decided to shutter celebrations due to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, despite the strain showing milder symptoms and fewer hospitalizations. New Yorks iconic New Years celebration will go ahead as planned, but will be reduced in scope, according to outgoing Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio. Revelers will have to wear masks, show proof of vaccination, and practice social distancing measures. The 2020 New Years Eve in New York celebration was far more subdued, with just a few dozen people invited to Times Square. Many were first responders or health care workers. In 2021, the German cities of Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich have canceled fireworks celebrations and have prohibited large gatherings due to the Omicron variant. Celebrations have been canceled in Paris, Rome, London, New Delhi, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to the surge in Covid cases, weve taken the difficult decision to cancel our NYE [New Years Eve] event in Trafalgar Square, London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote on his Twitter account. The safety of all Londoners must come first. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Trafalgar Square will no longer be hosting a celebration event for New Years Eve 2021. (Aaron Chown/PA) There will also be no fireworks show over the Acropolis in Greece, Greek Minister for Health Thanos Plevris said at a recent news briefing. All public Christmas and New Years Eve 2021 celebrations have been canceled in Greece, according to Plevris. While the Omicron variant has spread quickly throughout the United States and the world since it was discovered in November, more than a dozen deaths associated with the variant have been reported worldwide. Two new UK studies suggest that the variant appears to be milder than the Delta strain, while health officials in South Africa and elsewhere have reported fewer hospitalizations and less severe symptoms. Weeks after Omicron cases were confirmed in Germany, the countrys health agency confirmed its first death related to the variant. The individual was between the ages of 60 and 79, Germanys Robert Koch Institute stated. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said recently that in some parts of the United States, the Omicron variant makes up about 90 percent of COVID-19 infections. In addition to New York, other cities around the world still plan to host New Years Eve events. Bangkok will hold celebrations with restrictions, including requiring people to be vaccinated, tested within 72 hours, and registered for the event to attend, while reports state that Cape Town, South Africa; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Las Vegas; Taipei, Taiwan; and Sydney will proceed with their celebrations, albeit with caveats in some of the cities. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (L) walks through Statuary Hall to the House Chamber for President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in the Capitol on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Justice Neil Gorsuch: Religious Freedoms New Champion Commentary Eight of the nine Supreme Court justices are Catholics or Jewsgroups that have historically been victimized by religious discrimination. Yet the courts emerging leader in defending religious freedom is its only mainline Protestant. Some see Neil Gorsuch, appointed by former President Donald Trump to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia, as Scalias natural successor: Both were or are highly intelligent, very well educated, generally (but not purely) originalist in constitutional interpretation, and eloquent writers. But Gorsuch, the Episcopalian, is showing himself to be even more dedicated to religious freedom than Scalia, the committed Catholic. No doubt there were earlier indications of this side of Gorsuch, but it has come to the fore in the current pandemic. Its a good time for that side to show itself, because during public emergencies, constitutional rights often are shunted aside. Indeed, in this emergency, the federal judiciarys record of defending constitutional rights has been mixed at best. But Gorsuchs record has been anything but mixed. When his fellow justices defend religious liberty only tepidly, Gorsuchs concurring opinions stake out stronger positions. When his colleagues dont defend religious liberty at all, he dissents. Gorsuch Opposes Anti-Religious Pandemic Orders On Nov. 25, 2020, the justices issued their opinion in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (pdf). The diocese and an Orthodox Jewish congregation had sued to void then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos severe capacity restrictions on houses of worship. The plaintiffs won, but only by a bare 54 majority. Gorsuch penned a concurring opinion pointing out how Cuomos orderlike those in many other statesboth discriminated against communities of faith and privileged secularism. At the same time, the Governor has chosen to impose no capacity restrictions on certain businesses he considers essential,' Gorsuch wrote. And it turns out the businesses the Governor considers essential include hardware stores, acupuncturists, and liquor stores. Bicycle repair shops, certain signage companies, accountants, lawyers, and insurance agents are all essential too. So, at least according to the Governor, it may be unsafe to go to church, but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine, shop for a new bike, or spend the afternoon exploring your distal points and meridians. Who knew public health would so perfectly align with secular convenience? Even if the Constitution has taken a holiday during this pandemic, it cant become a sabbatical. In another part of his opinion, Gorsuch took on the judiciarys uncritical reliance on Jacobson v. Massachusetts (pdf). Jacobson is the 1905 Supreme Court mandatory vaccination case that many cite improperly to justify dictatorial pandemic powers. Gorsuch Defends Religions Favoring Traditional Marriage On June 17, 2021, the Supreme Court issued a decision on Fulton v. Philadelphia (pdf). This wasnt a pandemic case. Rather, religious organizations had sued the City of Philadelphia over a policy of discriminating against religions that reject same-sex marriage. The justices unanimously struck down the policy. However, the courts decision in Fulton was a flimsy one, because it allowed the city to continue discriminating merely by changing one of its paper forms. Gorsuchs concurring opinion (joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito) pointed out how flimsy the courts decision was. Gorsuch also called for overruling Employment Division v. Smith (pdf), a 1990 precedent that he believes insufficiently protects religious freedom. Scalia had written the opinion for the court in Smith. Gorsuchs concurrence was gracious enough to cite one of Scalias writings, even while asking the court to overrule Scalia. Gorsuchs Fulton concurrence, like many of his opinions, featured some witticisms, such as Trailblazing through the Philadelphia city code turns out to be no walk in the park and playing along with this statutory shell game. Gorsuch Pushes Back Against Biased Vax Mandate In John Does 13 v. Mills (pdf), issued on Oct. 29, 2021, SCOTUS refused to review a Maine state order that health care workers be vaccinated regardless of religious objections. The objections were based on the fact that all three vaccines were developed using material from aborted children (I suspect the vaccines connection to abortion is one reason so many progressives want everyone vaccinatedso that everyones complicit). Gorsuch, again joined by Thomas and Alito, dissented. He contended that Maines order flunked even the standard set by Scalia in the Smith case. This case presents an important constitutional question, a serious error, and an irreparable injury, Gorsuch wrote. Where many other States have adopted religious exemptions, Maine has charted a different course. There, healthcare workers who have served on the front line of a pandemic for the last 18 months are now being fired and their practices shuttered. All for adhering to their constitutionally protected religious beliefs. Their plight is worthy of our attention. I would grant relief. Gorsuch Calls Out Hochuls Bigotry New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proved even less tolerant than her immediate predecessor. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo had planned to include a religious exemption in his order mandating vaccinations for health care workers, but Hochul deleted it. The final order permitted exemptions for medical reasons, but not for religious reasons. Hochul also amended New York regulations so that any fired religious dissenter would be denied unemployment benefits as well. The case of Dr. A v. Hochul (pdf) challenged these actions. But on Dec. 13, SCOTUS declined to intervene. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch all dissented, saying that they would have taken the case. Gorsuchs dissent described the bigotry motivating Hochuls order. Governor Hochul acknowledged that we left off [the religious exemption] in our regulations intentionally, he wrote. Asked why, the Governor answered that there is no sanctioned religious exemption from any organized religion and that organized religions are encouraging the opposite. Apparently contemplating Catholics who object to receiving a vaccine, Governor Hochul added that everybody from the Pope on down is encouraging people to get vaccinated.' Speaking to a different audience, the Governor elaborated: How can you believe that God would give a vaccine that would cause you harm? That is not truth. Those are just lies out there on social media. Hochul apparently doesnt know that fallible man, not infallible God, made the vaccine. The day before the mandate went into effect, Governor Hochul again expressed her view that religious objections to COVID19 vaccines are theologically flawed: All of you, yes, I know youre vaccinated, youre the smart ones, but you know theres people out there who arent listening to God and what God wants. You know who they are,' Gorsuch wrote. Under the Supreme Courts precedents, Hochuls deliberate targeting of a religious minority should have been grounds for immediately quashing her order. Gorsuch commented on the courts abdication of responsibility. The Free Exercise Clause [of the First Amendment] protects not only the right to hold unpopular religious beliefs inwardly and secretly. It protects the right to live out those beliefs publicly in the performance of (or abstention from) physical acts,' he wrote. Today, we do not just fail the applicants. We fail ourselves. It is among our Nations proudest boasts that, [i]f there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in [matters of] religion. West Virginia State Bd. of Ed. v. Barnette, 319 U. S. 624, 642 (1943). In this country, religious beliefs need not be acceptable, logical, consistent, or comprehensible to others in order to merit protection. Thomas v. Review Bd. of Ind. Employment Security Div., 450 U. S. 707, 714 (1981). Nor is the free exercise of religion limited to beliefs which are shared by all of the members of a religious sect. Millions have fled to this country to escape persecution for their unpopular or unorthodox religious beliefs, attracted by Americas promise that [e]very citizen here is in his own country.' However, as todays case shows, sometimes our promises outrun our actions. Sometimes, dissenting religious beliefs can seem strange and bewildering. In times of crisis, this puzzlement can evolve into fear and anger. It seems Hochuls thinking has followed this trajectory, and I suspect shes far from alone. After recounting how the Supreme Court failed to protect religious freedom in a 1940 case, only to reverse itself in 1943, Gorsuch wrote: Today, our Nation faces not a world war but a pandemic. Like wars, though, pandemics often produce demanding new social rules aimed at protecting collective interestsand with those rules can come fear and anger at individuals unable to conform for religious reasons. If cases like [the 1940 decision] bear any good, it is in their cautionary tale. They remind us that, in the end, it is always the failure to defend the Constitutions promises that leads to this Courts greatest regrets. They remind us, too, that in America, freedom to differ is not supposed to be limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order. The test of this Courts substance lies in its willingness to defend more than the shadow of freedom in the trying times, not just the easy ones. Still, it seems the old lessons are hard ones. But how many more reminders do we need that the Constitution is not to be obeyed or disobeyed as the circumstances of a particular crisis may suggest? Yes, the old lessons are the hard ones. Time will vindicate Gorsuch. And his dissent in Dr. A v. Hochul will be recognized as a masterpiece. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. New Jersey to Pay $53 Million Over COVID-19 Deaths in State-Run Veteran Homes The state of New Jersey is set to pay around $53 million as a settlement to the families of 119 seniors who died as a result of alleged mishandling of COVID-19 outbreaks inside the states veteran care facilities, according to a report. Each of the families will receive an average of $445,000, with exact amounts to be determined in arbitration proceedings, according to a New Jersey official who confirmed the terms of the settlement to NJ Advance Media. The overall amount of the settlement is $52,955,000. The families of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 have gone through so much, the official told the outlet. This settlement will hopefully allow them to move forward without years of protracted and uncertain litigation. More than 200 residents have died from COVID-19 at three state-run veteran homes, with most of the deaths occurring during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. The one in Menlo Park has seen 109 deaths, or about one-third of seniors under its care, followed by Paramus with 89 and Vineland with 13. Families of those who died while in the states care pointed to the homes questionable practices in the early days of the pandemic, such as being slow to separate infected and uninfected residents, and allowing staff to go in and out of rooms among those who were sick with COVID-19 and those who were not without wearing masks or gloves. One of the lawsuits was filed on behalf of Rose Dente, a 99-year-old widow of a U.S. Army veteran. The complaint alleged that Dante died from COVID-19 in March 2020 because of gross departures from the standards of nursing care and infection control at the veterans home in Menlo Park, citing the administrators discouragement of use of masks and gloves, as well as their hesitance to close common areas where infected and healthy residents mingled. The death tolls at New Jersey veterans homes prompted a federal investigation, which is still ongoing. In an October 2020 letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, then-U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said there was cause for concern that the quality of medical care at these nursing homes has been deficient. Our investigations will focus on whether the veterans homes engage in a pattern or practice of violating the rights of veteran residents under the U.S. Constitution or federal statute by failing to provide them adequate medical care generally, and during the coronavirus pandemic in particular, the letter read. Murphy at that time accused the Trump administration of trying to politicize the matter. The fact that this request from the Department of Justice was announced a week before Election Day speaks volumes about the nature of the review, said Michael Zhadanovsky, a spokesman for the governors office. From the beginning of the pandemic, the state of New Jersey has relied on CDC guidance from the federal government to protect the residents of our veterans homes. Fighting for religious freedom based on a true story from Mexico R | 2h 25min | Drama, History, War | 20 April 2012 History, as far as it is taught in the public schools of the United States, is a very politically correct subject and often omits or otherwise ignores unpopular or shameful aspects that have happened at different points in time. One inconveniently true stain on Mexicos storied history is the period known as the Cristero War, which lasted from 1926 to 1929. Coincidentally, much of the world was embracing the emerging socialist and communist movements during that time, which obviously didnt work out too well for any of the parties involved. Maverick director Dean Wright tackles this period of history with great skill in his 2012 film, For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada. (NewLand Films) The film begins with sweeping shots of Mexico Citys beautiful architecture, with text that outlines what the country is going through: Mexico 1926a few years after the Revolution. The precarious situation between the Mexican government and the Catholic Church deteriorates as President Plutarco Elias Calles begins strictly enforcing the anti-clerical laws written in the Mexican Constitution of 1917. It then goes on to describe how civil organizations formed in response to these troubling, ever-worsening political developments. One of the major organizations, the League of Religious Liberty, was composed of defiant men and women called Cristeros. These brave, common folk spearheaded the growing fight for freedom. President Plutarco Elias Calles (Ruben Blades) is then seen giving a public address with many reporters present. He talks about how foreign fanatics and outcasts from Rome and other areas of Europe are behind an insidious plot to undermine and destabilize the Mexican government. And who is conveniently public enemy No. 1, as far as the Mexican government is concerned? Those who believe in the Catholic faith, thats who. As he sees it, Catholics are turning the Mexican populace into fanatics who serve foreign interests. With self-aggrandizing flair, he states that he is merely preserving the dignity of Mexico. Mexico must be rid of the influence of Catholicismand rid of it both swiftly and decisively. As President Calles begins to enforce Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130 (called the Calles Law) of the Constitution, the apparatus of the Mexican government, mainly the police and military, spring into actionfirst feverishly rounding up Catholic priests and clergymen, and then expelling them from the country, literally at the end of gun barrels. Any priests who are defiant enough to criticize the government are quickly sentenced to five years in prison. The wearing of the trappings of Catholicism, mainly the religious vestments worn by priests, is also strictly outlawed, at least in public. Father Christopher (Peter OToole) is an older, well-established Catholic priest who becomes aware of the religious crackdowns but dismisses them as inconsequentialat least initially. As it becomes evident that the government is indeed using violence and intimidation to suppress Catholics, he becomes one of the first major symbols of defiance to tyranny by challenging the authoritys ban on the Catholic Mass. A man of deep faith, Father Christopher also stubbornly refuses to abandon his parish even though many of the local citizens warn him of the potentially deadly repercussions. Father Christopher (Peter OToole), in For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada. (NewLand Films) Several major figures of the resistance to the government-sanctioned tyranny become martyred. But instead of paralyzing the movement, this galvanizes it further. What the authorities dont expect is the rise of the brilliant military leader Enrique Gorostieta Velarde (Andy Garcia), in opposition to them. He organizes thousands of newly minted Cristeros and leads them in their war against President Calles. Enriques righteous moral compass compels him to resist the government since its crackdown measures become increasingly violent and out of control. While this terrible period of Mexicos history is distinctly Mexican, the evil forces that lead the oppression of believers have been seen many times before. From the Roman Empires mission to quash the nascent Christian movement to the many purges of Christianity by communist countries, the tyranny inevitably implodes on itself. There are also direct parallels between the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and its overly enthusiastic condemnation and vilification of the peaceful Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) spiritual practice. Enrique Gorostieta Velarde (Andy Garcia) stands up to tyranny, in For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada. (NewLand Films) This movie delivers one powerful takeaway: Our religious freedoms arent as free as we often assume they are. Peoples right to worship (especially Christians but other faiths as well) is often encroached upon by the various governments of the world. They always start by taking baby steps, increasing degree by degree, to then ratcheting up their tyranny and repression. This film reminds us of how people resist tyranny. A hopeful message indeed. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada Director: Dean Wright Starring: Andy Garcia, Peter OToole, Eva Longoria, Oscar Isaac, Catalina Sandino Moreno MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes Release Date: April 20, 2012 Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5 Bags of synthetic drugs seized by the Richmond RCMP during the course of an eight-month investigation. Six individuals have been charged with a variety of offences. (Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit) Six Charged Following Illicit Drug Lab Bust in Richmond, BC Six individuals have been charged for operating a clandestine drug laboratory following an eight-month investigation by the RCMP in Richmond, B.C. A Dec. 22 statement said the Public Prosecution Service of Canada has laid charges against six individuals arrested on Oct. 28, 2020, when the Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit executed several search warrants in local residences suspected to be covert drug labs. These types of investigations are extremely complex and officers spend countless hours on advancing these major crime investigations, said Inspector Michael Cohee, officer-in-charge of investigative services. This speaks to the level of commitment our officers have to our community and ensuring public safety in Richmond. I am so proud of the officers involved in this investigation. The police seized roughly 8.5 kg of fentanyl, 28 kg of methamphetamine, 2.5 kg of fentanyl/heroin mix, one kg of MDMA, 10 kg of illicit cannabis, and 58 kg of ephedrine over the course of the investigation. Five carbine-style rifles, three pistols, five sound suppressors, and three pill presses were also seized. In addition, police seized over $200,000, 70 silver bars, five vehicles, four luxury watches, and 23 mobile phones, all of which were submitted to the British Columbia Civil Forfeiture Office. Those charged include Huang-Wei Anthony Hsu, Chanel Hsu, Kim World Huang, Yung En Grace Yang, Zekun Cao, and Lui Yuan Song. Huang-Wei Hsu was charged with 12 offences, including possessing ephedrine with the intent to use it to produce a controlled substance, possessing methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, producing methamphetamine, possessing a non-restricted firearm, possessing a loaded restricted firearm, possessing a firearm knowing the serial number has been altered, and possessing a conducted energy weapon. Chanel Hsu was charged with three offences: possessing methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, producing methamphetamine, and possessing ephedrine. Kim World Huang and Yung En Yang both face 15 charges, including producing, possessing, or trafficking controlled substances such as methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and ketamine. They also face charges for possessing a loaded prohibited firearm, possessing a loaded restricted firearm, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a non-restricted firearm, and possessing prohibited devices. Both Zekun Cao and Liu Yuan Song have been charged with one offence each of possessing ephedrine with the intent to use it to produce a controlled substance. The six were arrested after the RCMP raided a series of locations connected to three Richmond addresses that were suspected to be synthetic drug labs, Richmond News reported. The police noted that clandestine labs and the illegal manufacturing of illicit drugs pose a significant threat to public health and safety, including a risk of fire, explosions, and toxic chemical waste that can contaminate the environment. The police said signs of illegal clandestine labs in residences include: The occupants appear secretive, unfriendly, and are either always home or never home. The occupants bring unusual items into the residences such as buckets of chemicals, pill presses, laboratory glassware, or an unusual amount of the same cookware (pots). The premises have been outfitted with expensive security measures or the occupants are paranoid about who has seen them. There are strong smells of chemical odors such as the sharp smell of solvents and acids. The garbage is unusual, such as pots or chemical containers with labels removed. Anyone who would like to report a suspected clandestine lab or other criminal activities can call the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, if they wish to remain anonymous. Passengers line up at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, on Dec. 26, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters) Thousands of Flights Canceled Amid COVID-19 Omicron Surge Airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights worldwide on Dec. 26 after U.S. air carriers scrapped about 1,000 on Christmas Day, citing staffing issues related to COVID-19. At least 2,162 cancellations were reported around the world on Dec. 26, with 669 in the United States, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Some 5,900 flights were also delayed. It comes after a total of 957 Christmas Day flights were called off, including domestic flights and those into or out of the country, while nearly 2,000 flights were delayed, according to the tracking website. Thats up from 690 that were canceled on Christmas Eve. While the Christmas holidays are typically a peak time for air travel, the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus has led to a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections, prompting airlines to cancel flights and quarantine pilots and crew. Meanwhile, in recent weeks, some major carriers terminated the employment of hundreds of employees over COVID-19 vaccine mandates. United Airlines, one of the first carriers to impose a vaccine mandate, canceled more than 200 flights over the weekend. The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation, United spokesperson Maddie King said. She said the cancellations made up a small portion of Uniteds 4,000 average daily flights during the holiday season. We are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays, she said. In a similar move, Delta scrapped 300 flights on Dec. 25 and had already canceled a few dozen more flights on Dec. 26. The airline explained that it exhausted all options and resourcesincluding rerouting and substitutions of aircraft and crews to cover scheduled flying. Travelers wait in line at Delta Airlines check-in at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, on Dec. 24, 2021. (David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images) Among the most affected U.S. airports were Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International, New Jerseys Newark Liberty International, Los Angeles International, and New Yorks John F. Kennedy International. Six of the 10 global airports most hit by the cancellations were Chinese. According to FlightAware data, Chinese carriers accounted for the largest number of cancellations. China Easter scrapped about 1,000 flights, while Air China grounded about 20 percent of its scheduled departures on Dec. 25. American Airlines, which also saw a number of cancellations, said that its Dec. 25 cancellations stemmed from COVID-related sick calls, according to a statement. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines told Reuters there were no issues to report with the carriers flights on Dec. 25. Passengers and travelers expressed frustration with airlines as they spoke to the media. Nobody was organizing, trying to sort things out, Peter Bockman, a retired actor, told the New York Post after his flight from New York to Dakar, Senegal, was canceled. Nobody explained anything. Not even, Oh were so sorry, this is what we can do to help you.' The cancelations come as the Omicron variant has spread rapidly across the United States, prompting the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, to announce last week that it accounts for 90 percent of COVID-19 cases in some regions. However, preliminary data so far suggests Omicron leads to milder symptoms and far fewer hospitalizations than previous variants. Nonetheless, a number of countries and cities have used the spread of the variant to rationalize new lockdowns, more vaccine mandates, or have mandated mask-wearing. Reuters contributed to this report. Trump Knew 100 Percent He Was Fighting for the Little Guy: Former Top Trump Economic Adviser Former President Donald Trump pursued policies that fought against a drift into socialism and culminated in an absolute success story for the little guy, according to Kevin Hassett, an economist who was Trumps top economic adviser during the initial years of the Trump administration. Going into the presidency, Trump absolutely understood that he was fighting a very big, powerful historical force and he also knew 100 percent that he was fighting for the little guy, Hassett, who served as the 29th Chairman of the Presidents Council of Economic Advisers from 2017 through 2019, recently told EpochTVs Crossroads program. Hassett is also vice president of the Lindsey Group and a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. His latest book, titled The Drift: Stopping Americas Slide to Socialism, details how the United States has been descending into socialism and how Trump moved to resist the slide. In his book, Hassett details how the American people can also push back against the ongoing drift. The Trump administration pursued policies that cut taxes and regulations, changing the U.S. economy for the better, Hassett told Crossroads, adding that during the years he served in the Trump administration, income inequality dropped sharply for the first time since World War Two, wages grew faster for people in the bottom 10 percent of the wage distribution than for people at the top, as did wealth. The homeownership grew startlingly for people at the bottom 10 percent, seven million people went off food stamps, [and] three million people went out of poverty, he added. It was an absolute success story for the little guy. And yet, the more the good news came, the angrier and angrier the left wing got. Despite the economic successes that were in part spurred by Trump policies, all these people that became never-Trumpers, that distanced themselves from Trump, [it was] because they were afraid of losing their own respectability, Hassett said. This included Bush Republicans [who] never came to the defense of Donald Trumps people even when they were fighting for the right policies, he noted. The left uses the weapon of respectability created by the leftist-controlled universities and media that touts socialist ideology as one way to influence how people think, Hassett suggested. Because the left would [take] control of the universities and the control of the media, they act as that is if they could actually give people or take away their respectability. These [leftist] folks dont want Trump to succeed, because in the end, they dont maybe necessarily care about income inequality. Its just a political device for them to get the political power, they need to seize control of the society, and to take the power for themselves and really take totalitarian power. Hassett said his book identifies the various forces aligned against the idea of capitalism and free markets, and how organized [these forces] are, where they are, what their tactics are, and what we can do to stand up to them. You need to learn what socialism is, you need to spot it in their policies. Central planning is everywhere in the agenda of the Democrats, Hassett said in the interview. Before you know it, the government basically controls the means of production, and distributes the goods, without regard to the price mechanism or productivity. And we could go on and on, but thats the Democrats agenda. Hassett asserted that many of President Joe Bidens policies are proposing a socialist takeover of the means of production. He provided some specific examples in the interview. If you see a country where policies like that survive, that it has to be that they created a government that can disregard the will of the people if you look at the sort of ruthlessness with which the Democrats have been using the government to indict everybody, and so on, they really are trying to intimidate their way into having control over the economy, Hassett commented. And, you know, its up to us to stand up against them. Mimi Nguyen Ly Reporter Follow Mimi Nguyen Ly is a reporter and assignment editor. She covers world news with a focus on U.S. news. Based in Australia, she has a background in clinical optometry. Contact Mimi at mimi.nl@epochtimes.com A rhino keeper in Kenya has snapped a hilarious selfie with the huge animal that he cares for. Joseph, who works for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, took a selfie with Apollo the rhino. The rhino is under the care of Joseph since being rescued at 6 months old. Apollo had lost his mother due to natural causes and wouldnt have survived without his mothers protection or milk, so a team got together to bring him to safety; Joseph took on the role of a parent to this orphaned rhino calf. (Courtesy of Caters News) Amie Alden, from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, said: Apollo was rescued so that specialist rhino caregivers could provide nourishment, warmth, and milk. As he grows in the care of the Sheldrick Trust at their Field Headquarters, he spends his day walking around the conservation with his carers, becoming familiarized with forage and wild animals. Eventually, hell be returned back to the wild in a protected area so that he can rejoin his kin. For our keepers, like Joseph who is pictured here with black rhino Apollo, the orphans they care for are an extension of their family. Being able to support their childrens development, so that they can eventually go into the wild world and stand on their own four feet, is a great honor and one that brings rewards every day. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter STAMFORD Renee Reopell wants transgender and gender nonconforming teenagers and children in Connecticut to have a place to call home. Even if that home is many miles away. Reopell, who uses the pronouns they/them, has been hired as the director of a fledgling program based in Stamford called Gender, Diversity and Resilience. The program is designed to provide psychosocial and medical support to high risk young people between the ages of 10 and 18 who are transgender, non-binary or questioning the gender assigned to them at birth. The original idea from the founders of the program part of the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut was to offer it to youth in Fairfield County. But only a few weeks after the program was established in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, shutting down many in-person services. Like other healthcare providers, the program had to adapt. And one of the ways it did was by moving more toward telehealth, offering consultation and guidance online. That turned into en eye-opening experience as young people contacted the center from various areas of the state outside of Fairfield County. Folks who wouldnt normally have access to a community of trans and nonbinary folks get to have that space, Reopell said. Reopell said they work with youth who experience high rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, some of the common issues young transgender and nonbinary youth deal with. I think anyone who holds one or maybe multiple historically under-served identities, after a certain point, you start to internalize the message you hear about yourself, Reopell said. Youre a problem, you wont be loved, you deserve bullying, it was your fault, you asked for it. You start to believe those things about yourself. By giving these youth tools to cope with navigating their lives, Reopell said they hope to give participants the opportunity to feel free to be themselves. The larger goal is for transgender and nonbinary people to see themselves as just another variation of a young person, Reopell said. What were saying is you are welcome to be your authentic self here. We encourage it. We celebrate it. Jessica Welt, the CEO of the Child Guidance Center, which was recently incorporated into Connecticut-based healthcare organization Community Health Center, was part of a five-person team that created the Gender, Diversity and Resilience Program. She said that when looking at the organizations reach in Fairfield County, she and others noticed a gap in services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth. Some studies, she said, estimate that about 2 percent of high school students identify as nonbinary or gender diverse. In Stamford, the high school population is about 4,900 students, and 2 percent of that total number is 98. So the program was created. If we build it, there are way more kids than we are aware of and its just a matter of time before they find us, Welt said, explaining the impetus for creating the service. What makes the program special, she said, is that it offers both mental health services and medical care, making it essentially a one-stop place for youth to find help in a variety of ways. That is something that is very much needed in gender-affirming care, she said. Welt ran the program since its inception along with Reece Ramponi, a psychiatric nurse practitioner. But it became clear early on that the service would need its own dedicated leader, Welt said. When we saw how significant the need was, we recognized that the program would grow, she said. Reopell was suggested by an employee at the center, and Welt said she was impressed when they met. When I had the opportunity to meet them, they impressed me with their professionalism, and the fact that they worked with the population that were trying to reach, Welt said. As a cis woman, I understand the limitations in what I can offer as a therapist without having that lived experience. Reopell, who identifies as genderqueer, has been the director of the program since Dec. 6, and said such services are sorely needed for a community of people who often live in isolation, an issue only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Reopell, just showing transgender and nonbinary youth positive role models and happy, healthy trans adults can go a long way. Having a family is possible, Reopell said. Having a career is possible. Having an education is possible. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) Former Winchester Sun publisher Betty Berryman, the first female president of the Kentucky Press Association, died Saturday morning, the newspaper reported. Berryman, who served as publisher of the newspaper between 1988 and 2006, was 92. Her career at the Sun began in 1954 when she was hired as assistant to publisher James Tatman. She became general manager in 1974 and publisher in 1988. Newspapering is exciting business, Berryman said in an interview published by the Sun in 2018. No two days are alike ever. Theres something new everyday. Berryman became the first female president of the KPA in 1986 and was one of the first female press association presidents in the nation. She was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996. Betty was the kind of individual who commanded respect from newspaper folk, publishers, owners, editors all granted her the respect she deserved. Everyone thought so much of Betty, longtime KPA Executive Director David Thompson said. Sun publisher Kevin Smith added, Today, we mourn the death of a local leader in journalism and a pioneer for women at a time when men dominated the workplace. 3 1 of 3 City of Edwardsville Show More Show Less 2 of 3 City of Edwardsville Show More Show Less 3 of 3 EDWARDSVILLE Mayor Art Risavy awarded three people with the new Excellence in Edwardsville honors at Tuesdays city council meeting. The award, which started last month, is given out to residents who are nominated by others as going above and beyond or impacting the city in another, positive way. Economic and Community Development Director James Arnold read the narratives for all winners. These efforts exemplify and embody the true meaning of the award. In August of this year, Kristen Webber and her daughter, Nora, were spotted by an Edwardsville Community Services Officer picking up trash. The pair had noticed litter while they were at the Goshen Mark and decided to do something about it. The mother-daughter duo acted selflessly for the betterment of our community and were saluted by the Edwardsville Police Department for making Edwardsville a better place for everyone. Kristen and Nora inspired the mayor to recognize residents with this award, so it is fitting that they receive this token of the mayors appreciation. Next, Keyona Harris was nominated by resident Gregg Signorotti, who wrote a detailed, heartfelt and sincere description of Harris professional and compassionate actions during a medical emergency, in which the Edwardsville Fire Department was dispatched to earlier this year. Miss Harris is an empathetic caregiver who does everything in her power to ensure that her patients receive the best care possible. Mr. Signorotti stated that she is the definition of excellent patient care, which should be emulated by all caregivers at all levels. As they posed for photos, Signorotti surprised Harris by emerging from the gallery to pose for photos with her. Oh, wow! I do remember you! Now that I see you, I remember you, she said as Signorotti approached. In other action, aldermen (Chris Farrar was absent) unanimously passed the following items: City officials convened a Truth in Taxation hearing for the fiscal year 2021 budget, which is six percent greater than the previous years budget. Anytime the amount exceeds the five percent threshold, such a hearing is convened. No one spoke Tuesday for or against the proposed budget A fee waiver from the Edwardsville Arts Center for the art fair that happened in September A three-year contact extension with Veolia Water North American, which operates the citys water and sewer treatment plants. It is a duplicate of the previous three-year contact with Veolia A sole source resolution to purchase 1,800 tons of bulk Louisiana Rock Salt as a water softener from Gunther Salt for six months with and estimated total of $239,670 A 2022 Ford F250 Pickup through the states joint purchasing contract and Morrow Bros. Ford in the amount of $38,985. The truck will replace a 2003 Ford F550 that has approximately 120,000 miles on the clock, is beset with rust and mechanical issues with needed repairs due soon Award the 2022 Water Main Material Bid to Core and Main in the amount of $326,522.64. This materiel will be used on new water main installations in 2022 on the following streets Second, St. Louis and North Buchanan A resolution authorizing the application for Madison County Resource Management Program Grant Funds. In this case, $15,000 will go toward converting the lighting at the wastewater treatment plant to light-emitting diodes, or LEDs A Sewer Tap-on Fee Payment Agreement with Edwardsville Town Center, LLC for its latest building under construction at Trace on the Parkway An ordinance amending the citys code on food trucks in the warehouse district An ordinance amending how preliminary and final land plats are handled, streamlining the process slightly plan commission, public services committee, administrative and community services committee and city council An ordinance establishing the citys Tourism Advisory Committee A sole source resolution for Kane Fire Protection, Inc. to install a fire sprinkler system in the Edwardsville Childrens Museum for $48,000 A sole source resolution for Kane Mechanical to install a new water main and backflow assembly in the Edwardsville Childrens Museum for $18,500 A sole source resolution for ArchKey Technologies to install a fire alarm system in the Edwardsville Childrens Museum for $12,995 A 2022 Ford F550 cab and chassis for the citys parks department from the states joint purchasing contract and Morrow Bros. Ford in the amount of $50,130 The next city council meeting is on Jan. 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. inside city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. As a Psychological scientist, I do not engage in religious prediction. But in the manner of a psychological institutional analyst with a focus on African matters, I predict, unless Nigeria is no longer in existence that the next President will be Yemi Osinbajo with Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai as his Vice President. 64-year-old Osinbajo, as a leader in a growing and multifaceted society like Nigeria has largely kept a low profile during the Buhari administration. To help understand this man who is a heartbeat away from the presidency here are some things you should know about Osinbajo, his personal background, and his political psychology. He is a reassuring pick to Nigerias Christian religious population and loved by the religious Islamic moderates in the North. Admired by the masses. Yemi Osinbajo is a Lagos born Nigerian of Yoruba ancestry. Intellectually, he is skilled in History and Oratory. A law graduate with distinction from the University of Lagos. A graduate of London School of Economics, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree. A Professor of Law, with a focus in Public law at the University of Lagos. An expert on Conduct and Discipline through his work with the United Nations. A senior Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is married to the granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo, and they have children. As one who is interested in political philosophy, he helped in the formation of the All-Progressives Congress along with other Nigerians. Osinbajo, helped design and produced a strategy for the new political party: "Roadmap to a New Nigeria", a document published by APC as its manifesto if elected to power. The focus of the document includes the need for free schools and addressing poverty and the needs of children and youths. A Vice President since 29 May 201 under President Muhammadu Buhari, and he once served as an Acting President in 2017 while the President was receiving medical treatment in London. Osinbajo is currently in his second term with the President. He is known for his loyalty to the nation and the people. He is not a tribalist. He does not present as a weak or sick man. He is very young. In the North of Nigeria, he is seen as trustworthy, loyal, and honorable. But he is not a Yes man. On a psychological note, based on commentaries, he presents as a Nigerian with good political ethics. As a political figure, Osinbajo is firm to his uncompromising liberalism. Despite perceived religious and personality differences with his boss, Osinbajo has shown steadfast loyalty to Buhari. Osinbajo has gained fair criticism from all partisan groups because of his progressive national attitude. Osinbajo presents as one who is easy to make personal friends across political parties. At no time has Osinbajo shown any open eye regarding his political future as he tries to do his present work. Along with this psycho-political mapping, in this write up, Osinbajo is three years older that Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai. El-Rufai is a Kaduna born Muslim with modest background. As a child, he lost his father and fortunately for him he had an uncle who sponsored his early schooling. He is in an expanded matrimony with children. El-Rufai received a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying with first class honors from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. It is important to know that while in Barewa College the house captain of his dormitory was President Umaru Yar'Adua, a known non-tribalist and a man of goodwill, simplicity, and humility, who died at the age of 58 from health complications. El-Rufai has an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University followed by several professional and post-graduate trainings, in places like the Georgetown School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Washington. He has as his area of focus advanced studies in privatization and leadership. A law graduate from the University of London; and has a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. He received the Kennedy School Certificate in Public Policy and Management having worked as an Edward A. Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management. He has rich experience in quantity surveying consulting and has served in management positions with international telecommunications companies. A man whose political career started as an economic advisor to military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. He has worked with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, he served as director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and secretary of the National Council of Privatization. As a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during his tenure, he officiated over a sweeping transformation of the federal capital earlier damaged with corruption. El-Rufai along with others led the reform of the Nigerian public service and at various times during his tenure as Minister, he oversaw the Federal Ministries of Commerce and Interior. He also chaired several high-profile cabinet committees that led to the establishment of a mortgage system in Nigeria and the National ID card system for Nigeria. He once went into self-imposed exile and became a vocal critic of the Umaru Yar'Adua administration. He boldly returned to Nigeria in 2010 and was arrested for corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was cleared of corruption charges. In 2011, he joined party politics with the Congress for Progressive Change supporting Muhammadu Buharis campaign. Served as a deputy national secretary of the newly formed All Progressives Congress. In 2015 El-Rufai was sworn in as the Governor of Kaduna State, and he is currently in his second term. He has had serious critiques in many areas such as not reportedly obeying court orders and known to be hard on human rights issues, journalists, and protesters but I see him as one who is open to public counseling especially as a progressive political figure. In a dogged society like Nigeria, El-Rufai who is sometimes too stubborn and stern all of which are admirable leadership characteristics will tie well with Yemi, a much more levelheaded man. Psychologically, Nigeria in the last 20 years is crying to get some degree of sustained economy, education, welfare, health, security, and peace for the people. Osinbajo and El-Rufai seem to believe that one way to strengthen Nigerias peace and security is the establishment of state Police. Which should also include other decentralizations as in the areas of judiciary, Corrections, and many other essential systems. Osinbajo and El-Rufai are fully conditioned in civilian leadership styles, a much more needed set of styles in a diverse climate like Nigeria. They understand each others backgrounds in terms of progressive leadership. Their leadership style will help in navigating diversity. They know it is crucial that Nigerians understand their mission and give them affirmation, only then can they better contribute to Nigeria fully and help improve the quality of the people and systems. Psychologically, this is my hope and fantasy. Ah! tearfully we don tiya, we are tired. Time for a Positive Change. John Egbeazien Oshodi who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government Consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult/child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional and Career Development. A former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at the Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African settings. In 2011, he introduced the State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and the Nasarawa State University where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. The Development Professor and International Liaison Consultant at the African University of Benin, and a Virtual Faculty at the ISCOM University, Benin of Republic. Founder of the Proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, Openness. Author of over 40 academic publications/creations, at least 200 public opinion writeups on African issues, and various books. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues. John Egbeazien Oshodi wrote in via [email protected] The Imo State Government has reacted to the arrest of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha's son-in-law, saying that he was panicking over the arrest because he looted the wealth of the people of Imo State. The state Commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, stated this while speaking with journalists at the government house in Owerri. He said the comments made by Okorocha after the arrest were unnecessary because no one is above the law. Emelumba said, Okorocha is raising a false alarm. He is panicking because he looted the wealth of the people of Imo state. This is a man who looted the commonwealth of the people of Imo state. Neither he nor his son-in-law is above the law. He should allow the police to do their job. Okorocha should know that police have the right to arrest anybody. This is a man who converted a university built with Imo peoples money to personnel use but this government has recovered it for Imo people. Okorocha had accused the police of arresting Nwosu without a warrant. He alleged that operatives who arrested his son-in-law during a church service at St Peters Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state, pushed his wife, Nkechi, down and tore the clothes of his first daughter, Uloma. He said: Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for an outing service, when a group of men in police uniform started shooting while the sermon was ongoing. In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and tore my daughters clothes. No warrant of arrest. No invitation. We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government number plate. They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial (of his mother). I got the CP who said that the IGP approved his arrest. The shock of such an arrest without warrant and humiliating members of my family is unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo know nothing about the arrest. I dont know what they framed up. The IGP could only do this on high-level misinformation from Hope Uzodinma. Over 100 gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu. What kind of ruthless behaviour on an innocent citizen of Nigeria? Uzodinma wants to frame me up by all means. Uzodinma has to answer for most of the activities going on. Uzodinma must mention the names of those who are responsible for insecurity in Imo State or he should be held responsible for all the killings in the state. Uzodinma has framed up something against Uche Nwosu. Buhari should be informed about what is happening in Imo State. Hundreds of citizens are being killed in this state. Kalasin pub cluster expands BANGKOK: The Omicron cluster in Kalasin appears to be expanding after local authorities diagnosed 64 more cases on Saturday (Dec 25). CoronavirusCOVID-19health By Bangkok Post Sunday 26 December 2021, 11:49AM Senior officials of the Public Health Ministry on Thursday take part in a merit-making ceremony at Wat Phutthapanya in Nonthaburi province for people who died from Covid-19. Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool / Bangkok Post According to one Siriraj doctor, up to 50% of all new cases in January could be of the new COVID-19 variant, reports the Bangkok Post. A cluster was linked to cases among staff and customers of a pub and restaurant in the northeastern province of Kalasin, which an infected married couple visited on Dec 12. After a total of 19 musicians, waiters, waitresses and guests visiting the pub and restaurant were confirmed to have the Omicron variant on Christmas Eve, another 45 patrons were on Saturday diagnosed with COVID-19 and awaiting the result that would reveal the strain, said Aphichai Limanon, chief provincial public health officer. In total, 61 new COVID-19 infections were recorded in Kalasin on Saturday. So far, 64 COVID-19 infections in Kalasin are confirmed to have arisen through contact with the couple who returned from Belgium on Dec 10 and later tested positive for Omicron after the first negative RT-PCR test upon their arrival, he said. This infection situation has prompted the provinces disease control committee to begin discussing what other places that may need to be shut down. The pub and restaurant, seen as the epicentre of the cluster, has already been shut, he said. It is unclear how many other places could be affected by a closure order. The husband and wife, who were admitted to a private hospital in neighbouring Khon Kaen for treatment on Dec 18 are being closely monitored by doctors in an isolated ward, said Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Jangtrakul. About 100 people who shared a bus journey with the pair from Kalasin to Khon Kaen all tested negative in the first round of COVID-19 testing using rapid antigen test kits, he said. An infectious diseases expert, meanwhile, said the Omicron variant may soon dominate new COVID-19 infections in Thailand. Up to 50% of new cases could be caused by the new highly transmissible variant by mid-January, said Dr Nitipat Jiarakul, chief of Siriraj Hospitals Division of Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Department. By February, the number of daily new infections is projected to surge to between 10,000 and 20,000, said Dr Nitipat. The number of severe cases, however, may be as low as 2%, as opposed to the average rate of 5% in patients infected with the previous variants in Thailand, he said. So, it is unlikely to overwhelm the countrys healthcare system as the previous variants did in past waves of COVID-19, he said. Exact numbers would depend on how well the country deals with preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the coming New Year festival. In Prachuap Khiri Khan, three British tourists also tested positive, with a fourth member of the group still waiting for the result of a test to confirm if he has the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, said local authorities. Eight COVID-19 infected tourists in Krabi are also waiting for second-test confirmation, said Dr Chaiway Thongmai, chief provincial public health officer, on Saturday. These infected tourists were among 1,616 tourists from Finland, Norway and Singapore who arrived in Krabi on direct flights between Nov 1 and Wednesday, he said. Meanwhile, Revenue Department Director-General Ekniti Nitithanprapas on Saturday said he was suffering a low fever and coughing as a result of an COVID-19 infection. Living Waters: Building brighter futures Living Waters Phuket has been providing financial grants and completing projects investing in sustainable community solutions across Phuket and the surrounding islands. Sunday 26 December 2021, 10:30AM By Joanna Matlub Living Waters Phuket is a brand-new Foundation which was set up to build brighter futures for communities in need. This Foundation provides financial grants to projects around essential relief areas including sustainable food security, education requirements, renewable energy and environmental issues. It was established to help registered charities, foundations, private companies and government organisations by funding community projects. Grants are currently and continuously being awarded to community groups, charities, Not-For-Profit organisations (NFPOs) and individuals who want to help the community by finding solutions to the aforementioned challenges in Phuket and the surrounding areas. The independent board of advisors at Living Waters Phuket reviews each grant application they receive objectively, fairly and impartially. With financial grants being awarded each week, there are a lot of exciting opportunities to help the communities in need, here in Phuket and beyond. Sustainable Farming Project The Foundation was involved from the start in supporting a Sustainable Education on Farming and Food Production programme for the Kathu Wittaya School. This long-term initiative was designed around teaching almost 1,000 children about the process of producing and harvesting food, and came to fruition due to funding from Living Waters Phuket Foundation. This project is the first of its kind in Phuket, and teaches students how to farm the land using proven Thai techniques and processes. It truly is a full circle sustainable farming initiative and something that the Foundation is extremely proud to support. These types of initiatives aim to give disadvantaged children the lifelong skills to be self-sufficient, and take this knowledge back to their communities in the hope of a better and more sustainable future. With the Sustainable Education on Farming and Food Production project complete, Living Waters Phuket are now providing grants for Phase 2; the construction of buildings to store produce and a shopfront from which to sell from. Education Assistance for Disadvantaged Children Living Waters Phuket Foundation funded and provided brand new IT equipment for over 500 disadvantaged children at the Phuket Has Been Good To Us (PHBGTU) School. This project was funded in order for teachers, volunteers and administrators to be able to deliver their English classes more effectively and efficiently. The previous equipment was old, unreliable and often shut down mid lesson making classes increasingly difficult to hold. The newly installed equipment will help teachers deliver higher quality lessons, printed materials and content. This initiative aims to help students progress further with their education, giving them a brighter future for employment options, thus helping their families and communities also. The grant to provide new IT equipment for teachers, volunteers and administrators for this childrens charity has been completed, and all IT equipment has been funded, delivered and set up. Super Life Bags The Foundation marked its official Phuket launch on 1st November 2021 with an unparalleled financial grant for a sizeable collaborative food donation programme. This consisted of more than 8,700 Super Life Packs to help families in need. Living Waters Phuket, together with 5 Star Marine granted a substantial financial aid package for these Super Life Packs each containing enough staple food items to feed a family of 4 people for an entire week. This funded project marked the largest single food bag donation to date, and the execution was a collaborative effort between Living Waters Phuket, 5 Star Marine, the Phuket Red Cross, Phuket Has Been Good To Us as well as various government departments. Distribution of these Super Life Bags was aided by the Government officials and 5 Star Marine, and went out to several areas in Phuket including Kathu, Patong, Chalong, Rawai and Baan Phara among others. Clean Energy Project Living Waters Phuket has recently completed the installation of solar panels for the Good Shepherd Phuket Town (GSPT) Learning Centre. Living Waters Phuket is based around finding and funding sustainable solutions to food security, education and environmental issues. So, solar energy for this charity organisation sits well with their funding criteria. This initiative will allow the Learning Centre to save money by removing the high electricity costs they were paying previously to run the centre. This completed project now uses a clean and sustainable energy solution that the Foundation is proud to have been able to provide funding for. Living Waters Phuket Foundation Building Brighter Futures Phuket has needed a well thought out Foundation for a long time, and I am excited to see many positive initiatives get the opportunity to come to fruition in such a short space of time. Living Waters Phuket is open for grant applications and much needed donations to carry on our work. We look forward to being able to continue to support the community by providing funding for sustainable solutions not only to food security but in areas of education and environmental issues. said Shaun Stenning (CEO and Founder of 5 Star Marine). Donations You can donate to the Foundations Weeboon page to help fund more sustainable, community projects where you will also find weekly updates on initiatives. Please go to weeboon.com and search for Living Waters Phuket. See also LivingWatersPhuket on Facebook and Instagram. Phuket Christmas Day burglar arrested PHUKET: Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for theft of items valued at 66,000 from a home in Phanason Village in Baan Borrae, Wichit, on Christmas Day. crimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 26 December 2021, 12:26PM Police were alerted to the burglary at around 11:30am yesterday (Dec 25). Officers from the Wichit Police took just hours to track down the suspect, named by police only as Mr Wongsathorn (full name not reported). Wongsathorn was arrested at a rented accommodation in Moo1, Wichit, said a report of the arrest. The items stolen were reported to be valued at B66,000. In taking Wongsathorn into custody, police seized from his accommodation an iPad, a black Gucci bag, a red Furla bag, one Armani watch and one Seiko watch. Police also seized his white Honda Wave 125i motorbike used to make his getaway. Wongsathorn was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged for the theft, the report confirmed. He has been charged with Theft in a dwelling by entering through a channel made without the intention of being a persons entrance and using a vehicle to facilitate the act, the report noted. Phuket Opinion: An Omicron Christmas PHUKET: Phukets hopes of kicking off its tourism recovery for a high season took a serious hit this week as the Test & Go scheme was suspended, yet hopes are high that the move will be short lived as Omicron becomes increasingly understood as far less deadly than its predecessors. opinionCOVID-19healthtourismeconomics By The Phuket News Sunday 26 December 2021, 10:00AM An officer from the Social Welfare Division of Patong Municipality approaches a homeless person in Patong so that he could be provided assistance. Photo: Patong Municipality The announcement on Tuesday that the Test & Go scheme had been suspended was followed by what has become the traditional shambles in explaining exactly what had changed and exactly who were affected. It took a day to clarify that of the 200,000 who had already been approved to enter Thailand through the Test & Go Scheme, actually 110,000 had been approved and a further 90,000 had applied but had yet to be approved. Getting such a simple number wrong probably tells everyone all they need to know about how well the Thailand Pass system is working, or worse, about those operating it. Even 48 hours after the announcement the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was still explaining on its website that the second RT-PCR test now mandated on Day 5-6 of any persons still allowed into the country would be by antigen test kit (ATK). That has now been fixed. (See here.) Yet, it has to be said, the clarifications came relatively quickly compared with previous efforts. One thing the central government got right was keeping the Phuket Sandbox open. It would have beggared belief that shortsightedness or a lack of understanding of their own protocols would have overlooked that this system was launched in response to much more dangerous variants of the virus. It works, keep it going. Leading Phuket tourism figures were quick to praise the government for this move, and rightly so. Bangkok needs to know that while all the gloss looks pretty, showing tourists returning, people on beaches and even traffic starting to return to the island, much of the tourism recovery so far has not reached most of the people on the island. Eveen Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri is finding himself caught up in at-odds situations exemplifying the exact state of affairs right now. He attended the fireworks-studded grand opening of the Roi Nhat Yod Dai food festival on Patong Beach last Saturday night with a brave face welcoming an event to draw more tourists to the town, then joined teams from the Social Welfare Division of Patong Municipality in providing assistance and shelter to homeless people living in abandoned buildings in Patong six days later, on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, private efforts to provide assistance to people in need during this season of giving are continuing. The suspension of the Test & Go scheme is to be reviewed on Jan 4, only nine days from now, and many peoples hopes are riding on the suspension being called off. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul noted on Friday, I also want to ask people to avoid panicking as long as the information from the Department of Disease Control [DDC] shows Omicron has much less severe symptoms than Delta. He may be only echoing what Thailand has learned from abroad, as Europe and especially the UK are doing much of the real-world research on the actual effects Omicron is having on those infected, but so far he is not wrong. While the likes of France and Germany have again nearly shut down, even the UK with its record-setting figures of infections is starting to treat Omicron as a threat to the economy, not to life. In Phuket, we may have some tourists now, but we still need what we can get. A realistic understanding of Omicron would go a long way to alleviating much fear, and financial hardship, for those living on the island. Phuket readies for Seven Days of Danger PHUKET: Phuket police and disaster officials are gearing up for the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the New Year, which begins on Wednesday (Dec 29). transportSafetyaccidentstourism By The Phuket News Sunday 26 December 2021, 11:00AM Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan at the road-safety meeting on Friday (Dec 24). Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Phinsuwan led a meeting joined by Udomporn Kan, Chief of the Phuket office of Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), at Phuket Provincial Hall on Friday with leading figures from a host of local government offices in attendance. The meeting was held to coordinate efforts and enable relevant agencies to take action on the prevention and reduction of road accidents effectively to reduce the loss of lives and property of the people in the intensive period of this years campaign, from Dec 29 to Jan 4, Vice Governor Amnuay said. This years campaign began on Tuesday with the pre-strict control period from Dec 22-28, V/Gov Amnuay noted. The period is marked by heavy campaign for road safety, including campaigns against drunk driving. The intensified control period, famed for its police checkpoints, will be from Dec 29-Jan 4, followed by a third period after the intensive control from Jan 5-11, he added. Throughout Phuket officers will set up main checkpoints and secondary checkpoints, as well as public service points, in order to reduce accidents during the Phuket New Years festival, he said. Dr Thaweewong Chulakamontri, Chairperson of the Senate Subcommittee of Education, was also at the meeting on Friday to follow up the road safety operational guidelines of the Provincial Road Safety Centre. During his visit to Phuket Dr Thaweewong conducted inspection visits at the Phuket Provincial Police headquarters and Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office in Phuket Town. he also inspected several risk points and met with local community leaders in areas known for road-accident black spots. Dr Thaweewong singled out the risk point near Baan Ao Nam Bo School in Wichit, now well known locally as Pla Wan corner. This is to bring the information to be taken in the relevant part so that the action to reduce road accidents in Phuket is in accordance with the goals set, he said. Phuket City Police Chief Col Sarawut Chuprasit said that Phuket City Police have prepared all officers for the Christmas and New Years festivals. The safety of the people is a major concern in Mueang Phuket [District], especially in this kind of economy under COVID-19, when people are suffering greatly, and the Phuket City Police will try to do their best, he said. If there is any problem, you can inform the Phuket City Police, and they will make our brothers and sisters feel most comfortable, he said in a video interview released on Friday. Everyone who travels in Phuket must strictly follow the orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If we all help each other, we can control this disease. It will be good for the overall picture of Phuket and Thailand, he added. For safety, he would like all brothers and sisters to take care of themselves; people should be careful when traveling in isolated places. Police officers are already inspecting places where people go and have put in place strict security measures. There are CCTV cameras in Mueang District that will take care of everyones security in case of maximum safety when traveling to Phuket, he assured. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Cloudy with a few showers. Low around 30F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy with a few showers. Low around 30F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around -2C. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low around -9C. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Islamic extremists killed 41 people last week in an attack in northern Burkina Faso, including the prominent leader of a volunteer group helping the country's military, the government said. Alkassoum Maiga, the government spokesman, announced two days of mourning following the deadly ambush on a convoy in Loroum province on Thursday. Among the victims was Soumaila Ganame, also known as Ladji Yoro. Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said Ganame had died for his country and must be a model of our determined commitment to fight the enemy. The death of Burkina Faso's most important volunteer leader has created a sense of panic, said Heni Nsaibia, a senior researcher at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. While Ganame achieved legendary status as a popular counter-insurgent who played a central role in mobilizing (volunteers) in Loroum and Yatenga, he was also the embodiment of the absent state, he said. Violence in the once-peaceful West African nation is escalating as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State increase. More than 50 gendarmes were killed in November in the largest attack on the countrys security forces in recent memory and at least 160 civilians were massacred in the Sahel region in June. Even though Burkina Fasos security forces are conducting the most operations compared to its neighbors in the volatile Sahel region, the army is overstretched, putting out one fire at a time, Nsaibia said. Volunteer fighters have been accused of committing some human rights abuses against those suspected of fighting with the jihadis, but also have become the targets of attacks. The government is facing calls to step down amid its inability to stop the violence, with weeks of protests taking place in November. In response, the president fired his prime minister this month. ___ Mednick reported from Malakal, South Sudan. ANNE DRAGO, Stonington, Girls Basketball, Senior; Drago was named to the all-tournament team at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. In two games, she scored 38 points and had eight rebounds. DANTE WILK, Westerly, Boys Basketball, Senior; Wilk was named MVP of the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament after the Bulldogs beat Chariho in the title game. Wilk had a combined 35 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals in two tournament victories. TYLER LABELLE, Chariho, Boys Basketball, Junior; LaBelle scored 41 points in two games to earn all-tournament honors at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. LaBelle had 22 in a win against South Kingstown and 19 in a loss to Westerly. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler, Girls Basketball, Senior; Hauptmann scored 32 points in two games in the Montville Christmas Tournament. She also had 20 rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. Vote View Results Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Ms S.F. writes: I requested a withdrawal of 1,000 from my NS&I Guaranteed Growth Bond, and I received my money less a small penalty. However, I was then surprised to see 9,860 land in my bank account. This was a withdrawal of the rest of my bond, which I never requested. I contacted NS&I and was assured the money would be reinstated, but all I have received is an email confirming my account is closed. Although NS&I confirmed that your account was closed, your attempts to reopen it dragged on until you received an email reminding you that your bond was about to mature and inviting you to reinvest the non-existent proceeds. Errors: NS&I made repeated mistakes with Ms F's withdrawal I asked officials at NS&I to look into what had gone wrong, and they quickly told me: 'This was due to human error, and not the level of customer service Ms F should expect from us. 'We are reinstating her account with no loss of interest.' Staff would confirm this to you, and offer a goodwill payment as well. This was a good answer, but a fortnight later you had still heard nothing. Then a letter arrived from NS&I, saying nothing about reinstating your bond, but apologising for delays caused by the pandemic. Not delays in reinstating your investment but delays in looking into the complaints you had made even before you contacted me. To complicate things even more, while all this was going on, your bond reached its maturity date. You still had the money sitting in your bank account, so I asked NS&I whether it intended to behave as if the same money was still in the bond, and to pay you interest on it. Back came the answer no, your investment had not been reinstated, despite what I had been told weeks earlier. Finally, NS&I accepted a cheque from you for the return of the money you had never requested. It reopened your bond, and then closed it. An official wrote to you: 'I have arranged for an apology payment of 100 to be made as a crossed warrant (like a cheque) which will arrive 5-7 working days from this letter.' And he added: 'Your complaint has been upheld.' Even this was not quite correct, though. When you received the 100, it became clear that this included interest you should have received anyway. NS&I admitted to me that 44 was interest, so you were not getting 100 as an apology. This was another mistake by staff, I was told. With remarkable restraint, you have told me that after having to chase NS&I for months to put right their own mistake, an offer of 56 by way of saying sorry left you 'disappointed'. I think I might have used stronger words. You felt you were 'treated as someone of no consequence' until you involved The Mail on Sunday, and it is hard to disagree. Why is Morrisons refusing to take 135 of gift vouchers that it issued? A.P. writes: After many weeks, I have been unable to get Morrisons to acknowledge gift vouchers that it issued in the first place. Having recently come out of hospital, I cannot face any more of its broken promises to do something about it. Rejected: The Morrisons gift vouchers were part of a loyalty scheme You had been trying for about six months to persuade Morrisons that you had a fistful of brightly coloured vouchers with a face value of 135. Your local store did not seem to know what they were, and simply refused to accept them. When you contacted the head office of the supermarket chain, your complaints were acknowledged but nobody seemed able to tell you why your vouchers were rejected. Then you told Morrisons you had contacted me, and two days later you received 150. I am sure this was just a coincidence. The vouchers were issued as part of a loyalty scheme when Morrisons had its own credit card, operated by HSBC. The scheme ended, but the vouchers have no expiry date so should still have been accepted. Morrisons told me: 'We can only apologise for the inconvenience this has caused Mr P.' If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. The bosses of Britains biggest companies face a growing backlash from shareholders over their huge pay packets, research has shown. One in ten firms in the FTSE AllShare index received a scolding from investors in 2021, according to an analysis by The Mail on Sunday of data from corporate advisory service ISS Corporate Solutions. The study of more than 1,000 listed companies shows that 9 per cent of firms saw more than one in five votes cast against executive pay packages at their annual general meetings, up from 5 per cent in 2020 and 7 per cent in 2019. Rio Tinto saw 61 per cent of votes cast against a $55million (41million) pay package for top executives, after the miner destroyed sacred Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia in 2020 The vast majority of companies experience little or no dissent on pay at their AGMs as many institutional investors typically passively vote the policies through. However, the research showed a significant portion of firms listed on the Stock Exchange suffered a backlash and five failed to get their resolutions past shareholders at all. They were Morrisons, mining titan Rio Tinto, exhibitions group Informa, gold miner Petropavlovsk and software firm Ideagen. Rio Tinto saw 61 per cent of votes cast against a $55million (41million) pay package for top executives, after the miner destroyed sacred 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia in 2020. However, the vote was a non-binding advisory so the executives will still receive the windfalls. Premier Inn owner Whitbread and drinks bottler Coca-Cola HBC this month said they had spoken to their largest investors to gauge sentiment after suffering AGM revolts. Several companies including AstraZeneca, gambling firm Playtech and safety inspection group Intertek suffered repeat shareholder rebellions. Luke Hildyard, a director at the High Pay Centre think-tank, said: Its encouraging to see investors using their AGM votes to hold companies to account. Engagement with companies over pay is meaningless if shareholders arent prepared to say no when boards are unwilling to see reason. At the onset of the pandemic, a host of FTSE bosses slashed their pay to show solidarity with workers, some of whom had a reduced wage packet. But the MoS revealed that by autumn 2020 many business leaders, including the bosses of Wetherspoons and easyJet, had quietly hiked their pay back up. Hildyard said: The increased number of pay revolts this year also suggests that after taking pay cuts during the first outbreak of Covid-19, CEOs now expect pay awards to return to the level to which they feel entitled. Given the uncertainties facing businesses, it seems reckless to be spending huge sums of money on already wealthy executives. Investors were also angered by bonuses to bosses at firms that have received state support during the pandemic, such as estate agent Foxtons and car dealership Pendragon. FTSE 100 bosses were paid 2.69million on average in 2020. That was down 17 per cent compared with the 3.25million in 2019 but still 86 times higher than the 31,000 average annual UK wage. Leisure giants Carnival, Tui and Virgin are among major travel firms enforcing 'no jab, no job' policies for staff amid fresh Covid-19 outbreaks on cruise ships. Cruise companies are getting tougher over health and safety rules as they seek to rebuild bookings while attempting to curb the rapid spread of Omicron. The highly infectious Covid-19 variant is threatening to send cruise firms spiralling back to the early days of the pandemic when ships were taken out of service. Early last year, thousands of cruise passengers were forced to quarantine amid a Covid-19 outbreak aboard the Diamond Princess, owned by Princess Cruises, which had to anchor off Japan. Carnival's UK cruise lines, Cunard and P&O Cruises, this month enforced compulsory vaccinations for their crew on board ships and 99 per cent of its staff have now had two jabs Last week, Cunard, owned by FTSE250- listed Carnival Corporation, and Miami-based Royal Caribbean together reported a total of 58 cases of Covid-19 on cruises that set sail this month carrying thousands of passengers. Carnival's UK cruise lines, Cunard and P&O Cruises, this month enforced compulsory vaccinations for their crew on board ships and 99 per cent of its staff have now had two jabs. Similar 'no jab, no job' rules are now in place at Tui's British cruise line Marella Cruises and at Royal Caribbean, the world's largest cruise operator. Virgin Group's new Virgin Voyages cruise business is also enforcing the rule. In addition, cruise companies are asking passengers for proof of their vaccination status. Airlines have typically taken a softer stance on employees. FTSE100-listed Tui has so far not enforced vaccinations for crew on Tui Airways. But Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air gave more than 5,000 customer-facing staff a deadline of December 1 to be vaccinated. More than 90 per cent of its crew have complied. Virgin Atlantic, majority-owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, will only hire new crew who have been double jabbed. Those taken on before the policy was introduced in late September are 'strongly recommended' to have two vaccinations. To date, only a handful of major UK companies have introduced 'no jab, no job' policies, which have proved controversial because they expose firms to potential legal claims. The most high-profile are Pimlico Plumbers, founded by entrepreneur Charlie Mullins, and FTSE100 mining giant Anglo American, which plans to roll out compulsory staff vaccines beginning early next year. Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air gave more than 5,000 customer-facing staff a deadline of December 1 to be vaccinated. More than 90 per cent of its crew have complied Employment lawyer Emilie Cole, a founding partner at Cole Khan Solicitors, said firms must 'tread very carefully' when imposing rules that go further than those required by government. Cole said: 'A blanket obligation for workers to be vaccinated could well fall foul of the Equality Act. 'If a worker has had serious side effects to the first vaccination or is not being vaccinated due to their disability, that's likely to amount to disability discrimination. We are seeing a marked increase in concerns among people who believe their status as 'unvaccinated' is proving to be a blocker at work and they have found themselves first in line for potential redundancies.' However, Richard Fox, an employment partner at law firm Kingsley Napley, said the risk of litigation for employers had decreased after the UK Government enforced vaccinations for care home workers from last month, with the NHS set to follow from April. Airlines and cruise firms are already racing to make sure staff have had boosters, raising the prospect of 'fully jabbed' being extended to require three vaccinations. Virgin Voyages said it is encouraging crew to receive a third vaccination. Royal Caribbean said it is giving crew a booster as they become eligible, six months after their last vaccination. Tui said: 'Fully vaccinated status is currently two jabs for all travellers and therefore we will keep this under review for our colleagues.' British Airways and easyJet have not introduced compulsory vaccinations for crew. BA said it remains a 'personal choice' and Ryanair does not plan to make staff vaccinations mandatory unless it becomes government policy. The Unite trade union representing cabin crew, baggage handlers and security staff said all UK vaccination regimes should be voluntary. Figures from the jobs site Adzuna last week showed the number of ads asking applicants to be vaccinated against Covid19 rose from 805 in August to 2,324 in October. The best money decision that life peer John Lee has ever made was to open a tax-friendly Personal Equity Plan in 1987. Widely regarded as one of the country's leading private investors, Baron Lee of Trafford has used the plan (now known as an Individual Savings Account) to amass an investment portfolio worth millions. But the pandemic has made the 79-year-old former Liberal Democrat politician take stock of his life and, as he tells Donna Ferguson, question the purpose of having substantial wealth. Reaping dividends: John Lee has decided to spend some gains Have you made any financial resolutions for 2022? Yes. I intend to do more charitable giving. I am aware of so many people who are finding life difficult as a result of rising prices. I think there is going to be greater demand for food banks, local charities and community support. People in my position have a greater responsibility than ever to respond to those who need help. What did your parents teach you about money? To be careful with it. My father was a GP and believed in living within his means. He was the principal breadwinner and my mother helped him in his medical practice. She also worked as a child psychologist. I would say we were comfortably off. We had good holidays, but I was never overindulged with pocket money and my father instilled in me a conservative approach to money. Have you ever struggled to make ends meet? No. I qualified as an accountant when I was in my early 20s and I then worked in stockbroking and investment banking. I became an MP in 1979 when I was 37 and lost my seat in 1992. Even then, I can't say I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make ends meet. I'd saved over the years and, like my parents, had always lived within my means. Plus I had money invested in the stock market and one or two directorships. What was the best financial year of your life? This year. In 1987, I started to invest the maximum amount of money I could in tax-friendly investments called Personal Equity Plans. When Peps became Isas, I continued investing. Between 1987 and 2003, I put in the maximum amount I could each year. In 2003, I was judged to be the first Isa millionaire. This year, for the first time since 1987, I've not reinvested my Isa dividends, I've taken them out and enjoyed the benefit of them. In 2003, John Lee was judged to be the first Isa millionaire Why are you changing your investment strategy? Like many people, I took stock of my life during the pandemic. I started to question why I was just letting my Isa grow in value. I have now decided I should enjoy the income more, help members of my family and do more for charity. How much is your Isa worth? I'd rather not say, but it has grown significantly since I was deemed to be an Isa millionaire in 2003. What is the most expensive thing you bought for fun? It was a painting of a salmon river, by the late Norman Wilkinson. I bought it five years ago for several thousand pounds. Every time I look at it, I think of the tranquillity and excitement of salmon fishing. John Lee says he was slow to recognise the potential of big tech stocks such as Amazon What is your biggest money mistake? The failure to recognise the opportunities from and growth of new technologies and to anticipate the impact of the internet on all our lives. I am a rather traditional investor and I was slow to recognise the potential of big American tech stocks such as Microsoft and Amazon. Do you save into a pension? No. I did contribute to a parliamentary pension while I was an MP and I now receive a modest income from that. But I have focused on investing in my Isa instead. It has proved a better way to save for my retirement. Do you invest directly in the stock market? Yes. Investing has been a huge part of my life. I've written two investment books How To Make A Million Slowly, which is a commentary on my investing successes and mistakes; and Yummi Yoghurt, a short guide for young people on investing in the stock market. I see investing not only as a way of increasing my wealth, but as an academic challenge and a way of supporting what I'd term 'proper' UK businesses. Investing supports employment in this country and the economy, too. Ultimately, when you invest in the stock market, society gains. It's a shame that so many people have got cash in the bank and earn near zero rates of interest on it when they could buy quality shares offering, in many cases, safe dividends. Every year, John Lee has a week's holiday salmon fishing on the River Tweed in Scotland Do you own any property? Yes, my home in Richmond, South West London. It's a four-bedroom house near the Thames, built in the 19th Century. I bought it six years ago. I'd rather not say how much for, but it would be fair to say houses in Richmond are not the cheapest in the country. I would hope it's appreciated in value since 2015. Unquestionably, I've benefited from the growth in property prices over the years. I got on the property ladder in Cheshire in 1968 when I was 26, paying 7,000 for my first home. But my main reason for buying property has always been to live in it. I don't get the same thrill from owning a property as I do from investing in growing UK companies. What is the one little luxury you treat yourself to? Every year, I have a week's holiday salmon fishing on the River Tweed in Scotland. It's relaxing, but also exciting if you catch a salmon. But I'm afraid good salmon fishing follows the chequebook: it costs me several thousand pounds each year. If you were Chancellor, what would you do? I would restore overseas aid back up to 0.7 per cent of gross national income there is such desperate poverty and destitution worldwide. Millions of people live a virtually medieval life, without good access to medicine, water and food. To pay for it, I would increase the top rate of income tax to 55 or 60 per cent. I would levy it on incomes above 1million. Do you donate money to charity? Yes, I started a family charity 40 years ago, which gives money to a range of community projects everything from local food banks to a disabled children's orchestra and a local museum in Richmond. The trust started off donating small amounts, but is now donating around 30,000 a year. Next year, I'm planning to donate more personally. What is your number one financial priority? When you get to my age, it's about the financial security of your family, it's about your ability to pay medical fees and also the possibility that you may end up in a care home. I want to make sure I have enough money to look after myself in old age and not be a burden on anyone else. Doorstep visits to a quarter of a million pensioners refusing to pay the 159 TV Licence fee are continuing despite rising health fears among those targeted. Undeterred by an upsurge in coronavirus cases, an army of 'enforcers' is knocking on the doors of over-75s who have so far refused to pay for a licence. Many are arriving without a mask and are not bothering about social distancing. Dennis Smith, a director of campaign group Silver Voices, says: 'They are wolves in sheep's clothing. It is a disgrace how the vulnerable are being hounded during a huge health crisis when many are self-isolating.' An army of 'enforcers' is knocking on the doors of over-75s who have refused to pay TV licence He adds: 'The cost of these visits alone is probably more than the TV Licence fee they are demanding.' The Mail on Sunday has been overwhelmed with emails and letters from over-75s refusing to pay the 159 levy even if it means being sent to prison. This follows the scrapping of the free licence fee for the elderly by the BBC in August last year. While most of the four million targeted have paid, up to 250,000 are refusing to be cowed. Many are furious the BBC has broken a previous Government promise to always provide a free TV licence for the elderly. A TV Licensing spokesman says: 'We are closely following Government guidance. Our advisers receive safety training and must wear face coverings if invited indoors.' As the days become shorter and the nights become longer and darker, we are reminded that indeed winter is coming. As a child I would dread this time of the year. Not only was there was less time to play outside, but there was a string of holidays that my Iranian family didnt celebrate, from Hanukkah to Christmas, which made me feel I didnt belong in our new home in Minneapolis, Minn. At the age of 11, I asked my parents for a Christmas tree. Thats when my grandmother, Ghamarjoon, placed two pomegranates in my hands and two in my mothers and introduced me to Shab-e-Yalda: shab meaning night, and yalda meaning birth or light. It is a holiday celebrated by millions of people from Iran to Azerbaijan to the U.S., on Dec. 21, the winter solstice. It is the darkest time of the year, a night feared in primitive times who feared the long winter darkness might never end.. My path to becoming an anthropologist who studies rituals and traditions in the Middle East was, in part, a way discover the stories of my past, and Yalda was one of my first inspirations. Celebrating light Originating in the pre-Zoroastrian tradition of worship of Mithra, the god of sun, but popularized by Zoroastrians, Yalda, also referred to as Chelleh, celebrates the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were strongest on the longest and darkest night of the year. People stayed up all night, telling stories and eating watermelon and pomegranate, in addition to dried fruit, in anticipation of the sun rising. As the light spilled through the sky in the moment of dawn, Persians celebrated its appearance with drumming and dancing. It was thought that the day after the longest night belonged to Ahura Mazda, the Zoroastrian lord of wisdom. Religious studies scholar Joel Wilbush argues that the early Christians loved this ancient Persian celebration. They saw the themes of light, sun and birth as interconnected with the birth of Jesus. Its meaning, the triumph of light over darkness, is similar to the theme of the Hindu holiday of Diwali. Triumph of light Today my family continues the tradition by gathering every year to celebrate this ancient tradition. Like our ancestors before us, we stay up all night, curled under a korsi, a special Persian blanket lined with lumps of coal for warmth. We tell stories, read the poetry of Iranian poets like Hafez and Rumi, and speak of the good that can overcome evil. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Foods such as pomegranate and watermelon are still eaten. A food indigenous to Iran, pomegranate is believed to be a symbol of life and resilience, for it blossoms during the harshest climate of winter. Persians also believe that eating summer foods, such as watermelon, will keep the body healthy through the winter, and that dried seeds like pumpkin and sunflower are a reminder of the cycle of life of the rebirth and renewal to come. While Christmas and Yalda are celebrated just a few days apart, the celebrations hold similar traditions and values. Family, love, resilience, rebirth and a triumph of light over dark. Anthropologist Pardis Mahdavi is dean of social sciences at Arizona State University and director of ASUs School of Social Transformation. Mahdavi has focused her academic career on diversity, inclusion, human trafficking, migration, sexuality, human rights, feminism and public health. She feels her personal education journey as an Iranian-American woman has informed her views. This article was first published in The Conversation and was shared with the Times Union via the online news organization's partnership with The Associated Press. Phoebe Sheehan/Times Union GUILDERLAND Police are searching for a 43-year-old Guilderland man who is wanted for questioning in a homicide that occurred late this week at a Western Avenue residence. Area police were cautioned that the man being sought, Jason Seminary, is known to carry firearms and has made suicidal statements. Seminary has a criminal history that includes convictions for robbery, burglary, grand larceny and drug and weapons charges, according to police sources. HALFMOON - In the 16 years since a New Jersey-based company bought Twin Lakes apartments, a complex of 729 units off Lakeview Drive, there have been 11 fires. The owners have often explained away the frequency of blazes by saying many fires are tenants faults such as the most recent blaze, in October, that displaced 26 people, which was determined to have been started by a cigarette. However, a Times Union investigation into town code enforcement records shows that poor maintenance preceded five of the 11 documented fires since the Solomon Organization bought the complex in 2005 - including two chimney fires that happened more than three years after the town urged the owner to maintain all chimneys in the wake of another blaze. Town officials repeatedly asked the apartment complex over the years to keep up on standard fire safety maintenance, such as when firefighters entered one building after a fire in 2015 and saw there were no smoke detectors in the units. But it would take months - or even years - for Solomon to acknowledge to town officials that they had brought apartments up to fire safety code, according to the records, with no evidence that the town ever applied legal pressure to force Twin Lakes into compliance, such as with court appearance tickets or fines. There have been no fatalities as result of the fires, but seven buildings had to be rebuilt, with more than 42 units destroyed, and tenants have lost their belongings and homes. Town officials, when presented with the records the Times Union reviewed, defended Twin Lakes in recent interviews. "They make every effort to fix deficiencies," said Halfmoon Fire and Code Enforcement Officer John Cooper Jr. After the October fire, town Supervisor Kevin Tollisen told the Times Union, Theyve done good with the town. Any time improvements or updates need to be done, they work with the town. Its very unfortunate, but were not concerned with the way theyre running the property." When asked recently if the supervisor would answer questions about the records the newspaper reviewed, Tollisen at first said that he does not talk to the Times Union. He agreed to answer a series of written questions - of which he responded to one. Tollisen said he is also satisfied by Twin Lakes' performance. "During my tenure, Twin Lakes has always responded and corrected any issues detailed by code enforcement," Tollisen said. "If Twin Lakes or any other organization ignores the notices, appearance tickets are issued. Compliance is necessary and critical. But any time I have spoken with someone at Twin Lakes, they have been responsive and courteous." Chimney fires The Solomon Organization, which bought Twin Lakes in 2005, now owns more than 60 apartment complexes in eight states, with a total of about 18,500 residential units. Twin Lakes in Halfmoon consists of townhome-like rental units, which according to its website rent for between $796 and $2,586 per month. Four years after Solomon bought Twin Lakes, a building was badly damaged by a chimney fire. Then Halfmoon Director of Code Enforcement Greg Stevens wrote to Twin Lakes afterward to direct management to improve maintenance so that such fires wouldn't happen again. In that letter, he said the chimney fire was caused by poor maintenance and that there had been "multiple" fires in the previous four years also due to a lack of maintenance on bathroom heat lamps. The bottom line is that it is the responsibility of Twin Lakes Management to insure that all fireplaces in your development are maintained in a safe, working condition at all times. These fireplaces are part of the structure and it is not the leaseholders responsibility, nor are they responsible to contact you if they are going to use the fireplace, Stevens wrote. He attached several pages of building codes, describing what the Solomon Organization must maintain. He also wrote that management told him there were too many chimneys to maintain - and that he rejected that excuse. The company proposed a compromise of fixing chimneys only when a tenant said they wanted to use the fireplace, and he said that wasn't acceptable either. Skip Dickstein Three years later in 2011, there was another chimney fire, which destroyed a 12-unit building. Again, town records said it was caused by a lack of maintenance. A chimney cap was dislodged, allowing an animal to build a nest inside, which caught fire and ignited the roof. Letters in the town file in the days after that fire showed that management had decided to maintain chimneys only when a tenant said they wanted to use the fireplace imminently, despite Stevens' earlier letter. A Twin Lakes tenant wrote the town, chronicling how he asked for paperwork from Solomon confirming his fireplace was safe in response to the 2011 fire. After Twin Lakes did inspections and found a flue stopper needed repairing, he asked the apartment complex for written confirmation the fireplace was safe, but they refused. Then today, an army of men came to inspect the fireplace, but yet again they denied me any paperwork or indication that it was safe to use the fireplace, he wrote the town. They said instead, the office would notify us if it was safe to use. The town responded that it was up to Twin Lakes to maintain the chimneys. But instead of coming up with a maintenance program after the 2011 fire, according to town records, the Solomon Organization decided to board up the fireplaces. Then there was yet another chimney fire in 2017, destroying a six-unit building. Solomon Organization spokesman Ron Simoncini blamed a tenant for that fire. More Information Twin Lakes fires 2005: The Solomon Organization buys the Twin Lakes apartments in Halfmoon. 2008: After repeated fires, including a large chimney fire, the town tells Solomon to improve maintenance, especially of chimneys and bathroom heat lamps. 2011: Another chimney fire destroyed a 12-unit building. Solomon begins boarding up fireplaces. 2015: Clifton Park Fire Department notices smoke detectors missing during a fire. Ten months later, Twin Lakes replaces the detectors. 2017: A resident opened a boarded-up fireplace and set a fire, which led to a chimney fire that destroyed a six-unit building. Solomon begins bricking up fireplaces. 2019: A malfunctioning heat lamp catches fire, badly damaging the roof of a building. Solomon removes the rest of the heat lamps in the complex. See More Collapse We did not expect tenants would or could dismantle fireplace barriers and light fires - especially after having been warned that it was hazardous to do so. And no one did for years. But when one person did vandalize the locked gate to his fireplace and did light a fire, we bricked over the rest, he recently told the Times Union. In 2008, the town had also told Twin Lakes to start maintaining the heat lamps after minor fires caused by the lamps. Solomon Organization did remove the heat lamps from bathrooms entirely - but not until 11 years later in 2019 when the roof of a building was badly damaged by a heat lamp that caught fire when a timer malfunctioned. After the most recent incident, we determined that even though these (heat lamps) were popular, removing them also removed all doubt about their safety, so we did, Simoncini said. Smoke detectors In responding to a Twin Lakes oven fire in 2015, Clifton Park Fire Department firefighters reported to the town that there weren't any working smoke detectors in the unit, and there were others missing elsewhere. It took Twin Lakes 10 months to reinstall hardwired smoke detectors in one part of the complex, and seven more months to reinstall them throughout the rest of the buildings, according to letters they sent the town reporting their progress. In 2018, detectors in common areas between some units were also found missing during a town fire inspection. Again, they were flagged for Twin Lakes to replace. In interviews with tenants this year, two people said they had removed detectors before from common areas because they wouldnt stop beeping and maintenance would not respond to their calls. Simoncini disputed those complaints, saying Twin Lakes is not only adequately served by a full-time staff of 21 employees, it also is supported by 50 additional full-time staff throughout the Capital Region who can provide immediate back-up when needed. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. While tenants are known for removing smoke detectors in their homes, it is less common for them to remove detectors in the hallways outside. Keeping all the detectors working is a maintenance issue, said Saratoga County Fire Coordinator Ed Tremblay. It could be a matter of life and death. But people need to realize theres maintenance to them as well. Battery changes, expirations," he said. Changing the battery on a hard-wired smoke detector is not easy, and some detectors now come sealed with a 10-year battery life. When they die, some of them beep incessantly, he said. Sprinkler system maintenance From 2015 to 2019, town officials failed Twin Lakes every year on its annual fire inspection because the complex did not get its fire suppression sprinkler system inspected, a mandatory task. Twin Lakes has to hire an outside inspection company to do the job and then give the town the report. But in 2019 town officials realized no one (including Twin Lakes managers or themselves) had read the previous year's report - which included a long list of problems. Twin Lakes said inspectors hadn't pointed out the problems, despite the fact that staff were described as accompanying the inspector and management sent a copy of the report to the town. When the unresolved problems were discovered, town officials decided that the annual sprinkler inspection must be uploaded to an app, which automatically notifies the town of any deficiencies, Cooper said. The new system under the app alerted the town that many items in the sprinkler system needed replacement. The town notified Twin Lakes, but the apartment complex did not do the needed fixes. Cooper then threatened to write court appearance tickets. It was the only time, according to town records, that Twin Lakes was threatened with legal consequences over a fire safety issue. The apartment complex then fixed the issues. State law now requires sprinkler systems in new apartments, so Twin Lakes has had to install the systems in the buildings it rebuilt after fires. Skip Dickstein Twin Lakes also installed fire retardant foam over each units stove, to prevent stove fires of which there have been two in the last 15 years and issues fire warning memos, it said. Each Twin Lakes tenant reviews and signs a three-page fire prevention lease addendum. We inspect every apartment every year, assuring all of our fire safety equipment is functional. During our inspection we utilize a thermal imaging device to monitor the electrical panels to detect prospective problems, Simoncini said. Given the number and depth of the proactive steps we have taken and our responsiveness to any and all identified conditions, fire prevention at Twin Lakes should be held up as the standard all property owners should follow. Residents react The Times Union went to Twin Lakes recently to talk to residents about how they feel about safety in their apartments. Some tenants said management responds too slowly to serious problems. The maintenance never come, ever. If you call, it takes weeks and weeks to come, said tenant Shuja Shaikh, who said he drove to Solomons headquarters in New Jersey to get his unit fixed when no one would respond to his calls. After the cigarette fire destroyed an entire building in October, tenant Heather Edgerton said she was planning to move. They dont enforce the (no) smoking policy. Come on. This is ridiculous, she said. I am pissed. Im looking at buying a house. Another tenant said she had personally watched four fires at units near hers in the years she has lived at Twin Lakes. Its made her very aware of fire hazards. But when she reported that an outlet was loose and shorting out - and was the only outlet she could use for a medical device - it took four months and a call from her doctor to get it fixed. On the organization's Better Business Bureau page, numerous renters have complained this year about a slow response to maintenance requests and to getting security deposits back. Solomon Organization, however, defended its history on fire safety - saying it has "a history of achieving compliance within a generally expedient timeframe." "As with most multi-family developments, Twin Lakes is party to a variety of interactions and exchanges about apartment conditions between staff and inspection authorities from formal citations to informal advisories," Simoncini said. "Our inspections are up to date, no outstanding violations exist and when we have identified fire threats we have proactively of our own accord enacted remediation programs." Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is promising to fight a proposed constitutional amendment supported by conservatives that would change election law, a measure that could be put on the ballot for approval without the Democratic governors signature For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The North Platte Telegraph. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Orlando Sentinel. Snowmobile riders from outside of New Hampshire will have the chance to explore the over 7,000 miles of trails in the state during Open Snowmobile Registration Weekend in March TKC readers might not know that Kwanzaa is a big part of local holiday traditions and every year the celebration gathers more support and interest. Growing up this local blogger attended more than a few Kwanzaa office parties with my mom but they're really not as fun as the celebration in the Historic Jazz District. Here's our favorite part: The music and drums are invigorating and kick-off a joyous event. Also, the honesty is refreshing . . . In Kansas City, the Kwanzaa celebration is overtly political, cultural and focused on support and commitment to the Black community. For this blog, we first covered the event back in 2012. Today is the 40th anniversary of the celebration. A few things to consider . . . Yes, there is some talk about reparations and other priorities for the Black community but the forum is appropriate and, TKC readers should know that federally funded amends for the horrors of American slavery is, in fact, part of the mainstream discourse. But, again, more than anything . . . What we've enjoyed about Kansas City Kwanzaa is the idea of commitment to community -- Beyond the smaller family focused holiday gatherings. Kwanzaa is a great place to relearn that, like it or not, we live in a diverse and multi-ethnic society and our neighbors deserve our consideration. At the very least . . . It's good to know about all of multitude of celebrations occurring throughout the metro. Here's a more info . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . How to celebrate Umoja on Day 1 of Kwanzaa theGrio breaks down how to celebrate Day 1 of the Kwanzaa holiday Dec. 26 marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, and on this first day, we light the sole Black candle at the center of our kinara in honor of the principle Umoja, meaning Unity. The seven principles of Kwanzaa Christmas might be over, but Kwanzaa is just getting started.Today marks the start of Kwanzaa, also spelled Kwanza (with one 'a' at the end). It's a seven-day non-religious holiday observed in the U.S., meant to honor African Americans' ancestral roots. The celebration lasts until Jan. What Is Kwanzaa? The Celebration Is Filled With So Many Rich Traditions The annual Kwanzaa traditions that Dele Lowman celebrated with her mom, brothers and surrounding community in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, were the highlight of her childhood. "One of the things my family would do is write out African Proverbs in calligraphy on nice paper, that my mom would have me decorate them," she says. Developing . . . For close readers we share some of the news we've been reading today on the topic of angels, community news, pop culture and top headlines. Check the TKC collection . . . After Christmas Dumping Ground Kansas City compost piles are a perfect place for fruitcakes and other holiday leftovers In households all around Kansas City, holiday menus have been planned, but what to do with the leftovers - the green bean casserole, cranberry relish, or mashed potatoes - may not have been considered. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste comprises about 24% of municipal solid waste. Midtown Gunfire Aftermath KC police investigate shooting outside nightclub KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police are investigating after one person was shot outside of a Midtown nightclub. The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. near 39th and Southwest Trafficway. According to police, officers were dispatched to the parking lot connecting Missie B's and KC Kitchen & Pizzeria an an aggravated assault. Meth Town Tragedy Report Person of interest in custody after 2-year-old killed in Independence KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Independence Police Department said a person of interest is in custody after a 2-year-old was killed after handling a gun Friday. According to IPD, the suspect is in custody out of state and will be extradited back to Jackson County. Local Good Deeds Documented Kansas City gives back on Christmas Day Many in Kansas City didn't just celebrate Christmas at home with family and friends - volunteers donated their time to help those who need a little more help this holiday season. Two events showed how giving our community is. Corporate Commerce Postscript 'It's madness just like usual': Kansas City area businesses capitalize on Christmas Day sales KANSAS CITY, Mo - Christmas Day is often about spending time with loved ones or tradition, but for some it means a critical boost in business. "It's madness just like usual," New Peking's manager Tony Teng said. "It's seems like our dining business has all been you know converted to carry out or delivery." Angel Hard Times Reconsidered Erin Heatherton Opens Up About the Extreme Measures She Used to Lose Weight as a Victoria's Secret Angel Model Erin Heatherton is opening up about her time as a Victoria's Secret Angel in a new podcast. In the series, titled Fallen Angel -hosted by Vanessa Grigoriadis and former Glamour features director Justine Harman -Heatherton talks about the extreme lengths she went to lose weight while working as an Angel from 2010 to 2013. Joker Talks Rude X-Mas Aftermath 'Let's go Brandon' Santa Tracker caller insists he meant no disrespect to Biden The caller who ended a conversation with Joe Biden with the rightwing meme " Let's go Brandon" - which means "fuck Joe Biden" - has insisted he was joking and meant no disrespect to the president. "At the end of the day I have nothing against Mr Biden," Jared Schmeck, 35, told the Oregonian newspaper. Talker Condemns Former Prez Alex Jones says Trump is either 'ignorant' or 'evil' in Christmas rant Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones issued a "warning" to former President Donald Trump, calling him either "ignorant" or "evil" for encouraging people to take the coronavirus vaccine. The infamous extremist talking head made the comments during his InfoWars show on 25 December. "This is an emergency Christmas Day warning to President Trump. Veep Against Voting Kamala Harris says 'democracy' is biggest national security threat in CBS interview Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to misspeak during an interview aired Sunday when she answered "democracy" when asked what's the biggest national security challenge facing the US. During the interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation," host Margaret Brennan asked her about the one national security threat that keeps her up at night worrying. Chummy Across The Aisle Two lawmakers say their bipartisan friendship a model for overcoming 'toxic' year in Washington Two Michigan lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle came together to urge the importance of unity and kindness after a "toxic" year in Washington and across the country. Party Time Postponed Again New Year's celebrations shelved across the globe as COVID-19 surges, here's who canceled and who hasn't Large cities across the world are canceling their New Year's Eve celebrations due to the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus while others are forging ahead with their plans. Vlad Takes Pause Russia withdraws 10,000 troops from Ukrainian border ahead of planned negotiations next month Russia has withdrawn over 10,000 troops from the Ukrainian border as it prepares to enter security discussions with the Biden administration in the new year. The Russian military has said that the troops have returned to their permanent bases after participating in "months-long drills" near the border. Man Of Faith Moves On Desmond Tutu, South African equality activist, dies at 90 | AP News JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Desmond Tutu, South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBT rights and retired Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, has died, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday. He was 90. An uncompromising foe of apartheid - South Africa's brutal regime of oppression against the Black majority - Tutu worked tirelessly, though non-violently, for its downfall. Brits Crackdown On Bowman Man found with crossbow at Windsor Castle sectioned A crossbow was found on the man after he was stopped on Christmas Day, police say. Angels Are Everywhere Victoria's Secret Is Now In India Victoria's Secret, the poular lingerie brand that has been an icon in fashion for decades, is now coming to India with their best beauty picks! Kansas City Confidence Emerges Most Chiefs fans believe team will eventually secure AFC bye week Welcome to , a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in fans. In this edition, we asked Chiefs fans how confident they are in the team clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Neighborhoods Need Niceness The generosity of one woman spawns resources for the community Around Christmas two years ago, Faye Kendrick had one donated turkey still left in the freezer. She decided to roast it, create meals and give it to the less fortunate standing on the corner on Christmas Day. Before she knew it, friends joined in. Sky Writing Over Kansas City Local pilot's flight path honors Christmas JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) --- While Santa was busy making his rounds around the world, one local pilot had a different flight plan in mind. Local pilot Glenn Bowers took off from the Johnson County Executive Airport this morning. From the ground, you may not recognize what Bowers was able to do. Acts Of Good Faith Abound Group works to serve homeless, many living under bridges - The Leaven Catholic Newspaper by Moira Cullingsmoira.cullings@theleaven.org KANSAS CITY, Kan. - It's a two-fold motto that Pat Brown has lived by for years: "Don't waste and feed the hungry." She found a ministry that satisfies both. Brown, a parishioner at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park, was shopping at a Hy-Vee supermarket years ago when she [...] December Chill Moves In . . . Light showers possible Sunday, and snow is on the horizon Hide Transcript Show Transcript HOW ABOUT THIS IN THE 40S RIGHT NOW AT 41 DEW POINTS? FIVE HUMIDITY AT 79% AND THE WIND SPEEDS HAVE BEEN ABOUT 11 MILES AN HOUR. THEY'RE NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE PICKING UP THE PACE LATER ON THIS MORNING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON. Los Lonely Boys - Heaven is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Popescu will make a working visit to Ukraine on October 21-22 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. The key topics of talks between the chief diplomats of Ukraine and Moldova will be the implementation of the agreements reached by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Moldova Maia Sandu, increase in trade, development of border infrastructure, counteraction to common security challenges, and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs. The ministers will pay special attention to the topic of European integration and further cooperation in the format of the Associated Trio. As reported, on October 13, Kuleba announced a proposal to hold a meeting of the Associated Trio of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova with the European Union in the near future to discuss further trade liberalization in the context of the Green Deal and the digital transition of the EU. ol (@ChaudhryMAli88) Beni, DR Congo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2021 ) :A suicide bomber killed at least five people at a crowded night spot in the city of Beni, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, local officials reported. "The suicide bomber, prevented by security from gaining access to the bar, packed with clients, activated the bomb at the entrance," said a statement from military officials running the North Kivu province. Another 13 people were being treated for their wounds in hospitals, the statement added, describing the death toll as provisional. The statement blamed the attack on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the deadliest of the militia active in the region. Shortly after the blast, Narcisse Muteba, the colonel running the city during the state of emergency in the east of the country, had called on residents to return to their homes for their own safety. Shortly after the attack, an AFP correspondent saw the remains of three bodies at the site of the blast, the In Box restaurant. The remains of tables, chairs, bottles and glasses were scattered across the blast site. One city hall source told AFP that two children were among the dead, as well as two local officials. More than thirty people were celebrating Christmas there when the bomb went off, two witnesses told AFP. "I was sitting there," local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila told AFP. "There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise."A police vehicle took the wounded to a nearby medical centre, which was immediately sealed off. Baghdad, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2021 ) :The Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday celebrated the renovation of the historic heart of its book trade, in the latest sign of an artistic renaissance after decades of conflict and strife. In a city where explosions once could mean only one thing -- violence -- colourful fireworks lit up the sky during festivities organised by Baghdad municipality to inaugurate the renovated Al-Mutanabbi Street. Its new look comes alongside art exhibitions, gallery openings, book fairs and festivals reflecting a fledgling cultural renaissance, and recalling a golden age when Baghdad was considered one of the Arab world's cultural capitals. Al-Mutanabbi Street was first inaugurated in 1932 by King Faisal I and named after the celebrated 10th century poet Abul Tayeb al-Mutanabbi, who was born under the Abbasid dynasty in what would become modern-day Iraq. A narrow street in the heart of old Baghdad, Al-Mutanabbi has long drawn students and young people, usually on Fridays. But it is also frequented by intellectuals and older bibliophiles. Normality still hangs by a thread in the Iraqi capital, where rocket and drone attacks sometimes target its highly fortified Green Zone, and where a July suicide attack on a market killed more than 30 people. There was high security for the costumed performers and musicians who performed along the car-free road of new cobblestones. The road is lined with shops, freshly-painted and sparkling, but most were closed. Fairy lights garlanded the ornate brick facades and wrought iron balconies. Private-sector banks financed the work, which began in August. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2021 ) :South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu died Sunday aged 90, sparking tributes from around the world. Here are some of those tributes: - UK PM Boris Johnson - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "deeply saddened" by Tutu's death, calling him a "critical figure" in defeating apartheid and building a new South Africa. "He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa -- and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour," Johnson tweeted. - The Elders - Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders, a group of global leaders working for peace and human rights, said "we are all devastated at the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu". "He inspired me to be a 'prisoner of hope', in his inimitable phrase," said Robinson, who is also the former president of Ireland. The Elders, of which Tutu was a founding member, said in a statement they "lost a dear friend, whose infectious laugh and mischievous sense of humour delighted and charmed them all". "We are all devastated at the loss," it said in a statement Sunday. "The world has lost an inspiration -- but one whose achievements will never be forgotten, and whose commitment to peace, love and the fundamental equality of all human beings will endure to inspire future generations. " - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tutu's passing was "a big blow not only to the Republic of South Africa where he leaves behind huge footprints as an anti-apartheid hero but to the entire African continent where he is deeply respected and celebrated as a peacemaker". "Archbishop Tutu inspired a generation of African leaders who embraced his non-violent approaches in the liberation struggle," he said. - The Nelson Mandela Foundation - The foundation said the loss of Tutu was "immeasurable". "He was larger than life, and for so many in South Africa and around the world his life has been a blessing. "He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd." Tutu and Nelson Mandela first met in the 1950s but did not see each other again for decades, on the day Mandela was released from prison in 1990. Mandela stayed at Tutu's home that night. - Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town -The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, said the life of Tutu, a "deeply spiritual person", should be celebrated. "He named wrong wherever he saw it and by whomever it was committed. He challenged the systems that demeaned humanity." Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2021 ) :Champions Toulouse's home game on Sunday with Stade Francais became the fourth Top 14 clash to be called off due to a surfeit of Covid-19 positive tests in the visiting club. The match joins Sunday's Brive-Clermont clash and two which were due to be played on Monday Racing 92-Pau and Toulon hosting leaders Begles-Bordeaux. The French league (LNR) said "the health situation in the (Stade Francais) squad "had forced their hand to postpone the match. "The date of the rescheduled match will be made known at a later date," the LNR added. Just three matches of the halfway point of the league season remain on. Sunday's game between Perpignan and Castres and two on Monday, bottom side Biarritz hosting Montpellier and last season's beaten finalists La Rochelle at home to Lyon. Covid infections in France hit six figures on Saturday, health officials recording 104,611 cases over the previous 24 hours, the third consecutive day the numbers have been record highs. The latest figures mark a dramatic rise since the beginning of the month: on December 4, the numbers broke 50,000 for the first time before rising steadily. Johannesburg, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2021 ) :Two days after South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) started to investigate apartheid-era crimes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu broke down in tears. Before him sat a former political prisoner who had been tortured for years by South Africa's notorious security police. As Singqokwana Ernest Malgas described being suffocated with a mask, he wept, and Tutu wept with him. It would be the first and only time Tutu would cry publicly during the emotionally-wrenching work of the commission that he chaired. "It wasn't fair," he told a television interviewer years later. "The media then concentrated on me instead of the people who were the rightful subjects. If I wanted to cry, I would cry at home." Between 1996 and 1998, some of the darkest days of apartheid repression were re-lived in a kind of public theatre at a series of hearings that Tutu held around the country. South Africans gathered around their tv sets and radios each Sunday night to hear weekly summaries of the testimonies. Many learnt for the first time about the brutality of their rigid, right-wing former government, through the words of torture victims or family members of missing activists. It was "a space within which victims could share the story of their trauma with the nation", Tutu would later write in the commission's seven-volume report. Unlike the Nuremburg trials, he and his 14 fellow commissioners gathered "not to judge the morality of people's actions, but to act as an incubation chamber for national healing, reconciliation and forgiveness". Perpetrators of horrific violence, often foot soldiers of the repressive regime, could come before the commission and receive amnesty for the actions they carried out. It was a tough pill for many observers and victims to swallow, but only if one thought of justice "as retributive and punitive in nature", wrote Tutu. "There is another kind of justice -- a restorative justice which is concerned not so much with punishment as with correcting imbalances, restoring broken relationships -- with healing, harmony and reconciliation." Amnesty was meant to be earned at a cost -- Tutu insisted that reconciliation and forgiveness could only come from full disclosure. "However painful the experience, the wounds of the past must not be allowed to fester," he said. "They must be opened. They must be cleansed. And balm must be poured on them so they can heal." And so husbands and fathers sat before the commission and detailed their worst crimes, often breaking families and friendships as secrets and divided loyalties spilt into the open. "People said amnesty was cheap," former commissioner and human right lawyer, Dumisa Ntsebeza, a long-time friend of Tutu's, told AFP in 2015. "Cheap how? Simply because people don't go to jail? "In fact, amnesty was a kind of justice even weightier than what we would have got through the criminal justice system. "In an amnesty application, you would say yourself what you did, in detail. It came out of your mouth, with your own lawyer sitting next to you. It's a sentence for life. You can't wash that off." But Tutu's vision of a South Africa scrubbed clean through truth fell short. After the 976 pages of the report were published in 1998, the government led by the liberation giants of the African National Congress failed to act on many of the TRC's key recommendations. None of the perpetrators of human rights violations who had been denied amnesty for failing to fully disclose their actions -- or failing to prove they were politically motivated -- were ever prosecuted. Nor were any of the generals and commanders who avoided the hearings altogether held accountable. And the government also did not implement the recommended one-off wealth tax to bridge the gap in a deeply unequal South Africa. No one was more vocal in their criticisms than Tutu himself. "How we deal with the truth after its telling defines the success of the process," he wrote 20 years after South Africans of all races took part in the country's first democratic elections in 1994. "And this is where we have fallen tragically short. "By choosing not to follow through on the commission's recommendations, government not only compromised the commission's contribution to the process, but the very process itself." South Africa was a sick patient, he wrote, and in the middle of the healing process, the government had chosen to withhold further treatment. "Our soul remains profoundly troubled," he concluded. At Tutu's death, the TRC is perhaps more celebrated abroad than in South Africa, which still battles with a huge wealth gap between races, limited integration between blacks and whites, and endemic violence. "It is unfulfilled," Ntsebeza said of Tutu's vision for the TRC. "We emphasised the reconciliation between perpetrators and victims -- the blood and guts. We never got to deal with the reconciliation between the haves and have-not, between the rich and poor.""The situation would have been far different to what it is now if a significant number of our recommendations had been implemented. "But I would ask the question, can we imagine a South Africa without it?" BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th December, 2021) The Dominican Republic has confirmed its first case of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, the country's Ministry of Public Health says. "This is an imported case (transmission outside the Dominican territory), from South Africa, (the person) presented mild symptoms, received outpatient medical assistance, and progressed satisfactorily," the ministry said in a Saturday update. The ministry added that it has been informed by Chilean health authorities that a traveler who had arrived in Chile from the Dominican Republic tested positive for Omicron. Several suspected Omicron cases are under investigation by the Dominican health authorities. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th December, 2021) The antenna assembly of the James Webb Space Telescope has been successfully tested as it continues its journey to its final observing spot, located one million miles away from Earth, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) informs. "Shortly after 10 am EST (15:00 GMT) on Dec. 26, the Webb team began the process of releasing the gimbaled antenna assembly, or GAA, which includes Webb's high-data-rate dish antenna. This antenna will be used to send at least 28.6 Gbytes of science data down from the observatory, twice a day. The team has now released and tested the motion of the antenna assembly," NASA said on Sunday. The telescope's temperature sensors have also been tested, NASA said. Earlier, Webb successfully completed a mid-course correction burn and NASA explained that the telescope will orbit the Sun in line with Earth so its sunshield can protect Webb from light and heat. An Ariane 5 rocket with the James Webb telescope took off on Saturday from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The largest and most powerful space telescope ever launched, Webb will replace the famous Hubble telescope. It will take Webb about one month to reach its final destination: the second Lagrange point (L2), and it is expected to start taking images of the universe in about six months. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th December, 2021) New tougher measures to curb the coronavirus pandemic came into effect in Belgium on Sunday amid fears of the rapid spread of the Omicron strain. Belgian authorities decided that there would be no relaxations to current restrictions, such as the mask mandate and working from home. Cinemas, theaters and concert halls will be closed, while sport events will have to take place without audience. Most Christmas markets will have to close early. The new restrictions were announced by the country's government on December 22, after a meeting of a special committee. With 76% of the country's population being fully vaccinated and the number of new cases declining, the authorities have still been anxious about the Omicron strain. (@FahadShabbir) Tens of thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied Saturday two months after a military coup, demanding that soldiers "go back to the barracks" and calling for a transition to civilian rule Khartoum, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Dec, 2021 ) :Tens of thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied Saturday two months after a military coup, demanding that soldiers "go back to the barracks" and calling for a transition to civilian rule. Waving flags, beating drums, dancing and chanting, crowds marched on the streets of Khartoum despite severed communications and a heavy presence of security forces who later fired tear gas to disperse them. An AFP journalist saw injured people being evacuated by demonstrators. The Doctors' Committee, part of the pro-democracy movement, reported that security forces fired tear gas into hospitals, attacking doctors as well as the wounded. Officers had earlier barricaded bridges connecting the capital to suburbs, cut phone lines and restricted internet access ahead of the planned protests. At least 48 people have died in crackdowns during weeks of demonstrations, according to the Doctors' Committee, and Khartoum's state governor has warned that security forces "will deal with those who break the law and create chaos". Demonstrators converged on the presidential palace in Khartoum, the headquarters of the military government in control since General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power on October 25. Burhan held civilian leader Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok effectively under house arrest for weeks. After international pressure including a cut-off of vital aid, Burhan reinstated him on November 21 under a deal promising elections for July 2023. The move alienated many of Hamdok's pro-democracy supporters, who dismissed it as providing a cloak of legitimacy for Burhan's coup. "What happened on October 25 was a coup... and we will not stop demonstrating until we have a civilian government," a masked woman protester near the presidential palace told AFP on Saturday. Othman Mustafa, a 31-year-old male demonstrator, said: "We don't just want the military out, we want to choose our own Sudan that looks like us, that responds to our demands and gives everyone equal rights". As well as rallies in Khartoum and its suburbs, protesters also marched on the streets of Wad Madani, a city around 150 kilometres (more than 90 miles) to the south, witnesses said. Others reported demonstrations at Atbara in the north and Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast. - Internet cut at dawn - Security forces with cranes used shipping containers to block the bridges across the Nile River connecting Khartoum to the sister cities of Omdurman and North Khartoum, and web monitoring group NetBlocks reported mobile internet services cut at sunrise on Saturday. Activists reported the arrest of several colleagues from Friday night onwards, and Volker Perthes, the United Nations special envoy to Sudan, urged the authorities to "protect" the protests, not prevent them. "Freedom of expression is a human right," Perthes said on Saturday, adding that it includes "full access" to the internet. "No one should be arrested for his or her intention to protest peacefully," he said. The Doctors' Committee called on the world "to monitor what happens in Sudan on the issue of the revolutionary movement for freedom and democracy". Khartoum's governor warned that "approaching or attacking buildings of strategic sovereignty is punishable by law". At rallies on December 19 crowds began a "sit-in" protest outside the presidential palace. It recalled the action which ultimately led to the ouster of veteran strongman Omar al-Bashir three years earlier after mass demonstrations. - Rape used as 'weapon' - But this time, within hours, security forces dispersed the thousands of protesters with truncheons and tear gas. Activists have condemned sexual attacks during the December 19 protests, in which the UN said at least 13 women and girls were raped. Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, has a long history of military coups, enjoying only rare interludes of democratic rule since independence in 1956. More than 14 million people, roughly a third of Sudan's population, will need humanitarian aid next year -- the highest level for a decade, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Activists say more demonstrations are planned for December 30. Save the Children said two of its Myanmar staff were "missing" after the charred remains of more than 30 people were found in burnt-out vehicles in the east of the country on Saturday Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Dec, 2021 ) :Save the Children said two of its Myanmar staff were "missing" after the charred remains of more than 30 people were found in burnt-out vehicles in the east of the country on Saturday. "We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out," in a Friday attack in eastern Kayah state that a monitoring group blamed on the military, the charity said in a statement. Roger Boddaert Special to the Village News Early in my childhood, my parents would take summer outings to explore the many parks and natural wonders within California. On one of those exploring excursions, we traveled to the northern section of California to camp among the giant redwood trees. At that camping experience, I first saw the giant and majestic sequoia sempervirens or California Coastal Redwood trees. That awe-inspiring happening was to plot the forming and governing of my future journey within the world's plant kingdom. Imagine standing in a grove of giant trees and looking upward to the sky above, over 300 feet from the forest floor, and feeling the incredible spirit of those redwood trees as a young lad. The coastal redwoods grow today along the northern Pacific coast of California and are survivors of the forests that existed some 140 million years ago. The iconic redwood forest is about a 500 mile stretch along the Northern California coastal belt. They are rarely found far from the sea and enjoy the moist temperate rains and coastal fog that shroud these trees throughout the year. The tallest of those trees grows in the flood plains of the creeks and rivers that are subject to periodic colossal flooding. The fog plays a significant role as it hovers over these tall giants and supplies summer moisture that condenses on the uppermost branches. This water source is valuable, so the tree does not have to transport water up to its top from the ground below. Within the tops of the redwoods is a unique ecosystem of living organisms all to themselves, like ferns, salal, frogs, birds, invertebrates, mushrooms and many species of mosses and fungi living in harmony. Both in circumference and volume, the most massive trees on earth are the sequoiadendron giganteum trees. These are often called the Big Tree or Sierra redwoods of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. The General Sherman redwood is located in the high Sierra Mountain range. A few years ago, I attended a holiday wreath-laying ceremony at that iconic tree with some friends; we had to trek through the snow to pay homage to this giant tree. The firefighters of last summer heroically wrapped aluminum foil around the base of General Sherman, and it was saved from the surrounding fires, thank goodness. Our beloved redwoods are now experiencing significant climate changes, with less rainfall and dried under canopy vegetation on the forest floor, fueling fires with more frequent lighting strikes throughout the dry seasons of the year. These giants have played a significant role in fighting climate change as a carbon sink, and I pay sincere gratitude that they have helped protect our delicate planet now changing in many directions. The redwood trees have very thick spongy bark ranging up to 12 inches and range in color from reddish-brown to grey, making them reasonably resistant to fires and insect invasions. But when trees of any type go through a drought cycle, their immune and defensive systems start to break down and are vulnerable to outside invasive circumstances, just like you and me. I have often said trees are like people, with no two exactly alike. Last summer's fires in Northern California have scoured these stands of trees, and it is estimated that over 10 to 15,000 redwood trees have been lost this year alone. Some new trees will sprout from the tree's base, but we will have to wait and see and let nature respond in her way. When trees are lost in these specialized forests, the hillsides become denuded, erosion can wash away the precious topsoil, organic matter, and the eroding silt can build up in rivers, changing the water quality for flora and fauna in that region and drinking water as well. Earth's forests contain thousands of species of trees, each of which is distinguished by its seeds, leaves and growth. Regardless of species, all trees have the same general structure and requirements for survival. They all utilize water, soil, air and light to manufacture food and to grow and produce seeds for the next generation in their species. These giant root systems only grow to about five to eight feet in depth but extend as much as 300 feet wide from the original tree trunk, collecting water and nutrients to sustain life. The seed cones of these mighty giants are only the size of a dime but produce trees about one-third the size of the Empire State Building, which is a towering 1,454 ft in height from the floor of the Manhattan cityscape. The fibrous root network has miles of mycorrhizae mycelium fungi to interconnect from tree to tree. This communication system transports various information amongst all living trees and is a wealth of valuable data as the trees co-exist in forests and woodland settings. The timber industry started in 1800 in California to cut and harvest these giants for the demanding lumber needs of the gold rush. But today, only 3% of redwoods remain under local, state, and national protection through parks, preserves, and private holdings. Wilderness needs the protection of all types, for we have lost so many species of flora and fauna globally, and the future of our planet lies within all of our hands. The ecological clock is ticking, and it is now or never for all of us to do our part in not only caring for our earthly mother but stepping up to the plate, for we all hold part of that commitment. There are so many ways that you can pitch in with time, energy, or monies to plan, protect, and plant again and again, as the simple act of planting trees globally aids in the cooling of our planet. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the next best time is today. You can contact Roger Boddaert at 760-728-4297. Authorities in eastern Congo announced an evening curfew and new security checkpoints Sunday, fearing more violence after a suicide bomber killed five people in the first attack of its kind in the region. Beni Mayor Narcisse Muteba, a police colonel, warned hotels, churches and bars in the town of Beni that they needed to add security guards with metal detectors because "terrorists" could strike again. "We are asking people to be vigilant and to avoid public places during this festive period," Muteba told The Associated Press on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Constant Ndima, the military governor of North Kivu province, said there will be a 7 p.m. curfew, as well as more road checkpoints. Officials initially said the death toll was six plus the suicide bomber, but they revised that figure a day later to five victims. Thirteen others remained hospitalized after the blast at the entrance to the Inbox restaurant on Christmas Day. Saturday's bloodshed dramatically deepened fears that Islamic extremism has taken hold in Beni. The town already has suffered years of attacks by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, who trace their origins to neighboring Uganda. Officials have blamed the latest attack on those rebels, whose exact links to international extremist groups have been murky. The Islamic State's Central Africa Province has claimed responsibility for attacks blamed on ADF, but it is unknown what role exactly the larger group may have played in organizing and financing the attacks. There have been worrying signs that religious extremism was escalating around Beni: Two local imams were killed earlier this year within weeks of each other, one of whom had spoken out against the ADF. Then in June, the Islamic State group's Central Africa Province claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber who blew himself up near a bar in Beni without harming others. Another explosion that same day at a Catholic church wounded two people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, in which authorities say the bomber ultimately was stopped from entering the crowded restaurant. After the blast near the entrance, blood stained the pavement and mangled chairs lay strewn near the entrance. Rachel Magali, who had been at the restaurant with her sister-in-law and several others, described hearing a loud noise and then people starting to cry. "We rushed to the exit where I saw people lying down," she told the AP. "There were green plastic chairs scattered everywhere and I also saw heads and arms no longer attached. It was really horrible." South Africas Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has died at the age of 90. The Nobel peace laureate was known worldwide for anti-apartheid activism and as a champion of human rights. His death was announced Sunday by South African President President Cyril Ramaphosa. "The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nations farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa, he said. Tutu was far more than a spiritual leader. He spent his life advocating for civil rights and speaking out against injustice, corruption and oppression. Thabo Makgoba is the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town. He wanted every human being on Earth to experience the freedom, the peace, and the joy that all of us could enjoy if we truly respected one another. And because he worshiped to God, he feared no one.He named wrong wherever he saw it and by whoever it was committed, Makgoba said. Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his activism against South Africas racist apartheid regime. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Tutu housed him on his first night of freedom. The archbishop then presented Mandela to the public as the countrys first Black president in 1994. Tutu was at the helm in the countrys healing process after apartheid, chairing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where many horrific accounts of injustice were heard. Despite the hardships he confronted, Tutu is remembered for his peaceful activism and ability to forgive. Parliamentarian Patricia De Lille spoke to reporters about her memories of the Arch, as he was known. Humor and a great sense of timing were amongst the Archs greatest assets. He had an extraordinary ability to defuse tension, contain anger, and remind people of their human essence. He used humor to convey important messages. And had that particular, that we all know, contagious love, she said. Tributes to Tutu have been pouring in. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden said they were heartbroken to learn of Tutus passing. His courage and moral clarity helped inspire our commitment to change American policy toward the repressive Apartheid regime in South Africa, the Bidens said in a statement. "Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere, said former U.S. President Barack Obama. I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humor, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Archbishop Tutu was a towering global figure for peace and an inspiration to generations across the world. During the darkest days of apartheid, he was a shining beacon for social justice, freedom and non-violent resistance." Tibets exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Archbishop Desmond Tutu was entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good. He was a true humanitarian and a committed advocate of human rights. The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Tutus contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies. He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd. After his retirement at the age of 79, Tutu continued speaking out on ethical and moral issues from xenophobia to LGBTQ+ rights to climate change. President Ramaphosa has called him a patriot without equal and a man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility. Details of his funeral have not yet been announced. Tutu is survived by his wife, children, siblings and their families. Some information in this report came from AP and Reuters. 1931 - Oct. 7 - Desmond Mpilo Tutu is born in Klerksdorp, near Johannesburg. 1947 Contracts tuberculosis, as he recuperates, he is visited by Trevor Huddleston, a British Anglican pastor working in South Africa. 1955 Marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane and begins teaching at a secondary school in Johannesburg. 1961 - Is ordained as a minister in the Anglican church, after quitting teaching in disgust at South Africa's apartheid government's inferior education for Blacks. 1962 Studies theology at King's College London. 1966 Returns to South Africa to teach at a seminary in the Eastern Cape. 1975 Becomes the Anglican Church's first Black dean of Johannesburg. 1976 - Serves as Bishop of Lesotho and voices criticism of apartheid in South Africa. 1978 - Becomes general-secretary of the South African Council of Churches and achieves global prominence as a leading opponent of apartheid, supports economic sanctions to achieve majority rule in South Africa. 1984 - Wins Nobel Peace Prize - "There is no peace in southern Africa. There is no peace because there is no justice. There can be no real peace and security until there be first justice enjoyed by all the inhabitants of that beautiful land," Tutu says in his acceptance speech. 1985 Becomes the first Black bishop of Johannesburg. 1986 - Is ordained the first Black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. 1989 - Leads anti-apartheid march of 30,000 people through Cape Town. 1990 - Hosts Nelson Mandela for his first night of freedom after Mandela is released from prison after being held for 27 years for his opposition to apartheid. Mandela calls Tutu "the people's archbishop." 1994 - Votes in South Africa's first democratic election in which all races can cast ballots. 1995 - President Nelson Mandela appoints Tutu to be chairman of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 1996 - Tutu retires as prelate, the Anglican Church gives him the title of Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town. 1997 - Is diagnosed with prostate cancer and announces it to help with public awareness of the disease. 1998 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission publishes its report, putting most of the blame for abuses on the forces of apartheid, but also finds the African National Congress guilty of human rights violations. The ANC sues to block the document's release, earning a rebuke from Tutu. 2009 - Aug. 12 - Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama. 2010 - July 22 - Retires from public life, tells press: "Don't call me, I'll call you." 2013 - Launches international campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town. "I would not worship a God who is homophobic." 2014 - July 12 - Urges the British parliament to allow assisted dying, saying, "The manner of Nelson Mandela's prolonged death was an affront." 2021 - Oct. 7 - Frail, in a wheelchair, Tutu attends his 90th birthday celebration at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. 2021 - Dec. 26 - Tutu dies in Cape Town. 2021 was a year of dramatic changes for Hong Kongs media scene, as the city adjusted to life under Beijings national security law. Journalists have been detained, the pro-democracy news outlet Apple Daily was forced to close, and visas for foreign correspondents were delayed or, in one case, denied. Its a stark change for a city that was once a model for press freedom and where anti-government protests were covered freely by local and international reporters. Those same protests led to Beijing's pushing through the law, which bans secession and collusion with foreign forces. Journalists associations, including the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) in Hong Kong, are concerned about its impact. The FCC annual survey of members found that 84% believe conditions have changed for the worse since the law came into effect. About 34% said they were thinking of leaving Hong Kong because of the decline of press freedom. 'We can never get back' Ronson Chan, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association and a senior editor at news website Stand News, told VOA in late December that 2021 has been the saddest year for Hong Kongs media and that next year will not be easy. We never can get back. Hong Kong has changed, Chan said. Freedom of press has many red lines. Maintaining a free press in Hong Kong was the best way to differentiate between the city and China, Chan said, adding that it is important for the Hong Kong people to still have a good media. But the veteran journalist said, We still have a very critical situation. He cited proposals for a law banning false news for next year, billed by authorities as part of a drive against the dissemination of misinformation. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has repeatedly said that press freedom is guaranteed under Hong Kongs Basic Law and has denied that the arrests and the closure of Apple Daily were an attack on the media. She said journalists have a responsibility to not break the new law. Changing environment Even before the National Security Law came into effect, Jimmy Lai, the billionaire founder of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was having doubts that his outlet would survive. In 2021, those concerns were realized. In June, Apple Daily was forced to shut its doors after more than 25 years, when several executives were charged under the security law and the outlets financial assets were frozen, leaving the company unable to pay its vendors and staff. Lai has spent over a year in prison, convicted for his role in anti-government protests. This month, he was sentenced in a separate case to 13 months in prison for taking part in a banned Tiananmen Square vigil, and he is awaiting trial in a third case, for charges under the national security law that could result in a life sentence. As Apple Daily closed, political analyst Joseph Cheng told VOA it was a sad day for Hong Kong and added there is not much freedom of the media in the territory. The citys public broadcaster, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), also underwent changes that led critics to question its editorial independence. Under the newly appointed director, Patrick Li, the broadcaster removed some shows, saying they had exhibited bias; removed part of the stations online archive; and gave Lam a regular show to discuss Beijings electoral reforms for the city. RTHK employees, who spoke with VOA earlier this year on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said they believed executives were trying to erase Hong Kongs history. And critics condemned the decision to provide Lam a show, suggesting that RTHK was empowering propaganda. RTHKs communications team has pushed back against the criticism, telling VOA earlier that the broadcaster is editorially independent as stipulated in the charter. Contracts for at least two of the broadcasters journalists were not renewed, including Nabela Qoser and former RTHK producer Bao Choy. Questioning of Lam The broadcaster had received complaints from pro-government figures about Qosers confrontational questioning of Lam at the height of the anti-government protests. In Choys case, a court this year found the producer guilty on two counts of obtaining public data illegally. Choy had used vehicle registration data for an award-winning RTHK documentary that investigated the response from Hong Kong police to attacks against pro-democracy protesters in 2019. Choy criticized the current environment, telling VOA the authorities are "using the law to suppress press freedom. Journalists wanting to access public databases similar to the ones Choy used will face more obstacles after Hong Kongs Land Registry and Companies Registry updated their terms. Users must now supply details such as their Hong Kong identity number and the reason for the search when conducting public information searches. Several journalists have said they fear that authorities may use the data against them. The Hong Kong Journalists Association has warned that such policies risk damaging press freedom. But in recent months it has come under pressure. Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang and Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee both remarked that the association makes it easy for applicants to obtain media status, and that it has biased views and favors pro-democracy news organizations. The changes in Hong Kong reflect a wider crackdown by China on the press, according to a December report by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). China is the worlds biggest captor of journalists with 127 currently detained. RSF also identified 10 key factors in media suppression, including censorship and propaganda pressure, and increased difficulty for foreign press in securing visas. This trend appears to be filtering into Hong Kong. Last month, Sue-Lin Wong, China correspondent for The Economist, was denied a work visa renewal in Hong Kong, without a reason. No exceptions seen I think whatever the reason, kicking out an Economist correspondent means they would expel anyone from any organization, one international journalist based in Hong Kong told VOA, requesting anonymity. Eric Wishart, a veteran journalist and co-convener of the press freedom committee at the Foreign Correspondents Club, told VOA earlier this year that journalists are left uncertain about what will get them in trouble with the authorities. We talk about the red lines in Hong Kong, but the paint is still fresh, Wishart said. It is a changing landscape, and that is a big, big challenge for everybody. Iran, the United States and Gulf Arab states are increasingly engaged in a struggle over the future of Iraq, analysts say. The question that looms over 2022, they believe, is whether the emerging Iraqi political makeup following Octobers parliamentary elections will be able to advance Iraqi sovereignty in the context of this geopolitical tug of war. Marking Iraqs centenary celebration on December 11, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi urged all Iraqis to recognize what unites, rather than what divides, them for the sake of Iraqs common good. The countrys federal court is expected to uphold the October parliamentary election results, praised by Iraqi and international observers, despite repeated efforts by defeated pro-Iranian Shiite parties who want them annulled. Their representation has dropped significantly to some 17 seats compared with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadrs party with 74. Writing in the Al-Monitor website, Iraqi observer Omar Sattar said Sadr wants to form a majority government opposing all foreign interference and to disarm militias. The pro-Iran forces are countering Sadrs aspirations by taking to the street, threatening civil peace, and working to annul the election results. Reaching a middle ground could take a long time. Elections were held early in response to mass protests against the government in 2019, but there are concerns about powerful armed groups, many linked to Iran, that still hold sway. There have been no arrests or charges following a failed assassination attempt on Al-Kadhimi in November. Senior analyst Nicholas Heras with the Newlines Institute in Washington tells VOA that Iraq is at a crossroads and its sovereignty is at stake. "Fundamentally it will require Iraqi leaders working across Iraqi society to try to build bridges among communities in Iraq that have very difficult experience of living together, both under Saddam Hussein and in the wake of his regime," said Heras. "That is going to be a challenge and that is the great existential question for Iraq as Iraq is in process of becoming a failed state divided along its various regions, dominated by various different identity communities. Observers say that Al-Kadhimi has been a moderating force for Iraq and has tried to draw Iraq back into the Arab fold through economic deals with Jordan and Egypt while mediating between regional rivals, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Osama Al Sharif, a Middle East political commentator in Amman, called these moves anathema to the pro-Iran proxies. Meanwhile, as 2021 drew to a close, U.S.-led coalition forces ended their combat mission in Iraq this month, transferring some 2,500 troops combatting Islamic State into a training and advising role. But observers say Iran wants the U.S. out of Iraq. Nicholas Heras. "Al Kadhimi is viewed as a symbol of U.S. support in Iraq. And so, what we are seeing now is this end zone conflict that is emerging in Iraq whereby Iran is trying to keep activities that its proxies use under a threshold of escalation that would prevent a strong U.S. or for that matter Al-Kadhimi-backed response," said Heras. Osama Al Sharif, writing in the Saudi Arab News daily, said election winner Muqtada Al-Sadr has praised Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimis efforts to keep Iraq neutral in the U.S.-Iran showdown. He said Al-Sadr may even keep Al-Kadhimi on as prime minister, even if this is anathema to his Shiite rivals. This would be a major step forward for Iraq, which is trying to revive its national identity and rejoin the Arab fold. If Al-Sadr succeeds in toppling the ethno-sectarian system, he says, it will be a historic milestone in the countrys recovery, but his failure could be disastrous on all fronts. The bodies of 28 migrants have washed up on Libya's western coast after their boat sunk, a security official said Sunday, the latest tragedy on the world's deadliest migration route. "Libyan Red Crescent teams recovered 28 bodies of dead migrants and found three survivors at two different sites on the beaches of Al-Alous," some 90 kilometers (55 miles) from Tripoli, the source said. "The bodies' advanced state of decomposition indicates that the shipwreck happened several days ago," he said, adding the toll could rise in the coming hours. Images published by Libyan media outlets showed corpses lined up along the shore then placed in body bags. Libya, wracked by a decade of conflict and lawlessness, has become a key departure point for African and Asian migrants making desperate attempts to reach Europe. Migrants often endure horrific conditions in Libya before embarking northwards on overcrowded, often unseaworthy vessels that frequently sink or get into trouble. The latest tragedy comes just days after 160 migrants died within a week in similar incidents, bringing the total number of lives lost this year to 1,500, according to the International Organization for Migration. The IOM says more than 30,000 migrants have been intercepted in the same period and returned to Libya. The European Union has cooperated closely with the Libyan Coast Guard to cut numbers of migrants arriving on European shores. On their return, many face further horrific abuses in detention centers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would ponder various options if the West fails to meet Moscows demands for security guarantees, amid heightened tensions involving a massive deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine. Moscow earlier this month submitted draft security documents demanding an end to NATOs eastward expansion and military cooperation with countries such as Ukraine and Georgia, among other things. Speaking at his annual news conference last week, Putin urged the West to meet the demands immediately, listing off a litany of grievances about Ukraine and NATO. He warned that Moscow would have to take adequate measures if the West continues its aggressive course on the threshold of our home. Asked to specify what Moscow's response could be, he said in comments aired by Russian state TV on December 26 that it could be diverse, adding: It will depend on what proposals our military experts submit to me. He did not elaborate. U.S. officials have said publicly that they were willing to hold talks on the Russian demands. Privately, however, officials in Washington and elsewhere have said some of the demands are either unworkable, impossible, or fundamentally contrary to Western values. The United States and its allies have agreed, however, to launch security talks with Moscow next month to discuss its concerns. On December 25, a NATO official was quoted as saying Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had decided to convene a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on January 12 and that the alliance was in contact with Russia on the matter. Russias Foreign Ministry said the proposal was still under consideration, with the format and timing needing clarification. It would be the first meeting of the council in 2 1/2 years. Kyiv and its Western backers accuse Russia of having massed around 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in a possible prelude to an invasion. The United States and the European Union have threatened Moscow with harsh consequences in the event of a military escalation. Russia has denied intending to launch an invasion. Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and shortly after threw its support behind separatists battling Ukrainian government forces in the countrys east in a conflict that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since April 2014. Russias Defense Ministry announced on December 25 that more than 10,000 troops had finished monthlong drills near Ukraine, and that the soldiers involved were returning to their permanent bases. The ministry said in a statement that the exercises for Southern Military District forces had taken place in a host of southern Russian regions such as Rostov and Krasnodar, and further afield, including in Stavropol, Astrakhan, and the North Caucasus. Combat training sessions were also held in Russias ally Armenia, occupied Crimea, and the Georgias breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it said. Information from AP, AFP and Current Time were used in this report. HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) Outside a foreign currency exchange in Zimbabwes capital, hordes of people desperate for U.S. dollars are pushed up against each other. Thats it, keep it tight, some shout, trying to prevent others from jumping the line to buy the money that could get them a discount on goods pegged to a quickly devaluing local currency. Nearly two years into a global pandemic, a new spike in coronavirus cases driven by the omicron variant is once again shuttering businesses, halting travel, reviving fears of overwhelmed hospitals and upending travel and holiday plans in countries around the world. But in Zimbabwe and other African nations, the virus's resurgence is threatening the very survival of millions of people who have already been driven to the edge by a pandemic that has devastated their economies. When putting food on the table is not a given, worries about whether to gather with family members for the holiday or heed public announcements urging COVID-19 precautions take a back seat. Yes, I have heard of the new variant, but it can never be worse than having nothing to eat at home right now, says furniture store clerk Joshua Nyoni, one of the dozens waiting outside the exchange. Like many others in the chaotic crowd, Nyoni alternately wears his face mask below his chin or puts it in his pocket. The United Nations Economic Commission on Africa, or ECA, noted in March that about 9 in 10 of the worlds extremely poor people live in Africa. The ECA now warns that the economic effects already felt since the pandemic began in 2020 will push an additional 5 to 29 million below the extreme poverty line. If the impact of the pandemic is not limited by 2021, an additional 59 million people could suffer the same fate, which would bring the total number of extremely poor Africans to 514 million people, the agency says. The World Bank estimates the economy went from 2.4% growth in 2019 to a 3.3% contraction in 2020, plunging Africa into its first recession in 25 years. "The economic disruption wrought by COVID-19 has pushed hunger crises off a cliff, Sean Granville-Ross, Africa regional director for the nonprofit charitable organization Mercy Corps, told The Associated Press. Granville-Ross says his organization in 2021 saw an alarming spike in need in regions such as the Sahel, West Africa, East Africa and southern Africa where some countries were already experiencing humanitarian crises and conflict before COVID-19. Worry is now intensifying amid a spike in COVID infections in Africa, which currently accounts for about 9 million of the worlds roughly 275 million cases. The World Health Organization has for months described Africa as one of the least affected regions in the world in its weekly pandemic reports. But in mid-December it said the number of new cases was "currently doubling every five days, the fastest rate this year as the delta and omicron variants push up infections. Both South Africa and Zimbabwe have been reporting reduced numbers over the past week, but authorities remain cautious. Renewed travel restrictions and possible lockdowns will only push millions more people to poverty and undermine the slight economic recovery we have started to see, Granville-Ross says. Compared to the continent as a whole, where just over 7% of the population has received two shots of the coronavirus vaccine, Zimbabwe is regarded as a success story even though only about 20% of its 15 million people have been fully vaccinated. Amid lingering hesitancy, the government has threatened to widen vaccine mandates. But for many people, virus infection fears have taken a back seat to the more urgent task of finding enough money to feed their families. Dozens of residents desperate for access to money in an economy where cash, especially the U.S. dollar, is king, sleep outside both foreign currency exchanges and banks, huddled closely together for days. Elderly people, many without face masks or not properly wearing them, stand in tightly packed lines that snake for kilometers, waiting to withdraw their pensions. I would rather spend my time here than queue for the vaccine, says Nyoni, outside the crowded foreign currency exchange. If I catch the virus, they may quarantine me, treat me or even feed me if I am hospitalized," he says. "But hunger is different: You cant be put in quarantine because the family has nothing to eat. People just watch you die. Japan's Fukuoka prefecture has confirmed its first infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, its governor Seitaro Hattori said Saturday. The case was a result of possible community transmission as the infection route was unclear, Hattori told a news conference. France recorded a record high of 104,611 COVID-19 infections Saturday, breaking the 100,000 threshold for the first time since the pandemic began as the omicron variant continued its rapid spread. Health authorities said the number of COVID patients in intensive care went up by 28 to 3,282. In the meantime, Israel has ordered 100,000 units of Pfizer Inc's anti-viral COVID 19 pill Paxlovid for people aged 12 and older at risk of severe illness, an Israeli official said on Saturday, confirming a television report. Channel 12 TV said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett agreed the deal in a phone conversation with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. There was no immediate confirmation from the company. The first oral and at home treatment for COVID-19, Paxlovid was nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to data from Pfizer's clinical trial. Recent lab data suggests the drug retains effectiveness against the Omicron variant, it said. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. On 14 December 2021, the Belarusian Parliament approved a bill recognizing the genocide of Belarusian people by the Nazis. During World War II, the Nazis carried out 140 punitive operations throughout Belarus, razing over 200 towns and 9,000 villages. They set up 250 concentration camps for captured Soviet soldiers and 350 for civilians. 206,500 people perished in the largest of these camps alone. Overall, a third of the population at the time was killed by the Nazis (2.5 to 3 million people). The victims comprised Belorusians as well as Jews, Russians, Tatars and Ukrainians. The Nazi plan was to Germanize this Lebensraum, or living space, by introducing Aryans and regarding the local populations as wild Indians. Several Israeli figures immediately objected to the recognition, considering that the Belarusians were killed for belonging to the resistance and that only the Jews were victims of a planned extermination. They are unfamiliar with the history of the Second World War in Eastern Europe and confound it with the Western European experience. In Belarus, unlike Western Europe, the objective was not to target the Jews as such and to spare the rest of the population, but to kill indiscriminately all those who got in the way of the plan. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler does not announce his intention to eliminate the Jews living in the West, but quite clearly to exterminate a large part of the East Slavic populations located in what he considers to be a "living space" for the Aryans. This law is the first response to European Parliament resolutions and to Baltic and Ukrainian laws mixing Nazi and Soviet crimes. A Christmas tale of solidarity and kindness among workers at a factory in Italy. An Italian factory worker suffering from a cognitive impairment that made his job increasingly difficult received an unexpected Christmas present thanks to the solidarity of his colleagues. Alfredo Lupi, a 64-year-old janitor at the Senna Inox factory near Lodi in northern Italy, had begun struggling with his daily tasks however he was still more than two years off retirement. Retiring early would mean losing his old-age pension for which he needed at least 20 years of contributions and to reach the age of 67, reports news agency ANSA. Alfredo Lupi with some of his colleagues. Photo La Repubblica. When his 50 co-workers became aware of his situation, they pitched in and donated their ferie, or holiday time, to help 'Alfredino' across the finish line. Some offered 15 days, some 20, and some 30: between them they pooled a total of 246 days. Based on his contract, the days donated were equivalent to 433 days, which corresponded to 20 months, surpassing the 20-year contribution limit. These 20 donated months will bring Alfredino up to 66 years, with the final missing year covered by the Senna family that owns the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This means that he will stay on the company books until he receives his old age pension at 67. One of his co-workers, identified as Piera, described Alfredino to La Repubblica newspaper as "definitely the mascot, the father, the grandfather, the brother, the uncle of us all." Employees at the factory recently gathered after work one evening to give the good news to a stunned Alfredino who retired - days before Christmas - thanks the kindness of his colleagues. When anti-apartheid activists began targeting for death purported government collaborators, Archbishop Tutu several times waded into angry mobs of demonstrators to rescue alleged informers. In the impoverished Black township of Duduza east of Johannesburg in July 1985, he and a fellow Anglican bishop, dressed in purple robes, pulled to safety a man alleged to be an undercover policeman at a funeral for four young men killed in political violence. The crowd had yanked the man from his car, set it on fire and sought to drag him on top of it to form a funeral pyre in vengeance for the four deaths. Among the bodies returned Sunday was that of 24-year-old Maryam Nouri, called Baran by her friends and family. She perished during the ill-fated, illicit voyage across the English Channel with hopes of reuniting with her fiance in Britain. The flimsy boat sank a few miles (kilometers) from the French coast. At least 27 migrants bound for Britain drowned. Frances interior minister called it the biggest migration tragedy involving the crossing to date. A villager who said he went to the scene told The Associated Press that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and Myanmars army near Koi Ngan village, which is just beside Mo So, on Friday. He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township. Case Study will fascinate anyone with an interest in the radical psychiatry that went hand in glove with 60s counterculture. Its a disorienting, darkly funny novel, constructing a tale about the labyrinth of identity within the game-like frame of metafiction. An author becomes obsessed with writing about an enfant terrible of psychiatry, one Collins Braithwaite, and stumbles across notebooks from a peculiar case. A young woman calling herself Rebecca presents for treatment as one of Braithwaites clients, but she is really gunning for the charismatic shrink himself. Rebecca is convinced her sister, Veronica, a former patient who committed suicide, was driven over the edge by him. Determined to bring him down, she initiates a game of cat-and-mouse between therapist and client one that hangs on the monkey bars of literary and psychiatric satire before falling onto sharper philosophical ground. After the success of Jane Harpers The Dry, Australian noir is having a moment in the sun, and Adrian Hylands outback mystery will appeal to fans of the genre. When Daisy Baker is found murdered near the Victorian country town of Canticle Creek, the police are quick to pin the crime on her boyfriend, Adam, found dead in his car trying to escape the crime scene. But Jesse Redpath, a Territorian cop who knew Adam from up north, remains unconvinced Adam was capable of murder and travels to the town to do some digging of her own. She encounters an eccentric cast of characters, uncovering ugly secrets and dark pasts as she edges closer to the explosive truth. Hyland has mastered the architecture of noir his sinister tale seethes with small-town atmosphere and satisfying twists, set against the dangers and harsh beauty of the Australian landscape. The One Impossible Labyrinth Matthew Reilly, Macmillan, $39.99 Matthew Reilly is one of the runaway success stories of Australian commercial fiction. With The One Impossible Labyrinth, his bestselling Jack West jnr series reaches a suitably spectacular finale. Spectacle is something Jack does well his globetrotting exploits combine the kinetic action of Lee Child with elaborate, Dan Brown-like conspiracy thriller elements and the final hurdle for the former SAS soldier in his quest to save the world (again!) proves to be the ultimate maze. Ill avoid even the hint of a spoiler and note merely that readers of the previous books will delight in the exuberance of this last volume, which somehow presses all the buttons that make the series appealing without being too busy. Reillys enthusiasm, dedication and skill have produced a remarkable suite of adventure novels part-Indiana Jones, part-Jack Reacher that thoroughly deserves its popular following. The Lowest Depths Ross Fitzgerald & Ian McFadyen, Hybrid, $24.99 Riffing off The Lower Depths the Maxim Gorky play about being down and out in Russia the latest Grafton Everest novel sees our mock-hero on assignment in Moscow. This time, Graftons breathless incompetence is required by the United Nations. His mission? To expose electoral fraud in Russia. He does have an ulterior motive hes found a decades-old letter from his mother to someone in the Soviet Union, suggesting that he may not be an only child after all. As usual, Grafton arses his way through international espionage and political skulduggery he is ill-equipped to handle, and the hunt for his mystery sibling leads him deep into the wilds of Siberia, where a link to the dark and tangled web of Russian history awaits. Ross Fitzgerald teams up with comic writer Ian McFadyen for a free-wheeling mix of academic satire and political lampoon. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For anyone with a passing interest in climate and environment politics and policy, there was simply no escaping the Conference of the Parties in Glasgow this year. By any analysis the commitments made by the 197 signatories to the Paris Agreement made in Glasgow in November constituted too little action to halt global warming, made way too late. But in the weeks since it ended, something like a consensus has emerged that its achievements were significant. The Glasgow summit attracted worldwide attention. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen, Bevan Shields, Getty Images, Firstly, it proved that the Paris Accord has held and can function. Secondly, it cemented the more ambitious target of holding warming to 1.5 degrees as the central focus of efforts rather than 2 degrees, which many nations had sought to entrench in Paris in 2015. For the first time, a UN document called specifically for coal to be phased down (rather than out, as an earlier draft had put it) and huge commitments were made by many nations to reduce logging and fossil fuel use. Whether that 1.5-degree target can be achieved is more than in doubt. An analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that if every commitment announced at the conference is kept and that is a huge if the world remains on track for 1.8 degrees of warming. Advertisement At the end of the conference, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the effort to reach 1.5 degrees was still alive, but on life support. It did not help that within days of the conference ending, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union all signalled they would not increase their targets before next years COP27 Climate Summit, as they had been called upon to do in the Glasgow Pact they had just signed. Australian politics reacts In the face of a public pressure campaign waged by some of Australias most powerful friends, including Britain and the United States, Prime Minister Scott Morrison eventually announced a net zero by 2050 target and agreed to attend the COP. There he confirmed that Australias 2030 target would remain 26 to 28 per cent, bolstered by a projection that the actual cut would end up being as high as 35 per cent. The support of Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was required to allow the government to agree to net zero emissions by 2050. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Both targets are well below what scientists say would be a fair contribution to the global effort to hold warming to 1.5 degrees later this century, and disappointed observers here and abroad. Advertisement After the conference, Labor announced its own policy which included a target of 43 per cent by 2030, also short of the action scientists believe is necessary. Indeed, only the Greens policy of reducing emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 is in line with the reductions the Climate Council has cited as necessary. Despite this, the Labor policy was generally well-received by climate observers. Loading Labors plan helps bridge the gap between the Morrison governments do-nothing approach and state government and business leaders who are forging ahead to create jobs and grow our nations prosperity by slashing emissions this decade, said the Climate Councils chief executive, Amanda McKenzie. Richie Merzian, director of energy and climate policy with The Australia Institute, said many in the field were simply exhausted by the climate wars that have cruelled climate policy for a generation in Australia, and willing to welcome any real movement by the major parties. With News Ltd newspapers supporting the governments net zero plan and the Business Council of Australia backing Labors targets, there was reason by years end to believe those wars may be ebbing. Advertisement The energy revolution Buoyed by the findings of a landmark 2020 report by the IEA that solar power had become the cheapest energy created in history, an international movement coalesced around the COP to make this the year that fossil fuels were finally knocked out of the economy or at least peaked. Sun Cable is the worlds largest solar farm, delivering power from the Australian outback to the Northern Territory and Singapore. Credit: This was not a fringe movement either. As COP host and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a cheerleader, and since the UK had managed to shrink its coal use from 25 per cent of the nations power to under 1.6 per cent, his was a credible voice. US climate envoy John Kerry threw his weight behind the effort too and enjoyed the backing of the EU. At the COP, a group of developed nations raised money to help South Africa shut down its dirty coal industry and in the weeks after, the Asian Development Bank laid out a plan to raise capital to buy out and shut down coal power stations in this region. But even as 40 nations signed a pledge to abandon coal at the COP, a grim set of unforeseen circumstances was causing coal and gas prices to surge to new record levels blackouts engulfing China and India. An oddly windless northern autumn had reduced the expected amount of wind power available in Europe just as a cold snap lifted heating demand. With the so-called pipeline of new fossil projects already constricted due to the lingering shock of the COVID-19 downturn and the flow of global capital away from new fossil fuel projects, supplies were failing to keep pace with a sharper-than-expected return in demand, causing a crippling shortage of fossil fuels that would have seemed unthinkable just a year earlier. Advertisement Few believe though that the surge in demand will be sustained. Indeed, the first energy shock of the green power era could even drive nations to accelerate their embrace of renewable and firming technologies to free themselves from capricious global energy markets. Business gets on board With the reshaping of global energy markets now looking more like a practical reality rather than an activist fantasy, the worlds major energy companies began to reconfigure themselves. Andrew Twiggy Forrests new green venture, Fortescue Future Industries, is taking a modern approach to workplace culture. Credit:FFI/Twitter Australia is home to some of the worlds biggest resources companies. And as the push to arrest climate change became markedly more urgent, investors continued retreating from companies in the business of drilling up planet-heating fossil fuels, pushing the cost of capital higher and triggering a wave of merger and acquisition activity. BHP, the nations largest mining company, has stepped up plans to better align its portfolio with the global decarbonisation mega-trend, striking a deal to sell its entire petroleum division to Perth-based Woodside and continuing its efforts to sell out of thermal coal. Two of Australias top oil and gas producers, Santos and Oil Search, agreed to a $21 billion merger in the hope of gaining greater capacity to self-fund their growth projects as financial challenges intensified. Advertisement Jason Falinski, the Liberal MP for Mackellar on Sydneys northern beaches, said border controls were politically very popular but had led to excruciating situations for individuals who were directly affected. While there was a good argument to say that Omicron was already here and therefore border restrictions served little useful purpose, he believed it was important not to rush. If we start saying to people, we just want to open the borders and we dont care and you dont bring people with you, then theres a backlash and the backlash is often worse than the problem youre trying to cure, Mr Falinski said. Dave Sharma, the Liberal MP for Wentworth in Sydneys east, who has previously argued for an easing of border rules, said it was sensible to be cautious at this stage. I dont want to introduce new border restrictions, I wouldnt be arguing that case right now, he said. But I dont think we should necessarily be moving to the next stage of relaxation until we know a bit more. Labors spokeswoman on immigration, Senator Kristina Keneally, said: Australian families and businesses cant plan for a better future because Mr Morrison still does not have a safe plan to reopen our borders two years after they were closed. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said Australias border measures are consistent with the latest public health advice, and will remain in place for as long as there is a sufficient public health justification. Mother separated from child Monika, who has no last name, is an international student who lives in Tarneit in Melbourne. She has been separated from her four-year-old son for two years, while he has been staying with her parents in India. Monika has been separated from her son for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Australias border closure. Credit:Scott McNaughton Monikas son was a dependent on her student visa. His grandparents took him to India for a family wedding in late 2019 and they were caught when the Australian border closed in March 2020. Meanwhile, Monikas student visa expired and due to what her lawyer believes was an error, her renewal was denied. Shes now on a Bridging Visa A, which doesnt allow people to leave Australia, until her case can be heard by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Monikas parents are now allowed to come to Australia because her brother is an Australian citizen and they have an exemption as his parents. However, Monikas son is not on her bridging visa because he was out of the country at the time and he remains barred from entry. My son is crying all the time and Im on medication because Im so anxious about him, she said. I cant go back to India without a qualification because my [estranged] husband will not support me and I have to look after my child and find some job in India. Monika cannot afford the time away from her studies to go to India, even if her visa status allowed it. She has applied numerous times for her son to be allowed to join her in Melbourne. Greens immigration spokesman Nick McKim has written to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke asking that people on bridging visas be allowed to leave Australia and come back again. While the government has dropped the requirement for holders of skilled work visas and student visas to gain an inbound travel exemption, this was not extended to holders of a Bridging Visa B. Senator McKim said holders of this visa have often lived in Australia for many years and have their homes, jobs and immediate family in Australia and were often waiting for permanent residency, a skilled visa or to transition from a student to a graduate visa. The fact they could not leave Australia to visit family overseas or have family visit them here was causing immeasurable pain, he said. Visa processing times have blown out because of the pandemic, so there are more people in this situation than usual. Department of Home Affairs figures show there are now 335,000 people who hold bridging visas (both A and B), compared with 192,000 in December 2019. Skilled migrants dying to see family Kim Gallagher, her husband Ryan Welley and their three-year-old son are citizens of the United States who came to Australia five years ago on skilled work visas. If the couple had simply renewed their skilled visas when they expired in September 2020, they would now be free to leave Australia and return again, and would be spending this Christmas in Colorado with family. If Kim Gallagher and Ryan Welley, and their son Cole, went to visit family in the US, they would need a travel exemption to return to Australia. Credit:James Brickwood Instead, the family who live near Manly have applied to become permanent residents and are now on a Bridging Visa B, which means if they left Australia they would be unable to return unless granted a rare inbound travel exemption. Ms Gallagher said they felt punished for having decided to make Australia their permanent home. The federal government will rush an extra 800,000 COVID-19 booster jabs to GPs and pharmacists in the first week of January, as medical practitioners say they are rapidly exhausting their vaccine supplies and struggling to keep up with sky-rocketing demand. Amid the surging number of Omicron cases, with more than 6000 reported in NSW on Christmas Day, pharmacists say they have been swapping doses between chemists after being swamped with people trying to book booster jabs. NSW recorded 6288 new COVID-19 cases on Christmas day. Large lines a formed at Bondis testing clinic. Credit:Rhett Wyman About 2.7 million people in NSW will become eligible for a third dose within days after the federal government slashes the booster interval to four months from early January. The additional 800,000 doses which a health department spokesman said came from existing stock on hand are in addition to current orders and the 1.7 million delivered last week. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is calling on people entering high-risk environments such as household visits to get rapid antigen tests instead of PCR tests to lessen the strain on the health system as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar. As Health Minister Brad Hazzard said everyone in NSW is probably going to get Omicron at some stage, Mr Perrottet warned of more sacrifices and inconveniences as the country grapples with the Omicron outbreak. He reiterated there was no need for people who were not unwell to get a PCR test, as NSW negotiates with other states to drop that interstate travel requirement, while thousands of people isolate and holidaymakers reconsider travel plans. It is actually less safe for there to be longer queues because the turnaround time is longer, and as a result, we will have more people in the community with COVID, Mr Perrottet said during a press conference on Sunday morning. TORONTO - Corporate commitments to become net-zero by 2050 became so trendy this year, Canadas big banks made them twice. Greenpeace activists stage a demonstration outside a bank in Toronto, as they protest major Canadian bank's investment in fossil fuels, on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO - Corporate commitments to become net-zero by 2050 became so trendy this year, Canadas big banks made them twice. First came a string of promises one by one, starting with TD Bank late in 2020 followed by the other banks throughout 2021. In November, they all recommitted to the goal as they joined former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carneys Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. But while the round numbers seem like a neat solution, the U.N. and others have emphasized that much of the heavy lifting on emission reductions needs to happen this decade, and only through details to be released in the next year or so will it start to become clear how quickly Canada's big banks are prepared to move. Pressure is certainly mounting as Canadians live through the very real effects of climate change, and activists increasingly focus their efforts on the financing behind fossil fuel production. Governments are also increasingly moving toward climate action, including the huge shift in direction brought by U.S. President Joe Biden, raising the spectre of regulation if the industry doesnt change fast enough. And the finance industry is increasingly talking about the importance of action, and putting the standards and data together that will allow for potentially meaningful moves on climate change. Theres nobody whos not aware of it, theres not a single continent that isnt deeply impacted, said Margaret Franklin, chief executive of the CFA Institute, which put out sustainable investment disclosure guidelines in November. That urgency is starting to create co-operation. So where we would have seen a cluttered, disjointed, chaotic disposition, everybody coming out with everything, now youre starting to see the centrifugal force of consolidation. But while theres change underway, Canadas big banks are still major funders of the fossil fuel industry, which produces relatively cheap energy at anenvironmental cost thats becoming increasingly clear. Two independent reports out this year by activist groups show that Canada's Big Five banksRoyal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce supplied around $700 billion in funding and underwriting to fossil fuel companies since the world formally agreed to rein in greenhouse gases with the 2015 Paris Accords. Reducing that access to capital is key because it can make fossil fuel projects more expensive, and potentially change the balance of whether its more worthwhile than the lower-carbon alternatives, said Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada. By choking off funding to fossil fuels, youre creating greater urgency on the other side to find those projects and get them underway. Canadas big banks have also committed to mobilizing hundreds of billions of dollars in sustainable finance to help emission reduction efforts this year, but Stewart and others have raised concerns about the stringency of standards around that lending, and how Canadian standards, currently being drafted, could fall short of what the European Union has already established. Overall, Stewart said the banks have been relatively slow to respond to the climate issue, and that they now want to be able to "sell gasoline to the arsonists and water to the fire department." Canadian banks have framed it more around taking a cautious, balanced approach. Lindsay Patrick, head of strategic initiatives and ESG at RBC Capital Markets, said the bank is trying to advance financial, social, and environmental outcomes together. The balance is how fast do you reduce emissions, and at what disruption to any economic and social consequences might there be. She said RBC, which has been particularly targeted by activists as the largest fossil fuel funder in Canada, had no plans to stop funding new projects. We continue to think there is a role for that sector to play, particularly as their end product continues to be consumed by the likes of all of us on a daily basis. Patrick said that future funding for fossil fuel projects could theoretically open new, lower-emission production that could displace higher-emitting projects, but made no assurances. Banks have been thin on details about how they plan to achieve net-zero financed emissions, so activists are watching closely for interim emissions targets and any plans to achieve them. In their own net-zero announcements, banks haven't said exactly when they would set those targets, but some indications for key sectors should start to emerge next year. Meanwhile Carneys net-zero club gives members 18 months to come up with targets, with the direction that they should set 2030 goals that represent a fair share of the halving of emissions needed by then. Investors should also soon get a better sense of just how banks are financing emissions, after Canada's Big Six all joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials as part of their net-zero commitments. The partnership standardizes reporting around financed emissions, with banks expected to release baseline data next year. Banks can also expect increased activism in the year ahead. The example of Exxon Mobile Corp., where a small hedge fund managed to gather enough support to install three climate-focused directors over the companys objections earlier this year,may have provideda wake-up call about how quickly things can turn. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The commitments made so far show the banks are already aware of the growing pressure, said Anthony Schein, director of shareholder advocacy at the Shareholder Association for Research & Education. I think theyve been responsive to investors, to policy-makers, to the way the winds blowing. Theyve started to make some really positive commitments in the last 12 months. Theyve still a long way to go. He said shareholder resolutions could focus on the banks committing to stop funding new fossil fuel projects, as well as pushing them to be faster, more detailed, and ambitious on interim targets. These more near-term details are needed because 2030 is within the range of capital budgets and of what companies are planning for now. Yesterday is the timeline of when we need to see those plans. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:TD; TSX:RY; TSX:CM; TSX:BMO; TSX:BNS) The final total for the Merchants Bank 10 Days of Giving food drive was 272,162 pounds of food. This is the second highest total in campaign history, after the 25th anniversary of the campaign that collected over 280,000 pounds. The 10 Days of Giving supports the food shelf programs at Winona Volunteer Services. The Winona area community never fails to impress us with its generosity. We are so appreciative of your support in our endeavor to ensure no one in Winona County goes hungry this winter. Because of this community working together, weve been able to donate over 4 million pounds of food throughout the 33-year history of the campaign. Thats something this community can be very proud of, and its an honor to coordinate the effort in support of Winona Volunteer Services food shelf program clients, said Andrew Guzzo, Merchants Bank Winona and Southern Regions President. This years total breaks down to $126,578 in cash and 19,006 pounds of food. For the purposes of calculating the total, two pounds of food are counted for each dollar. Last years total was 260,211 pounds. The total for 33 years now stands at 4,286,853 pounds. Seeing the community come together again to show its support for friends and neighbors really warms your heart, said event co-chair Jennifer Welch. It was great to see people come out for events like Pack the Bus to Drive Out Hunger and Apps & Taps. This was Welchs eighth year chairing the drive, and shell be turning over the reins to co-chair Dave Pierret and a new co-chair next year. We are grateful for Welchs leadership over the past eight years. Once again we are so moved by our communitys generosity and appreciate everyone who supported this worthy cause. This campaign continues to demonstrate that when we work together, we can make a difference. We are fortunate to have such a warm, caring community, said co-chair Dave Pierret. Merchants collected monetary and food donations at its branches as well as at participating schools, businesses and organizations around the area (view a full list at https://www.merchantsbank.com/10dayspartners). The 10 Days of Giving food drive is an annual community collaboration between Merchants Bank and Winona Volunteer Services to make sure no one in Winona County goes hungry each winter. Since 1989, the drive has collected more than 4 million pounds of food and helped thousands of people in Winona County. In addition to the Winona drive, other Merchants Bank locations partner with their respective local food shelf in a similar effort. To learn more about the 10 Days of Giving in your area, visit www.merchantsbank.com/10daysofgiving. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 From Jingle Bells to the Twelve Days of Christmas for the last month or so you couldnt help but feel the Christmas spirit in our communities. But Christmas isnt the only winter holiday that is celebrated in America. Under the leadership of Dr. Pao Vue, Director of Equity and Inclusion, this year Minnesota State College Southeasts campuses are decorated with Christmas trees and garlands, along with items symbolizing Hanukkah, Hmong New Year, the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and the Lunar New Year. Pa Nhia Xiong and Lisa Hang are work-study students in the Office of Equity and Inclusion. They worked together to research and design large-format posters and social media graphics for the college that explore the meaning of all of these major winter holidays. With support from the Equity and Inclusion Committee, we collected information about the holidays celebrated by our students, faculty, and staff, said Pao Vue. Lisa and Pa Nhia have done significant work in this area. Pa Nhia is a first year Psychology Transfer Pathway student, with plans to complete an associate degree at MSC Southeast and then continue on for a 4-year degree at a college or university in the Twin Cities. Lisa, a CAD (computer-aided design) Drafting Technology major, will graduate in Spring 2022 and hopes to move up to the Twin Cities and begin a job search. As the children of immigrant families, Christmas was not always part of their culture. My moms side was more traditional, but my dads side went to church. They came to the U.S. before we were born, so we always celebrated the holidays of the United States, said Lisa, adding, Its just a way to get together as a family. As we grew up, we started (celebrating) Christmas for what it means. Pa Nhia said, We dont celebrate Christmas, but we buy presents for each other anyway! Both students families celebrate Hmong New Year, which fell on December 5 this year. Before COVID-19 they would usually go up to RiverCentre in Saint Paul for a gathering that attracts thousands of people to enjoy the traditional clothing, games, dances, music, and foods of the Hmong people. Its a great time to get together with whole community and connect with our roots, explained Lisa. We would play games like the ball toss. Basically, you line up side-by-side with one side boys, one side girls and throw a soft yarn ball back and forth. Its a way for single young people to get to know each other. During Hmong New Year, many Hmong families observe a ritual to cleanse the house of the old spirits and bring in the new. You thank your ancestors for the completion of the harvest and ask them to bless you with a healthy, happy new year, Pa Nhia said. In researching winter holiday traditions, Pa Nhia and Lisa learned more about other cultures. I was already exposed to other holidays because I have a diverse group of friends, but I didnt know that much in detail. Especially Hanukkah, I knew they lit candles, but I didnt know why, Lisa said. It broadened my perspective to learn about other holidays and cultures. Most people assume that holidays have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years. I didnt know that Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 that came as a surprise, noted Pa. For these students, and the entire Minnesota State College Southeast community, the expression Happy Holidays has been enriched this year by a deliberate effort to recognize a range of winter traditions. We welcome and affirm students, college employees, and community members from all backgrounds. The Office of Equity and Inclusion strives to educate and spread awareness during cultural heritage months, and we are doing the same for the winter holidays, said Pao Vue. #MSCSoutheastCares isnt just a hashtag, its a commitment. We care about and are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Celebrate the holiday that is important to your family and your culture, advised Lisa. But you can appreciate other cultures as well, and try new things. Every week, Campus Connection shares updates on programs, activities, faculty and alumni, and campus life from Winonas three colleges. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 So far, fundraising has been going well, she said. The shelter is applying for a few grants, heard from a private donor and had a really good, successful Giving Tuesday campaign, she said. But the organization needs $35,000 more to meet its $145,000 budget for 2022, including the down payment, according to Witczak. Donations can be made via the website, baraboo-shelter.org, or by sending a check to the Baraboo Area Homeless Shelter, 1200 Silver Circle, Baraboo, Wisconsin 53913. The Rev. Dave Mowers, president of the board, said in a statement to the News Republic that the potential building purchase has come two years earlier than shelter leaders expected, largely due to the people, organizations, businesses and churches that have donated more than $300,000 to the shelter to date. We continue to be inspired and motivated by the support of the Baraboo community for the shelter, he said. Were grateful to be trusted to be the steward of this new institution for the whole community, and we look forward to what the new year will bring. Holidays In 2004, a New York Times writer praised his wry vision of modern consumerism and said, No one did more to reanimate the tired old genre of still life painting in the last half century than did Mr. Thiebaud with his paintings of industrially regimented food products. Thiebaud told the NewsHour he preferred calling himself a painter, rather than an artist, because its like a priest referring to himself as a saint. Maybe its a little too early or hes not the one to decide that ... Being an artist I think is a very rare thing. Along with the sensuousness, there was sometimes an emptiness and melancholy reminiscent of Edward Hopper. He likened the feeling to the bright pathos of a circus clown. In landscape, his most famous subject was the city of San Francisco, whose steep hills he portrayed in a fantasy-like way, with spectacular angles and stark shadows. Originally, I painted right on the streets, trying to get some of the kind of drama I felt about the city and its vertiginous (dizzying) character, he told the NewsHour. But that didnt seem to work ... The reality was one thing but the fantasy or the exploration of it was another. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) When Debra Treeshs children moved away, she and her husband didnt need as much venison, but they didnt know what to do with the leftovers. Thats when she contacted a local food bank. And they went nuts, said Treesh, who owns a small butcher shop with her husband in northwest Indiana. They said they dont get many meat donations and its one of the most important things. That spawned an idea: Could hunters donate some of their deer to help feed hungry individuals across Indiana? And so it began. What at first was just a one-time donation has since turned into a passion project. She officially launched her nonprofit, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, in 2011 making this year its 10th anniversary. Treeshs group now works with nearly 85 meat processors and 500 hunger relief organizations statewide to help the deer meat that hunters provide get to those who need it. All told, theyve donated enough venison to provide millions of meals. Her organization isnt the only one with this mission; it partners with a hunters club in southwest Indiana doing the same thing. A program in the states Department of Natural Resources also provides grants to these groups and processors to help cover the cost of making the deer edible and fit for donation. We all fall on tough times and someone is there wanting to help, said Capt. Jet Quillen, who is in the DNRs law enforcement division and runs the Sportsmen Benevolence Fund that provides the grants. Whether thats hunters or a state law enforcement agency, someone is there for them. Since Treesh first started her group, she estimates theyve been able to donate about 500,000 pounds of venison. Each pound can provide about four meals, she said, meaning theyve provided nearly two million meals over the last decade. Their partner group, Hunters for the Hungry out of the Dubois County Sportsmens Club, has donated roughly 72,000 pounds of venison. That equates to a quarter million meals, according to Gene Kuntz, who runs the group across four counties in southern Indiana. Thats no small thing from either group, Treesh said. When I look at the numbers, its hard to believe that I said two million meals of venison. Thats a lot, she said. But also it unfortunately doesnt even scratch the surface, especially during COVID times. In Indiana, nearly 850,000 people are facing hunger and more than a quarter of them are children, according to Feeding America, the nations largest hunger relief group. That amounts to one in every eight people in the state being food insecure and that was in 2019. Across the country, and including here in Indiana, the coronavirus has caused millions of Americans to newly experience food insecurity. Projections from Feeding America showed the rate of food insecurity increasing in every single Indiana county in both 2020 and 2021. There are a lot of people unemployed and COVID has hurt a lot of folks, Kuntz said. They are focused on keeping the lights on and food becomes an afterthought. Not only that, but shortages in labor and a slowed supply chain has the price of meat going up. Treesh recalled a recent grocery trip when she saw it was $6.99 for a pound of ground beef, the cheapest meat. I can see why people cant afford to get meat, Treesh said. Thats expensive. And local food banks and nonprofits are also seeing fewer donations, which can be attributed to the pandemic, said Quillen with the DNR. But theres another thing thats come out of the pandemic, he added: People are spending more time outside. The agency has seen record use of state properties and even more hunters and fishers signing up for licenses. Thats an opportunity to help more people, he said. There are a lot of new hunters and fishermen, Quillen said, and we need to educate those new folks and let them know this program is available. The process is simple. Treesh recommends that deer hunters first check the list of approved processors to know where they can take it, and then check with that butcher to make sure they have availability to take it. Only processors and butchers who are food safe-certified with the Board of Animal Health and DNR can be used for this program. Then all the hunter has to do is go out hunting, legally take a deer, field dress it and then drop it off at the processor. Im a deer hunter myself and a lot of hunters would like to go out and harvest more deer but they can only eat one and then theyre done, Kuntz said. But now we have a program where hunters can go out and take another deer or two and donate it to feed the hungry. The butchers process all the deer meat into ground venison, which gets the most out of it and is the most versatile for families. The processor then contacts different food banks and pantries in their area to let them know they have venison available, and that organization will come and pick it up. They will also reach out to Treesh or Kuntzs group to cover the cost of the processing. The cost to process a deer is usually between $100 to $150, though they sometimes give the groups a deal for around $75. The groups will get funds from donations in their communities, but they also can apply for grants from the DNRs Sportsmen Benevolence Fund. Those grants help pay the processors to cover their costs. Were the law enforcement division of DNR and want to serve our public and the citizens of Indiana, and this is just another way to give back, Quillen said. It truly is a partnership between all of us, which is with one goal to donate back to those who need it. Still, Quillen said hes surprised to learn how few people know about this program. Thats why their main goal is to expand it and get the word out. The number of deer donated peaked about five years ago at just over 1,000 deer, Treesh said, but has been on the decline in the last few years. Treesh, Quillen and Kuntz would all like to see that trend turned around as more people get outdoors. There are a few different ways that these groups are trying to do that, and one that Treesh has started is called give five. While some hunters might not be able to donate an entire deer, which usually is around 50 pounds, processors will ask if the hunter is willing to donate five pounds when they bring their deer in. We can all give five pounds, Treesh said, because whats five pounds? Treesh is also asking all those who know about the program to tell two other people, even if they arent hunters. Those who dont hunt can still donate to the Sportsmen Benevolence Fund or Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry to help cover the costs for processing. Quillen said he thinks many other hunters and individuals would participate, if only they knew about the program. Kuntz said his group also has started doing a giveaway in recent years to encourage more hunters to donate. With some of the funds donated to Hunters for the Hungry, the group purchases a hunting rifle and then everyone who donates a deer gets an entry into a raffle for the gun. I think thats really helped a lot because people say they can help people and get a chance to win the prize, Kuntz said. Kuntz said he tries to donate at least one deer each year, but last year he got a new person involved, too. His 14-year-old grandson took his first deer last year and their family didnt need the meat. Kuntz said he explained the program to him and his grandson immediately said he wanted to give that to feed people. That made a full circle impression on him that not only can I, as his grandpa, take him out to hunt, but we can donate this deer to help feed the hungry, Kuntz said. His grandson is hoping to be able to do the same this year, and Kuntz hopes to see more young people get involved with this effort. The shotgun hunting season in Indiana kicked off just a few weeks ago and the donations have been coming in. But they will always take more, Kuntz said. When you consider everything weve done, he said, its a testament to what were doing and also the fact that the need is still there. If you would like to get involved, you can find more information online for the Sportsmen Benevolence Fund at www.in.gov/dnr/law-enforcement/sportsmens-benevolence-fund/. There they also have information about how to contact Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry and the Dubois County Sportsmens Club. Weather Alert ...VERY COLD TONIGHT... As we clear out tonight, temperatures will drop to lows in the single digits most areas to just above 10 degrees toward the Missouri Bootheel. Combined with north, northwest winds 5 to 10 mph, minimum wind chill temperatures should bottom out from the single digits to a few degrees below zero, making for a very cold start to the day Friday. Travelers wait in line to get tested for COVID-19 at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported more than 3,500 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday as the number of daily new cases tripled over the week. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Health officials have detected the first potential cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Tulare County. Two recently collected samples showed traits that are consistent with the new variant of the coronavirus that experts say is more contagious but less severe than previous strains, the Tulare County Public Health department announced Friday morning. The cases will not be confirmed omicron for several days until scientists can sequence the virus' genome, county health officials said. The announcement did not say where in the county the potential omicron patients lived, or whether they had recently traveled. Their vaccination status was also not immediately released. Considering the national trend, weve been aware of the variants being present in our state, as well as surrounding counties, Tulare County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught said in a statement. We need to continue the important safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, and it is especially important for everyone to get vaccinated, get their booster vaccines, and wear a face covering or mask while in any public indoor setting. Just over half of eligible Tulare County residents have been vaccinated as of this week among the lowest rates in the state. The first Central California case of the omicron variant was found in Fresno County this week, and health officials say the more virulent disease is probably already in Tulare County or will be soon. "Now is a critical time to protect our communities and prevent this highly contagious strain of COVID from spreading to our vulnerable populations," David Luchini, the director of Fresno County's public health department said in a news release. While models show that omicrons' death and hospitalization rates are more than 90% lower than delta's, the new variant is so infectious that it may still put a severe strain on hospitals. This means San Joaquin Valley and Tulare County hospitals, which are already crowded, might be overwhelmed if there is a surge in omicron cases. Story continues "Everyone eligible for a vaccine needs to have one as soon as possible, and those due for a booster dose should get one as soon as they can," said Rais Vohra, Fresno County's interim health officer, in the release. "The added protection of a booster will be needed to reduce infections and prevent severe illness this winter." The most promising omicron news came out of Europe this week: A study of real-world data published Wednesday by the Imperial College of London suggests that omicron cases have up to a 20% reduced risk of any hospitalization compared to the delta variant, and up to a 45% reduced risk of overnight admissions. The highly contagious omicron variant is evident in 50% to 70% of new coronavirus cases in parts of the most populous state heading into the holidays, California health officials reported. It is now being detected at increasing proportions in wastewater in multiple regions throughout California, the California Department of Public Health said. At least three of the states health systems have reported that about 50% to 70% of their coronavirus cases are consistent with omicron, the department said without naming the systems. Orange County had more than 650 positive tests reported Thursday compared with about 400 on a given day last week, and Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the countys deputy health officer attributed most of the increase to omicron. A workplace holiday party with about 50 people in Davis, west of Sacramento, led to an outbreak of at least 16 cases, at least 10 of whom were identified as having omicron, Yolo County officials said. All 16 were fully vaccinated and eight had received their booster. Public health officials similarly said at least 28 vaccinated people tested positive after a holiday party in Marin County, north of San Francisco, and they believe it involves the omicron variant. Gov. Gavin Newsom held out that hope as he urged people to get vaccinated or their booster shots. Were all exhausted by this, he acknowledged. But we have something we never had in the past, and thats the power of these life-saving vaccines and the power to get boosted to get through this arguably fifth wave of this pandemic. Contributing: James Ward Joshua Yeager is a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta and a Report for America corps member. He covers Tulare County news deserts with a focus on the environment and local governments. Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: BREAKING: First potential Omicron COVID-19 cases detected in Tulare Co Image via Getty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images A North Carolina police chief is being reprimanded after it was discovered that he allegedly told his officers how they could obtain fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. USA Today reports that Oakboro Police Chief TJ Smith informed members of his force about a clinic where they could go if they werent vaccinated. Hes now been put on unpaid leave for two weeks, which began on Tuesday. Oakboro Town Administrator Doug Burgess said that additional offenses could mean hes punished further, including being fired. Burgess wrote Smith a letter that told him he was being placed on unpaid leave because he breached Oakboros personnel policy, which bars acts of fraud, endangering the property of others and serving a conflicting interest, the outlet writes. I didnt profit from it, Smith said in a statement. I couldnt possibly profit from it, and I didnt do it from a place of malice. I care deeply about others, and I sincerely appreciate that I have a job that allows me to serve them and to see things improve in my community. Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available earlier this year, people have found ways around being immunized. Earlier this month, a Maryland man was charged after he allegedly sold more than 600 fake COVID vaccination cards on social media. If convicted, he could face 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Related Articles More Complex Sign up for the Complex Newsletter for breaking news, events, and unique stories. Follow Complex on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok "Sunday Morning" host Jane Pauley looks back on key events of a dramatic year: January In January Joe Biden was inaugurated as our 46th president Inauguration 2021: Swearing in of Joe Biden and Kamala HarrisPresident Biden takes office, moving quickly to implement agendaRead the full text of Biden's inaugural addressInauguration 2021: The task for Joe Biden, and for America ("Sunday Morning") just two weeks after supporters of former President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Protesters attack Capitol Police and storm the seat of government, trying to halt the Electoral College certification of ballots and throw the 2020 election to the loser, President Donald Trump, January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. To date, more than 700 people have been charged in the violence. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died as a result of injuries sustained that day; four other police officers committed suicide in the days and months following the attack. / Credit: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 4 dead after Trump supporters storm U.S. CapitolCapitol Police officer dies from injuries in pro-Trump riotHandguns, crowbars, Tasers and tomahawk axes: Dozens of Capitol rioters wielded "deadly or dangerous" weapons, prosecutors sayExtremism in the ranks: The military and the insurrection ("Sunday Morning")"Normal tourist visit": Some Republicans downplay January 6 riot amid Democratic objectionsRepublican Senators acquit Trump for role in Jan. 6 insurrection ("Sunday Morning")Retired military generals warn of threat of another insurrection in 2024February In February, the United States formally re-joined the Paris Climate Agreement, an international treaty aimed at limiting global warming. What the U.S. is committing to as it rejoins the Paris climate accords and why it mattersBiden says Trump's withdrawal from Paris climate pact put us "behind the eight ball"March The container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal in March, holding up billions in trade. The ship was freed six days later. High-resolution satellite imagery of the Suez Canal and the container ship Ever Given that remains stuck, north of the city of Suez, Egypt, March 26, 2021. / Credit: DigitalGlobe/ScapeWare3d/copyright 2021 Maxar Technologies Massive cargo ship turns sideways, totally blocks Suez CanalHow did a cargo ship get stuck in the Suez Canal, and how are they going to un-stick it?April In April, a Minneapolis jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd a year earlier. Ex-cop Derek Chauvin convicted of all charges in George Floyd's deathNation reacts after Derek Chauvin convicted in George Floyd's deathWhat Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict means for the future of policingDerek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for George Floyd's murderDerek Chauvin pleads guilty in federal civil rights caseMay Story continues May saw the successful splashdown of the first operational spaceflight by a private company, Elon Musk's SpaceX. SpaceX Crew Dragon astronauts arrive home with rare pre-dawn splashdown in Gulf of MexicoElon Musk says SpaceX rocket launch is "a dream come true"SpaceX launch site brings controversy to Texas townJune June saw the partial collapse of a 12-story condominium in Surfside, Florida, killing 98 residents. Search and rescue personnel work in the rubble of the 12-story condo tower that partially collapsed on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. / Credit: Getty Images "Surfside Collapse: A Search for Answers"First responders endure emotional toll of Surfside condo collapse: "It's heartbreaking"Investigators find new evidence of extensive corrosion in Surfside condo buildingDeath toll in Surfside condo collapse rises to 98 after final missing victim is identifiedComplete CBSNews.com coverage: Florida building collapseJuly July brought the 32nd Summer Olympic games to Tokyo, a year after being postponed. The U.S. topped the medal count with 113. Simone Biles won a bronze medal on the balance beam, after withdrawing briefly from competition citing mental health concerns. / Credit: CBS News Extraordinary moments from the Tokyo Olympics that outshined the competitionDozens of COVID cases linked to Olympic Games in TokyoTokyo Olympics closing ceremony marks end of strangest games on recordComplete CBSNews.com coverage: Tokyo OlympicsAugust August saw the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan after a two-decade war that took the lives of over 2,400 U.S. service personnel. Taliban fighters reported at the gates of Afghan capital ("Sunday Morning")11 days in August: How Afghanistan fell ("Sunday Morning")Afghanistan wasn't all for nothing, says Army vet ("Sunday Morning")An Iowa town goes to battle for Afghan immigrant ("Sunday Morning")Complete CBSNews.com coverage: Afghanistan: The New RealitySeptember September saw the implementation of the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortions after roughly six weeks. The Supreme Court has declined to block the law, saying it's a question for lower courts. Texas abortion ban turns citizens into "bounty hunters"Texas "whistleblower" website used for snitching on abortions shut downAfter Texas' new abortion law, some clinics in nearby states can barely keep up with demandTexas abortion law's enforcement mechanism not valid, judge rulesSupreme Court keeps Texas abortion law in place but allows providers' legal challenge to proceedAbortion: The great divide ("Sunday Morning")October October brought the welcome news that the World Health Organization had endorsed the world's first vaccine against malaria. Malaria vaccine hailed as possible breakthroughWHO recommends widespread use of first malaria vaccineNovember In November, the Atlanta Braves won their fourth World Series, defeating the Houston Astros four games to two. Braves win first World Series since 1995, defeating Astros in Game 6Minor league teams are "on the brink of financial catastrophe" and bipartisan lawmakers are stepping up to the plateDecember In December, tornadoes ripped through the South and Midwest, killing at least 91 people ... A woman walks away from what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory as emergency workers comb the rubble after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. / Credit: JOHN AMIS/AFP via Getty Images Photos: Deadly storms and tornadoes leave wake of destructionTornadoes ravage central U.S. ("Sunday Morning")Mayfield candle factory "looks as if a bomb has dropped on it," mayor says after tornado hitStories and science from the devastating December 10-11 tornado outbreakGlimmer of relief amid deadly tornadoes' devastation ...and the FDA authorized two pills to treat COVID-19, a potential game-changer in our now years-long fight against the disease. FDA authorizes first antiviral pill to treat COVID-19FDA authorizes second COVID antiviral pill, from Merck, if no alternatives availableCOVID-19 pills could be a game changer if you can get your hands on them Story produced by Robert Marston. Editor: Chad Cardin. Hail and farewell: Those we lost in 2021 Archbishop Desmond Tutu dead at 90 Beethoven's Ninth: The coda to an epic life in music Savonarola chair Q: The chair in the photograph was a gift from my New England uncle many years ago, reputedly from an abbey or priory in or around New Hampshire. I have attached several photos, even one of the back, and I can find no identifying marks. The splines need regluing to the arms, and one leaf carving on the lower left of the back piece is chipped. Otherwise, the chair is in perfect condition. Searching the web, I have yet to see this lion motif on another Savonarola chair. As no one in our family is interested in us passing it down we are both in our 70s I would appreciate any advice you may have on its value, and to whom we might sell it. No one sits on it, as it is quite uncomfortable, and we would love to pass it on to someone who can appreciate it. Thank you for your time and consideration. G.M., Starke A: I appreciate the good photographs of the carving, all of which are typical for Savonarola chairs. I really enjoy and appreciate the phantasmagorical detailed Renaissance type carving that one can see in the Savonarola chair. The type of chair is an X-shaped folding chair that originated in medieval Italy. The name is connected to Girolamo Savonarola, 14521498, a historical Italian Renaissance reformer. To fold the chair the low relief carved backrest is lifted up and removed from the arms allowing the chair to fold. In the 19th century, Savonarola was used as a tradename for X-shaped folding chairs. There is a wide range of quality in the carving and the one you have appears to be of a good quality detail. I would tell your family members you plan on selling the chair it might change their mind about keeping it. If you were to sell it currently it would likely sell in the $250 to $500 range. Set of canisters Q: My aunt was given the canisters in the photographs in the 1950s. She would like to know how much they are worth. Thank you. C., Internet A: Your decorative quality porcelain canister set consisting of two cruets, six large canisters, and six small canisters was made in Germany as marked likely before World War II. Canister spice sets were made in large quantities for export to America from the late 19th century and on into the 20th century throughout Europe. The individual pieces appear to be in excellent condition. Potential dollar value is in the $100 range, perhaps more on a lucky day. John Sikorski, with more than 35 years of experience, is an Ocala-based antiques adviser, consultant, and broker. Send your questions to Sikorski's Attic, c/o The Ocala Star-Banner, 2121 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, FL 34471-7752, or email absantique@aol.com. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Savonarola folding chairs have long history from Renaissance era , (Reuters) -"Like falling in love" is how Archbishop Desmond Tutu described voting in South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, a remark that captured both his puckish humour and his profound emotions after decades fighting apartheid. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureate whose moral might permeated South African society during apartheid's darkest hours and into the unchartered territory of new democracy, died on Sunday. He was 90. The outspoken Tutu was considered the nation's conscience by both Black and white, an enduring testament to his faith and spirit of reconciliation in a divided nation. He preached against the tyranny of white minority and even after its end, he never wavered in his fight for a fairer South Africa, calling the black political elite to account with as much feistiness as he had the white Afrikaners. In his final years, he regretted that his dream of a "Rainbow Nation" had not yet come true. On the global stage, the human rights activist spoke out across a range of topics, from Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories to gay rights, climate change and assisted death - issues that cemented Tutu's broad appeal. Tutu "was a prophet and priest, a man of words and action", said the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the symbolic head of Tutu's Anglican Communion. British billionaire Richard Branson called him "a brave leader, a mischievous delight, a profound thinker, and a dear friend." Just five feet five inches (1.7 metres) tall and with an infectious giggle, Tutu was a moral giant who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent struggle against apartheid. He used his high-profile role in the Anglican Church to highlight the plight of black South Africans. Story continues Asked on his retirement as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996 if he had any regrets, Tutu said: "The struggle tended to make one abrasive and more than a touch self-righteous. I hope that people will forgive me any hurts I may have caused them." Talking and travelling tirelessly throughout the 1980s, Tutu became the face of the anti-apartheid movement abroad while many of the leaders of the rebel African National Congress (ANC), such as Nelson Mandela, were behind bars. "Our land is burning and bleeding and so I call on the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this government," he said in 1986. Even as governments ignored the call, he helped rouse grassroots campaigns around the world that fought for an end to apartheid through economic and cultural boycotts. Former hardline white president P.W. Botha asked Tutu in a letter in March 1988 whether he was working for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom promised by the then-outlawed and now ruling ANC. GRAVESIDE ORATIONS Among his most painful tasks was delivering graveside orations for Black people who had died violently during the struggle against white domination. "We are tired of coming to funerals, of making speeches week after week. It is time to stop the waste of human lives," he once said. Tutu said his stance on apartheid was moral rather than political. "It's easier to be a Christian in South Africa than anywhere else, because the moral issues are so clear in this country," he once told Reuters. In February 1990, Tutu led Nelson Mandela on to a balcony at Cape Town's City Hall overlooking a square where the ANC talisman made his first public address after 27 years in prison. He was at Mandela's side four years later when he was sworn in as the country's first black president. "Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu's voice will always be the voice of the voiceless," is how Mandela, who died in December 2013, described his friend. While Mandela introduced South Africa to democracy, Tutu headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that laid bare the terrible truths of the war against white rule. Some of the heartrending testimony moved him publicly to tears. PULLED NO PUNCHES But Tutu was as tough on the new democracy as he was on South Africa's apartheid rulers. He castigated the new ruling elite for boarding the "gravy train" of privilege and chided Mandela for his long public affair with Graca Machel, whom he eventually married. In his Truth Commission report, Tutu refused to treat the excesses of the ANC in the fight against white rule any more gently than those of the apartheid government. Even in his twilight years, he never stopped speaking his mind, condemning President Jacob Zuma over allegations of corruption surrounding a $23 million security upgrade to his home. In 2014, he admitted he did not vote for the ANC, citing moral grounds. "As an old man, I am sad because I had hoped that my last days would be days of rejoicing, days of praising and commending the younger people doing the things that we hoped so very much would be the case," Tutu told Reuters in June 2014. In December 2003, he rebuked his government for its support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, despite growing criticism over his human rights record. Tutu drew a parallel between Zimbabwe's isolation and South Africa's battle against apartheid. "We appealed for the world to intervene and interfere in South Africa's internal affairs. We could not have defeated apartheid on our own," Tutu said. "What is sauce for the goose must be sauce for the gander too." He also criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki for his public questioning of the link between HIV and AIDS, saying Mbeki's international profile had been tarnished. SCHOOL TEACHER'S SON A schoolteacher's son, Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, a conservative town west of Johannesburg, on Oct. 7, 1931. The family moved to Sophiatown in Johannesburg, one of the commercial capital's few mixed-race areas, subsequently demolished under apartheid laws to make way for the white suburb of Triomf - Triumph in Afrikaans. Always a passionate student, Tutu first worked as a teacher. But he said he had become infuriated with the system of educating Blacks, once described by a South African prime minister as aimed at preparing them for their role in society as servants. Tutu quit teaching in 1957 and decided to join the church, studying first at St. Peter's Theological College in Johannesburg. He was ordained a priest in 1961 and continued his education at King's College in London. After four years abroad, he returned to South Africa, where his sharp intellect and charismatic preaching saw him rise through lecturing posts to become Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975, which was when his activism started taking shape. "I realised that I had been given a platform that was not readily available to many Blacks, and most of our leaders were either now in chains or in exile. And I said: 'Well, I'm going to use this to seek to try to articulate our aspirations and the anguishes of our people'," he told a reporter in 2004. By now too prominent and globally respected to be thrust aside by the apartheid government, Tutu used his appointment as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches in 1978 to call for sanctions against his country. He was named the first Black Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, becoming the head of the Anglican Church, South Africa's fourth largest. He would retain that position until 1996. In retirement he battled prostate cancer and largely withdrew from public life. In one of his last public appearances, he hosted Britains Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their four-month-old son Archie at his charitable foundation in Cape Town in September 2019, calling them a "genuinely caring" couple. Tutu married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane in 1955. They had four children and several grandchildren, and homes in Cape Town and Soweto township near Johannesburg. (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall, Angus MacSwan and William Mallard) General view of JBR from the Bluewaters Island in Dubai (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates government has told some of its biggest business families that it plans to remove their monopolies on the sale of imported goods, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The government did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment but state news agency WAM quoted a Ministry of Economy statement saying a draft law on commercial agencies was still in its legislative cycle and "it is still too early to give details". The cabinet referred the draft to the Federal National Council for discussion and possibly more amendments, it added. The FT report said the proposed legislation would end the automatic renewal of existing commercial agency agreements in the Gulf state, giving foreign firms the opportunity to distribute their own goods or change their local agents. "It no longer makes sense for individual families to have such power and preferential access to easy wealth," the report quoted an Emirati official as saying. "We have to modernise our economy." The proposed law must be approved by the Emirati leadership and the timing for that remains uncertain, the report added. Over the past year the UAE, a growing economic rival of Saudi Arabia, has taken measures to make its economy more attractive to foreign investors and talent. Earlier this year, UAE said foreigners opening a company will no longer need an Emirati shareholder or agent, after it made changes to UAE company law. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Maria Ponnezhath; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Bret Stephens Is it a good idea for Joe Biden to run for reelection in 2024? And, if he runs again and wins, would it be good for the United States to have a president who is 86 the age Biden would be at the end of a second term? I put these questions bluntly because they need to be discussed candidly, not just whispered constantly. In the 1980s, it was fair game for reputable reporters to ask whether Ronald Reagan was too old for the presidency, at a time when he was several years younger than Biden is today. Donald Trumps apparent difficulty holding a glass and his constricted vocabulary repeatedly prompted unflattering speculation about his health, mental and otherwise. And Bidens memory lapses were a source of mirth among his Democratic primary rivals, at least until he won the nomination. Yet it is now considered horrible manners to raise concerns about Bidens age and health. As if doing so can only play into Trumps hands. As if the presidents well-being is nobodys business but his own. As if it doesnt much matter whether he has the fortitude for the worlds most important job, so long as his aides can adroitly fill the gaps. As if accusations of ageism and a giant shushing sound from media elites can keep the issue off the public's mind. It wont do. From some of his public appearances, Biden seems ... uneven. Often cogent but sometimes alarmingly incoherent. What is the reason? I have no idea. Do his appearances (including the good ones) inspire strong confidence that the president can go the distance in his current term, to say nothing of the next? No. And many people seem to know it. On Sunday, my 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. Story continues In 2019, the Biden campaign cognizant of the candidates age sold him to primary voters as a transition figure, the guy whose main purpose was to dethrone Trump and then smooth the way for a fresher Democratic face. Biden never made that promise explicit but the expectation feels betrayed. Things might be different if the Biden presidency were off to a great start. It is not. Blame Joe Manchin or Mitch McConnell or the antivaxxers but Bidens poll numbers have been deeply underwater since August. The man who once gave his party hope now weighs on his partys fortunes like a pair of cement shoes. Things might also be different if it looked like the administration would soon turn the corner. That is the administrations hope for the mammoth Build Back Better legislation. But last months passage of the infrastructure bill didnt really move the political needle for Biden, and that bill was genuinely popular. Now BBB looms as another costly progressive distraction in a time of surging prices, spiking homicides, resurgent disease, urban decay, a border crisis, a supply-chain crisis and the threat of Iran crossing the nuclear threshold and of Russia crossing the Ukrainian border. Oh, and Kamala Harris. Her supporters might decry the fact but to an ever-growing number of Americans, the heir apparent seems lighter than air. Her poll numbers at this point in her term are the worst of those of any vice president in recent history, including Mike Pences. If she winds up as her partys default nominee if Biden pulls out late, Democrats will have every reason to panic. So what is the president to do? He should announce, much sooner than later, that he will not run for a second term. The argument against this is that it would instantly turn him into a lame-duck president, and that is no doubt true. But, news flash: Right now he is worse than a lame duck because potential Democratic successors are prevented from making calls, finding their lanes and appealing for attention. That goes especially for people in the administration who should be powerful contenders: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu. And what would that mean for the rest of the Biden presidency? Far from weakening him, it would instantly allow him to be statesmanlike. And it would be liberating. It would put an end to the endless media speculation. It would inject enthusiasm and interest into a listless Democratic Party. It would let him devote himself wholly to addressing the countrys immediate problems without worrying about reelection. And it neednt diminish his presidency. George H.W. Bush accomplished more in four years than his successor accomplished in eight. Greatness is often easier to achieve when good policies arent encumbered by clever politics. Biden should think on it and act soon. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Biden should pave the way for a successor by announcing he won't run "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below." I Love Lucy is one of the most impactful and influential shows in television history. The 1950s sitcom paved the way for both women and interracial couples on television and inspired Americans for generations. But in order to break down barriers, its stars, Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz, had to break some rules. One of the most fascinating and surprising details we recently learned comes from Us Weekly. According to the publication, the union between Lucy and Desi began with the couple lying about their ages to prevent the public from discovering that Lucy was actually six years older than her husband (she was 29 when they got married in 1940). At the time, it was widely considered taboo for an older woman to marry a younger man. And so, on their marriage certificate, the couple both allegedly listed their birth year as 1914 (Lucy was actually born in 1911 while Desi's birth year was 1917). While Lucy and Desi were trying to be discreet about their ages behind the scenes, the two wound up being revolutionaries in front of the cameras when I Love Lucy premiered in 1951. Lucy and Desi (who played Ricky Ricardo) reportedly became the first interracial couple to appear on television. The show premiered 16 years before Loving v. Virginia a landmark Supreme Court case that struck down state laws banning interracial marriage in the United States. Photo credit: Archive Photos - Getty Images What's more, I Love Lucy was also one of the first shows to have a pregnant leading lady. But due to the productions disapproval of showing Lucys pregnancy on camera, the word "pregnant" was banned from the show. The Ricardos' marriage on I Love Lucy was made for television, but Lucy and Desis off-screen romance was allegedly filled with years of infidelity and alcoholism. The new Amazon Prime film, Being the Ricardos, stars Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem and explores the couple's on- and off-screen challenges. Story continues Even though the couple divorced in 1960, they remained coworkers until Desi died in 1986. Before his death, it's revealed in the book Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz that at the end of his life, he wrote the following words about his ex-wife: "Lucy was the show. Viv, Fred and I were just props. Damn good props, but props nevertheless. P.S. I Love Lucy was never just the title." You Might Also Like Ashley Peterson had a different mental image of her Christmas break than what actually transpired: The 32-year-old thought she would finally visit the Caribbean reef-lined island of Bonaire, the 99th country in her quest to travel at least 100. Instead, her cruise ship, the Carnival Freedom, sailed past its destination Wednesday after a port turned away the boat because of coronavirus infections on board. At least four sailings on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival and others this week were altered by coronavirus outbreaks as cruise ships prepared for pre-pandemic levels before sailings were paused. Although vessels resuming cruising have beefed up coronavirus precautions, requiring vaccinations and testing passengers, the wave of new infections, fueled by the quickly proliferating omicron variant, has knocked the devastated industry and alarmed cruisers. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "We're sailing on a petri dish," Peterson said. "I feel like I just spent my past week at a superspreader event." Video: Do travel restrictions stop the spread of coronavirus variants? Carnival did not respond to a question about how many people have tested positive on the ship that was denied entry to Bonaire and Aruba, but it said "a small number of people infected aboard the Freedom ship have been isolated from other passengers and crew." The ship, scheduled to port in Miami on Sunday for another sailing, has 2,497 passengers and 1,112 crew members. The cruise company said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities at its destinations to determine where its boats can travel and seek alternative destinations. "The rapid spread of the Omicron Variant may shape how some destination authorities view even a small number of cases, even when they are being managed with our vigorous protocols," according to the company's statement. "Some destinations have limited medical resources and are focused on managing their own local response to the variant." Story continues The ship is among dozens under investigation or being monitored by the CDC. Some cruise companies have said they will alter rules in response to the rise in cases. Royal Caribbean announced it will not be accepting new bookings until Jan. 10 after dozens of people tested positive on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, based in Florida, which has experienced a surge in cases over the past week at a greater average rate than the United States overall. The Odyssey of the Seas, turned away from Curacao and Aruba, is set to return to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. In the busiest time for travel in nearly two years, the omicron variant has brought about staffing problems that have contributed to flight cancellations, upending people's get-togethers and leading people to isolate or quarantine. Peterson and four other Carnival Freedom passengers who spoke to The Washington Post spent much of their Christmastime avoiding public areas of their ship, unsure of how many people have tested positive or unwittingly spread the virus. One passenger from a recent voyage on the same ship, isolated in a hotel in Miami for a week because he tested positive the day after the cruise, told The Post that has six-day Caribbean vacation has become a month-long ordeal because he cannot travel home to Canada. Sitting in her stateroom on Christmas Day, Peterson paused to listen to a PA announcement, wondering whether it would answer the questions she has about the infections onboard her ship. "Oh, they're just talking about the weather," she said. "They come on every day; you think they're going to tell us something about covid, and it's, 'We're passing by this island and the weather is 82 degrees.' " Cruises, which for some can be idyllic sojourns, have borne a nightmarish side of the pandemic, beginning when people on ships at the start of the pandemic spend days at sea when port after port deny permission to dock. As the pandemic approaches its third year, cruises are embarking with precautions. Even with those, travelers have expected coronavirus-caused disruptions and potential outbreaks, alleviating risk by getting vaccinated and boosted. The mitigation measures in place aboard Holland America Line's ship, the Koningsdam, were "as good as it gets," according to Paulette York, who was a passenger on the voyage that left San Diego for Mexico on Sunday. However, after 21 crew members tested positive, the boat was turned away from Mexico's Puerto Vallarta. York, of La Quinta, Calif., said that passengers comply with mask requirements and have tested negative, and she expressed frustration that port authorities did not allow the ship in. Still, the retiree said she enjoyed other parts of the cruise, visiting Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, and watching a pod of dolphins. "Holland America is doing everything to keep us all safe," York wrote in a message. Travel vlogger Austin Hamawy said he expects cruises to be better prepared for a coronavirus resurgence after months of preparation. Boarding the MSC Seashore, which reported 28 cases among 4,714 guests and crew, Hamawy noticed people were standing close to one another for long periods. He recorded a TikTok video to document the crowd gathering at the ship's public areas. "The elevators are full, the Jacuzzis are full, the swimming pools are full, the theaters are full, the dining rooms are full," he said in an interview. "Everywhere you go there's a lot of people. And it's very difficult to avoid that on a cruise ship." Two days after the boat disembarked Thursday, Hamawy said he felt some symptoms of covid-19: a sore throat and higher temperature. On Christmas, he quarantined at home in Fort Lauderdale. "We have an extended family, and we're all planning a big celebration, and that came to a grinding halt," he said. Canadian resident Brian Lucas, who disembarked the Carnival Freedom the same day Peterson boarded in Miami, also did not make it to a family Christmas gathering. The day after getting off the ship, he tested positive, extending the trip with his wife and 18-month-old daughter two weeks more than they had planned. The 34-year-old will end up paying an additional $3,000 to $4,000 to wait out his family's isolation in Miami, he said. Lucas canceled his next scheduled cruise in January, saying he wants masking and hand-washing to improve on ships before he cruises again. "We thought it would be safe by now, but obviously it's not where it needs to be," he said. "I wouldn't want to travel on a cruise anytime soon." The infections on Lucas's trip, including the one he discovered after the voyage ended, were not disclosed to passengers on the ship's next trip. Carnival Freedom passenger Angie Jones, 39, said that if she had known about the cases from that previous voyage - Lucas's trip - she would have canceled. Time on the ship with her husband, her children and her sister's family has mostly been confined to their rooms since news of the outbreak that prevented the ship from visiting Bonaire and Aruba. She said they have stopped going to the theater for performances to avoid crowds - though she said there were fewer shows since the outbreak. "Just the fear of the unknown also has ruined our Christmas cruise in so many ways," Jones wrote in a message. Related Content In their shared sea, Ukraine and Russia already risk direct conflict every day A teacher learned one of her students might go hungry over winter break. She now feeds thousands of kids each year. Tourist drug demand is bringing cartel violence to Mexico's most popular resorts Former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd greets former President Jimmy Carter. Former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd died Saturday from complications of Lewy body dementia. He was 72. Todd served as a Travis County commissioner from 1987 to 1991, and again from 2013 to 2014 to fill out an unfinished term. He served two terms as mayor of Austin from 1991 to 1997, retiring from that public office "undefeated and unindicted" as he liked to say. Todd's tenure as mayor coincided with rapid growth in Austin's population and tech sector. He is largely credited with the move of the city's airport from the Mueller neighborhood to the what is the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, along with efforts to set aside wide swathes of the Hill Country for the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and to transfer the city's public Brackenridge Hospital to the nonprofit now known as Seton Ascension. He was a wonderful man, said Valarie Bristol, who is credited with saving the golden-cheeked warblers habitat through her efforts to create the Balcones Canyonlands complex of wildlife preserves. He cared about land conservation and helping the city solve its endangered species problem. This preserve system also helps protect the water supply for Austin. He played a major role in that. Born Dec. 17, 1949, Todd was reared in the West Texas town of Breckenridge, one of six children guided by his mother, Mary Katherine Holland Todd. Without the advantages of money, the Todds focused on hard work and education. The future mayor sang in the esteemed Breckenridge Boys Choir, which performed for President John F. Kennedy. Todd later said that event inspired him to seek a life of public service. In 1968, Todd arrived in Austin to study at the University of Texas. Not long after that, he landed a full-time job as night court supervisor at the Austin Municipal Court. Eventually, he managed a large department while still a UT student. In 1972, he began work for the Texas Civic Council while he was finishing up a degree in business administration. Along the way, he befriended some of Austin's veteran power brokers and rising political stars. Story continues After earning his CPA license, Todd worked until 1986 at three Austin accounting firms, including the one led by future Mayor Gus Garcia. When Todd first ran for office, he name recognition was low, but he used his unflagging energy and big personality to win the Precinct 2 seat on the Travis County Commissioners Court. Some of his early accomplishments included employing his accounting skills to merge several county departments and services. "Everything he did and he did many things was done with integrity and toward the goal of helping people," said Ken Herman, former American-Statesman columnist and a Todd family friend. "And there always was the Bruce Todd humor and twinkle in the eye. He will be missed by those who knew him and those he served." While civic warfare between environmentalists and developers raged, Todd worked with leaders, such as Bristol to create the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve in the western hills. It was the largest urban preserve of its kind at the time. Bristol said she admired Todd for his leadership and the partnership that was formed between the city of Austin and Travis County, in developing the preserve. He was a wonderful man, she said. He cared about land conservation and helping the city solve its endangered species problem. This preserve system also helps protect the water supply for Austin. He played a major role in that. Todd also helped push through a controversial ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. Yet perhaps his most momentous campaign was to help convince the Air Force to turn over the decommissioned Bergstrom Air Force Base, then to persuade voters to approve a $600 million bond to secure a modern airport to replace the outdated Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. The old airport acreage became the mixed-used Mueller Development, while Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues to grow. A proposal for an additional terminal was recently reintroduced. Former State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos said Todd's advocacy to move the airport but also his efforts to boost business and job opportunities helped improve the quality of life for Austin residents. "It was a time of stability of progress," Barrientos said. "He was a friend. He brought stability and common sense. I think the people of Austin really appreciated that incremental progress. We see it now." Todd also mentored mayors who came after him. "In the years I served as a council member and mayor, he was a friendly advisor, on tough issues, including his support of our 2006 Envision Central Texas bond initiatives," said Will Wynn, who was mayor from 2003 to 2009. "After City Hall, Bruce continued to use his method of polite leadership to help Central Texas. He set the standard for thoughtful and civil dialogue in public service." Lee Leffingwell, who was mayor from 2009 to 2015, said Todd was always available, always helpful and always pushing Austin to be better. "As a pilot in those years, I knew our Mueller Airport was lackluster and Bruce gave us the best airport in America. Ever since the Austin-Bergstrom Airport has been a pivotal part of our local economy and a welcome sight to daily travelers," Leffingwell said. "He never inserted his opinions on issues but he would offer the guidance and support of a friend. He was a role model for the modern American mayor. I will miss my friend." In 1994, Todd married Elizabeth Christian, daughter of LBJ press secretary George Christian and lawyer and philanthropist Jo Anne Christian. Todd's wife runs Elizabeth Christian Public Relations, which at one point shared offices with Bruce Todd Public Relations. Todd helped rear his stepdaughter, Alex Rose, as well as his son, Jeremy Palmer Todd. All three survive him. Bruce Todd married Elizabeth Christian in 1994. Christian, daughter of LBJ press secretary George Christian and lawyer/philanthropist Jo Anne Christian, heads Elizabeth Christian Public Relations, which has shared offices in recent years with Bruce Todd Public Relations. Todd and Christian proved a powerful team while advocating for the new Long Center for the Performing Arts, a passion project of Christian's mother as well. Todd also was involved in pushing rail transit and the Austin Community College Center for Public Policy and Political Studies, as well as other civic projects. Todd suffered a devastating bicycle accident in 2005 and became a tireless campaigner for bicycle helmet laws. Late in life, he developed Lewy body dementia, the same disease that struck comedian Robin Williams. Lewy body dementia is one of the most common causes of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health, affecting more than 1 million people in the United States. Details about a memorial service at Covenant Presbyterian Church and graveside services at the Texas State Cemetery have not been finalized. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd, 72, dies Check here for the latest updates on weather and traffic conditions you might encounter this week. Follow storm coverage by R-G reporters here. Eugene lifts emergency parking ban The city of Eugene lifted its snow and ice emergency ban on parking for certain snow routes a little before noon Wednesday, citing an improvement in road conditions from icy to wet. Still, public works director Brian Richardson said city residents should remain cautious. "Portions of many streets, especially those in the south hills, remain slippery, and people are cautioned that patches of ice may continue due to overnight forecasted freezing temperatures," Richardson said in a news release. Public Works had declared a winter weather emergency Sunday because of the snow accumulation that created hazards throughout the transportation network. During ice and snow emergency conditions, parked vehicles are not allowed on Eugenes priority snow routes. The ban could be reinstated if there is additional snowfall. Louis Krauss 11:53 a.m. Wednesday: Another round of snow before thaw comes to frigid Northwest SEATTLE A thaw-out is coming for frozen Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but not before another round of snow that could compound problems for a region more accustomed to winter rain than arctic blasts. And in Nevada the governor plans to declare a state of emergency due to snow and storm conditions affecting travel in the Lake Tahoe area of northern Nevada. Forecasters say parts of western Washington could see up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of snow Thursday and northwestern Oregon could see a similar amount. The normally temperate part of the Pacific Northwest has shivered with temperatures hitting the single digits in some areas this week after extreme cold air from Canada's Fraser River Valley blew in on Sunday. Snow and ice has made travel treacherous in some parts, forced closures and travel delays and prompted people to take shelter in emergency warming centers. Story continues Temperatures could rise above freezing in Seattle Thursday and be even warmer in Portland, before airflow from the Pacific blows in on the weekend and causes the mercury to rise to more seasonable highs in the 40s Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius). State officials in Oregon have declared an emergency. In Multnomah County home to Portland about a half dozen weather shelters were open this week. A similar number of shelters were opened in Seattle's King County, which also declared an emergency. Seattle leaders said city shelters will remain open through the new year. Winter weather and a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic have resulted in hundreds of accidents on Oregon roads this holiday season. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that between Dec. 23 and Dec. 28 there were 915 traffic accidents in the state. During that same period last year there were 365 accidents and 237 in 2019, according to Oregon State Police. The number of deaths has not been calculated yet. David House, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the high number of accidents over the last week is a reminder to travelers to use caution and prepare for slick conditions. "If you can sit tight for a couple more days, just avoid getting out there, that's going to be the safest thing you can possibly do," House said. In Nevada, a statement released by Gov. Steve Sisolak's office said the emergency declaration will allow state officials to order vehicles traveling in on mountain highways to turn around and return to lower elevations until weather conditions subside and the roadways are safe to use. "This will help prevent motorists from becoming stranded overnight on the roadways, potentially running out of gas in subfreezing temperatures without access to emergency services," the statement said. It said U.S. 50 and State Routes 207 and 28 were experiencing long delays and dangerous conditions and that authorities need to be able to clear the roadways to make room for emergency vehicles and snow plows. The Associated Press 11 a.m. Wednesday: Snow expected to turn into rain tonight A warmer weather system will arrive in the Eugene area starting Wednesday night, starting as snow before transitioning into rain that will likely melt some of the accumulated snow, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rebecca Muessle. "Were expecting that rain to persist throughout the next couple of day and stay above freezing through Saturday," Muessle said. "You may see a few periods of a rain and snow mix overnight, but likely at least from Salem southward it's mostly rain." The rain is expected to move from the south, so Eugene will see rain before Salem. While the beginning could have some snow accumulation, it will quickly start to melt once the rain starts, she added. A "trace" of snow fell throughout most of the Willamette Valley Tuesday night going into Wednesday morning, with larger amounts of up to a half-inch at higher elevations, Muessle said. Egan Warming Center sites activated Wednesday night The Egan Warming Center will activate several sites in Eugene and Springfield Wednesday night. Those include: Lane Events Center, at 796 W 13th Ave. in Eugene. The center will be operating out of expo halls one, two and three. The site opens at 7 p.m. It's accessible to people with disabilities and pets are welcome. The after-hour entrance is through the A gate on 13th Avenue between Tyler and Van Buren streets. Springfield Memorial Building, at 765 A Street in downtown Springfield. The site opens at 6 p.m., pets are welcome and it is accessible to those with disabilities. Use the entrance on Eighth Street. A youth site will open at First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. in Eugene. Site opens at 6pm., it is also accessible to people with disabilities and pets are welcome. Louis Krauss 11:45 a.m. Tuesday: Snow-melting rain now expected Thursday The Eugene area should expect rain to follow morning rounds of snow Thursday, said Gerald Mackey, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service Portland Office. Another storm is moving toward the Eugene area and snowfall is expected between 2-4 a.m. Thursday. The storm will meet with warm air, raising temperatures and turning the snow to rain sometime around noon, Mackey said. Temperatures will drop to around freezing again Thursday night, meaning snow melted by the rain may refreeze. Road conditions may be slick Friday morning, Mackey said. Adam Duvernay 10:45 a.m. Tuesday: EWEB expects full power restoration tonight The Eugene Water & Electric Board expects all customers will have their power restored by about 10 p.m., according to spokesman Joe Harwood. Harwood said about 1,000 customers were without power Monday at the height of outages caused by recent snows. That was down to 84 customers Tuesday morning. The remaining outages are scattered throughout EWEB's coverage area. Fewer than five customers are without power in Eugene, according to the EWEB outage map. The remaining outages are along the Highway 126 corridor between Thurston and Vida. The highest concentration is 53 customers around Deerhorn Road by Walterville. Adam Duvernay Safety precautions The freezing and icy temperatures are expected to last a week or more, and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management is asking people to be prepared for what's coming. Winter storms mean increased risk for those traveling as well as those staying home for the holiday. Its critical all Oregonians are empowered to do their part for themselves, their family and their community to stay safe," OEM Deputy Director Matt Marheine said. If you need assistance, call these numbers: For non-emergency assistance, dial *677 from a mobile phone or call 800-442-2068. Call or text 211 for health and social service assistance and general information. Dial 511 or visit tripcheck.com for travel updates. Text-to-911 helps those with emergencies who are deaf, hard of hearing or have limited speech capabilities, as well as anyone unable to talk due to an emergency. Home heating safety tips: Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas produced by generators, grills, camp stoves and other gasoline-, propane-, natural gas- and charcoal-burning devices. Do not use them inside homes or other enclosed spaces and keep the devices away from any doors and vents. Electric shock and fire are also threats when using alternate heating sources. Be aware of heating devices' condition and location of use, as well as safe operational procedures. Communicating during outages: To report a power outage, residents can call EWEB at 844-484-2300, and call 541-682-4800 to report downed trees or road issues. Snow, ice and wind can damage cell towers, disrupting cellphones and internet access. Use a battery-operated radio to listen to public broadcast stations for situation updates. Outages may be widespread and power may not be back up for some time. Check in on family and neighbors to ask who needs assistance and get them the help they need. Limit exposure and know where to find warming centers: Many Oregon counties are setting up warming shelters. Eagan Warming Centers in Lane County are currently inactive. Get updates at eganwarmingcenter.com. When it is necessary to be outdoors, limit exposure time and wear warm layers. Previous coverage: Egan Warming Centers' season begins as temps drop, calling for more host sites and help Know the signs to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. They include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness in adults and bright red, cold skin and very low energy in babies. Protect pets: Keep pets inside when the temperature drops. If they are outdoors for any reason, make sure theyre protected by a dry, draft-free shelter and routinely check the water dish to assure the water is unfrozen. Remove common poisons like antifreeze and de-icing salt. Towel dry pet as soon as they come inside, paying special attention to their feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow from between their foot pads. Never shave dogs down to the skin in winter, as longer coats will provide more warmth. Consider getting short-haired dogs a coat or sweater. Booties can provide coverage and warmth and can also prevent ice and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors may need to be fed more during the cold weather months. Make sure companion animals have a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow will work. If a pet is shivering and refuses to play, it is too cold and should come inside. Car motors are of particular danger to cats who sleep outside. Cats seek the warmth of car motors, and they can be killed when caught in the fan belt of a car's engine. Knock on the hood of the car or honk your horn before starting the car. During an outage: First check to see if others around your residence appear to have lost power as well. If you suspect your home or business is the only outage, check your circuit panel for tripped breakers. If the breakers are intact, report your outage to EWEB by calling our toll-free outage reporting line at 1-844-484-2300, or text out to TXEWEB (893932). Adam Duvernay Travel advice Preparing for winter weather ahead of time makes travel safer and easier. AAA Oregon/Idaho is urging drivers to be prepared for winter driving conditions. Here are the top four tips from AAA for cold weather prep: Check your vehicles battery: Dead batteries are the No.1 reason why people call AAA during a cold snap. Have proper traction: Equip your car with the right snow tires or carry chains or tire socks and know how to put them on. Know how to go on ice and snow: A common mistake people make when driving on slick roads is going too fast for the road conditions. Dont leave home without an emergency kit in your car: Even a normally short trip can take hours in wintry weather so have provisions in case of a long delay. Adam Duvernay How the City of Eugene is preparing Eugene Public Works is asking people to review the designated snow emergency routes before the winter weather so they can avoid parking vehicles on those routes. When the city declares an ice/snow emergency, people must remove all vehicles immediately from designated snow emergency routes. The citys ice/snow ordinance prohibits parking along streets designated snow emergency routes during emergencies. When temperatures are near or below freezing, staff will pretreat elevated surfaces and known trouble spots with deicer. In the event there is a significant amount of snow and ice, public works will execute its ice/snow plan. The plan is designed to keep transportation systems as operational and as safe as possible during ice/snowstorms. Adam Duvernay How to travel safely during winter The best place to find up-to-date information on weather is the Portland National Weather Services' Facebook and Twitter page, along with the page that shows detailed forecasts at weather.gov/pqr/. Check road conditions in advance and get real-time road reports at Oregon Department of Transportation's tripcheck.com. Recommended equipment for vehicles include snow tires or chains and emergency supplies including: Extra gas Blankets Shovel Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food) Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert Flashlight First aid kit Extra batteries Whistle (to signal for help) Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities) Manual can opener (for food) Local maps Cellphone with chargers and a backup battery Salem Statesman Journal Editor's note: This article was updated with the correct spelling of Rebecca Muessle. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Updates on winter storm weather and travel in Lane County and Oregon A Greencastle, Pa., man is charged with first-degree murder in the Christmas night shooting death of his girlfriend at her Hagerstown home, according to Hagerstown Police. Justin Kyle Marshall, 34, was arrested around 2:45 a.m. Sunday by the sheriff's office in Berkeley County, W.Va., in the death of 37-year-old Tristan Shifflet, Hagerstown Police spokeswoman Lt. Rebecca Fetchu said. In West Virginia: Tractor-trailer driver charged with murder in road-rage death of fellow trucker More: Hagerstown teen returned from Florida to face murder charges in Mulberry Street shooting Marshall was being held Sunday in the Eastern Regional Jail in Martinsburg, W.Va., without bail, the jail's website shows. He had been released from prison about two years ago after serving time for a 2004 murder in Hagerstown, and at the time of Saturday's shooting he was wanted on a warrant charging him with assaulting Shifflet in Pennsylvania, Fetchu said. Tristan Shifflet, 37, was shot and killed at her Hagerstown home Christmas night. Police responded around 6:30 p.m. Saturday to Shifflet's home in the 300 block of South Burnhans Boulevard and found her with gunshot wound to the neck. She succumbed to her injuries at Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown, Fetchu said Police allege that Marshall shot her with a handgun during a dispute and then fled the scene, according to Fetchu. About 10 people were present in the home when the shooting occurred, including the couples young son. Washington County Child Protective Services made arrangements for the boys care, Fetchu said. Further details about the shooting and Marshalls arrest were not immediately available Sunday. Marshall and Larry Wayne Shriner, formerly of Maugansville, were sentenced to 25 years in prison in the Nov. 3, 2004, beating death of a Hagerstown man, according to earlier Herald-Mail reports. Both pleaded guilty in 2005 to second-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Curtis Eugene Hill Sr. Other charges against them, including first-degree murder, were dismissed as a result of their plea agreements, court records show. Story continues Both men petitioned the court to have their sentences modified. On Dec. 29, 2010, Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley denied Shriner's motion but granted Marshall's, reducing his sentence to 21 years. Beachley's order stated that Marshall must serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for parole. Court records show the start date of the sentence as Nov. 4, 2004, when Marshall was ordered held without bail. Marshall was 17 at the time of the murder and Shriner was 20, according to court records. Hill was found dead near an alley beside what was then Russo's RX Pharmacy on North Cannon Avenue in Hagerstown, court records show. Shriner and Marshall had confronted Hill in the alley at about 12:30 a.m., punched and kicked him in the face and chest, and dragged his body under a tree, court records show. Shriner checked twice over the course of the night to see if Hill was still alive. Marshall accompanied him on one of those occasions, according to court records. A woman found Hill's body at about 7 a.m., court records show. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Man charged in Hagerstown slaying served time in 2004 killing Susan Hartt, whose modest home in Hamden was foreclosed on three years ago, in New Haven, Conn., Dec. 21, 2021. (Yehyun Kim/The New York Times) Susan Hartt describes herself as an incorrigible optimist, drawn to change and challenge. After a long, successful career in marketing and public relations, she had reason to feel financially confident in her older years. But three years ago, a bank foreclosed on her modest house in Hamden, Connecticut. I dont think Ive ever been as anxious in my life, she recalled. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Hartt, 79, had encountered a combination of adversities. After a late-life divorce she called amicable and equitable, she had no retirement plan; it had seemed unnecessary because her husband had a substantial 401(k). Successive jobs had grown less lucrative, and her freelance work dried up during the recession. Soon, temporarily living in an apartment owned by friends, she was selling off possessions a collection of stained-glass lamps, first-edition books, her piano partly to downsize but also to raise money. A recent AARP survey found that almost 30% of women over age 65 reported feeling very or somewhat worried about their current financial situations (compared with 20% of men that age). Despite gains in education, employment and earnings in recent decades, American women still face a rockier road to secure retirement than men. Yet they live longer and are more apt to encounter illness, disability and the eventual need for expensive long-term care. Its a troubling picture. Women are considerably more likely to experience poverty in retirement than men, said Richard Johnson, an economist at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. In 2020, according to Johnsons analysis, 10% of women over 65 lived in poverty, compared with 8% of men, with far higher rates for women who were older, of color or unmarried. The poverty rate for unmarried Black women over 65, for instance, topped 20%. Even women who dont sink below the federal poverty line $12,413 last year for a one-person household face economic precariousness. A quarter of working women over 55 are at risk of being among the working poor, defined as those who earn below two-thirds of the median hourly wage, or $15.29 an hour last year. Only 15% of men fell into that category, according to researchers at The New School in New York. Story continues Small wonder that a quarter of women over 65 consider an unexpected $1,000 expense a major setback, as the AARP survey showed. Anne Turley, 68, a veteran film and video editor, is getting by after some scary years of underemployment. She relies on about $1,200 in monthly Social Security benefits that she claimed early, at 62; a reverse mortgage on her house in Los Angeles; and the rent from a small studio in her backyard. But she recently needed a new hot-water heater and about $4,000 of dental work. Every month is How do I pay this? How can I find money for that? she said. Economists attribute much of the retirement gender gap to the motherhood penalty. Women who raise children have fewer and lower-paid years in the workforce than men or childless women, and they never completely make up for the deficits, said Matthew Rutledge, a research fellow at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Social Security calculates benefits based on workers highest-earning years, he pointed out, and mothers are apt to have some zero-earning years that bring the average down, along with years of part-time work. Social Security offsets only part of the penalty. But much of the discrepancy in financial stability at older ages stems from a major demographic shift: Women now spend much less of their adulthoods in marriages. That is partly because women are increasingly marrying later or not at all. But gray divorces among people over 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010, even as divorces declined in younger cohorts, said I-Fen Lin, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Gray divorce now accounts for one in three U.S. divorces, Lin said. Although her research shows the rate holding steady, the number of divorced older people keeps growing as the population ages. Divorces in late middle age may improve womens emotional well-being they initiate them more often than men but frequently devastate their financial health. Marriage combines incomes, reduces living costs and works to smooth out the fluctuations, the job losses, the periods of disability, the years you took off to care for an elderly parent, Rutledge said. Its almost like getting an insurance policy. Losing that insurance takes a financial toll on women at any age, but after 50 theres less time to recoup, Lin explained. Its hard to get back into the labor force, if youre not working. And you dont have as many years left to work and recover. Moreover, older working women face both age and gender discrimination. Cynthia Palazzo, 61, spent most of her married years raising three sons in Akron, Ohio. When she and her husband started a manufacturing company, she was paid for her work there but never opened a retirement account because all our money was going back into the business. When she divorced after nearly 30 years, Palazzo felt lucky to land a $17-an-hour job in medical billing and then, after being laid off in June, to quickly find another. With spousal support, Im OK now, she said. But she bought a condo, and it freaks me out that Im going to have a mortgage until Im 80, she said. I basically started life over at 54. After gray divorce, womens standard of living fell by 45%,. Lin and her co-author found, while mens decreased by just 21%. Repartnering, either through remarriage or cohabitation, helped divorced older women regain their financial footing, but only 22% of women repartnered, compared with 37% of men. (In Palazzos case: Not going to happen.) Changes in Social Security eligibility and benefits could reduce some of this inequity. The benefit for a divorced spouse, for instance, is half what a widowed spouse can claim. Caregiver credits could partially compensate for years spent in child rearing or elder care. The basic rules were written in the 1930s, Rutledge said. They dont recognize womens increased employment. They dont recognize that people dont stay married for good. Mandated retirement savings programs (Australia has one) would also help workers whose employers dont offer them. Its possible to see progress in these patterns. Its good news that women are working and living independently, emerging as independent economic actors, said Teresa Ghilarducci, an economist at The New School, noting that younger women were narrowing the gender gap in earnings and savings. But many women currently approaching retirement may struggle, especially if theyre single like Hartt. She now lives frugally on a $2,500 monthly Social Security benefit. She drives a leaky 2001 Nissan she will be unable to replace when it dies. Because I have no family and no savings, what worries me is if I were to become disabled, physically or mentally, she said. One piece of luck: In September 2020, she moved into a cheerful apartment in a Section 8 subsidized housing complex in New Haven, Connecticut, for seniors and people with disabilities. The rent comes to $670 a month, including utilities. I feel safe, she said. Im at a kind of peace. And because she hasnt fully squelched her optimism, she buys a few lottery tickets each week. 2021 The New York Times Company Our Battle Creek region in Southwest Michigan has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge absolutely would help our 52,000 neighbors. Rebecca Fleury Battle Creek Unlimited, our citys economic development organization, proposes the creation of the Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Park, a commercial drone park we would locate at the citys Battle Creek Executive Airport. This project would create hundreds of new, high-paying jobs, and help diversify our regional economy by positioning our region as a leader in the emerging UAS sector. New investments and new technologies are critical as we move forward through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. While our region has a strong cereal heritage, today only a few cereal companies remain in production here, and they continue to scale back, and move operations outside the area. The Kellogg Company recently announced the elimination of 212 jobs by 2023, which follows a 2018 announcement to cut 223 jobs. The region has seen growth in manufacturing tied to the auto industry, but that sector also is undergoing a major shift toward electric vehicles. BCUs Build Back Better application builds on a 2019 feasibility study that determined our Battle Creek Executive Airport is ideally suited to the drone industry. Our region is located between big cities Detroit and Chicago, with easy access to I-94 and I-69. Our airport is well-maintained, with ample airspace capacity. The airport has about 200 acres of developable land on the west side, and is home already to tenants like Duncan Aviation, and Western Michigan Universitys College of Aviation. We also host the Michigan Air National Guard 110th Wing, currently supporting a remote drone mission. The commercial drone park is a transformative project, and would position Battle Creek as a center for drone manufacturing, operations, training, and maintenance, and as a hub for urban air mobility. In recent years, BCU has invested more than $2.5 million to prepare the west side airport land for development. Story continues More from opinion The Build Back Better grant would provide the funding necessary to complete the final land balancing and grading, construct a land bridge and new entry gate, install needed utilities (water, sewer, gas, electric, and telecom), upgrade the airspace surveillance infrastructure, build a multi-tenant hangar and a workforce training facility, and prepare the site for future private sector investment. The Build Back Better program would help bring new companies to our region, and create job opportunities that would contribute to the economic recovery and growth in Battle Creek. With recent growth at the citys Battle Creek Executive Airport WMUs College of Aviation, and WACO Aircraft I want to see continued momentum around this immense economic development asset. A commercial drone park project would do just that, and I hope we see this come to fruition in Battle Creek, for the good of our entire community. Rebecca Fleury is the Battle Creek city manager, and has served in local government for more than 20 years. This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek drone industry could get a lift with federal grant money HOPEDALE In a region of thick-crusted Greek pizzas, the patience of five friends who have long been hungry for a slice of traditional Italian-style pizza had worn thin. To satisfy their cravings, they opened their own restaurant. You cant get a good Italian pizza anywhere, said Mike Deloia, one of Hopedale Pizza Market's five co-owners. Most places in Hopedale and nearby communities sell Greek pizzas, which are baked in shallow dishes, use lots of olive oil and have thicker crusts, said Deloia and fellow owner Ray Leung. By comparison, traditional Italian pizzas are rolled out and placed on a flat pizza pan or stone, have more sauce and thinner, crunchier crusts. David Yovicsin serves lunch to customers at Hopedale Pizza Market, Dec. 21, 2021. The new restaurant is inside the Hopedale Industrial Park Airport. Hopedale Pizza Market opened Dec. 13 at 1 Menfi Way, the former spot of Lizs Diamond Bar & Grille, which closed last year after more than a decade in business. The restaurant is within the Hopedale Airport Industrial Park next to the town's first cannabis dispensary, High Hopes. High Hopes: Hopedale's first marijuana dispensary The 7,000-square-foot Hopedale Pizza Market will feature an informal restaurant side measured at about 2,000 square-feet, along with a bar and grill side that covers about 3,500 square feet, said Leung. The restaurant still needs to get a liquor license approved, which may take another two to three months, said Leung; once that's done, the bar and grill can open. Its kind of like having two restaurants under one roof, said Leung, who runs the business with Mike and Jackie Deloia, Steven Dubois and Mike Shah. Collectively, they run several other businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Leung, Mike Deloia and Dubois run Green Home Solutions, an indoor air quality company that's in the same plaza as the new pizzeria. The trio were always looking for a place to get lunch specifically, a slice of traditional Italian pizza and figured if no one else would sell it, they could. Ray Leung, left, Steven Dubois and Mike Deloia are three of the owners of the Hopedale Pizza Market, a new eatery at the Hopedale Industrial Park Airport, Dec. 21, 2021. When Lizs Diamond closed in May, Leung saw it as a prime opportunity to take the space. The group had begun pooling money about a year ago. Story continues The menu at Hopedale Pizza Market From pizza dough to salad dressings, nearly everything is made in-house, said General Manager Breno Sette, adding that local ingredients are used as often as possible. Being an affordable place to eat, especially for families, is also a key part of the strategy, said Leung. I want this to be the perfect place to bring the soccer team after a game, said Dubois. Many menu items contain local references, such as the Nipmuc Pizza, the Airport Porchetta Sandwich and Hopedale Salad. In addition to pizza, sandwiches and salads, the restaurants sells starters, calzones and dinners like shrimp scampi and eggplant alla parmigiana. The restaurant will change its menu every three months to keep it seasonal, said Dubois, and will offer specials like Pizza of the Day. Entrance to Hopedale Pizza Market, a new eatery at Hopedale Airport, Dec. 21, 2021. Some favorite menu items include: The Northshore Roast Beef sandwich, which features house-cooked roasted beef served rare, topped with James River BBQ and American cheese. Roast beef on the North Shore is much tastier, said Leung, and was something they wanted to replicate in Hopedale using thinly sliced, prime rib that "melts in your mouth." Both Leung and the restaurant's executive chef Milford resident Mike Desisto grew up on the North Shore. The Hoboken Sandwich, which features sweet Italian sausage, peppers, onions, provolone cheese and house marinara. The Parklands Pizza, which is a white pizza with garlic oil sauce, mushroom duxelles, mozzarella and romano cheese. The restaurant features nearly 600 seats, including 200 on the restaurant side and 66 outdoor patio seats, which owners hope to later decorate with lights and possibly heaters. Along with a few coin-operated arcade games and a jukebox, the restaurant's dining area features a mural painted by local Realtor Paul Rao, said Leung. It extends the entire length of the wall and features several local elements, including the Hopedale Airport, the Draper Corp. mill, the Little Red Shop and Southwicks Zoo. Heated outdoor dining: 20 Cozy MetroWest and Greater Milford restaurants A painting showing a few local attractions at Hopedale Pizza Market, a new eatery at Hopedale Ailrport, Dec. 21, 2021. The mural is the work of Hopkinton realtor Paul Rao. Its more of a comfortable feeling, said Leung, who grew up working at Medway Lotus formerly China Lotus in Medway before his family sold it about 15 years ago. Behind the counter is the owners pride and joy, said Leung, showing off a giant, domed brick oven pizza maker from Fiero Forni, an Italian brick oven supplier. When customers come in, they pass a window where they can watch pizzas being made. New Franklin cafe: Sweet (and savory) dream come true at the former Cake Bar spot Nick Leach slices pizza at Hopedale Pizza Market, Dec. 21, 2021. Behind him is a brick oven imported from Italy. It wont be your traditional sports bar' The bar and grill will feature a large martini bar, along with a wine display along the back wall, a small private area for functions like private meetings and a different menu. It wont be your traditional sports bar, said Leung. While the restaurant side doesn't have a bar, alcohol will be served on both sides, along with take-out and, eventually, catering. The Hopedale Pizza Market is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__. This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Looking for Italian pizza? Find it at this new pizzeria in Hopedale Local non-profit and civic organizations continue to support the community with charitable donations as well as activities that raise funds to support those activities. Here are just a few of their recent offerings to the community. Club collects for Humane Society The Greenbrier Garden Club recently collected items for donation to Colonial Capital Humane Society. The club collected several hundred dollars worth of dog food and monetary donations at their Christmas luncheon held Dec. 14. Two members of the Greenbrier Garden Club are pictured with collected donations for Colonial Capital Humane Society Concerts set for January in Pamlico County Described as John Hartford meets John Coltrane, Circus No. 9 combines music that blurs the lines between bluegrass, jazz, and rock. Celebrate the new year when these virtuosos take the stage at the Old Theater on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. On that same date, the band will conduct an performance at 2 p.m. at the Holt's Chapel Community Center, 136 Janiero Road, free and open to the public. Both events are sponsored by the Pamlico Musical Society. Tickets to the evening concert are $25 and are available in Oriental at Nautical Wheelers, 411 Broad Street or online at pamlicomusic.org. The Circus No. 9 Band will perform on Jan. 15 in Oriental A concert by the Georgia Guitar Quartet, presented by the Pamlico Musical Society will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 24, at the Oriental United Methodist Church. This event is free and open to the public. A reception and meet and greet will follow. The Georgia Guitar Quartet is a pioneering ensemble on the American chamber music and classical guitar scenes. Borrowing from both the past and present, the GGQ draws inspiration from classical masters such as Bach and Brahms, experimentalists in the vein of Cage and Stockhausen, and contemporary rock icons like Led Zeppelin and Radiohead. Georgia Guitar Quartet will be in concert on Jan. 24 in Oriental. Torchbearer Zeta Support Boys and Girls Clubs Torchbearer Zeta of the international sorority Beta Sigma Phi recently donated $520 to the Boys and Girls Clubs in Beaufort, Havelock, and Morehead City. In October the chapter donated food and money to the Havelock food pantry. The chapter will take part in the Trolley Tour in New Bern. The trolley tour includes a visit to the New Bern Academy Museum, Cedar Grove Cemetery, and Christ Episcopal Church. Beta Sigma Phi International is a non-academic sorority with members of all ages and educational backgrounds. Torchbearer Zeta is one of seven chapters in Carteret and Craven Counties who contribute monetarily and volunteer their time to causes in this area and nationally. Story continues Pictured are Martha Oyan, Torchbearer Zeta service chairman, Sedricka Courman, unit director for Boys and Girls Club Beaufort, and Sally Kelly, Ways and Means chairman. Group holds Duffyfield Cleanup At a recent clean-up of New Bern's Duffyfield, sponsored by the Duffyfield Phoenix Project Habitat for Humanity of Craven County led by Anne and Jim Schout and Pastor Robert Johnson cleaned assigned parts of Duffyfield. From left, Robert Benjamin, Hannah Mitchell, Charles Benjamin, Randy Straight and Maureen DeRosia. Companies collect and donate hygiene products for women Employee volunteers at the International Paper New Bern Mill gathered to assemble 375 feminine hygiene kits as a part of a United Way of Coastal Carolina and International Paper initiative to end period poverty in our community. The kits were delivered to school nurses, guidance counselors and principals in Craven, Jones and Pamlico Counties. With COVID-19 preventative measures in place and practiced, the International Paper volunteers packed kits that included products from some of the companys own customers. Kits included feminine care pads, pantiliners, feminine wipes and a note of encouragement, packed in an International Paper Kraft paper bag. For more information, visit unitedwaycoastalnc.org. From left, delivering feminine hygiene kits in Craven County Schools are Luanne Mack, assistant lead nurse, CCS; Maegan Harrison, assistant principal, WCMS; Amy Heflin, lead nurse, CCS; Tracey Monroe, assistant principal, WCMS; Jennifer Wagner, director of Public Relations, CCS; Stephanie Utley, school nurse, WCMS; Mike Swain, director of Student Services, CCS; Catherine Burgess, International Paper; and Mark Devanney. Religious Community Services. Good Shepherd Nursing Home receive donations The 35th United States Colored Troop recently adopted Good Shepherd Nursing Home. The group was happy to bring joy and smiles to the residents with their donation. Most state-supported nursing home facilities receive limited outside support. The troop is asking for anyone to help by providing a monetary donation, essential clothing and goods to the residents at this home. Pictured, members of the 35th United States Colored Troop with Sharon Bryant and Mayor Dana Outlaw recently donated to residents at Good Shepherd Nursing Home This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Local non-profit and civic organizations support New Bern community For decades, the Orient Express dazzled travelers thanks to an unforgettable combination of luxury and adventure. Fortunately, magic will return to the rails once again in 2023 when the fabled Orient Express returns to Italy. Upon opening its doors in 2023, the Orient Express La Dolce Vita will feature six trains that will lead passengers on itineraries spanning more than 14 regions. It is thrilling to be bringing the refined nomadic spirit of Orient Express back to life for a new generation of travelers," said Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles and Orient Express, Accor, in a statement. "The original train route was innovative in the way it paradoxically brought cultures together the Occident with the Orient, history with modernity. As artisans of travel, we wish to revive this old-world, awe-inspiring journey to elsewhere and reconcile certain paradoxes: a journey and a destination, astonishment and inspiration, movement and contemplation." On the decor end, Dimorestudio, a global architectural and design studio, will incorporate the craftsmanship, design and creativity of the 1960s and 1970s into the trains' cabins, suites and restaurants. Additionally, the 5-star service on board the Orient Express La Dolce Vita will come courtesy of renowned local and international chefs and sommeliers. Booking information and pricing for the Orient Express La Dolce Vita have yet to be announced. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram . You Might Also Like After weeks of speculation, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson finally confirmed the truth about the finger injury he suffered in Week 5. On Thursday, Wilson told reporters that his finger did not heal completely by the time he returned against the Green Bay Packers. Was I 100 percent? Definitely not, Wilson said, per the Seattle Times Bob Condotta. But at the same time, you go out there and learn as much as you can learn, play as hard as you can, and try and help us win, but unfortunately it didnt go that way. That last bit is certainly an understatement, as Wilson looked like a shell of himself in his first three games back from injury. However, he stated that his finger felt markedly better six weeks from the time his finger collided with Aaron Donalds helmet, or around the Week 11 game against the Arizona Cardinals. I would say that I really felt good at the sixth week, maybe, I felt really good coming back, he said. Im not sure exactly the date or the games, but I was feeling really great. Then over the past several games, the ball is coming out of my hands great, I feel really good, and Im really confident. After steadily improving in victories against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, Wilson played awfully in Seattles most recent defeat against the Los Angeles Rams, completing only 17 of 31 passes for 156 yards and an interception while missing quite a few opportunities, particularly to wide receiver DK Metcalf. At 33 years old, his struggles may be beyond his finger injury. The 2021 season is all but over for the Seahawks and Wilsons future in the Emerald City is murky. The trade rumors are circulating once again and we will see if this is actually Wilsons last hurrah in the blue and green this offseason. Related ESPN floats scenario where Seahawks trade Russell Wilson to Saints List An Ariane 5 rocket lifts off with the James Webb Space Telescope. (ESA / CNES / Arianespace / JM Guillon) The most expensive telescope in the known universe has begun its journey to a vantage point a million miles from Earth with its launch from French Guiana. Todays liftoff of an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Space Agencys South American spaceport, coming at 9:20 a.m. local time (4:20 a.m. PT), was just the first step of whats expected to be a monthlong trip for NASAs $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. Everything fell together on this Christmas Day to send a new present to the worlds astronomers, NASA launch commentator Rob Navias said. Flight controllers broke into applause when the telescope separated from the Ariane 5s second stage. Go Webb! range operations manager Jean-Luc Voyer cried. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson noted that the James Webb Space Telescope is designed to look back to an age when the first stars and galaxies formed, more than 13.5 billion years ago. Its a time machine, Nelson said. Its going to take us back to the very beginnings of the universe. We are going to discover incredible things that we never imagined. JWST is due to settle into a region of space known as the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2, or L2, where the gravitational pulls of Earth and the sun align to help keep spacecraft in a stable position within Earths shadow. Along the way, the telescope will have to unfurl its sunshield and its segmented mirror in a process thats said to have 344 potential single points of failure. We have LIFTOFF of the @NASAWebb Space Telescope! At 7:20am ET (12:20 UTC), the beginning of a new, exciting decade of science climbed to the sky. Webbs mission to #UnfoldTheUniverse will change our understanding of space as we know it. pic.twitter.com/Al8Wi5c0K6 NASA (@NASA) December 25, 2021 NASAs project, taken on in partnership with ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, had to weather billions of dollars in cost overruns and years of delay. When the project was conceived in the 1990s, the Ariane 5 was the only rocket powerful enough to conduct the liftoff, which meant the telescope had to be transported by ship to the launch site. Story continues Just days before liftoff, a communications glitch and weather worries forced the launch to be rescheduled for Christmas complicating holiday plans for astronomers around the world. Because of the telescopes far-off destination, it cant be repaired by a crew of astronauts after launch. Theres no opportunity to fix any optical shortcomings, as was the case after the Hubble Space Telescopes deployment. Making sure the telescope is as fail-safe as possible is one big reason for the $10 billion cost. Those who are not worried or even terrified about this are not understanding what we are trying to do, Thomas Zurbuchen, NASAs associate administrator for science, said in a pre-launch blog post. What NASA is trying to do is take astronomy to a level beyond whats achievable with Hubble, which is currently in its 32nd year of operation. To get there, scientists and engineers designed a telescope with a gold-plated, beryllium mirror so big (6.5 meters or 21.3 feet wide) that it had to be folded up origami-style for launch. The Webb telescopes 18-segment mirror has almost seven times the light-gathering capability of Hubbles mirror, and a significantly wider field of view. NASA says Webbs instruments are 100 times more sensitive than Hubbles. JWST is optimized for infrared observations, which are particularly suited for studying the dusty places where planets are born, and the redshifted edges of the observable universe. James Davenport, an astronomer at the University of Washington who played a role in selecting which projects will get the telescopes observation time, said JWST should open a new window on the universe. Astronomers at UW have been making predictions of what JWST will observe for years, he said in an email. From measuring the atmosphere compositions from nearby extrasolar planets, searching for Planet 9, and even studying individual stars in other galaxies. He said he and his colleagues at UW will be watching the telescopes journey to L2 with bated breath, but without a sense of impending doom. Honestly, Im not nervous at all, Davenport said. The very best minds have been working on this facility for almost my entire life the delays have been to make sure everything goes smooth. UW astronomer Emily Levesque was up early Christmas morning for the launch. Great to see the launch go so beautifully, and that call of Separation Webb Space Telescope, GO WEBB! was spectacular and emotional to hear, she told GeekWire in an email. We got a beautiful view of JWST as it separated and opened its solar array, and now the long adventure of deployment and the journal to L2 begins. Back to bed over here for a couple hours, but hooray!! Here it is: humanitys final look at @NASAWebb as it heads into deep space to answer our biggest questions. Alone in the vastness of space, Webb will soon begin an approximately two-week process to deploy its antennas, mirrors, and sunshield. #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/DErMXJhNQd NASA (@NASA) December 25, 2021 Update for 10:20 a.m. Dec. 25: In a post-launch follow-up email, UW astronomer James Davenport admitted to feeling a sense of relief: Well, a very merry Christmas for all astronomers this morning!! Its a big sigh of relief and joy to see this mighty telescope begin its journey. Already astronomers are chattering about how to catch a glimpse of JWST as it travels to L2 with telescopes on the ground! Even at its parking position, we should be able to see JWST with our observatories on the ground, and maybe even in space with a near-Earth facility like TESS! Its a silly, but incredibly human reaction to such a monumental thing as Webb, wanting to catch a glimpse. Five fast facts about JWST The telescope was named after the late NASA Administrator James Webb, who led the space agency from 1961 to 1968. Some astronomers have called for Webbs name to be removed, saying that he went along with government discrimination against LGTBQ employees in the 1950s and 1960s. But NASA says the name is here to stay. JWST was built by Northrop Grumman under the supervision of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, and had to be shipped from California to French Guiana via the Panama Canal. Details about the trip were kept under wraps, in part to frustrate pirates who might seek to hold the telescope hostage. Under the terms of its partnership with NASA, the European Space Agency was guaranteed at least 15% of the observing time. (It got 30%.) The telescope has four science instruments: the Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam; the Near-Infrared Spectrograph, or NIRSpec; the Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI; and the Canadian Space Agencys Fine Guidance Sensor / Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph, or FGS/NIRISS. JWSTs mirror and detectors will have to be cooled down to a temperature of about 388 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (40 Kelvin or -233 degrees Celsius) to operate properly. Thats a big challenge, since solar radiation is expected to heat up the hot side of the telescopes sunshield to near-boiling temperatures, as high as 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). The telescope is designed for at least five and a half years of operation (six months for calibration, plus five years of science operations), but scientists are hoping itll be around far longer. The limiting factor is expected to be fuel to maintain its halo orbit at L2. Theres enough fuel for at least 10 years, and its theoretically possible to refuel the spacecraft if NASA really, really wants to. More from GeekWire: Weather report. The National Weather Service in Great Falls issued a Wind Chill Warning for Great Falls and the surrounding areas Sunday, forecasting dangerously cold minimum temperatures through Monday afternoon. Areas of the Hi-Line and the Rocky Mountain Front were expected to see the lowest temperatures with wind chill, falling as low as 50 degrees below zero. To the northwest of Great Falls, Browning, Cut Bank, Logan Pass, Marias Pass and Heart Butte could see wind-chill lows down to -50. On the Hi-Line, temps down to -45 with wind chill were forecasted for Hays, Harlem, Brady, Shelby, Rudyard, Rocky Boy, Whitlash, Havre, Chester, Chinook, Conrad and Sunburst. Areas in central Montana from Great Falls to Lewistown as well as Cascade, Big Sandy, Fort Benton, Augusta, Fairfield and Choteau were expected to see wind chills dip to around -35 through Monday. Forecasted lows with wind chill listed by NWS Great Falls include: Great Falls: -29 Helena: -24 Havre: -41 Cut Bank: -45 Lewistown: -39 Fort Benton: -32The Wind Chill Warning will remain in effect until 5 p.m. Monday, according to NWS Great Falls. A Winter Weather Advisory was also in effect until Sunday, which the weather service expected to bring 2-3 inches of snow in the Great Falls area, 1-2 inches in Lewistown and 3-4 inches in Havre. At -20F wind chill temperature, frostbite can occur in 30 minutes, NWS Great Falls posted on social media Sunday. At -40F wind chill temperature, frostbite can occur in as little as 5-10 minutes. Be safe and stay warm! NWS Great Falls also warned residents to mind their pets and livestock during this wind-chill event.To find the latest forecasts, follow @NWSGreatFalls on Twitter or facebook.com/NWSGreatFalls. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Dangerous low wind chills expected in Great Falls, region Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. PATNA: At least six labourers were killed and many others seriously injured after boilers at a noodle-making factory in Bihar`s Muzaffarpur district exploded. The explosion reportedly took place around 10 PM on Saturday and was so intense that its noise was heard 5 km away from the spot. Due to the impact of the explosion, an adjoining flour mill was also destroyed and two labourers sleeping inside also sustained injuries. Confirming the development, District Magistrate Pranav Kumar had earlier told reporters, ''Five people have died and six injured in boiler blast in a noodle factory in Muzaffarpur. Further investigation is underway.'' Bihar | Five people have died & six injured in boiler blast in a noodle factory in Muzaffarpur. Further investigation is underway: District Magistrate Pranav Kumar pic.twitter.com/wUakaFhMtd ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021 However, the death toll later rose to six, Muzaffarpur Magistrate Pranav Kumar confirmed while talking to reporters. Bihar | The death toll in Muzaffarpur boiler blast rises to 6, confirms District Magistrate Pranav Kumar ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021 The factory is located in the Bela Industrial area of Muzaffarpur. While a rescue operation is still underway to remove the debris, sources said that more than 10 bodies are trapped inside the factory. Jayant Kant, Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police, who was among the first to visit the spot, said, "We have recovered six bodies from the debris so far. Besides, five persons also sustained injuries and are admitted to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital. "The rescue operation is currently underway. Firefighters and police personnel are removing the debris. The exact number of deaths is not ascertained yet,'' he added. Meanwhile, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased in the boiler blast incident at a private factory in Muzaffarpur district. He also directed the authorities to help those injured in the incident and sought a detailed report from the police. Live TV New Delhi: RBL Bank's Vishawvir Ahuja has stepped down as MD & CEO of the bank, and the bank has appointed Rajeev Ahuja as as the interim Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank with immediate effect. The Reserve Bank of India has also appointed its Chief General Manager Yogesh K Dayal as an additional director on the board of RBL Bank. RBL Bank in a regulatory filing said that the board of the bank has accepted "the request of Vishwavir Ahuja to proceed on leave with immediate effect". The board in a meeting held on Saturday appointed Rajeev Ahuja (currently the Executive Director) as interim Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank with immediate effect, subject to the regulatory and other approvals, the bank said. The other terms and conditions of his appointment, such as remuneration, would remain unchanged. The bank said it received a communication from the Reserve Bank on December 24, and appointed its Chief General Manager Yogesh K Dayal as an additional director on the board of RBL Bank for a period of two years, with effect from December 24, 2021 till December 23, 2023 or till further orders. "We wish to mention that the bank is well placed to execute its business plan and strategy as communicated during our earnings call dated October 28, 2021. The business and financial trajectory continues to be on improving trend, post absorbing the challenges due to Covid 2 pandemic," the bank said. The financials of the bank remain robust with healthy capital adequacy of 16.3 per cent, high levels of liquidity as reflected through Liquidity Coverage Ratio of 155 per cent, stable net NPA of 2.14 per cent, credit deposit ratio of 74.1 per cent and leverage ratio of 10 per cent, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, it said. In addition, the bank has also improved the granularity of its deposits and advances, RBL Bank said. Bank employee unions' umbrella body AIBEA had written a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressing concern that everything was not right at RBL Bank and it was going the Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank way. "We are worried and concerned about the developments that are taking place in the affairs of RBL Bank Ltd, the Kolhapur based private bank. "The sequence of events leading to the sudden exit of Vishwavir Ahuja along with induction of Dayal from RBI on the board as additional member indicates that everything is not ok with the bank," AIBEA said in its letter to the Finance Minister. Vishwavir had been heading the private sector bank for the last one decade. While the board recommended his continuation, it is learnt that RBI has agreed only for a short term up to 2022, AIBEA said further. There are also reports that the bank has been over indulging in retail credit, micro-financing and credit cards and consequently has burnt its finger resulting in weakening the financials of the bank, it said. Also Read: Retro Tax: Cairn drops lawsuits against Indian govt in US, UK; completing formalities in Paris, Netherlands "In the background of the problems encountered by private banks like Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank last year, we urge upon you to immediately intervene in the matter in the interest of the depositors of this private sector bank and consider necessary steps including merger of this bank with a public sector bank," AIBEA's letter to Sitharaman urged. Also Read: Flipkarts Realme Year End Sale now live: Check offers on GT Neo 2 5G, GT Master Edition, Realme 8 Live TV #mute New Delhi: India has imposed antidumping duties on five Chinese products, including certain aluminium goods and some chemicals, for five years to guard local manufacturers from cheap imports from the neighbouring country. According to separate notifications of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the duties have been imposed on certain flat rolled products of aluminium; sodium hydrosulphite (used on dye industry); silicone sealant (used in manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules, and thermal power applications); hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) component R-32; and hydrofluorocarbon blends (both have uses in refrigeration industry). These duties were imposed following recommendations of the commerce ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). The DGTR in separate probes have concluded that these products have been exported at a price below normal value in Indian markets, which has resulted in dumping. The domestic industry has suffered material injury due to the dumping, the DGTR has said. "The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification (on Silicone Sealant ) shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and shall be payable in Indian currency," the CBIC has said. The CBIC has also imposed the duty on a vehicle component - Axle for Trailers in CKD/SKD (complete and semi knocked down) to protect domestic makers from cheap Chinese imports. Similarly it has also slapped the duty on imports of calcined gypsum powder from Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for five years. While DGTR recommends the duty to be levied, the finance ministry imposes it. Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime. Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. Both India and China are members of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). India has initiated maximum anti-dumping cases against dumped imports from China. Also Read: GST changes implementing from Jan 1: Heres all you need to know India's exports to China during the April-September 2021 period were worth USD 12.26 billion while imports aggregated at USD 42.33 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 30.07 billion. Also Read: 5 smartphones launching in January 2022: OnePlus 10 Pro, Vivo V23, Realme GT 2 Pro, and more Live TV #mute New Delhi: The central government has encouraged the general people to submit ideas/suggestions for the Annual Budget 2022-23 via its online portal MyGov.in. The government is attempting to make the Budget tabulation process more "participatory and democratic by bringing it closer to the people of India." Every year, the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, welcomes citizen recommendations to make the budget-making process more participatory and inclusive. Anyone who wants to submit an idea must first register on MyGov.in. The platform's suggestion submission deadline is January 7. The suggestions received will be presented to Parliament during the next session. On December 26, the Finance Ministry encouraged the general public to contribute their thoughts and comments on the next budget. Heres how to submit ideas: Step 1: Go to MyGov.in. Step 2: Enter your personal information, such as your name, state, email address, and phone number. Step 3: Choose a category, such as the type of budget idea you wish to submit, such as tax-related or others. Step 4: Share your ideas in no more than 500 words. Step 5: Click the Submit button. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Gujarat has topped the composite ranking in the Good Governance Index (GGI), followed by Maharashtra and Goa while Uttar Pradesh showed an incremental growth of 8.9 percent in the indicators launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the occasion of the Good Governance Day on Saturday (December 25, 2021). As many as 20 states have improved their composite GGI scores in 2021, according to the index. Gujarat topped the composite ranking in the 58 indicator index followed by Maharashtra and Goa. Uttar Pradesh has registered an 8.9 percent improvement in the GGI indicators in the period 2019 to 2021 which Jammu and Kashmir registered an improvement of 3.7 percent in the same period, it said. Delhi has topped the union territories category composite ranking. Shah released the GGI 2021 prepared by the Department of Administration Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) on Good Governance Day at Vigyan Bhawan here. On this occasion, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said that the GGI would help assess the status of governance in states and union territories. The objectives of GGI are to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and union territories, enable them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance and shift to result-oriented approaches and administration. December 25 is observed as the good governance day to commemorate the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The GGI-2021 said that Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa topped the composite rank score covering 10 sectors. While Gujarat registered a 12.3 percent increase, Goa registered a 24.7 percent increase over GGI 2019 indicators. Gujarat has performed strongly in economic governance, human resource development, public infrastructure and utilities, social welfare and development, judiciary and public safety while Maharashtra scored in agriculture and allied sector, human resource development, public infrastructure and utilities, social welfare and development. Goa's showed good performance was in agriculture and allied sector, commerce and industry, public infrastructure and utilities, economic governance, social welfare and development and environment. Among the sectors, Uttar Pradesh secured top position in commerce and industry sector and has also shown an increase in social welfare and development and judiciary and public safety. It also performed in citizen-centric governance including public grievance redressal. The GGI 2021 framework covered 10 sectors and 58 indicators. The sectors are agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industries, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure and utilities, economic governance, social welfare and development, judicial and public security, environment and citizen-centric governance. The GGI 2020-21 categorises states and union territories into four categories, -- other states - Group A; other states - group B; North-East and hill states and union territories. The GGI 2021 said that Jharkhand showed incremental growth of 12.6 per cent over GGI 2019 performance. It has performed strongly in seven of the 10 sectors. Rajasthan's incremental growth of 1.7 per cent was over the GGI 2019 performance. It has topped the other states (Group B) category in judiciary and public safety, environment and citizen centric governance. In the Northeast and Hill States category, Mizoram, and Jammu and Kashmir have registered an overall increase of 10.4 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively over GGI 2019. Mizoram has performed strongly in commerce and industry, human resource development, public health and economic governance. Jammu and Kashmir has performed strongly in commerce and industry sector and has improved its scores in agriculture and allied sector, public infrastructure and utilities and judiciary and public safety sectors. The GGI 2021 said that in the union territories category, Delhi tops the composite rank registering a 14 per cent increase over the GGI 2019 indicators. Delhi has performed strongly in agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industry, public infrastructure and utilities and social welfare and development. The GGI 2021 said that 20 states have improved their composite GGI scores over the GGI 2019 index scores. The sector-wise scores attained by the states and union territories indicates that strong performance in one or the other sector. Analysis of scoring also suggests that there is a very marginal difference among the states in their composite governance scores. This indicates that overall governance in the states of India is moving in the positive direction. Live TV Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) today arrested UP perfume trader Piyush Jain, after a total Rs 187 crore cash was recovered from his factory and residence. Jain, promotor of Odochem Industries of Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested under the relevant charges of tax law. A joint team of DGGI and Local Central GST has recovered Rs 5 crores from Jain`s factory, while another Rs 5 crore has been recovered from his residence in Kannauj, official sources told news agency ANI today. According to officials, after Kanpur, they took Jain to his factory and residence in Kannauj which resulted in a cash recovery of Rs 10 crore. By Sunday morning the agency recovered a total of Rs of 187.45 crore. Another source supervising the search told ANI that DGGI has recovered unaccounted raw material and finished product worth crores. Unaccounted sandalwood oil, perfumes worth crores have been seized from Jain`s factory. Interrogation of Jain is on and his statement is being recorded.As per sources, when the DGGI and Local Central GST team reached Jain`s premises on day one of the searches, he ran away and came back after two hours on several calls by investigating officers. Officials believe that Jain returned back after getting advice from his `associates` and `lawyers` on to what to reveal about the huge cash recovery. Officials told ANI that Jain is giving unconvincing explanations about the cash recovery. He said this "cash belongs to his relatives and brothers." He had taken names of some of his relatives and brothers, but when investigating officers questioned the relatives whose names were taken, they denied Jain`s claims. Officials said that no one from Jain`s relatives came forward to accept his claim. Jain`s brothers have also denied the claim of Piyush Jain. Officials said that they are trying to get the details of huge cash recovered from the promoter of Odochem Industries. Search is still on in Kanpur and Kannauj and investigation will continue until they find the real beneficiary of the cash seized from the premises of Jain."We want to know the source of such huge cash. Live TV New Delhi: BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a campaigning spree in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh these days, on Sunday (December 26) said that the Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party (SP) is dreaming of coming back to power in the state and stopping Ramjanmabhoomi work in Ayodhya. Addressing a rally in UPs Jalaun, Shah said, Samajwadi Party is dreaming that it will come to power again in Uttar Pradesh & they will stop the ongoing works at Ram Janmabhoomi. Akhilesh Ji, no one can stop the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. #WATCH Samajwadi Party is dreaming that it will come to power again in Uttar Pradesh & they will stop the ongoing works at Ram Janmabhoomi. Akhilesh Ji, no one can stop the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Orai, Jalaun pic.twitter.com/0DV8HDccRj ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) December 26, 2021 The leader also accused the Samajwadi Party of killing and thrashing the karsevaks during the 1996 Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which led to the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Talking about Uttar Pradeshs law and order situation, Shah said that there has been an exodus of miscreants and unsocial elements from the state that was once known for its lawlessness under SP rule. "Earlier, the law-and-order situation was so bad, people used to hesitate in sending their children to schools. But in five years of Yogi Adityanath government, all goons have made an exodus from UP, said Shah. The union minister also accused the BSP and the SP of playing caste politics and not working for development when they governed the state. "It was Kalyan Singh, who first spoke about good governance in Uttar Pradesh. Kalyan Singh was the first to speak about the backward class people in Uttar Pradesh, and it was he who gave rights to the people of the backward castes," Shah said. Uttar Pradesh, the highest populous and politically significant state is scheduled to go to the polls in 2022. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Election Commission will convene a meeting with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry on Monday (December 26) to discuss the current Covid situation in the five poll-bound states, sources said. A source said that the Commission will discuss the current Covid situation for poll-bound states and will seek an update on the new Covid variant Omicron from Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. The commission is also likely to seek suggestions on improving the Covid protocol for poll campaigning, polling days, and others. Assembly elections are due in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Punjab in 2022, and the schedule is likely to be announced in the first week of January, said the source. The Chief Election Commissioner and other officials are scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh - the largest of the five - to take stock of the poll preparedness in the state on Tuesday. An Allahabad High Court bench on Thursday had urged the government to consider postponing the Assembly elections in UP for a month or two and banning all political rallies amid rising Covid cases on daily basis. Meanwhile, India continues to report a rise in daily Covid caseload. A total of 6,987 fresh cases were reported in a span of 24 hours across the nation on Sunday. As per the Health Ministry report, with 162 more fatalities reported, the total death toll has climbed to 4,79,682. The Omicron infection tally has also climbed at 422 across the nation. However, out of total Omicron positive, 130 have been discharged. So far total of 17 states have reported the new Covid variant, said the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Live TV Amethi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday (December 25, 2021) said it was for the first time during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee tenure that the government began proactively thinking of and implementing basic social welfare schemes like those for providing potable water, health, education and roads, missing since Independence. The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways made the remark while laying the foundation stone for a 47-km stretch of national highway project worth Rs 753 crore and dedicating to people four other projects in Amethi on the 97th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Vajpayee. In a subtle dig at the Congress and Samajwadi Party, Gadkari said the BJP is not a "pariwarwadi" (dynastic) party but a party of its workers and attributed his rise to the post of a Union minister to the fact that "the BJP belongs to its workers". That is why, he said, "I was able to occupy a chair by the side of late Prime Minister Vajpayee" despite not having "any MLA mother or MP father" and despite being an "ordinary party worker, doing the job of painting party posters on walls and campaigning for party on loudspeakers on rickshaws". Gadkari whom Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described as "harbinger of road revolution" in the country and whom his Cabinet colleague and Amethi MP Smriti Irani described as the "leader" of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, also talked of how Vajpayee roped him into his vision for roads to villages. Gadkari recalled that it was Vajpayee who, after seeing his road-building work in Maharashtra, asked him to prepare a report to link the country's villages with roads. "I subsequently prepared a project report on the subject and Vajpayee began its implementation," he said. "It is because of Vajpayee's vision that out of 6.5 lakh villages of India, over five lakhs have been connected to the nearest towns and cities today by roads," said Gadkari. Alleging a dismal situation in the education and health sector during the pre-Vajpayee era, Gadkari said in the field of education, either buildings or teachers or students remained missing and even when all three were there, the "education itself stayed missing". Similarly, in the health sector, either hospital or doctors and nurses or medicines used to be missing, and even when all three were there, people lacked trust in them and did not go for treatment, said Gadkari. Later in Pratapgarh, Gadkari laid the foundation stone of a 14-kilometre-long bypass. Speaking on this occasion, Gadkari said, "The work done in five years by Yogi (Adityanath) and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, was not done in 50 years." He also said Congress and SP have been rattled by the construction of the Kashi Vishvanath Corridor. Addressing the rally (in Amethi), Irani recalled that in 2014, when Gadkari had first visited Amethi, people here had fervently pleaded to him that now that there was the Narendra Modi government in the Centre, it must fulfil their 30-year-old demand of a bypass road for the city. And Gadkari had promised them that he would visit Amethi again only with this gift, said Irani, adding it is not a chance that Gadkari has come here again only to gift the people here the bypass road as a stretch of the national highway. Talking of her work as Amethi MP, Irani said she was revealing it for the first time that she has been able to implement various developmental projects worth Rs 83,000 crore in Amethi during her short tenure as its MP. Talking of a recent visit of Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi to Amethi, Irani said the brother-sister duo had come here saying that they will stay here for two days but returned in two and half hours only. And during their visit, unable to have people accompany them and welcome them here, they had brought people from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Sant Kabir Nagar and these outsiders went to the extent of misbehaving with local people here, she alleged. Referring to Priyanka Gandhi poll slogan of "Ladki hoon, Lad sakti hoon", Irani lamented that it was an irony that women and girls of Amethi never got toilets during the 70-year regime of the Congress and they got this basic civic amenity under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi only. She also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying it is his audacity that he does not mind insulting people taking a dip in the Ganga -- a reference to PM Modi's bath in the river in Varanasi -- and get the courage to ask the meaning of Hindutva from those who have Lord Ram living in their hearts and minds. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (December 26, 2021) addressed the nation through his monthly radio programme `Mann Ki Baat`. In his address, the prime minister said, Our country has achieved 'unprecedented feat' if its vaccination data are compared with those from across the world. This `Mann Ki Baat` was the 84th episode of the programme and the last edition of the year. PM Modi also stressed the power of self-awareness and self-discipline to fight Omicron. "We must remember that a new variant of Covid-19 Omicron has knocked on our doors. To defeat this global pandemic our effort as citizens is important," PM Modi said. "We must remember that a new variant of COVID19 #Omicron has knocked our doors. To defeat this global pandemic our effort as citizens is important," PM Modi said in 'Mann Ki Baat' Source: DD News pic.twitter.com/YcrKPxBFdk ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021 The Prime Minister also lauded India for standing together as a family amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. India stood together as a family amid pandemic, said PM Modi. India is fighting COVID-19 thanks to the spirited effort by our Jan Shakti. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/N7VXOkt7BB PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 26, 2021 PM Modi also stated that the scientists in the nation are constantly studying the new Omicron variant. Every day they are getting new data, their suggestions are being worked on, he said. In such a case, self-awareness and self-discipline are the powers the country has against this variant of Corona. Only our collective strength will defeat Corona and it is with this sense of responsibility that we have to enter 2022, he added. PM Modi also recalled CDS Bipin Rawat and Group Captain Varun Sigh, who died in the IAF chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, during his Mann Ki Baat address. Group Captain Varun Singh struggled until his last breath, he was felicitated with Shaurya Chakra in August 2021. He had also written a letter to his school principal & did not forget his roots & learnings. In his letter, he had highlighted his failures & mediocrity, said PM Modi. Additionally, PM Modi also announced that he will be joining students, teachers and parents soon in 'Pariksha Par Charcha'. Every year I discuss various subjects with students in 'Pariksha Par Charcha', this year also I will have discussions before exams. Under this, an online competition will also be organised for the students of class 9th to 12th, said PM Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat'. Like every year, we will have Pariksha Pe Charcha early next year... #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/rBKfH3qVd8 PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 26, 2021 "Mann ki Baat" is the Prime Minister's monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app Live TV New Delhi: Pakistans Peshawar High Court has directed the Sikhs living in the country to possess a renewable license for wearing kirpan in the court and government departments, a move which has evoked sharp criticism from the Sikh community across the world. India's Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has condemned the ban and has appealed to the Imran Khan-led government to resolve the issue immediately. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has also urged the Indian government to contact the neighbouring country to resolve the issue. Detailing the significance of kirpan for Sikhs, Dhami said, "For amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs, the kirpan is one of the important five kakars, wearing which was must as per the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of religious conduct)." He added that kirpan is not a knife or a dagger but a symbol of faith for the Sikhs. "The decision of the Peshawar High Court has caused great resentment in the minds of Sikhs. The Sikhs have settled all over the world and now the governments of different countries have also allowed them to wear a kirpan. Pakistan had been a part of India before 1947, so the people living there are well aware of the Sikh history and traditions," Dhami said further. In India, Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution gives the right to the Sikhs to wear a kirpan at all times. In response to a petition filed in the Peshawar High Court by Sikh representative Baba Ji Gurpal Singh seeking to allow Sikhs to wear the kirpan in all the courts and in the government offices, the court, while declaring kirpan (sword) as a weapon, gave the said permission to the minority community but under the 'Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arms Police - 2012'. This, however, means that Sikhs in KPK will have to get a license for wearing kirpan in courts and government offices. Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) national spokesperson RP Singh has condemned the order and said that it has hurt the sentiments of the community across the world. "The court said that this knife-sword cannot be kept without a license, it is not a sword, but a kirpan that we have got because of Guru Ji's grace," he has said. Singh has also written a letter to the High commissioner of Pakistan to convey the community's concern. He has stated that it would be highly appreciable if the Pakistan government immediately intervenes and have the Peshawar court orders reversed "so that the Sikh community could enjoy a similar religious freedom as they enjoy worldwide". Live TV Chandigarh: Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya on Saturday said the dismissed head constable killed in the Ludhiana court blast had links with Khalistani elements and terror outfits, and some Pakistan-based entities could be behind the incident. The DGP told reporters Gagandeep Singh (31), who was dismissed from service in 2019, had gone to the washroom of the courts complex to assemble the bomb and plant it somewhere. He was alone in the washroom when the bomb went off. Gagandeep was posted as a "munshi" at a police station in Khanna, his native place, and was sacked in connection with a drug case, Chattopadhyaya said. He was arrested by the anti-drug special task force for carrying 385 gm of heroin and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2019. He spent two years in jail and was currently out on bail. The next hearing in the case was scheduled for December 24, a day after the blast, the officer said. During his time in jail, he probably came in contact with some bad elements, police said. Citing the initial probe, Chattopadhyaya said Gagandeep had links with Khalistani elements, both within Punjab and abroad, terror outfits, mafia groups as well as narcotic smugglers. He said further details will be disclosed later. To a question about Pakistan's involvement in the blast, the DGP said police have "full suspicion" but he could not say so conclusively. The leads gathered so far indicate that someone sitting and operating in Pakistan could be behind it, he added. Asked if Pakistan-based pro-Khalistani organisations could have had a role in the blast, Chattopadhyaya said there were indications of links to Khalistani elements and narco-terrorism. Gagandeep was facing a narcotics case and his link with the mafia was also established, he said. The DGP said the explosive used in the blast was the kind that only terrorists have and it might have come from across the border. He said the blast was the biggest example of the "dangerous cocktail" of terrorism, organised crime, mafia and narcotics. Asked if RDX was used in the bomb, Chattopadhyaya said the material has been sent for examination and the type of explosive used will be known after the report comes. "I cannot say conclusively what the (explosive) material was," he said, adding that it was unlikely to be RDX. Replying to another question, the DGP said Gagandeep was "technically sound" when he was serving in the police. "He was very good with computers and technical material," he said. Ruling out the human bomb angle, Chattopadhyaya said, "It appears that he went there (washroom) to connect some wires and to place it (the bomb) somewhere. It was not the concept of a human bomb." "The posture in which he was sitting, he did not go to the washroom to use it. He was using the washroom to assemble it . He was alone there," the officer said. Chattopadhyaya said during the course of the post-mortem, police were able to identify him from his tattoo mark on the right arm. Separately, the DNA samples of the body were also collected, he added. According to Gagandeep's wife Jaspreet Kaur, her husband had left home around 9.30 am on the day of the blast and his mobile phone was switched off ever since. She recognised the tattoo mark on the arm of Gagandeep and the apparel worn by him. Referring to the alleged sacrilege bid at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the DGP said a case of sacrilege had been registered and an SIT led by a DCP is investigating the matter. The SIT will submit its report shortly, he said. He said that the man who was beaten to death for his alleged sacrilege bid had not been identified yet. Regarding another such incident in Kapurthala, the DGP said it did not turn out to be a case of desecration and the man, who was mercilessly beaten to death, probably entered the gurdwara with the intention of theft. He said a murder case has been registered in this regard. Live TV New Delhi: Amid the increase in the cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday informed that India has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.40 lakh ICU beds and 90,000 special beds for children. "Today, the nation has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.4 lakh ICU beds and 90,000 special beds for kids," the Prime Minister said while addressing the nation on Saturday night. "Today, we have over 3,000 functional PSA Oxygen plants and 4 lakh cylinders have been provided to all states," he said. Amid concerns over rising Omicron cases of COVID-19 variant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people not to panic and be alert. "In India, many people have been found to be infected with Omicron. I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to wash hands and mask," the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation. My address to the nation. https://t.co/dBQKvHXPtv Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2021 As per the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 7,189 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the nationwide case tally of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has reached 415. Amid the Omicron scare and surge in cases in various parts of the country, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday said that multi-disciplinary Central teams would be deployed in ten identified states. "A decision has been taken to deploy multi-disciplinary Central teams to 10 identified States some of which are either reporting an increasing number of Omicron and COVID-19 cases or slow vaccination pace," the Union Health Ministry said in an official statement. Multi-disciplinary Central teams are to be deployed in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Punjab. These teams will be stationed in the states for three to five days and will work along with the State Health Authorities. As per the Ministry, these teams will specifically look at areas of contact tracing, including surveillance, containment operations, and COVID-19 testing including sending of adequate samples from clusters to the INSACOG network for genome sequencing. The teams will also be responsible for the enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behaviors, availability of hospital beds, sufficient logistics including ambulances, ventilators, medical oxygen etc, and COVID-19 vaccination progress in the states. "The State level central teams will assess the situation, suggest remedial actions and submit a report every evening by 7 PM on the public health activities being undertaken to both the Central and state government," the statement further read. As per the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 7,189 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the nationwide case tally of the Omicron variant of coronavirus reached 415 on Saturday. Live TV New Delhi: The Omicron reached Madhya Pradesh after eight cases of the coronavirus variant were reported in the state on Sunday (December 26). The cases have been found in Indore and is the first time that the new variant has been reported in the state. "Eight Omicron cases have been found in Indore. Out of these patients, six have recovered and have been discharged while two are undergoing treatment, Mishra, who is the state government's spokesman, told reporters. According to the state government, around 3,000 people recently returned to Indore from abroad and 26 of them were found to be infected with the coronavirus. "Omicron was confirmed in the genome sequencing of eight of these people," Mishra added. The samples of these people, who returned to the state's industrial hub Indore from different countries, were taken between December 17 and 21, according to officials. Among those who were found Omicron positive are two men aged 20 and 30 years, who came from New York (US) on December 14 and 19 respectively, a 23-year-old woman who arrived from London (UK) on December 14, two women aged 33 and 26 who returned from Tanzania (East Africa) on December 19, a 33-year-old woman who returned from Ghana (West Africa) on December 17, and two men aged 26 and 31 years, who arrived from Dubai on December 13 and 18 respectively, they said. On Saturday, Madhya Pradesh reported 42 new cases of coronavirus, raising the state's infection tally to 7,93,655, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,532, an official earlier said. The state had 232 active COVID-19 cases; the official added (With agency inputs) Live TV Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi continued to report a rise in cases of Omicron - the latest, more transmissible variant of the coronavirus first detected in South Africa. While Maharashtra and Kerala reported 31 and 19 cases respectively, Delhi tally omicron patients reached 68. Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh also reported their first Omicron cases. So far, 422 Omicron cases have been detected across 17 states and union territories in India and 130 of these people have recovered or migrated, according to Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. Here are top 10 developments on rise of Omicron cases in India: 1. Kerala - 19 more cases detected: With 19 more people testing positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Kerala, the total number of infections by the new variant in the state reached 57, the Health Department said on Sunday. Of the 19 cases, 11 were detected in Ernakulam, six in Thiruvananthapuram and one each in Thrissur and Kannur. 2. Delhi: An update from Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital - that is treating the Omicron affected patients - said it was currently having a load 68 such cases. Fourty patients have been discharged, a senior official of the health facility told news agency PTI said on Sunday. None of the Omicron patients, so far, have required oxygen support or COVID-19 medications, the official said. 3. Maharashtra - 31 new cases: Maharashtra reported as many as 31 new cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the tally of such patients in the state to 141, the health department said. Of these, Mumbai saw 27 cases, which raised the city's count of such cases to 73, it said in a statement. All these cases were found through the screening at the Mumbai international airport. Four of the patients hail from Gujarat, three from Karnataka, two each from Kerala and Delhi, one each from Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and from other parts of Maharashtra - Jalgaon, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad, while two are foreign nationals, the department said. 4. Night curfew in Delhi: Delhi government today announced imposition of a night curfew from Monday, minutes after state's health ministry reported 290 new Covid cases - highest daily rise in nearly 6 months. Night curfew will commence from 11 PM and last till 5 AM. 5. First cases in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh said that nine foreign returnees were found infected with the new strain in Indore, of whom seven have already been discharged after recovery. Himachal Pradesh reported its first case of Omicron on Sunday in Mandi district, an official here said. The latest coronavirus variant was found in a 45-year-old asymptomatic woman, who was tested positive for COVID-19 on December 12. Live TV New Delhi: Amid growing concerns over rising COVID-19 cases and the fast-spreading new Omicron variant, Indias overall Omicron count reached 422 on Sunday. The cases of highly transmissible Omicron variant have risen to 422 in India, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said this morning. Maharashtra is reported the most number of Omicron infections. At least 130 have recovered, the Health Ministry said. COVID19 | A total of 422 #Omicron cases were reported in 17 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 130: Union Health Ministry ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021 At present, there are 108 cases of the new variant in Maharashtra. The western state is followed by Delhi, which has 79 cases. Gujarat has 43 cases and Telangana 41, according to the Health Ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation late on Saturday during which he announced that vaccination against COVID-19 for children between 15-18 years will start from January 3, while "precaution dose" for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10. PM Modi made these announcements amid growing concerns over rising Covid cases linked to the Omicron variant of the virus. In an address to the nation, the PM said the precaution dose will also be available for citizens above 60 years of age and with comorbidities on the advice of their doctor from January 10 next year as well. The precaution dose denotes a third dose of the vaccine for the fully vaccinated but PM Modi refrained from using the term "booster dose", as it is generally referred. Amid Christmas and the coming new year festivities, PM Modi asked people to be alert and take all preventive measures but added that they should avoid panic as he reassured them about the health measures in place to deal with any exigencies. Administration of nasal vaccine and world's first DNA vaccine against Covid will soon start in India as well, he said. The Prime Minister said global experience shows that following all preventive measures at a personal level is a "big weapon" to fight Covid and so is vaccination. This is time to be careful while engaging in festivities, he said. "I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to mask up and keep washing hands," PM Modi said. Live TV New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday (December 26) performed Bhoomi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of the 75 houses project to be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Prayagraj. The new houses will be built on the land that was freed from the clutches of Mafia-turned-politician Ateeq Ahmed. While addressing an event in Uttar Pradeshs Kaushambi, Yogi Adityanath said that the previous government never cared about the upliftment of the poor. In an apparent dig at BSPs Mayawati and SPs Akhilesh Yadav, Yogi said, These Buas and Babuas never cared for the common people of Uttar Pradesh. About the recent Income tax raids in Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said before his government all this black money went into the pockets of opposition leaders and now that money is coming out of the walls. The BJP leader also targeted the opposition for not doing enough for the people during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and said, Where was the opposition during the COVID-19 phase. They were nowhere to be seen, added Adityanath. The chief minister, who is Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) face for the Uttar Pradesh polls 2022, also urged the people to rise above the caste politics and vote on the issues and development of the nation. Vote on nationalism rather than the casteism, said Yogi. Uttar Pradesh, which is considered one of the most politically significant states with the highest number of constituencies, will go to the polls in 2022. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (December 26) remembered and paid tribute to Group Captain Varun Singh, who died in the IAF plane crash that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others in Mann Ki Baat, his monthly address to the nation. Talking about Group Captain Singhs inspiring letter to his school principal, PM Modi said, "When Varun was in the hospital, I saw something on social media that touched my heart. He was given Shaurya Chakra in August just this year. After this honour, he had written a letter to the principal of his school. He wanted the lives of the students of the school that he studied in should also be celebrated. In his letter, Varun Singh ji did not boast of his valour; instead, he referred to his failures. He talked about how he converted his shortcomings into abilities." The prime minister also told the nation that group captain was a source of inspiration for Indians and gave us a mantra for turning ordinary into extraordinary. Varun Singh did not boast his valour, instead he referred to his failures and talked about how he converted his shortcomings into abilities, said Modi. "At one place in this letter he has written - It is ok to be mediocre. Not everyone will excel at school and not everyone will be able to score in the 90s. If you do, it is an amazing achievement and must be applauded. However, if you don`t, do not think that you are meant to be mediocre. You may be mediocre in school but it is by no means a measure of things to come in life, he added. Group Captain Singh, who passed away after a weeklong battle with death after sustaining serious injuries in a helicopter crash on December 8, was given Shaurya Chakra in August this year. Prime Minister Modi also motivated students and youngsters to take inspiration from Captain Varun Singhs life and thoughts. The late Group Captain also said "Find your calling - it could be art, music, graphic design, literature, etc. Whatever you work towards, be dedicated, do your best. Never go to bed, thinking, I could have put in more effort, Modi said. Live TV New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 6. This will mark PM Modis first international trip of 2022 during which, the leader will visit the Dubai Expo and sign the India-UAE Free trade agreement. PM Modi will visit the India Pavillion at the Dubai Expo. The pavilion is a massive 4-floor pavilion that has showcased India's culture, Yoga, Ayurveda to Space programme. The pavilion was inaugurated by India's trade minister Piyush Goyal on October 1and has been visited by many foreign leaders including by Cyprus Foreign minister and the King of Sweden. The pavilion also has a model of Ram temple and the BAPS Hindu temple that is being built in Abu Dhabi. Another key focus of the visit will be the signing of the India-UAE Free trade agreement. Earlier this month speaking at an event, Trade Minister Goyal said that the FTA is an "outstanding achievement for India. It will open doors for several sectors...it will be the fastest FTA India has ever entered into. A full FTA". Talks for the FTA was launched in September. The third round of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Delhi took place in December. Trade between the two countries have been robust as UAE is the second-largest export destination of India (after the US) with an amount of over US$ 30 billion for the year 2018-19. For UAE, India was the second-largest trading partner during 2018 with US$ 36 billion (non-oil trade). UAE has committed $100 Billion for investment and infrastructure creation in India. India and UAE have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and have seen increased engagement at every level. PM Modi had visited the West Asian country in 2015, 2018 and 2019. UAE has conferred the highest civilian award 'the Order of Zayed on the PM. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, (MBZ) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, visited India in from February 2016. MBZ visited India again in January 2017 as the Chief Guest at Indias Republic day celebrations Diaspora forms a deep connection. UAE hosts one of the largest populations of Indians outside of India. Indian expatriate community of approx. 3.3 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 30 per cent of the countrys population. Among the Indian States, Kerala is the most represented followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Indians from the Northern States also form a significant portion of the UAE Indian population. However, PM will not be going to Kuwait, as was being reported earlier. The last high-level visit from India to the country was by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in June of this year. During the visit, EAM called on the Prime Minister of Kuwait and held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kuwait. The last prime ministerial visit from India to Kuwait was by PM Indira Gandhi in 1981 and work is on the visit of PM Modi to the country soon. Apart from this, Modi's planned visit of 2022, include Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and others but the covid situation globally will weigh in on how the plan goes forward. 2021 saw PM going to Bangladesh, US, Italy and United Kingdom for a bilateral visit and summits like Quad, G20 and Climate Change summit. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mandi in Himachal Pradesh on Monday (December 27, 2021) to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of hydropower projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore. Prior to the event which is scheduled around 12 PM, he will preside over the second groundbreaking ceremony of the Himachal Pradesh Global Investors Meet at around 11:30 AM. "The Meet is expected to give a boost to investment in the region through the start of projects worth around Rs 28,000 crore," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. "Prime Minister has constantly focussed on fully utilizing the untapped potential of the resources available in the country. One of the steps in this regard has been to utilise optimally the hydropower potential in the Himalayan region. The projects which will be inaugurated and whose foundation stone will be laid by the Prime Minister during the visit reflect a key step in this direction," the PMO said. Renukaji Dam project PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Renukaji Dam project. The 40 MW project will be built at a cost of around Rs 7,000 crore. "It will prove to be immensely beneficial for Delhi, which will be able to receive around 500 million cubic metre water supply per year," the PMO informed. Luhri Stage 1 Hydro Power Project Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the Luhri Stage 1 Hydro Power Project. The 210 MW project will be built at a cost of over Rs 1,800 crore and will lead to generation of over 750 million units of electricity per year. Dhaulasidh Hydro Power Project The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the 66 MW Dhaulasidh Hydro Power Project. This, notably, will be the first hydropower project of the Hamirpur district and will be built at a cost of over Rs 680 crore. It will lead to generation of over 300 million units of electricity every year. Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project PM Modi will also inaugurate the Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project. The 111 MW Project, which is built at a cost of around Rs 2,080 crore, will lead to generation of over 380 million units of electricity per year and will help Himachal Pradesh earn revenue worth over Rs 120 crore annually. Live TV NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in the 84th episode of his monthly radio programme `Mann Ki Baat` on Sunday. This will be the last edition of the year. "Mann ki Baat" is the Prime Minister`s monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app. Earlier, the Prime Minister had called citizens to share their views for this edition of `Mann ki Baat`. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister had said, "I have been receiving several inputs for this month`s Mann Ki Baat on the 26, which will be the last one of 2021. The inputs cover so many different areas and celebrate the life journeys of several people working to bring grassroots level changes. Keep sharing your views. "The first episode of the programme was broadcast on October 3, 2014. In his last episode of Mann Ki Baat, which was broadcast on November 28, the Prime Minister had lauded the armed forces on completion of 50 years of India`s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. Live TV New Delhi: Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech has said that its anti-COVID vaccine - Covaxin - has a proven record for safety and efficacy from all the variants of coronavirus. Bharat Biotech said this after its vaccine received emergency usage approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for kids aged between 12-18 years. "Covaxin has established a proven record for safety and efficacy in adults for the original variant and subsequent variants," an official release from the company said. "Covaxin has established a proven record for safety and efficacy in adults for the original variant and subsequent variants. We have documented excellent safety and immunogenicity data readouts in Children," it added. Bharat Biotech expressed gratitude to the Union Health Ministry, Drugs Controller General of India and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation "for their diligent review of all data and for their fastidious approval process. "Bharat Biotech also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "for his visionary leadership during this pandemic." Amid concerns over rising Omicron cases of COVID-19 variant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people not to panic and be alert. "In India, many people have been found to be infected with Omicron. I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to wash hands and mask," the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation on Saturday night. Amid the increase in the cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, PM Modi on Saturday informed that India has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.40 lakh ICU beds and 90,000 special beds for children. "Today, the nation has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.4 lakh ICU beds and 90,000 special beds for kids," the Prime Minister said while addressing the nation on Saturday night. "Today, we have over 3,000 functional PSA Oxygen plants and 4 lakh cylinders have been provided to all states," he said. Live TV New Delhi: Intensifying its stir over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling, a federation of resident doctors association on Saturday said its members will be forced to go for "mass resignation" from services if their demands are not met at the earliest. Scores of resident doctors in Delhi on Saturday also lit 'diyas' to register their protest here, even as patient care remained affected at various facilities in the city. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has been spearheading the protest for the last several days. In a statement issued on Saturday, it said that a virtual meeting was convened by FORDA in the evening with representatives of resident doctors associations from various states to discuss the future course of agitation. "Since no concrete measure has been taken by authorities yet in the concerned matter, it was unanimously decided to continue the agitation. During the meeting it was also discussed that protesting resident doctors across the nation will be forced to go forward with mass resignation from services if the demand is not met at the earliest," it said. On Wednesday, a large number of doctors protested outside the Nirman Bhawan, which houses the office of the Union health ministry, for the third consecutive day, and then late evening they assembled on the premises of the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and lit up 'diyas' and marched around. MAMC comes under the Delhi government and three facilities, including the LNJP Hospital, are attached to it. On Tuesday, a group of doctors had thrown flowers on security barricades, and clanged utensils and clapped in front of the Nirman Bhawan here, saying they were symbolically "returning" the adulation showered on them for being Covid warriors. As their stir continued on Saturday, patient care remained affected at three Centre-run facilities -- Safdarjung, RML and Lady Hardinge hospitals and some of the Delhi government-run hospitals. Live TV New Delhi: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday (December 25, 2021) slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over renaming places and a viral fever that claimed several lives in the state. Addressing a public rally in Firozabad ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Owaisi said that Yogi is suffering from the fever of renaming places. "Media reports say 45-200 children died of viral fever in Firozabad in August-September. If you would question Baba (CM), he would say fever hit the district because of its name. He is suffering from the fever of renaming places," the Lok Sabha MP said. #WATCH | Media reports say 45-200 children died of viral fever in Firozabad in Aug-Sept. If you would question Baba (CM), he would say fever hit the district because of its name. He is suffering from the fever of renaming places: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in Firozabad (25.12) pic.twitter.com/RlYQS87DEj ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) December 25, 2021 The AIMIM Chief also mocked the Opposition over their defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections despite of their alliance with Congress and regional parties (mahagathbandhan) and questioned, "Why they only won15 seats?" ALSO READ | Why a roads name is changed: History, process and growing demand He further reiterated his appeal to the state's 19 per cent Muslim population to vote and choose their own political leadership. This is noteworthy that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls are scheduled for early next year. Earlier in the 2017 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) had won 47 seats, The Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress settled with only seven seats. ALSO READ | DNA Exclusive: Yogi Adityanath says BJP heading towards bigger victory compared to 2017 Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a sudden address to the nation on Saturday (December 25, 2021) announced that India will start vaccinating children between the ages of 15 to 18 from January 3 next year. PM Modi in his address also said that "precaution dose" for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10. The announcement comes amid rising COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron variant of the virus. Here are the top points of the address: - India will start vaccinating children between the ages of 15 to 18 from January 3 next year. - Healthcare and frontline workers will be provided with "precautionary doses" from January 10 next year. - People above 60 years of age who have co-morbidities will also have the option to take the booster dose, on a recommendation from doctors, from January 10. - Modi asked people to be alert and take all preventive measures but added that they should avoid panic as he reassured them about the health measures in place to deal with any exigencies. "I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to mask up and keep washing hands," Modi said. - Administration of nasal vaccine and world's first DNA vaccine against COVID-19 will soon start in India as well, PM Modi said. - "Today, more than 61 percent of India's adult population has received both doses of the vaccine. Similarly, about 90 percent of the adult population has received a single dose of the vaccine," he said. - Giving an overview of healthcare infrastructure in the nation, Modi said that as the virus is mutating, "our confidence to take on challenges is also multiplying". - "Our innovative spirit is also growing. The country today has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen-supported beds, 1,40,000 ICU beds. If ICU and non-ICU beds are taken together, there are about 90,000 beds for children. Today the country has over 3,000 PSA oxygen plants functioning and four lakh oxygen cylinders have been provided across the country," he said. - PM Modi also lauded scientists and health workers, and said the seriousness of vaccine was identified very early and along with research on it, work was also focussed on the approval process, supply chain, distribution, training, IT support system and certification. - Modi emphasised that India's fight against the virus has from the very beginning been based on scientific principles, scientific consultation and scientific methods. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Karnataka on Sunday (December 26, 2021) joined several other states in announcing the reimposition of night curfew due to rising cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Health Minister K Sudhakar informed that the night curfew will come into place from December 28 for 10 days between 10 pm to 5 am. "From December 28 onwards, for about ten days to begin with, we would like to watch by calling a night curfew, invoking Section 144, from night 10 PM to the next morning 5 AM," Sudhakar said after attending a high-level meeting of senior Ministers, officials and the COVID technical advisory committee, chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He added that there is also a curb on functions and gatherings for the New Year. "There will be no functions, parties in the external premises, especially for those celebrating with DJs and large gatherings, they have been completely banned in Karnataka," Sudhakar informed. ALSO READ | Which states and UTs have imposed night curfews amid Omicron spread? The Minister said that places like eateries, hotels, pubs and restaurants can have 50 per cent of the seating capacity of the premises. Earlier on Saturday, seven new Omicron cases were confirmed in Karnataka and took the total number of infections of the new coronavirus variant in the state to 38. In a set of tweets, Sudhakar said that those who tested positive were: a 76-year-old man from Bengaluru, who had travelled from Delhi, a 30-year-old woman from Bengaluru, who came from UAE, a 63-year-old man from Bengaluru who arrived from Zambia and a 54-year-old man from Bengaluru, who was a primary contact of a United Kingdom traveller. He had added that a 21-year-old man from Bengaluru who arrived from the UK, a 62-year-old man from Bengaluru, who came from Delhi, and a 15-year-old boy from Bengaluru who travelled from the USA have also been found infected. Sudhakar said all primary and secondary contacts have been tracked, traced and tested. The Health Department said except for the 15-year-old, all are vaccinated. Among the infected people, four have symptoms of the new variant of coronavirus. Live TV Lucknow: A leopard was spotted on Saturday in the Gudumba area of Uttar Pradesh's capital, officials said, and added that efforts are on to search for it. The leopard was captured in CCTV footage of a private hospital. Aniket Ani, the owner of the hospital said, "The CCTV footage showed that the leopard was seen moving on the hospital premises at around 4.12 am. The leopard stayed here for eight minutes. After this, the leopard went out and was seen moving in the bylanes." Divisional Forest Officer Ravi Kumar Singh said that a team has been sent there and the search for the leopard has started. Live TV New Delhi: Newly married star couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif had quite a Merry Christmas with their close friends and shared the joyful moments from their get-together on social media. Along with a sneak peek into their holiday celebration, fans also got a glimpse of their beautiful decorated new home in Juhu, Mumbai. In one of the first pictures, Vicky and Kat were seen hugging each other tightly with their lovely Christmas tree in the background. There were long sheer white curtains at their tall windows and one side of the wall had a brick-layered pattern on it which gave the home an earthen feel. In another group picture, Kat and Vicky were seen posing with their friends in the main living space. Fans also got a glimpse of the couple's vibrant floor carpet in one of the photos. Along with this, fans saw how hard Vicky and Kat worked on their Christmas decor with a huge tree and festive meal. Take a look at the happy pictures: The couple who had married in a private ceremony at the luxurious Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, returned to Mumbai last week after enjoying a romantic honeymoon, which reports suggest was in the Maldives. They recently shifted to their new house and had their housewarming rituals earlier this week. On the work front, Vicky has kick-started prep of Meghna Gulzar's 'Sam Bahadur', a biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw that also stars 'Dangal' girls, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Katrina has also returned to the shoot sets for her upcoming film 'Merry Christmas' directed by Vijay Sethupathi. The film that marks her first project with Vijay is being extensively shot in Mumbai currently. 'Merry Christmas', being produced by Ramesh Taurani and Sanjay Routray, will hit theatres on December 23, 2022. Live TV New Delhi: We are only four days away from the start of the new year, 2022. As the month of January approaches, it is critical for all customers to understand when banks will be closed in the first month of 2022 in order to organise their financial operations. According to the Reserve Bank of India's bank holiday list, banking activity would be disrupted for 9 days in January, excluding weekends (second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays). It should be emphasised, however, that while banks will be closed on holidays, internet banking services will be available. Due to the holidays, bank customers will be unable to withdraw or deposit funds at bank branches, but they will be able to use online banking, ATMs, mobile banking, and other services. Bank account holders should also be aware that on certain days, banks will only close in a few cities rather than nationwide. If you have any bank-related work to do, need to withdraw cash, or need to visit your nearest branch during the following week, please see the list of bank holidays below: 1. January 1, 2022: Banks in Aizawl, Chennai, Gangtok, and Shillong will be closed on New Year's Eve. 2. January 3, 2022: Banks in Aizawl and Gangtok will stay closed due to New Year's Celebration/Losoong. 3. January 4, 2022: Banks in Gangtok will be closed on the occasion of Losoong. 4. January 11, 2022: On the occasion of Missionary Day in Aizawl, banks will stay closed. 5. January 12, 2022: Banks in Kolkata will be closed on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's birthday.. 6. January 14, 2022: In Ahmedabad and Chennai, banks will be closed on the eve of Makar Sankranti/Pongal. 7. January 15, 2022: In Bengaluru, Chennai, Gangtok, and Hyderabad, banks will be closed on the eve of Uttarayaana Punyakaala Makar Sankranti Festival/Maghe Sankranti/Sankranti/Pongal/Thiruvalluvar Day. 8. January 18, 2022: Banks in Chennai will be closed on the occasion of Thai Poosam. 9. January 26, 2022: Banks would be closed in all cities except Agartala, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Imphal, Jaipur, Kochi, and Srinagar on Republic Day. Apart from the above-mentioned holidays, banks will be closed on January 8, 2022 and January 22, 2022 due to second and fourth Saturdays, respectively, and on January 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 owing to Sundays. It should be noted that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues the bank holidays list, which offers vacations to banks in three categories. Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday, and Banks' Closing of Accounts are the three kinds. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Every earning individual is required to file Income Tax Returns (ITR), which is a form that records their annual income to the Income-Tax department. You or any taxpayer can use the form to disclose your income, expenses, tax deductions, and investments, among other things. The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for AY 2021-22 is approaching, and those who have not yet done so should be aware that the deadline is December 31, 2021. IT can be submitted in two ways: offline and online. The Income Tax Department offers the option of filing an income tax return electronically (e-filing). To complete the return filing procedure, you must e-verify the ITR after it has been filed. According to the IRS, an ITR is considered invalid if it is not verified within the timeframe specified. The most easy and quick approach to validate your ITR is through e-Verification. On the e-Filing site, both registered and non-registered users can use the e-Verify service. You can e-Verify your Income Tax Return through one of several methods. Digital Signature Certificate, Aadhaar OTP, Electronic Verification Code (using bank account / demat account), Electronic Verification Code (using Bank ATM - offline method), and Net Banking are all options for e-Verification. If you have already submitted your ITR and want to e-verify it using Aadhaar OTP, make sure your mobile phone is linked to Aadhaar. Additionally, be certain that your PAN is connected to your Aadhaar number. How to e-verify ITR through Aadhaar OTP: Step 1: Visit https://www.incometax.gov.in to access your e-filing account. Step 2: Under quick links, select the e-Verify Return option. Step 3: Select I would want to verify using OTP on a mobile number registered with Aadhaar and click Continue on the e-Verify screen. Step 4: Select the I agree to validate my Aadhaar Details checked on the Aadhaar OTP screen, then click Generate Aadhaar OTP. Step 5: Click Validate after entering the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Step 6: It should be remembered that the OTP will only be valid for 15 minutes. You will be given three chances to enter the correct OTP. On the screen, you'll notice an OTP expiry countdown timer that will notify you when the OTP will expire. A new OTP will be generated and sent when you click Resend OTP. Step 7: A page containing a success message and a Transaction ID is presented. Please keep the Transaction ID on hand for future use. A confirmation message will also be sent to the email address and mobile number you provided on the e-Filing portal. Live TV #mute New Delhi: On the latest episode of Bigg Boss 15, contestants were put on the spot to answer some pressing questions fans had for them. With host Salman Khan present, the housemates had to answer them honestly. When Tejasswi Prakash was asked if she thought Rashami Desai created rifts between her and Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi said yes. However, Karan defended Rashami saying that she has never spoken ill about Tejasswi. Rakhi Sawant made fun of Shamita Shetty for her hand movement issues during tasks and while washing the dishes. Rakhi said that Shamita had no problem when she is blowdrying her hair but only during work or tasks she acts as if she is in pain. Then Rakhi imitated Shamita and mocked her in front of Salman Khan which made him laugh. But Shamita didn't take this as a joke. Later, Shamita was seen crying and bursting into tears when she was talking about the issue with Nishant Bhat. Nishant told her to get through the last two weeks and not give up. But Shamita said that she wanted to go home. Guest stars Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur graced the stage on Sunday to promote their film 'Jersey' and even played a fun game with housemates. Then, Nora Fatehi and Guru Randhawa come on stage to promote their new song 'Dance Meri Rani' which has become very popular on YouTube. Nora burned up the stage with her dance moves and she even made Salman Khan perform belly dance on stage. The duo then went inside the BB house to play a fun game with contestants and more importantly to conduct a secret Santa present opening. Everybody got a gift except Rakhi Sawant and Shamita Shetty. Pratik Sehajpal and Nishant Bhat got two gifts while everyone else got one gift. Rakhi was quite upset with Devoleena Bhattacharjee for not gifting her anything and said that she will stop supporting Devo now. Shamita was also upset with receiving no gift and discussed her frustrations with Nishant. Owing to Christmas weekend and host Salman Khan's birthday on Monday (December 27), there was no elimination this week. Live TV New York: Airlines continued to cancel hundreds of flights Saturday because of staffing issues tied to COVID-19, disrupting holiday celebrations during one of the busiest travel times of the year. FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, noted nearly 1,000 cancelled flights entering, leaving or inside the US Saturday, up from 690 flights scrapped on Friday. Over 250 more flights were already cancelled for Sunday. FlightAware does not say why flights are cancelled. Delta, United and JetBlue had all said Friday that the omicron variant was causing staffing problems leading to flight cancellations. United spokesperson Maddie King said staffing shortages were still causing cancellations and it was unclear when normal operations would return. "This was unexpected," she said of omicron's impact on staffing. Delta and JetBlue did not respond to questions Saturday. According to FlightAware, the three airlines cancelled more than 10 percent of their scheduled Saturday flights. American Airlines also cancelled more than 90 flights Saturday, about 3 percent of its schedule, according to FlightAware. American spokesperson Derek Walls said the cancellations stemmed from "COVID-related sick calls." European and Australian airlines have also cancelled holiday-season flights because of staffing problems tied to COVID-19. For travellers, that meant time away from loved ones, chaos at the airport and the stress of spending hours standing in line and on the phone trying to rebook flights. Peter Bockman, a retired actor, and his daughter Malaika, a college student, were supposed to be in Senegal on Saturday celebrating with relatives they hadn't seen in a decade. But their 7:30 pm flight Friday from New York to Dakar was cancelled, which they found out only when they got to the airport. They were there until 2 am trying to rebook a flight. "Nobody was organising, trying to sort things out," he said, faulting Delta for a lack of customer service. "Nobody explained anything. Not even, Oh we're so sorry, this is what we can do to help you." Their new flight, for Monday evening, has a layover in Paris, and they are worried there will be issues with that one as well. They have already missed a big family get-together that was scheduled for Saturday. FlightAware's data shows airlines scrapped more than 6,000 flights globally for Friday, Saturday and Sunday combined as of Saturday evening, with almost one-third of affected flights to, from or within the United States. Chinese airlines made up many of the cancelled flights, and Chinese airports topped FlightAware's lists of those with most cancellations. It wasn't clear why. China has strict pandemic control measures, including frequent lockdowns, and the government set one on Xi'an, a city of 13 million people, earlier this week. Air China, China Eastern and Lion Air, an Indonesian airline with many cancelled flights, did not respond to emails Saturday. Flight delays and cancellations tied to staffing shortages have been a regular problem for the US airline industry this year. Airlines encouraged workers to quit in 2020, when air travel collapsed, and were caught short-staffed this year as travel recovered. To ease staffing shortages, countries including Spain and the UK have reduced the length of COVID-19 quarantines by letting people return to work sooner after testing positive or being exposed to the virus. Delta CEO Ed Bastian was among those who have called on the Biden administration to take similar steps or risk further disruptions in air travel. On Thursday, the US shortened COVID-19 isolation rules for health care workers only. Live TV